Suspension Check

[Sam KS]

G'Day Citro-Heads

I need to order accumulator and anti sink spheres and drop links and was going to order from eurocarparts.co.uk or apedirect.com as it's about 1/4 the price for buying them from here in oz. any how my question is how do i check the rest of the spheres? i have a ticking noise so have been told to change the Acc and A/S ones and the drop links have split boots and i live on a dirt road so will be knackered to. the ride is hard and from what i read should be smooth.

also is there any thing else that is Citroen specific and is likely to go shortly i should get at the same time or should check first?

oh and do you think this will undo spheres? http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/JETECH-10-Lo ... 3374ced1e3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[citronut]

this sort of wrench works

http://tinyurl.com/9k5oa8p" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

it could well require all the corner spheres replacing as well, firstly check the height corrector linkages/turrets are moving freely,

you could also check the rear trailing suspension arms are not doing this / \ when viewed from behind

[Xaccers]

AEP is probably a better bet than ECP.
As for what to use to take the old spheres off, I made myself a tool out of a box bar and threaded rod (a round lamppost is also needed).
There's a link to how to make it in my signature.

[Old-Guy]

I must be psychic - I've just written a lengthy post proposing a way to check 'corner' spheres.

You can find my blow-by-blow guide to changing spheres here - based on advice culled from the forum before doing the job for the first time and updated immediately afterwards in the light of experience.

[Sam KS]

Thanks for that, any suggestions on how to check the corner spheres?

and will i do any damage using the car for a couple of weeks as it is?

[exect]

The simple check for corner spheres is to press the front and back of the car down, and if it feels like a car with springs then they are probably OK.

[Sam KS]

sounds like it's ok then. feels like a normal car when stopped/parked. only has a harsh ride when driving and when left parked the front rises and back drops. and the ticking every 5 seconds.

[citronut]

sounds like it's ok then. feels like a normal car when stopped/parked. only has a harsh ride when driving and when left parked the front rises and back drops. and the ticking every 5 seconds.

it shouldnt feel like a normal car at all,

appart from normal to us on here is hydraulic suspenders

when stationary with engine running when you lean on either end it should float as you push down and release

[Hell Razor5543]

The 5 second ticking would indicate a failed accumalator sphere. Mine was doing this (same interval), and (I did replace all 6 spheres and LHM+ fluid) once Gracie had a good acc sphere it is more like a couple of minutes between ticks. As explained elsewhere in the forum, the acc sphere's main reason for existence is if you lose the pump pressure for any reason you would still have enough pressure for the brakes to work (the anti-sink sphere at the back serves the same purpose). At this time you don't, so the only way to stop if the pressure dropped would be to (VERY carefully) use the handbrake (and a lot of very quick prayers!).

There is also another reason to replace that sphere. According to experts on this forum, it dampens out the peaks and troughs in the pressures in the hydraulics, and they can damage the regulator if they are too severe. That is why I did mine in a hurry once I found this out. I don't know how much a regulator would have cost me, but the 6 spheres cost me £150GB, including p&p.

PS Xac's DIY sphere removal tool was very helpful, so I would heartily recommend making one first!

[Old-Guy]

According to experts on this forum, it dampens out the peaks and troughs in the pressures in the hydraulics, and they can damage the regulator if they are too severe.

With a flat accumulator sphere, pressure spikes back from the suspension can also damage the pipe-work and the pump and it's not unknown for the pump output pipe to fail at the union with the pump - not surprising as this is the weakest point close to where a pressure spike is stopped dead in the pump. The energy has to go somewhere

[Sam KS]

I'm just ordering the Spheres as i have not double checked the pricing. $175 ea Australia and $30 ea from UK. all plus post but that's a big difference. no looking at the APE Direct site and they are listing with Hydractive Suspension or with out Hydractive Suspension. how do i tell what i have? I've got 6 spheres.

[Clogzz]

With six spheres, you don’t have hydractive.

[Sam KS]

With six spheres, you don’t have hydractive.

thanks

[Sam KS]

ok is my system a "Activa" system? i am getting very confused trying to order on here http://www.aepdirect.com/citroen-xantia ... ry_id=121# but when i emailed them i was getting charged way more and postage went from free (when ordering on line even to Australia) to £175.00 in postage. there are so many Spheres to chose from it's throwing me.

any help appreciated.

[addo]

No, yours is not an Activa.

The interchange numbers you want are:

5271.30 ×2 (Front struts)
5272.35 ×2 (Rear wheels)
5293.04 (rear centre)
5 451 376 (accumulator)

I have some used genuine drop links that are not worn out; I replaced them chasing a noise that was ball joint wear. You could have them for postage.

Try RockAuto for cheap parts. Also GSF, you will have to get them through Fleabay messages to receive an all-in quote.