Xantia ride quality on normal-high setting

greg123 · Unread post by **greg123** » 23 Feb 2010, 00:36

Hi guys,

I'm sorting out a Xantia '98 1.9td Estate and as I'm not familiar with the ride hopng you can tell me if the spheres are getting old or not.

Suspension goes all the way up/down now I have serviced the front/rear height correctors. It does so pretty smoothly and fairly quickly (well within a minute).

On normal height it rides and drives well, if not super smooth (it's little better than other cars but swallows up road calming humps easily so it's obviously working.

However on the 'high' height (not service maximum high) setting the ride is bouncy as anything, like the suspension is solid.

Does this indicate the spheres on the front are about had it? It is mainly jumping around on the front and I didn't think it should do that unless on full service high where you are not supposed to drive.

Comments welcome, I couldn't find this on a search.

Greg.

Unread post by **Dommo** » 23 Feb 2010, 01:20

Im not sure how good the ride quality should be on that setting, however I understand you're only supposed to use that setting at very low speeds, to quote the owners manual:

"Intermediate height:
Provides increased ground clearance for temporary use.
For use on poor surfaces at very low speeds."

So that means it probably would feel bouncy at normal road speeds on that setting?

Stempy · Unread post by **Stempy** » 23 Feb 2010, 07:00

Indeed, the intermediate setting is much the same as the high setting and you wont get any suspension travel, it's only there to get you through deep puddles, which is just as well this weather

marsalek · Unread post by **marsalek** » 23 Feb 2010, 07:52

Hi guys,
the mid-high position does not work properly on any Xantia I have ever seen. Even Citroen specialists in my garage could not fix it. So I asked elswhere (Far East, Czech republic

) and got an advice, how to do it.

Here are two pics, what should be changed on the linkage to the both height correctors. Afterwards, one should move the marked metal plates along the linkage, so that the original height setting is kept.

Best regards.
Karel

Source: http://www.citroeny.cz/forumxxx/viewtop ... 7853#77853

davek-uk · Unread post by **davek-uk** » 23 Feb 2010, 09:56

That's excellent Karel. This is the first time I have seen this modification. Something else on the things to do list.

Dave

Unread post by **Old-Guy** » 23 Feb 2010, 18:57

Greg

I can confirm that even with new spheres all round, our 95MY 1.9sx Estate is just like yours. The difference between High and Intermediate is a small amount of suspension travel rather than the suspension being locked against the rebound stops.

Karel - that's a very useful modification filed for future use many thanks.

Sid_the_Squid · Unread post by **Sid_the_Squid** » 23 Feb 2010, 20:18

That is indeed fascinating Karel, in the 5 Xantias I've had the intermediate hight never seemed to be correct, well compared to my previous BX.

I think its worth making this a sticky post.

Unread post by **Dommo** » 23 Feb 2010, 23:04

What is it supposed to be like? In between normal ride height and service high? As apposed to pretty much service high?

Cheers.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 23 Feb 2010, 23:12

You should never drive it in high, as the only suspension you have is the bounce in your tyres. Its only there to help pas through deep waater, steep/high curbs etc. Also handy if hitching up to a trailer etc.

Intermediate is better, if its set right you can confortably drive in this setting, but some cars seem to go to almost high in this setting. This can be adjusted by the above, though obviously normal is where you want to be when driving.

bxman · Unread post by **bxman** » 03 Mar 2010, 19:08

Brilliant.
the times I have cursed the system
I would never have dreamed the answer was so simple.

THANKS marsalek

it works a treat.

marsalek · Unread post by **marsalek** » 03 Mar 2010, 20:36

My pleasure

Karel

falling-out-with-my-car · 25 Sep 2016, 13:42

Citroenmad wrote:You should never drive it in high, as the only suspension you have is the bounce in your tyres. Its only there to help pas through deep waater, steep/high curbs etc. Also handy if hitching up to a trailer etc.

Intermediate is better, if its set right you can confortably drive in this setting, but some cars seem to go to almost high in this setting. This can be adjusted by the above, though obviously normal is where you want to be when driving.

I had to show the manual to a tyre company that thought it was ok to put the car in service height to get the car on the ramps.
he thought it was ok to drive it in high setting.

white exec · Unread post by **white exec** » 25 Sep 2016, 15:34

Intermediate-high should be sufficient to climb a service ramp, even with rigid mudflaps fitted.
Component damage aside, traction/grip in Highest can be poor, due to bounce/skip.

French Car Forum

Xantia ride quality on normal-high setting

Xantia ride quality on normal-high setting

subject

Re:

Re: Xantia ride quality on normal-high setting