Anti-Sink & Regulator Spheres

[Citroenmad]

We have a case in the garage with a few spheres cut open, you can see the damage caused by running them too low on gas etc. Cant remember if there is a tripple diaphram one, its been a while since iv seen it!

Chris.

[AndersDK]

9812, 5293.03, sort of a part number.

9812 is the PR number or production date of the sphere = Sept20, 2003
5293.03 is the Citroen part number

[xmexclusive]

Thanks Anders, knowing how to tell how old a NOS sphere is is a bonus.

John

[Clogzz]

Thanks a lot, Anders.

I never knew that spheres had a PR number, and it’s very useful to know.
As for 5293.03, it looked like half a part number to me.

[cachaciero]

Thanks John and Jim !

I learned about green balls when new rear sphere boxes said “Urepan – very hot and very cold countries”.
A mechanic at the time showed me old black rubbery diaphragms that had turned to goo.
He also had three-layered clear-coloured diaphragms that looked like they operated more like speaker cones than rubber membranes.
The three-layered diaphragms don’t like it cold, and aren’t used under the car, where in areas of the Nordic countries they may be in the frost for weeks on end.

We discussed diaphragms on Aussiefrogs with Simon Mandrake at the time, with links to the manufacturers; Bayer and Rhein Chemie; but I can’t dig up the topics because it’s become too slow there with animated advertising.
You may soon have Simon crawling under your cars, because the last he posted is that he was going to live in the UK.

Just a minor challenge The bit about three layered diaphrams not liking cold and arn't used under the car, then can you explain how it is that the C5 hydractive + has four under the car and the C6 five?.
Another bit of data to be aware of, the multilayer diaphragm saucer shaped spheres have an internal spike to puncture the diaphragm if they get "too compressed"

Cachaciero

[Clogzz]

The C5 and C6 have the wide ovoid sphere where the diaphragm flexes less for the same displacement.
The cold reduces the ability to flex, so where the flexion is reduced because of the larger diameter, the immunity to cold is increased.
The Xantia’s green multi-layered sphere has the same size and shape as the rubbery sphere, where the diaphragm flexes comparatively more because of its smaller diameter.

The spike, I’ve read of before, but can’t see the benefit of suddenly going from a low sphere to a flat sphere.

[cachaciero]

------phragm flexes comparatively more because of its smaller diameter.

The spike, I’ve read of before, but can’t see the benefit of suddenly going from a low sphere to a flat sphere.

Money my friend money! Citroens price for a new sphere is extremely pricey.
Citroens explanation is if i understand the words correctly that it is a safety feature to prevent the sphere exploding. Personaly I prefer the money theory. Sphere gets a little flat, big bump oh ! theres another £140.00.

Cachaciero

[Clogzz]

Thinking money too.
I’d rather expect an explosion from all that nitrogen being suddenly blown into the hydraulics.
Maybe it’s also a way to defeat the re-gassers.
I used to get my rubbery spheres re-gassed.
If they didn’t break during re-gassing, that was it … they’d made it.

The front spheres are still the original ones, 14 years old, and the front still has bounciness in it.
The only re-gasser where I’m now has retired, and the Citroën dealer is talking 4- to $A500, £200 plus per front strut sphere.
At that price, I’d rather get around on the back of a stolen donkey; and that’s probably coming anyway.

[Mandrake]

Thanks John and Jim !

I learned about green balls when new rear sphere boxes said “Urepan – very hot and very cold countries”.
A mechanic at the time showed me old black rubbery diaphragms that had turned to goo.
He also had three-layered clear-coloured diaphragms that looked like they operated more like speaker cones than rubber membranes.
The three-layered diaphragms don’t like it cold, and aren’t used under the car, where in areas of the Nordic countries they may be in the frost for weeks on end.

We discussed diaphragms on Aussiefrogs with Simon Mandrake at the time, with links to the manufacturers; Bayer and Rhein Chemie; but I can’t dig up the topics because it’s become too slow there with animated advertising.

To my understanding you have it right - both Urepan and Desmopan are used in "standard" single layer spheres, the only difference being their temperature ratings, the two materials operate most reliably in different temperature ranges, so you see one type being used for rear suspension and the other for front suspension, also depending on the climate of the area the car is sold in you will get different sphere types.

The multilayer (3 dimples) spheres have three layers - the two outer layers are Urepan or Desmopan, I can't remember which, (but only one type is used) while the 3rd layer sandwiched in between them is a thin non porous plastic like film, whose material name I've also forgotten. It is archived somewhere on Aussiefrogs...

I've noticed that cars sold in colder climates (like Christchurch in NZ) didn't come fitted with multilayer spheres at the front, whereas ones that were sold in the North Island usually were....

You may soon have Simon crawling under your cars, because the last he posted is that he was going to live in the UK.

Haha, well spotted...yes in July, Visa application permitting. Mind you I may not have a car to crawl under for quite some time...

Regards,
Simon

[DickieG]

You may soon have Simon crawling under your cars, because the last he posted is that he was going to live in the UK.

Haha, well spotted...yes in July, Visa application permitting. Mind you I may not have a car to crawl under for quite some time...

Regards,
Simon

I'm sure we can find a few for you over here Simon

[foxtrotuk]

BK means Break (Brake?), ie, the Estate model, and BL means Berline, which is the Hatchback model. Also TT means "Tous Types", or All Types. Found that on a Finnish website using a translator, hope it helps.