Citroen BX TXD spheres

Tourist · Post by **Tourist** » 06 Feb 2009, 14:37

Does anyone here know which spheres the TXD uses and where I can find them. There are mixed views as to whether the TXD model should have soft or firm suspension, at the moment it's firm, so I'm going to try and change them to see if it makes a difference. The general opinion is that it needs the soft ones and mine need replacing.

ellevie · Post by **ellevie** » 06 Feb 2009, 16:47

According to this chart it should be 9 on the front and 5 on the rear.
I perused this chart to find the softest possible combination.
It certainly "floats" but it didn't smooth out those small high frequency perturbations as I had hoped.

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 06 Feb 2009, 17:02

These are the original TXD spheres fitted at front :

95.630.610 400CM3 55BARS
- 1,905L & INJECTION OG 4X4
- SEDAN & DIESEL & TURBO
- 4X4
- 19 GTI UNTIL OPR 03877 (not 16V)

96.024.568 400CM3 55BARS
- STATIONCAR & DIESEL & TURBO
- 19 GTI SINCE OPR 03878 (not 16V)

If you want better drive comfort, you should defo try the Stationcar (TRS/TRI) spheres, which is my preferred sphere type :

95.630.572 500CM3 55BARS
- SEDAN EXCEPT 1,360L
- STATIONCAR UNTIL OPR 03877 EXCEPT 1,360L
- STATIONCAR & 1,580L SINCE OPR 03878
- STATIONCAR & 1,905L SINCE OPR 03878

OPR 03878 = 22june1987

Post by **Peter.N.** » 06 Feb 2009, 19:26

They never will 'float' over the small bumps, the system can't react quickly enough, unless you have a level of damping like the 2CV! Choice of tyres is a major factor in low speed ride quality. If you have a friendly local supplier get him to let you feel them all, the more easily you can deform the tread the better ride you will get. Even my XM with 'comfort' spheres, rattles when I drive over the forest track.

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 06 Feb 2009, 21:31

The BX will NEVER give a ride like the DS, CX or XM...

The car was ALWAYS too light for the system, the system was developed for heavy cars, more weight on the Gas spring the smoother the damping.. in a sort of way..

The BX was too light and so will never have the same effect as its bigger brothers..

As for the XM, they had too many electronic gizmoes on them to give a smooth ride!!

My opnion anyway...

Rgds
Paul

Post by **CitroJim** » 06 Feb 2009, 21:42

The one and only BX I've ridden in (a MK1 GT) I was most impressed with the ride and considering it was around the infield of Stratford Racecourse, it was a good test. Smooth as silk

ellevie · Post by **ellevie** » 06 Feb 2009, 21:46

What frustrates me is that I've had my 19TRS since it was about 4 years old and unless my memory is playing tricks on me I'm sure it used to absorb the high frequency stuff much better. Also I test drove a BX a few years ago which had much better absorption.

Post by **myglaren** » 06 Feb 2009, 22:20

While I will admit that there could be an element of wishful thinking in it, I'm certain that my BX 1.9RD estate was smoother riding than my Xantia, and that was a good bit better than the current C5.

I'm equally certain that the GS was the best or the bunch, despite being as light as a feather.

jonathan_dyane · Post by **jonathan_dyane** » 06 Feb 2009, 22:38

myglaren wrote:While I will admit that there could be an element of wishful thinking in it, I'm certain that my BX 1.9RD estate was smoother riding than my Xantia, and that was a good bit better than the current C5.

I'm equally certain that the GS was the best or the bunch, despite being as light as a feather.

The GS/A did indeed have a superb ride, however I believe the BX was rather lighter, and of course made to with McPherson struts...

Post by **CitroJim** » 06 Feb 2009, 22:46

I'm very much inclined to agree Steve, having ridden a Xantia along the same route as the BX at Stratford.

A well set-up hydractive Xantia can be a most excellent ride. I have ridden a considerable distance in one and found it incredibly comfy. I do believe it was not running standard spheres though and a "play" with different ones can bring the "magic carpet" ride that bit nearer.

I hope to do similar on my V6 when it's up and running - as I see it, that's one car that should be set-up for the best ride of all.

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 07 Feb 2009, 00:12

Whilst the ride on a DS is 'legendary' I suggest that the 'legend' relates to its ability to absorb large bumps as small corrugations are felt far more in a DS than in my two diesel Hydractive Xantia's on which (following lengthy experimentation) I've fitted alternative specification sphere's. This is despite my DS being fitted with freshly recharged (supposedly softer) split sphere's.

One of the key factors here is the older the body/chassis the less rigid it is so despite an older car having softer suspension settings, scuttle/body shake will have a similar effect as the firmer ride found on more modern cars. i.e. vibration through the seats. Drive the latest Ford Mundeo, BMW 3 or 5 Series and you'll see what I mean, they are as solid as solid can be.

BTW forum settings change the correct spelling of Fords' large saloon to mondeo hence my misspelling Mundeo

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » 10 Feb 2009, 20:51

CitroJim wrote:The one and only BX I've ridden in (a MK1 GT) I was most impressed with the ride and considering it was around the infield of Stratford Racecourse, it was a good test. Smooth as silk

Did u have a ride in my car then Jim?

steelcityuk · Post by **steelcityuk** » 18 Feb 2009, 14:00

I think like some members that there are 'hidden' factors at work affecting the ride of ours cars. In the space of 2 years I've owned 5 Citroens. The best ride/handling was the XM S2 2.1TD S Reg, the 'worst' was a tie between the Xantia (Exclusive) and the XM S2 2.5 Estate. The C5 I have rides very nicely with a very consistent feel to it. My current car of choice the XM 2.0 has a lovely ride which I think is let down by the 45 profile tyres. All these cars have had replacement spheres ( except the C5 - yes I'm well known at GSF!), Hydraflush, rebuilt regulators, ECU diodes, stripped and cleaned valves and yet some are such a quantum leap better than the others I think there's more to it than just sphere specs, etc. Putting comfort spheres on one XM made it like a boat but on another made the suspension soft on smooth tarmac but did nothing to help the ride over broken surfaces.

Just my findings you understand.

Steve.

DickieG · Post by **DickieG** » 18 Feb 2009, 20:53

steelcityuk wrote:I think like some members that there are 'hidden' factors at work affecting the ride of ours cars.

Fair comment there Steve, I've owned countless Xantia's fitted with Hydractive and having experimented with umpteen different specification sphere's I believe the determining factor must be wear to the struts/seals, my VSX has only done 33,000 miles so its damping still feels very tight compared with higher mileage Xantia's no matter what I experiment with using different sphere's.

I believe that in order to achieve the optimum ride combination you'd have to change struts every 80,000 miles in addition to sphere's.

Post by **aerodynamica** » 19 Feb 2009, 01:30

I still feel that the most significant aspect of perceived suspension absorbtion is down to the high frequency absorbtion taken by the rubber mountings on Xantias etc. I compare my ex Xantia and present Mk 1 BX to my immensely soft riding 1977 CX. The CX takes big, low frequency bulmps such as speed bumps like they are not there but has a real hard time with sharp successive little bumps. The Xantia (a 1.9 D) felt like it was truly floating of liquid until the bumps got bigger where the long, slower movement got right through. The BX is the same but copes with high freq vibes better than the CX and has longer, slower suspension than the Xantia - dare I say it's actually a little better than the CX!?