rear suspension fault on xantia 1.9td

marg23 · Post by **marg23** » 18 Jan 2010, 17:55

sorry if this has been covered before.
The plastic clip attached to rear height corrector on my xantia has broken.
confirmed by garage.They reckon the unit has seized and will need replacing.
The rear suspension will go up and down.
Can they tell if it has seized without replacing the clip?
I've not used this garage before so am a little suspicious they are a main dealer.
Is it a job I could do safely myself?

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 18 Jan 2010, 18:46

You can safely replace the clip DIY at only £5 IIRC.
But you need experience with Citroen pipework replacing the height corrector unit.

I would try loosen up the linkage dozing the whole thing in WD40 a couple of times, and then after a couple of days give it a liberal shot with MC chainlube.
Main dealers replaces parts first off, they dont mess around with seized parts.

Might be a good idea purchasing the linkages in sets of 2 keeping a spare handy in the glove box ...

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 18 Jan 2010, 19:41

It's not difficult to remove the seized part, you shouldn't need to remove any pipes, might need to unbolt the actual height corrector (drum shaped thing with a few pipes going to it) but remember/mark it's exact position, likewise with the manual control lever's clamp.
Don't remove or slacken the clamp on the anti-roll bar.

It's been a couple of months since I took mine off and lubed it.

marg23 · Post by **marg23** » 19 Jan 2010, 10:33

thanks for replies,waiting for the part.
Hopefully sort it out this week

bonnyman750 · Post by **bonnyman750** » 19 Jan 2010, 11:10

And DON'T forget to jack up and support the car securely BEFORE venturing underneath as these cars will KILL YOU if they drop to their haunches with you underneath...

Just thought that you would like to know that

Cheers

Glyn

marg23 · Post by **marg23** » 02 Feb 2010, 12:17

the height corrector wasn't seized.so the apparent answer to my question was they can't tell or were fibbing.
new clip fitted and everything working nicely now cheers.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 02 Feb 2010, 13:16

every thing working nicely for now!!!!!!!!!, as it is usualy seized or partly seized linkages that cause the clip/plastic lonk to pop off,

regards malcolm

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 02 Feb 2010, 15:08

Its NEVER the height corrector that siezes, its the unit that it sits on with the two levers at fault!

The TWO levers useually sieze up! The levers should be free to "Swing".

If its working ok at the moment without any freeing up, then chances are in a few months time it WILL pop the clip OR EVEN WORSE Snap the Anti roll bar clamp!!! This ive seen a good few times!

As Xac says, the height corrector needs unbolting from the unit (Two 11mm bolts facing downwards) and the unit unbolting from the car to be freed up properly.. Its not easy freeing it up on the car the levers need a lot of working!

Theres 3 Torx head bolts holding the unit on, two facing the spare wheel well, on the subframe cross member, and the third hidden on the side were it meets the anti sink Sphere bracket..

Not really a job for some one who doesn't really know much about linkages, or pipe work really.

Paul

Xantidote · Post by **Xantidote** » 02 Feb 2010, 17:21

As a stopgap measure, do as Anders suggests - douse the mechanism with lubricant. I do it on a regular basis. Old engine oil would do, but I prefer to use spray grease.

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rear suspension fault on xantia 1.9td

rear suspension fault on xantia 1.9td

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