Xantia bumpy suspension

[Keith77]

Hi,
I've noticed recently that my '01 xantia estate seems overly bumpy when negotiating fairly mild potholes and uneven road surfacing. It feels too hard. I'm a relative novice with xantia suspension, but looking in the handbook it seems the gauge disc should be between the two lines. Mine is just above (about 2mm) the top line/disc.
Could this be why I'm having a bumpy ride? If so, any help in rectifying it would be most appreciated.
Thanks.
Oh, and by the way, the car rises and lowers using the lever pretty normally I think, although it does take about 10 secs to rise after starting the engine(front followed by rear). Thanks again.

[Xaccers]

Sounds like you need new spheres.
What spec level is your car?
Top spec has extra spheres, while the two lowest spec have 6.
If its the higjer spec then the hydractive system could be faulty so not switching into soft mode.

[citroenxm]

Second that.. Spheres.. no conrtest! The four corner Green Balls... Two under the bonnet, two under the car at rear.. May be well worth dooing the one on the front of the engine too...

[Keith77]

Oh dear sound painful/expensive.
It is a 1.8i 16v forte. The suspension isn't horrifically bumpy - my other half hasn't even noticed it- it's just a fair bit firmer than it used to be.
Will it need a trip to the garage or is it fairly straightforward?
Many thanks.

[CitroJim]

It's not painful nor expensive Keith

Spheres are about £25 a corner and swapping them is easy enough.

Have a read of this guide here and all will become clear.

It is well in the remit of DIY, even to making a 'XAC Special' sphere removal tool but please carefully read and understand the safety warnings contained within the guide.

[citroenxm]

Shes an Ordinary setup then... you only need FOUR corners, and the one on the engine...

Depends how your DIY is, but its NOT a hard job.. so long as the old spheres are NOT too tightly fitted by previous persons...

Anyway, Spheres from Citroen Services, also known as AEP Direct, are around 30 quid each, sold as PAIRS... and the centre one at the front on the engine, known as the Accumilator Sphere is a little bit more...

Pleanty of advice on here on how to do it...

Paul

PS: JIM... Your too fast!!! STILL...

[Xaccers]

Shes an Ordinary setup then... you only need FOUR corners, and the one on the engine...

Depends how your DIY is, but its NOT a hard job.. so long as the old spheres are NOT too tightly fitted by previous persons...

Anyway, Spheres from Citroën Services, also known as AEP Direct, are around 30 quid each, sold as PAIRS... and the centre one at the front on the engine, known as the Accumilator Sphere is a little bit more...

Pleanty of advice on here on how to do it...

Paul

PS: JIM... Your too fast!!! STILL...

I think you've been hanging around with early sinkers too much Paul, you've forgotten the rear accumulator

The Forté has 6 spheres; 4 corners for the suspension, the main accumulator at the front of the engine, and the rear accumulator up behind the spare wheel on the cross member (called the anti-sink sphere because it was fitted to cars with anti-sink valves).
Unlike the other spheres, the LHM pipe screws directly into it. You'll need a 9mm flare spanner, and also a replacement seal.
While there are tests to check the condition of the other spheres (bouncing the corners, timing the ticks from the regulator that the accumulator screws into with the engine running and making sure there's more than 30seconds between them), there isn't a reliable way of testing the condition of the rear accumulator whilst on the car, so it is best to change it at the same time as the accumulator sphere.

[lexi]

If the op has a look at the price of shockers and springs on conventional cars.........it aint expensive.

[addo]

Unless he buys some of the chav gear, like the Koni yellow lowering spheres. They're a bit dearer.

[Keith77]

That's great, lots of help there. Doesn't sound too bad, although 30 quid a sphere means going be over £200 after garage have had it (I don't have ramps). That's relatively cheap I suppose compared to conventional suspension replacement, but the problem I have is that I am selling it to my dad for £500, and unsure whether to bother sorting it before I hand it over, as he'll probably only use it for a year max.
Was hoping the reservoir might just have been in need of adjusting!
Someone mentioned ' bouncing' the corners to check the spheres- what should I be looking for? I'm thinking maybe if the corners are ok I can get away with just replacing the two accumulator spher s?

[citroenxm]

no.. it HAS to be the corner ones.. if its a years use youwill get away with just the four corner ones!! there wont be any need to go over board and swap middle rear ones... ive not on one i had for 4 years and itchad no detremental affect... just do the corner ones you be right..

[Xaccers]

Look at AEP for the spheres, I got two, an oil filter and cabin filter delivered for just over £50

[citroenxm]

and AEP Glasgow ones are better then GSF ones in my experiance.. every time i get gsf ones they just dont seem soft enough at all...

[Dommo]

Where are you based keith? Maybe someone on here can show you what to do, or do it for some beer!

[ecohouse1]

Bummer - I had just ordered and fitted my 6 spheres from Plieades at £24.95ea just because I used to use them before and I thought they did recon spheres and took old ones back in exchange but they don't appearto do this now. Will remember AEP next time - they have good prices!

Funnily enough I was expecting the Xant to waft along as I remember the GSA and the BX's doing after their new balls but it still seemed a firmer ride than I remember in my previous hydraulic cars. Notice the old spheres I removed had late 06 and early 07 dates on them so felt they were needing done.

The car has much sharper handling now and rides better loaded up - but with just me in the car, it doesn't feel that much softer.