Sphere part numbers

Unread post by **Dommo** » 02 Jan 2010, 16:14

Hi folks

I've just been on the Citroen Servicebox and found the following sphere part numbers for my s2 Activa:

Front strut tops - 5271 62 - 45 bar, 450 cm^3
Rear wheel spheres - 5271 46 - 30 bar, 400 cm^3
Circuit breaker/accumulator - 5451 376 - 62 bar, 400 cm^3
Front hydractive - 95669 124 - 75 bar, 450 cm^3
Rear hydractive - 5276 06 - 55 bar, 400 cm^3
Front activa - 5277 04 - 62 bar, 400 cm^3
Rear activa - 5277 03 - 30 bar, 400 cm^3
Anti-sink - 5293 04 - 50 bar, 400 cm^3

If these are the correct part numbers, pressures and volumes, what are the GSF equivalent part numbers?

I don't want to end up going back and forth as I find them to be pretty useless unless you give them part numbers. Cheers.

arkweld · Unread post by **arkweld** » 02 Jan 2010, 17:25

Not sure if this is S1, Activa Spheres

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 02 Jan 2010, 18:15

Take a look here which gives the damper size specs as well, go to technics, technical data then spheres.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 02 Jan 2010, 19:15

Dom,

I use normal Hydractive Spheres on my Activa and to be honest you'll be hard pressed to tell the difference.

Activa spheres are a bit hard to get hold of these days, Hydractive ones are still freely available. For the special Activa spheres, an Anti-sink sphere will do at a push for the Activa Accumulator and a worn accumulator for the Activa Balancing sphere. These are best made up by Pleiades who can adjust the pressure in an AS and Accumulator sphere respectively to suit.

arkweld · Unread post by **arkweld** » 02 Jan 2010, 19:49

Does anyone know anything about the I.F.H.S sphere's listed on the aepdirect site , Seem to be quite a few "Activa Model Only" though no gauge sizes . Price's seem reasonable enough . Thank's

Unread post by **Dommo** » 02 Jan 2010, 21:07

Cheers for that arkweld, are amtex the make that GSF use? The numbers they use look similar...

And thanks DickieG, the citroen part numbers on there seem to be different to the ones I got off the servicebox though which is a bit confusing. Going off that list only the four corner spheres and two hydractive spheres have damping? Makes sense really.

Is there a website for Pleiades? I could do with a price list as I think I've found where they're based, in cambridgeshire? Not that far from me which is good.

Where am I best buying spheres from? Am I best getting reconditioned units from Pleiades, or buying new from GSF or AEP direct and going to pleiades with them?

It's hard knowing whether they're selling the correct ones!

Unread post by **myglaren** » 02 Jan 2010, 21:15

The details for Pleiades.

Martin requests contact by phone as it is often difficult for him to use his computer during working hours.

Unread post by **Dommo** » 02 Jan 2010, 21:33

Thanks myglaren

Is that phone number his work number? Is he contactable at the weekends? Cheers.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 02 Jan 2010, 21:49

That is as far as I am aware his work number.
Martin does often look in here at weekends but as for contact numbers, have no info I? afraid.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 02 Jan 2010, 21:56

Yes, Amtex are the ones GSF sell. Used loads of them and never a problem with them. They are good.

I have no experience at all of the I.F.H.S. one Arkweld. If they're new (as apposed to regassed) they should be OK.

Best to call Martin during normal work time....

Unread post by **Dommo** » 09 Jan 2010, 10:41

I've just taken a look on GSF and they still appear to sell the following spheres for activas:

Accumulator
Rear corners
Rear hydractive
Rear activa
Anti sink

However I still need:
Front strut spheres
Front activa sphere
Front hydractive sphere

They may sell some of those four but I'm not sure on their part numbers because the link arkweld posted has most of them, but the fronts seem to be different to what the servicebox says:

front struts on arkwelds pdf - 400cm3 45 bar, but 450cm3 45 bar on servicebox
front hydractive on the pdf - 400cm3 70 bar, but 450cm3 75 bar on the servicebox

The front activa sphere is correct but gsf dont seem to stock them which is a shame.

Do you chaps think that slight difference in volume and pressure is likely to make much difference? (not that GSF stock the ones that are in that pdf posted by arkweld, I'm just intreigued.

Cheers, Dom.

Unread post by **Dommo** » 09 Jan 2010, 10:54

Having done a little more research it would appear that as you said Jim the normal hydractive car front strut tops and front hydractive spheres are near enough the same.

Just need a front Activa sphere now, best asking mr pleaides to make one for me I assume? If so does he supply spheres or expect me to take one to him to be adjusted? And if I have to take him one what sphere am I best using as a donor?

Cheers.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 09 Jan 2010, 17:39

In an emergency Dom a standard Anti-Sink sphere can be used as it has the right fitting (4.5mm hydraulic union thread) but the pressure is a tad low.

Pleiades will supply spheres but I'd get a new A-S sphere and ask him to blow it up a bit for you. It needs to be set to 62 bars (same as a main accumulator)

Likewise a rear hydractive centre or standard accumulator can be adjusted to act as an Activa Balancing sphere.

Unread post by **Dommo** » 09 Jan 2010, 18:30

CitroJim wrote:In an emergency Dom a standard Anti-Sink sphere can be used as it has the right fitting (4.5mm hydraulic union thread) but the pressure is a tad low.

Pleiades will supply spheres but I'd get a new A-S sphere and ask him to blow it up a bit for you. It needs to be set to 62 bars (same as a main accumulator)

Likewise a rear hydractive centre or standard accumulator can be adjusted to act as an Activa Balancing sphere.

thanks jim. I'll get a set from gsf then. Is the anti sink sphere important to the system or does it only stop it sinking when the engine is off? If it's only to stop it sinking isn't it best to have a knackered one to do 'citrobics' whenever it's turned off.

I did ring Pleiades earlier but got no reply so presumably he only works in the week?

Cheers.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 09 Jan 2010, 18:50

The anti-sink sphere is badly named as it has absolutely nothing whatever to do with stopping the car sinking!

Its role is to provide a reserve of pressure for the rear brakes when the rear corner spheres are isolated by the anti-sink valve. Normally , the pressure to operate the rear brakes is taken from the rear suspension as this neatly gives proportional braking at the rear; the more weight in the back, the higher the rear suspension pressure and thus more powerful brakes. However, should the rear anti-sink valve be in operation due to a pressure differential between main system pressure and the pressure in the rear suspension, you would have no rear brakes, hence why there is the additional sphere to provide a reserve of pressure for the rear brakes under such circumstances. It's called the anti-sink sphere as the fitting of the anti-sink system necessitated it! Correctly it is known as the SC/MAC sphere but it would have been better to have called it the rear brake accumulator...

As to whether it is needed or not is moot. Normally it is not needed but if you leave a duff one on place there is a risk it'll leak nitrogen gas into the system and cause all the usual troubles air in the hydraulics cause. Also, one day you may need it to carry out its intended function.

For the sake of £20, replace it...

The front brakes don't need such a setup as they're fed by full system pressure at all times.