Xantia hydractive V's normal suspension.

[lankytim]

I'm picking up a complete Xantia HDi Exclusive in a couple of weeks to use as a parts donor for my standard HDi. I'm told that the suspension on the two models is different but which parts are compatible between the two? The spheres are suppost to be softer on the hydractive but can the accumulator sphere be swapped? What would happen if I put hydractive spheres onto my standard model?

Finally, can the hydractive system be installed onto my standard Xantia to improve the ride quality?

[Mandrake]

The strut spheres on a Hydractive are actually a lot stiffer than those on a standard model, its only when the additional spheres are switched in does the ride become softer, so putting the Hydractive spheres on your car will make the ride hard.

The only compatible spheres would be accumulator and anti-sink.

Height correctors and linkages are the same, strut tops and rear cylinders are different (different pipe size) front struts have a different taper to match the Hydractive strut tops. One of the anti-sink valves is different. A lot of the piping is different.

It wouldn't be an easy job to convert a car to Hydractive - strut tops and struts, rear cylinders, front and rear Hydractive control blocks (may require additional brackets adding) lots of piping, Hydractive ECU and wiring to electrovalves, doors and other sensors (wiring may not be in the loom) steering wheel movement sensor, accelerator pedal sensor, body movement sensor, (attached to the front roll bar) sport button and wiring to it on the dashboard, wiring in the fuse box, and if its a Series 1 donor ECU there is a brake pressure switch as well.

A big job that I wouldn't attempt

[lankytim]

Errrr... I think I may just keep the bits that will bolt straight onto mine and sell the rest on in that case!

[Old-Guy]

Assuming the pipes are the same as on an S1 VSX (I'll check), I'd definitely be interested if they're fairly rust free. I'm also in the market for a sound undertray.

[lankytim]

No problem, the whole car will be gettting scrapped soon enough so all parts will be available.

[addo]

On a Series 2 car, the dash harness is prewired, as are the engine bay harnesses. One needs only to fit the mechanical components and then connect a harness that runs from near the coolant reservoir to the back of the vehicle. A competent garage could do this in a day, a backyarder might take three days of a weekend.

[Old-Guy]

One needs only to fit the mechanical components.....

What a masterly understatement, Adam! Just the idea of replacing a couple of the extra Hydractive pipes makes me cringe - I'm willing to bet Citroen fit them to the subframe before that in turn is fitted into the body!

[addo]

Sort of. I believe the rear subframes were jigged and offered up with the underbody pipes. Hydractive uses an extra low pressure return line; nothing to worry about there.

[lankytim]

Don't hydractive cars use a larger bore for the high pressure pipes too?

[Mandrake]

Only for the pipes from the cylinders/strut tops to the Hydractive control blocks, (10mm) the rest are the same diameter although some of the routing is different.

[lankytim]

Well, it sort of sounds doable but is it worth the hassle? It is probably better sticking with what I have. The whole car will be being broken soon so all these parts will be up for grabs.

[citroenxm]

Assuming the pipes are the same as on an S1 VSX (I'll check), I'd definitely be interested if they're fairly rust free. I'm also in the market for a sound undertray.

I think the front stut pipes to hydractive block are the same.. they run forwards along the edge of the inner wings and down to the front. Drivers one along the bottom of the radiator..

The other thing that I KNOW is different are the Hydractive Blocks! Theres a deleted pipe on series two cars, also anti sink Valves ARE also different between S1 and S2 cars..Theres one Less pipe connection on the anti sink valve. The Electro valves them self however ARE the same and interchangeable.