Suspension question? C5 and Xantia

[kentc5]

Just wondered

When the car is parked for hours... ie over night.
Is it best to lower the suspension to the lowest setting? Or just leave it to the normal driving position?

Cheers in advance guys.

[citronut]

they are meant to be left in the normal ride position,

fully up and down are workshop levels really

[CitroJim]

If you drop an anti-sink Xantia to low you'll find it'll take a long time (relatively) to come back up to normal ride height. This is because the part of the hydraulic pump that pressurises the suspension and brakes only has two pistons. The other six are used independently for the power steering only.

A proper 'sinker' such as the earliest Xantias, the BX, the S1 XMs and so on use all six pump pistons for the suspension brakes and power steering with priority given to the brakes and suspension. As a result they do rise a lot faster from their belly.

There is a train of thought that suggests that if an anti-sink is left parked up for a while it's a good idea to drop it on its belly as this might improve sphere life by reducing the load on their diaphragms. This is based on a general observation that spheres in sinkers seem to last a bit longer.

Another advantage of a sinker is the height correctors get plenty of exercise whereas on an anti-sink they get less so it's always a good idea on an anti-sink to carry out regular 'Citarobics' - raising and lowering the suspension to full high and to full low and back again several times in quickish succession. This also helps dissipate entrained air in the LHM as well as exercising the height correctors.

[citroenxm]

A proper 'sinker' such as the earliest Xantias, the BX, the S1 XMs and so on use all six pump pistons for the suspension brakes and power steering with priority given to the brakes and suspension. As a result they do rise a lot faster from their belly.

ALSO Early Mark 2 XMs.. Anti sink was not fitted to Mk.2 XM's untill around late 1996 (N reg). Early Mk.2, M and N's are sinkers. (At least with the 2.1 TD Engine anyway)