Is it possible to transfer spheres from one car to another?

[Napoleon]

Umm, that's it, really.

[DickieG]

Yes, obviously compatibility can be an issue but if that's OK they can be moved from car to car as many times as you wish.

[Napoleon]

From what you said yesterday, DG, if I put the new ones from my old TD into this VSX, this would work, but the hydractive would not?

[DickieG]

From what you said yesterday, DG, if I put the new ones from my old TD into this VSX, this would work, but the hydractive would not?

Changing sphere's won't have any effect on whether the Hydractive is working, if it is working then using non Hydractive sphere's on your estate will give you a very soft ride, if the Hydractive isn't working then you'll get a ride similar to your SX Xantia.

[Napoleon]

I think I am obliged to use those off the old Xantia - they're only two weeks old. Not that there's anything 'wrong' with the VSX - it seems ok to me, it's just that I have no idea when or even if the spheres were changed on it. And the cost of those spheres will be unlikely to be recouped when I sell it.

If I were to remove the spheres from the SX, would this be straight forward as just unscrewing them,or would I have to go through some lengthy procedure involving lots of messy LHM? Maybe I should just hand both over to the garage and let them do it.

[addo]

Piece of cake, generally speaking. Dump the car to low, whilst still running I crack the pressure reg bleed screw a single turn. Let run for a minute, then switch off. Make sure the handbrake is on, then go for a cuppa or two - when returned, pump the brake pedal a couple of dozen times.

Front strut spheres are easiest like this; I jack the car up to do the rears - however as you have purged all excess fluid from the lines, drooping of the rear control arm will not generate appreciable fluid spillage. If the spheres do not come loose with a sharp rap upon the tool of choice, you may have to pressure up again to just budge them slightly before revisiting the whole depressurisation caper.

Anyway, most are really easy, although I find the rear centre sphere trying at times.

[CitroJim]

Hi Tim,

Hope the VSX is well up to expectations

here's all you ever needed to know about sphere changing but were afraid to ask...

[Citroenmad]

Yes your SX spheres will suit the corner spheres of your VSX. However the ride will still be effected if the centre soft spheres are low.

Hydractives cars have different corner spheres to non-hydractives, so swapping from a non-hydractive should make it softer however it will probably make the SX harder.

[Napoleon]

Well I'll be looking to ditch the SX in about a month's time, so not worried about the ride in that one. I can also put the yet-arrive Citroen radio cassette in the VSX as it has a quite nice JVC unit it it. As an aside, the original unit has a plug for the ipod, which has to be better than having 500 CDs in the car at one time.

[Xaccers]

I thought the seller said the spheres were changed only 18 months ago?
If they are genuine citroen spheres and your sx has amtek/gsf ones then I certainly wouldn't expect them to outlast the vsx spheres.
Also whoever buys the sx will have to pay at least £100 to replace the vsx spheres you fitted to it.

[Napoleon]

Did he? I'll go back and check his post.

Your second post is not something I'd considered - is that because the car won't run properly with VXS spheres in it?

[Napoleon]

Xac - here's the advert in the post (no mention of sphere change):

Xantia estate 1.9 turbo diesel...VSX model with hydractive suspension...electric windows x4...electric sunroof...towbar with twin electrics...self levelling suspension...front fog lights...keypad immobiliser...remote locking (needs new batteries for fob though(...recent oil and filter change...very economical at about 50mpg...pearlescent paint green/blue...alloy wheels...

Bad points....

Short MOT 13-5-12
Tax end April
Clutch pedal high
Previous owner had a smelly dog and it still notices a bit
One rear passenger seat a bit tatty but doesn't notice when in place


Other than that it's used everyday and not let me down.

Not sure if it's rare or not but open to offers...

[Citroenmad]

Your second post is not something I'd considered - is that because the car won't run properly with VXS spheres in it?

It will but it will be quite a bit firmer than it ought to be.

[Napoleon]

ok, thanks Chris.

Wondering if it should just go to a breakers, tbh. Only got 93k on the clock, however. Sod's law.

[Citroenmad]

Is there much wrong with your SX? Cant be bad enough to scrap with only 90K?