Xantia MK II - Stiff rear suspension

[lancia58]

Hi

When driving my Xantia I can feel that the rear suspension is a bit stiff - it looks like the transition from normal ride to stiff ride was in a very short time. I changed the rear spheres 6 month ago ( to genuine ones ) and since than i drove the car no more than 600 Km. Can the rear rigidity sphere cause a stiff ride ? That sphere was replaced six years ago . As I can not hear any squeak noise from the rear suspension when set the ride height to low and high ( using the height control lever ) I assume there is not problem with the arm bearings .

Any Idea ?
Thanks

[white exec]

To test whether the rear centre (Hydractive) sphere is working, try a bounce test:
- car parked, engine off, all doors closed for at least a minute
- press down on the rear end of the car - it should feel firm, and difficult to press down more than a couple of cm
- start the engine, let car rise to normal height
- press down again at the rear - should be much easier to press down, and you should be able to get up to 10cm of movement.

That test will show whether the rear end can get into Soft mode.
Similar test can be done at the front, where you will feel more movement.

It's the centre spheres that provide Soft ride, and if down on gas, you will be left with Firm.
Around 3+ years is a normal life for these spheres; after that, gas pressure can become unacceptably low.
Make sure you get the correct spheres for the centre positions - they do not have damper valves, just a 5mm hole, like the Accumulator sphere.

[admiral51]

Assuming it is Hydractive like my old VSX then i would change all the spheres you have not yet changed asap and do a double bleed.
New and old sphere combinations will cause no end of grief because they will be working at different gas pressures.
600 km is not a great amount of distance so the new spheres will/should be good, get the others done and then you know you have a sound base to work from.

By double bleed i mean bleed double the amount of fluid out as you normally would do.

[lancia58]

Hi

Its a none Hydractiev

[white exec]

When driving my Xantia I can feel that the rear suspension is a bit stiff - it looks like the transition from normal ride to stiff ride was in a very short time. I changed the rear spheres 6 month ago ( to genuine ones ) and since than i drove the car no more than 600 Km. Can the rear rigidity sphere cause a stiff ride ? That sphere was replaced six years ago . As I can not hear any squeak noise from the rear suspension when set the ride height to low and high ( using the height control lever ) I assume there is not problem with the arm bearings .
Any Idea ?
Thanks

If non-Hydractive, can you confirm which sphere this ↑ is?
Non-Hydractive will have one sphere at each corner, plus the front Accumulator sphere.

[Hell Razor5543]

AND the anti-sink sphere between the rear wheels.

[white exec]

Yes, forgot that one. Oops!