Xantia Brakes and Suspension

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
Stephen
Posts: 8
Joined: 31 May 2001, 15:55
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Xantia Brakes and Suspension

Post by Stephen »

I have been reading these pages and think they are brilliant. My brake and suspension problem could be related. The brakes have been feeling a little spongy recently on first use, but is ok after i'm off the drive. The car always sinks when first started, and I think that it "clicks" a lot. From your pages I am assuming that the accumulator shere may need replacing. Since the brakes are also playing up I was thinking of replacing the all LHM fluid at the same time. Is this a relatively simple task using a one-man-bleeding kit ? How much fluid will I need ? Are the sheres a pain to replace ?
andy hannett
Posts: 24
Joined: 07 Feb 2001, 00:05
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by andy hannett »

Stephen,
Firstly, if the car "clicks a lot ie more than once every minute or so then the accumulator sphere is knackered and needs replacement. The LHM should be changed every 60,000 miles or thereabouts. I would always recommend using hydraflush at this point to give the whole system a clean, this should be run in the car for around 1000 miles and then the LHM replaced. Make sure you clean all of the filters in the tank before you put the new LHM back in. About 3-4 litres of fluid are required.
Spheres can be a pain in the arse to get off and there is plenty of advice on this site and BX sites on how to change them. Word of advice for the accumulator make sure you have a chisel handy if required because it can get quite difficult to get off.
The spongyness of the brakes could be as a result of the accumulator or as a result of air in the back brake circuit. Park your car on the level with the engine running and press the brake, if the back goes down bleed the back brakes.
Have fun!!
Andy
Dave Bamber
Posts: 627
Joined: 25 Feb 2001, 02:17
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:
x 2

Post by Dave Bamber »

Stephen,
Sound advise from Andy above. He's also right about getting the sphere off. It took me an hour to get one off by old BX. I tried 2 different oil filter removing tools, bust them both, a large pipe wrench, no chance. Finally resorted to the hammer and chisel which I didn't want to use, as I didn't want to wave a hammer near the radiator! One small clout and off it came......
Stephen
Posts: 8
Joined: 31 May 2001, 15:55
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by Stephen »

Many thanks to Dave and Andy for your quick replies to my brake and suspension problem. The fun is due to start within a couple of weeks. One thing that I didn't mention was that the "shere" like symbol on the dash sometimes comes on, and may stay on for 5 minutes or so ? I am guessing that it may be associated with the accumulator problem. What is the difference between LHM and LHM+ ? Should a lubricant be added to one of the above during replacement ?
Thanks again.
Dave Bamber
Posts: 627
Joined: 25 Feb 2001, 02:17
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:
x 2

Post by Dave Bamber »

Stephen.
The light coming on is I think the low pressure warning light. This can be caused by low LHM, low pump pressure, faulty accumulator and/or sphere. Can anybody think of any more? LHM+ is just the latest spec of the stuff, so thats the one to go for. As it is a mineral oil, it should lubricate the pump and other bits and pieces.
Edited by - Dave Bamber on 12 Jun 2001 20:57:02
Stephen
Posts: 8
Joined: 31 May 2001, 15:55
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by Stephen »

Well, I went to GSF, got the accumulator, oil etc.. Psyched my self up for the task of sphere removal...The sphere moved with little more than hand pressure..BUT.. it did not match the replacement that I had bought. After a little telephoning and a shop revisit, it turns out that my '94 Xantia is fitted with an anti-sink sphere. One would be in shop next day. BE WARNED be shere aware.
Question - does anyone know if the anti-sink sphere basically replaces the accumulator sphere with the addition of the anti-sink valve ?
Also - Does any know where the pressure valve screw in the engine bay actually located ? The picture in the Haynes manual is no help for my '94 1.9TD SX Xantia.
User avatar
jonkw
Posts: 25
Joined: 24 Dec 2000, 05:00
Location: Luxton District
My Cars:

Post by jonkw »

I have mailed Stephen direct about this, could be that someone at the GSF branch may be confused..... I am, because the accumulator sphere is at the front of the car under the bonnet, whereas the anti sink sphere is at the rear in the middle. And they are completely uninterchangable!!!!
Jon
Andyspares Ltd
forum@andyspares.com
andy hannett
Posts: 24
Joined: 07 Feb 2001, 00:05
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by andy hannett »

Stephen,
you are in luck, i have just changed the front spheres on my 1.9TD SX and we found the offending bolt fairly easily.
open the bonnet and look down between the engine and the radiator, you should see the green accumulator sphere. this is attached to the pressure regulator and on the front of the regulator is the bleed screw that you need (between the engine and the radiator).
unless you have access to a lift, take off the air filter housing to gain access. the bolt head is 12mm and should only be turned half to one full turn. when loose there should be a hissing sound, when this stops the system is depressurised.
put the new sphere(s) on then tighten the screw BEFORE you start the engine.
Happy days
Andy
Stephen
Posts: 8
Joined: 31 May 2001, 15:55
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by Stephen »

Many thanks to Jon for clarification over spheres. The advice of putting a jubilee clip around the sphere, then using a small drift to get the thing turning worked like a charm. Accumulator has now been changed. Those bods at Citroen certainly do not make life easy - room wise - about the accumulator.
Going back to the anti-sink sphere - if it is faulty does cause the front and back to sink ? The back only has taken to sinking when left for a few hours ? I have a feeling that the sensing link may be seizing up. Why is it all going wrong at once ?
Tony
Posts: 9
Joined: 14 Jun 2001, 15:57
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by Tony »

While waiting for further info. on "my" LHM Tank topic, having again read your reply to Stephen clarifying which and where the anti-sink and accumulator spheres are, have you the time/space to clarify what the variations are. A local Citroen "specialist" garage told me that some have anti-sink spheres, some a valve, and others nothing at all. My '94 model has a central sphere at the rear, but it still sinks ????? If I sound confussed, your right.
Stephen
Posts: 8
Joined: 31 May 2001, 15:55
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by Stephen »

Just a small update. A while ( a week ?)after changing the accumulator sphere, the car started to wallow - a little as described by other members on these pages. I decided it was the front that was too bouncy, ie no dampening. Thought that it may be related to air in the system and/or fluid needing changing. After no satisfaction I decided that both the front spheres must have failed. Replaced spheres - no more bouncing. I can only think that the accumulator sphere change may have increased the pressure in the system to normal, expediting the failure of the front spheres which had got "used" to the lower pressure. I guess I should do the back ones now - just to be on the safe side. Does anyone know if the anti-sink sphere should be changed as a matter of course or only upon failure ?
Post Reply