Xantia 2.0 hdi suspension

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bill hughes
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Xantia 2.0 hdi suspension

Post by bill hughes »

Hi all
my Xantia is bouncing and wallowing all over the place, I know the roads are bad but it does it even if there is a dip in the road surface, My 1.9 front end went solid and I replaced the front spheres and that cured it but this is not the same problem as the front and rear end move when I push on them, anyone got any ideas what it might be, any help appreciated

Many thanks Bill
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi suspension

Post by myglaren »

Sounds like the wrong spheres with insufficient damping.
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi suspension

Post by xantia_v6 »

Does it have hydractive suspension (8 spheres) or normal (6 spheres)?
Is the ride-height correct at both ends?
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi suspension

Post by bill hughes »

Xantia V6

It is the normal 6 sphere model, when I start the car the rear rises and then falls slightly, it seems to sit ok but I dont know how to check the ride height
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi suspension

Post by xantia_v6 »

As a rough guide, on a Xantia, the rear wheel arch should be about 1 finger width above the top of the tyre, and the front wheel arch about 3 finger widths above the tyre.

Also check the view from behind, to see that both rear wheels are perpendicular to the ground.

[edited because I had front and rear swapped]
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi suspension

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

I thought it was three fingers at the FRONT, and one finger at the REAR?
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi suspension

Post by xantia_v6 »

Hell Razor5543 wrote: 28 Aug 2019, 15:37 I thought it was three fingers at the FRONT, and one finger at the REAR?
You are correct, I could not see my Xantia when I wrote that. I will correct the post above.
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi suspension

Post by Skull »

Hell Razor5543 wrote: 28 Aug 2019, 15:37 I thought it was three fingers at the FRONT, and one finger at the REAR?
Just like my Mrs :dom:
On my 4th Citroën Xantia (X2 HDi (110))
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi suspension

Post by white exec »

Bill,

Correct sphere spec for your non-Hydractive Xantia (saloon) is

Front: 400cc/55bar/1.5mm
Rear: 400/30/1.2
Accumulator: 400/62/-- (Acc has no damping)

Uncontrolled wallowing is, as said, usually down to wrong sphere spec having been fitted.
Using an Accumulator sphere (or a Hydractive centre sphere) at the corners will produce what you describe.
Spheres should carry some kind of indentification marking - varies with sphere manufacturer.

A corner sphere will have a tiny central hole (the damping aperture).
Acc sphere has a hole of about 5mm diameter.

One other cause of poor suspension behaviour can be the hydraulic system not having been properly bled to remove air, after work has been done on it. This includes sphere replacement.
Chris
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi suspension

Post by white exec »

Skull wrote: 29 Aug 2019, 08:45 Just like my Mrs :dom:
A completely unforgettable nemonic :shock:
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi suspension

Post by Stewart(oily) »

For fun I once tied fitting spheres on the wrong ends, WOW! you would not believe it!
BXs since 1993 built 1.9 TZD turbo, got a S2 Xantia estate, brilliant car! 2013, Xantia HDI LX 110 2000 new car with 122,000, l C2 HDI Rusty rocket, C3 Picasso HDI new to me.
bill hughes
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi suspension

Post by bill hughes »

Many thanks for all your replies, I have had this car for over 4 years and it has only just started acting like this, I had a new hydraulic pump fitted over a year ago and the car has been ok up to now, I have just brought it back to the uk and thought it might be the road surface but having been in mates cars with standard suspension I've ruled that out, pushing down on the front it all seems to move ok and jumping up and down on the towbar the rear all moves ok, I've spent a small fortune in the last yea on this car otherwise I would consider dumping it.
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi suspension

Post by white exec »

Hi Bill,

You might need a second opinion on the car's supension.
Maybe someone near you might be able to help, possibly even with a sphere tester or re-gas.
What is your UK location?

Just a random thought: Are the anti-roll bars still attached and working?
How old are the corner spheres, and do you know what make and spec they were?
Chris
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi suspension

Post by xantia_v6 »

Have you exercised the system with some citerobics? https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... 25#p131825

When doing this it is important to leave the suspension at the lowest setting for at least 30 seconds to allow the pressure in the suspension spheres and lines to drop to 0 so that all of the air is expelled.
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Re: Xantia 2.0 hdi suspension

Post by white exec »

Also check for the presence of air in the LHM in the reservoir, and that the fluid level is correct there.

After driving the car for a while, dip a sample of fluid from the reservoir with small clear container, and check it for bubbles. There should be none there, not even microscopic ones. It is the job of the two nylon mesh filters there not just to trap dirt, but also to break up bubbles in any aerated fluid returning to the reservoir, so that it doesn't get circulated back into the system. A good few parts of the hydraulic system (steering, brakes, suspension) do not function well with aerated fluid, or trapped air pockets.

Two pointers to air-in-fluid are steering becoming notchy, and the car being slow or jerky to rise when asked to go from Low to High.

One source of air being drawn into the system (even if the reservoir is doing its best to de-aerate it) is the suction pipe that runs from the reservoir to the HP pump. The joints at either end of this pipe must be a perfect seal, or (being suction) air can get drawn in. Be careful using worm (jubilee) clips which are not smoothly circular on this pipe, as they can distort the pipe seal. If in doubt, renew the clips with good circular ones, and trim back the pipe ends to make a new seal.
Chris
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