xantia spheres removal

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bill hughes
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xantia spheres removal

Post by bill hughes »

Hi all does anyone know if its possible to buy a tool to remove my front spheres, so far they have resisted all efforts to unscrew them ie. chain strap, large pipe wrench and air chisel, any help would be much appreciated. ps.there is someone on ebay who claims to make them but does not post a picture.
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Re: xantia spheres removal

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

The best tool I have used so far (other than a hammer and cold chisel; I kid you NOT) is one shown in Xacs signature. This is what it is;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=21850" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: xantia spheres removal

Post by CitroJim »

Yep,

I'll second that :-D Xac's does work well and is both cheap and easy to make... The only problem with it is that it can't get to a couple of Activa spheres but apart from that, unbeatable...

It's always worth looking out on ebay for a genuine Pleiades tool.

This one on ebay is OK too..

Remember even these tools need percussive assistance from a big hammer (at least a 4lb club hammer) on really tight ones..

A hammer and chisel is the final resort and it's never yet failed me :)
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Re: xantia spheres removal

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

When you do replace the spheres, it would be a good idea to loosen them off, and then do them back up hand tight (that is all they need) every 6 months or so, as this makes it easy to replace them when the time comes.
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Re: xantia spheres removal

Post by dav3y »

I bought one of those ebay tools when i came to do the rears and made the sphere removal hassle free.
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Re: xantia spheres removal

Post by Mandrake »

CitroJim wrote: This one on ebay is OK too..

Remember even these tools need percussive assistance from a big hammer (at least a 4lb club hammer) on really tight ones..
I have one of the newer versions of that ebay tool from the same seller which now seems to come with two bolts: (my original one had only one)

Image

For some spheres I found it necessary to remove the second bolt however because it gets fouled by other obstructions on the car.

You'll also need an extension tube to slip over the handle to roughly double the length and a lump hammer to apply percussive assistance as Jim says... :twisted:

My lump hammer is only 2.5 lb but seems to be up to the job. It's similar to this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-HA60 ... B000LFRQ24" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A hammer that's too heavy may make the job more difficult because for many of the spheres you're under the car trying to hammer upwards or sideways, holding the hammer above you...

Hitting the handle of the tool not too far up the handle in the right direction to rotate the sphere seems to be the best approach for the really difficult spheres like the front hydractive regulator - because with that one extra leverage from a really long handle will just bend the mounting bracket that the regulator is bolted to!! :shock: Jolting it with the hammer on the other hand will get it undone with much less fuss and without bending the bracket...
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bill hughes
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Re: xantia spheres removal

Post by bill hughes »

Many thanks for all your suggestions and help but a local garage are changing them for 26 euros and then I've decided to get a 406, too much hassle with Xantia suspension
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Re: xantia spheres removal

Post by Northern_Mike »

You've tried changing springs and dampers on a "normal" car on your driveway have you? Now *that's* hassle.

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Re: xantia spheres removal

Post by myglaren »

northern_mike wrote:You've tried changing springs and dampers on a "normal" car on your driveway have you? Now *that's* hassle.
And if, as James has suggested, the spheres are loosened and then re-tightened (hand tight) a couple of times a year then they practically fall off when required.
Northern_Mike

Re: xantia spheres removal

Post by Northern_Mike »

I've changed spheres on six Xantias now and never had to use anything other than the tool in this thread. Not even a hammer on it!

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Re: xantia spheres removal

Post by CitroJim »

northern_mike wrote:I've changed spheres on six Xantias now and never had to use anything other than the tool in this thread. Not even a hammer on it!
You have been very lucky Mike :)

I wish I could say the same. There have been occasions when I've had no option to use a hammer and chisel and I very much regret to say that on one occasion it was on one of your old cars :lol:
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Re: xantia spheres removal

Post by Northern_Mike »

I know that as well Jim! I've never even used an extension tube on it either.

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bill hughes
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x 2

Re: xantia spheres removal

Post by bill hughes »

Thanks northern mike for your comments, in reply I've changed springs and shock absorbers many times in the last 50 years but must admit I've always had the luxury of a ramp having run tyre businesses, however they would not have helped me remove my spheres, my car has 253.000 miles on the clock, the engine is perfect but the rest is showing its age, I cant complain as it was a gift from a mate but I wouldn't have bought a xantia out of choice, don't know enough about them, I also note from your list of cars that you don't seem to own one either, any reason? Bill.
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Re: xantia spheres removal

Post by CitroJim »

bill hughes wrote:I also note from your list of cars that you don't seem to own one either, any reason? Bill.
Mike has owned more Xantias than most of us have had hot dinners Bill. He's had just about every version too, including diesels, Activas and V6s...
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Re: xantia spheres removal

Post by Northern_Mike »

bill hughes wrote:I also note from your list of cars that you don't seem to own one either, any reason? Bill.
All the good ones left are owned by people on here who don't want to sell them for what I want to pay. I've moved up (or down, depending on your view) to C5s now.

I've had, I think, 12 Xantias. The only models I haven't had are the 2.0 Petrol Turbo Estate and the VSX models from the series 1.

The fact yours has 253k on it shows how reliable they are if maintained properly.
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