Big weekend of Xantia love. Back on the road!

[mirafioriman]

Well, plenty to do on the Xantia this weekend

Gearbox driveshaft seals
Gearbox oil
Strut tops
Heated seat switches/wiring
Should really check the rear caliper alignment
Due a full service too

[ashy90]

Ahh, MK1 Xantia then if your doing the strut tops


What do you mean by aligning the rear calipers?

[mirafioriman]

Some done then major disaster! More details to follow.........

[andmcit]

Oh dear, that sounds ominous! Any help/advice needed??

[mirafioriman]

Just a replacement pipe!

[mirafioriman]

Photos to follow......

So, made a start today. Did both driveshaft seals. All done pretty quickly with no drama. Not filled with gear oil or tested yet though.

Then decided to do the strut tops:

Passenger side came apart easily enough, the new one was fitted and the suspension built back up.

Then the driver's side.....

The supply pipe wouldn't come out for love nor money. As the strut top was scrap I decided to try cutting it with the grinder and leaving a small bit to rotate to hopefully free the pipe. And calamity! The grinder kicked and went right through the pipe

So now I need to go to the breakers and get another pipe to fit. After the drama I discovered the reason the pipe wouldn't come out. Someone had fitted it without the rubber seal leading to the pipe jamming in place. That was why the union was nearly all the way in on the driver's side. It's pretty suprising it hadn't been leaking.

Every day is a school day!

And finally a question. Which way is the strut shaft aligned? Does the hole in the strut face the sphere or the input pipe?

[citroenxm]

Doesnt matter, the holes and faces are machined so they can go in ANY way --

If breakers fail you, Ive just removed a feed pipe from a W reg car and stored it...

NO Strut tops are scrap, they can ALL be re cycled and re built...

[mirafioriman]

I now own a scrap one

So photos:

New and old drivers side seals:



New seal fitted:



Driveshaft refitted:



New and old passenger side seals:



Painted the upper surfaces of the 'new' strut tops with black smoothrite:



Passenger side was not too bad:



Drivers had been 'repaired':



Passenger side fitted from above:



And from below. I also replaced the gaitors with ones from the scrap car as mine were past it and didn't hold onto the strut top:



Drivers side strut top before the calamity!



Notice the pipe still attached grrr!

[mirafioriman]

Well it's back in action. Visited the breakers this morning and got:



Not the easiest job getting pipes off a Xantia

Set about the car then. Drivers side inner wing needed a bit of work. Ground off the remains of the welded repair to the inner wing:



Painted the inner wing with black smoothrite and fitted the new strut top:



Then pipe fitting. No photos but a bit of swearing ensued

Anyway got the pipe out and in (not quite the original shape but close), filled the gearbox with oil and started her up. The suspension works

The drivers strut top was slightly rusty:



All is not good yet however. I discovered doing this job that both front struts are heavily rusted where the gaitor had been sitting. The were damaged and not fitted to the strut top and I'm guessing water has got in, sat at the bottom and over time corroded the struts. Looks like another trip to the breakers

Are all Xantia struts the same?

[Mothman]

Glad you have done a good job there but i can see a trip to a breaker is needed, the rust is worse than that of my 27 year old BX. Just goes to show that we need to try and keep the tinworm at bay with ruskiller and oil etc before it gets too bad. Keep up the good work bud and good luck with all that you have done.

Andy

[Xantidote]

I'd say the driver's strut top was on borrowed time

[citroenxm]

Are all Xantia struts the same?

All LX and SX struts will be the same, Im not 100% on the hydractive struts, the tops obviously are different on VSX/Exclusive's but best bet to get a strut off an LX or SX car.... (Small 3.5mm feed pipes) then you will be fine...

[Monkeyfeet]

Nice work, good pics too!

[mirafioriman]

Thanks for the strut info. There are a couple of Xantias in the breakers at the moment. I'll get the best pair I can from a car with the small feed pipes.

[citroenxm]

Find more strut tops like yours and you would soon sell them on easily Im sure!!!