xantia suspension problem

[s71mpy]

hi
my xantia rear suspension was solid and bouncy the front was ok,
i changed both rear spheres but now the rear is so soft i can easily raise and lower to the max easily with 1 hand on whilst the front has become solid,
before i change the front ones is there something else thats causing the problem
at same time i replaced rear spheres i also replaced a front to rear pipe that had small leak, ive raised and lowered suspension many times but still same
on full height suspension is stiff front and rear which makes me believe air in system is not the issue

[Hell Razor5543]

I would first suggest doing a Citrobics session, to move any air in circulatory pipes back to the reservoir. Once you have done this I would then bleed the brakes (make sure to have 1l LHM available), to get any residual air out from those pipes. That way you have eliminated air as a cause. When I had green blooded Citroens I would ALWAYS do this when I had worked on the hydro-pneumatic system, to make sure air was never an issue.

Oh, welcome to the forum, by the way.

[HDI]

Which model and year Xantia is it?

[s71mpy]

2.0hdi forte yr 2000

[HDI]

Ha, same as mine! So at least it doesn't have hydractive suspension, that can be a nightmare! Is the ride height normal, front and rear?

[s71mpy]

yes height ok

[s71mpy]

going to bleed brakes tomorrow and change centre front sphere as i think i got a spare ,rock hard both sides on front seems too much of coincidence both sides fail same time, ill let you know how it goes

[xantia_v6]

I think that you have been sold the wrong spheres for the rear of your car. Is there any marking on them that we can check?
At the front, spheres must be suspected unless tested.

[white exec]

Unlikely that the front will have gone from OK to solid so quickly.
At maximum height, everything will feel solid, by the way: no springing available. That's normal.
Hopefully thorough bleeding and citrobics will show improvement.
After everything's been bled, dip a dample of LHM from the reservoir (small transparent container) and check there are no bubbles in it, even microscopic ones.

Mike is dead right about checking that sphere types are correct.
Please post details about exactly which ones were fitted.

[s71mpy]

barcode sticker with qbhc527 and number on sphere sp241 20-11-06

[white exec]

Can't find anything on the web about qbhc527, except this thread...which is interesting...
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... 2&start=15
See Mike T's post of Friday Aug 31 2007.

The 20-11-06 figure looks very like a Lizarte sphere reference, although I haven't been able to pin it down to a specific car. Lizarte have a poor reputation for spheres.

[superloopy]

I'd say 20-11-06 was a manufacturing date in which case thats over 11yrs old and more than likely sat on a shelf gradually going flat. Take it off and get it pressure tested or replace.

Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk

[s71mpy]

dont think the 20-11-06 is a date because ive seen others with same format that cant be a date because numbers too big

[white exec]

If the rear is "so soft..." that won't be flat spheres.
As said, could be incorrect spheres, though (totally wrong damping characteristic) or too high a gas pressure (extra springing).
Where were those 'qbhc' spheres bought? Ask them which make they are, and what the manufacturer's reference number is - because you are having trouble still.

Correct rear corner spheres spec for non-Hydractive Xantia is as follows:
Saloon: 400/30/1.2 (= 400cc, 30bar, 1.2mm damping orifice)
Estate: 400/40/1.25

[electronmirror]

SP241 is for Xantia Estate Hydractive rear corner sphere (400/40/0.8)

Is the OP's car estate or hatchback?