Xantia Front Strut Collapse!

rossnunn · Unread post by **rossnunn** » 16 Feb 2005, 04:33

When I went to see my Mechanic friend he had a N reg 1.9TD Xantia on the ramp that had rusted through the mouning collor for the drivers side suspension leg sending the leg, complete upwards and serverly damaging the bonnet (as you'd expect) it also damaged the fluid lines, so the Xant only rose one the nearside.
I've a pic of the leg I'll post up soon, but thats a little scary, mothers is a N reg & the same colour too! Hence its booked in just to ckeck all is well.

Unread post by **alan s** » 16 Feb 2005, 04:56

This was an XM trick apparently, that was passed on to the Xantia.
I have heard in the past of it also happening to BXs mainly in Malaysia where they have high humidity, high temps and high rainfall all enhanced by pretty crook roads and the mixture creates havoc.
Double Chevron has made up a mod for his Xantia that at least stops the strut top disappearing through the bonnet if it lets go but I have also seen a procedure for checking them prior to the event which he may also have a copy of.
Be a thrill at about 80MPH I'd imagine!![:0][:0]
Alan S[}:)]

IAN.D · Unread post by **IAN.D** » 16 Feb 2005, 07:00

I recently had to replace the pasenger side one on my car.
When checking car noticed a crack about two inches long on the mount that went all the way through!
Needless to say a trip to scrap yard was called into action pretty Quick!

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 16 Feb 2005, 12:20

Curious how things change. 35 years ago the first thing you looked at on elderly second hand Fords and Hillmans was the condition of the strut turrets as they were prone to rust at about 5 years or less. Repairs were common and cheapish and successful.
I suppose now cars don't rust like they used to no one takes any notice of strut tops.
I'm sure that running round on flat spheres hastens problems.
Jeremy

rossnunn · Unread post by **rossnunn** » 17 Feb 2005, 00:13

Here's the Pic
http://img168.exs.cx/img168/5300/xant11gl.jpg

Unread post by **philhoward** » 17 Feb 2005, 02:07

EEEK!

davethewheel · Unread post by **davethewheel** » 17 Feb 2005, 05:11

thats not a pretty site!

NiSk · Unread post by **NiSk** » 17 Feb 2005, 14:29

Yepp, that exactly the same fault as on the XM! There's a guy over here in Sweden who has made up a repair kit for the XM, since new parts cost a fortune and all the cars at the scrappers are either also rusted through or have been taken. Note also that on the XM (don't know if the same applies to the Xant) - there are a number of different types of top strut mounting - different pipe diameters (HA 1, HA 2, no-HA) and different end cones on the strut piston rod.
//NiSk

NiSk · Unread post by **NiSk** » 23 Feb 2005, 02:10

I've now found the link to the guy who makes/sells the mod for the XM suspension turret. He may well be persuadable if enough Xantia owners show interest in a similar solution for their cars. . .
http://web.telia.com/~u43116231/index2.htm
//NiSk