My ZX Estate

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paulcloke
Posts: 13
Joined: 06 Jun 2011, 14:29

My ZX Estate

Unread post by paulcloke »

hi all, just joined up to the site so thought i would start a thread. i have had a fair bit of experiance with these cars now as i have had 5 Bx's, 3 xantias and 1 xsara. but the other day i spotted a ZX aura TD estate sat in a drive with a for sale sign in the window. at the min im driving a fiat cinquecento (because of a ban) and have a baby so we need something bigger. so i thought i would have a look. turns out the car failed the mot on a bit of welding (sills) so it was up for £250.

had a good look round it but it was parked under a tree for 6 months so was filthy ended up buying it for £150, a real cheap car in my oppinion. it has a 2" thick service history that goes back to almost new.engine and gearbox spot on. interior pretty much mint. outside cleans up very well.

rear suspension needs looking at as its very stiff but wheels sit as they should and needs a battery. few other silly little bits but nothing major

the guy evan cleaned it up a bit for me.

Image
Image
will add more pics when i get a chance to get out and play. any tips or advise about the car will be appreciated
if your car breaks down, dont think of it as a unreliable pain that only costs you money and makes you walk everywhere.
think of it as a well tuned machine that likes to make sure its driver keeps in shape
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handyman
Posts: 1107
Joined: 20 May 2003, 18:38
x 2

Unread post by handyman »

Hullo Paul and welcome to the Forum.

Two questions I would pose about this car. How bad are the rusted sills? Is there any movement on the rear suspension?

Rusted sills tend to be a bit of a nightmare on these cars, as the floorpan can also be affected. I would also look at the rear subframe mounting points if there is any rust around the rear of the sills. I have seen ZXs where the floorpan and sills had seperated making repair a real, and sometimes uneconomic, challenge.

If there is a little movement on the rear suspension, it might just be partial seizure of the torsion bars. Take off the rear suspension units and check that they are not seized or worn. If the torsion bars are completely seized, unusual, it might be as well to get another rear subframe assembly complete. The Xsara estate and the Peugeot equivalent, 309 and maybe the 307, share all these same components. If you do swap backends, get the one with the same brakes, ie drum or discs.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Handyman
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paulcloke
Posts: 13
Joined: 06 Jun 2011, 14:29

hi

Unread post by paulcloke »

hi mate and thanks for the welcome. the drivers sill has been welded up at both ends but only small repairs (about 2" square plate) but the middle has a small hole about 1" round. rear sub frame mounts look ok. 1 of the front sub frame mounts has been welded but i may redo it as its not my idea of good welding. the floor pan all looks ok but i plan to whip the seats and carpets out and give it a good going over. i think the rear shocks may be gone, it has slight movements but not much, almost seems like the shocks have popped and its riding the springs close to the bump stops. any idea how big the gap should be between the top of the tyre and the arch? i knew the car would need a bit more work than i could see but since me and my dad can both weld i figured (for £150 its well worth saving) as everything else is spot on
if your car breaks down, dont think of it as a unreliable pain that only costs you money and makes you walk everywhere.
think of it as a well tuned machine that likes to make sure its driver keeps in shape
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paulcloke
Posts: 13
Joined: 06 Jun 2011, 14:29

h

Unread post by paulcloke »

i went out today to have a closer look at my rear suspension, it turns out that the drivers side is stiff and seems to be a tiny amount lower than the passenger side (passenger side seems fine). is it possible that the shock has popped a seal and then locked up? any ideas welcome. tried bouncing up and dwn on the tow bar but it didnt want to move much.
if your car breaks down, dont think of it as a unreliable pain that only costs you money and makes you walk everywhere.
think of it as a well tuned machine that likes to make sure its driver keeps in shape
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RichardW
Forum Treasurer
Posts: 12477
Joined: 07 Aug 2002, 17:12
x 1443

Unread post by RichardW »

It's pretty easy to jack up and remove the bottom bolt on the damper - this will then allow you to see if arm swings easily or not. My money is rather on the bearings in the trailing arm pivot being shot, which probaly means replacing the subframe.... :cry:
Richard W
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citronut
Posts: 10937
Joined: 29 Apr 2005, 00:46
x 94

Unread post by citronut »

im with Richard on this,

regards malcolm
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handyman
Posts: 1107
Joined: 20 May 2003, 18:38
x 2

Unread post by handyman »

And I'm with Richard & Malcolm on this. :?

H
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citroenxm
Fallen Hero
Posts: 8061
Joined: 30 Dec 2004, 23:10
x 70

Unread post by citroenxm »

I found it quite scarey how bad the ZX's are for rust really!

Its not the outer panels that are a problem but as said above the underneath..

Cills ARE bad for it, as also is the front subframe rear mounting points to body, just under the front footwells.. They just DO NOT seem to have the same standard as the Xantia for protection. Im yet to see an awefully bad car thats not been accident damged repaired ...

Even the Hatch's are bad.. Having said all this I can see theres a damm good looking car there. Im the same with the XM's and in the middle of sorting an XM SED 2.1 thats bad on the cills.

Paul
Sharing a pug 207 1.6 hdi Sw 16v.
M reg Xm 2.1 td auto exclusive S2 269k and rising
L reg XM V6 12v SEi auto .. Light project

A very sad...
1994 XM 2.1 d auto
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paulcloke
Posts: 13
Joined: 06 Jun 2011, 14:29

h

Unread post by paulcloke »

cheers guys, to be honest im thinking rear subframe :( . does anyone know if the estate has a different subframe to the hatch? (i guessing yes) i know i could use one off a 306 or xsara but would it have to be an estate?

also how much roughly would a good secondhand one cost and would there be any differences ie ride hieght, camber, shocks?

as for the rot issues, your right lol, mine has had welding done previously to the sills. as well as to the chassis quite close to the subframe mount on drivers side.

the car was really well looked after but when the last owner got it for there daughter to learn in she refused to drive it so it just got left to sit in the garden

im intending to get rid of any surface rust under the car and give it a good coat of waxoil. but bodywork wise its great. although i do miss my old xantia estate :cry:
if your car breaks down, dont think of it as a unreliable pain that only costs you money and makes you walk everywhere.
think of it as a well tuned machine that likes to make sure its driver keeps in shape
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citronut
Posts: 10937
Joined: 29 Apr 2005, 00:46
x 94

Unread post by citronut »

i think the estates have extra tourtion bars to the hatch/saloon, also if replaceing the back axle/sub frame find one with the same breaks ( drums or discs ) as what is on your car, just makes it an easyer job,

the reason the front outrigers rot is because E JUTS jack on them which breaks/damages the protective ruberised coating,

SAXO's suffer in the same way, and they are usualy fin if they aint been jacke on,

MICK MOOSE tyre companys and the likes just sling the jack under there with no care or knowledge of what they are doing :evil:


regards malcolm
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handyman
Posts: 1107
Joined: 20 May 2003, 18:38
x 2

Unread post by handyman »

As I stated earlier, and has been re-iterated by Malc, if you need to replace the rear sub-frame assemby, you can ONLY fit the estate version, as the saloon is different.

Xsara estates were the same as the ZX, and possibly Peugeot 309 or 307s, if they used the self steering rear ends that the ZX had. Get one with the same rear brakes, to save yourself a whole lot of hassle.

As for prices, smarty pants here, :P :P , bought a rear beam assembly, with arms and hubs, for 99P! :shock: :bd: :bd: , but that was an exception on that well-known fleecing auction site. Nobody else bid on it!

I have bought them from breakers yards for sub £100, and seen them advertised for alot more on Ebay and the like. You need to check that what you are buying is better than what you are taking off! :roll:

The other alternative is to strip out your one and rebuild it, then you'll know it is right.

Handyman
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citronut
Posts: 10937
Joined: 29 Apr 2005, 00:46
x 94

Unread post by citronut »

the only trouble with reconning your original axle is untill you strip it down you wont know if there is damage to other bits, that causes others to go the second hand axle route,

you could give this lot a call as they are cit/pug specialist breakers,

http://www.pcr767676.co.uk/

regards malcolm
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paulcloke
Posts: 13
Joined: 06 Jun 2011, 14:29

h

Unread post by paulcloke »

cheers guys, im good with a set of tools but i have never re built a rear axle, does anyone know of a thread that would explain the procedure as i have tried searching but i cant find hardly anything. :o

i may try re building it. but worst case ill just sling a whole axle under it. in the mean time im just toying around with a few bits to tidy it up. you never no i may find its just a siezed up shock but i doubt it. :lol:
if your car breaks down, dont think of it as a unreliable pain that only costs you money and makes you walk everywhere.
think of it as a well tuned machine that likes to make sure its driver keeps in shape
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paulcloke
Posts: 13
Joined: 06 Jun 2011, 14:29

yee haw

Unread post by paulcloke »

well had a good few day, put an axle on the car last week then put a plate on the sill and 1 on the inner arch then whacked it in for MOT, it flew through with 1 advisory for the angle of my washer jets. been sorted now, tax going on it in the morning and there you have it, another diesel citroen saved from the scrap man lol also did all the bumper striping and badges blue. will try to get pics today if i can and put them on later
if your car breaks down, dont think of it as a unreliable pain that only costs you money and makes you walk everywhere.
think of it as a well tuned machine that likes to make sure its driver keeps in shape
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Huskyxantia
(Donor 2025)
Posts: 3537
Joined: 30 Jul 2018, 22:11
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Re: yee haw

Unread post by Huskyxantia »

paulcloke wrote: 03 Jul 2011, 08:24 well had a good few day, put an axle on the car last week then put a plate on the sill and 1 on the inner arch then whacked it in for MOT, it flew through with 1 advisory for the angle of my washer jets. been sorted now, tax going on it in the morning and there you have it, another diesel citroen saved from the scrap man lol also did all the bumper striping and badges blue. will try to get pics today if i can and put them on later
Old post ... What happened ??
I've hanging ... I read these old posts get to the end and ................. ????

Arghhhhh ..
Good read this was .
Husky. :? Thinking outside of the box is better than sitting in a dark one.
:-D
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