Sphere has shelf life ?

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lancia58
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Sphere has shelf life ?

Post by lancia58 »

Hi

I have a MK II Xantia. I replaced today the rear central sphere part number 529303. I had an old I.F.S.H part number is XA 50 RU. I installed a new I.F.S.H XA 50 RA. But now the rear suspension is much stiffer in compare to the stiffness of the replaced sphere. Does sphere have self life after which it is not usable. Is there another thing that can cause the stiffness, or special replacing procedure ?
The garage lifted the car ( engine is off ) and just changed the old sphere with the new sphere. Is there anything wrong with the changing procedure ?
I kept the sphere I replaced and intend to go back to the garage to install it and see if the ride quality is back to normal

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Zohar
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Re: Sphere has shelf life ?

Post by xantia_v6 »

Can you confirm that this car is not fitted with hydractive suspension? as the correct sphere type depends on the suspension specification.

If the car is non-hydaractive, the sphere that you call the centre sphere is the (mis-named) "anti sink" sphere, but it should have been impossible to fit a XA 50 RA in that position, as the anti-sink sphere has an internal thread for the pipe fitting, which the XA 50 RA would not have.
lancia58
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Re: Sphere has shelf life ?

Post by lancia58 »

Hi

The car is none-hydaractive according to I.F.S.H specification the XA 50 RU is the correct "anti sink" sphere for the none-hydaractive and the old sphere ( the one I replaced ) was also XA 50 RU.

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Zohar
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Re: Sphere has shelf life ?

Post by xantia_v6 »

OK, You gave a different sphere number in your first post.

The anti-sink sphere should not influence the behaviour of the suspension, maybe something else got disturbed. Is the suspension height still correct?
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Re: Sphere has shelf life ?

Post by Armidillo »

Would it be a good idea to bleed the rear brakes after the sphere replacement?
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Re: Sphere has shelf life ?

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

Yes, as the hydropneumatics manage the brakes, suspension and steering. However, I would bleed all of the brakes.
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Re: Sphere has shelf life ?

Post by white exec »

All four brakes must be bled after any opening up of the hydraulic system, including sphere replacement.
First do a few 'Citrobics' - engine running, suspension set to High - Low - High - Low (allowing car to fully rise and sink as you go.)
Bleed in this order, with suspension on high and engine running, wheels/hubs hanging (car supported), brake pedal lightly pressed (or wedged down):
RR, RL, FR, FL.
Expect to draw off about 1L at RR, much less at the others, before fluid runs clear.
Throw in an extra 1L of fluid into the reservoir before starting the process, and check it afterwards.
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Re: Sphere has shelf life ?

Post by lancia58 »

I do not know if it is important but the garage didn't depressurized the system before changing the rear anti-sink sphere. None bled brakes can cause this ?

Thanks
Zohar
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Re: Sphere has shelf life ?

Post by Armidillo »

lancia58 wrote: 25 Dec 2021, 05:03 I do not know if it is important but the garage didn't depressurized the system before changing the rear anti-sink sphere. None bled brakes can cause this ?

Thanks
Zohar
You would expect that a good deal of LHM would have squirted out during the change then! Can we ask why you decided to change the anti-sink sphere and no others? It is usually the last to be changed (if not doing all at once).
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Re: Sphere has shelf life ?

Post by lancia58 »

Hi

I changed all spheres but the rear anti sink, so I decided to change it as well. Assuming the new rear anti sink sphere I installed is defective why it stiffens the rear suspension ?

Thanks
Zohar
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Re: Sphere has shelf life ?

Post by admiral51 »

I would make sure a proper bleed of the brakes are done, the rears are known to cause issues with the rear suspension if air is left trapped in the system and as you have had the rear "anti sink" sphere changed then i think that is the first thing to do

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Re: Sphere has shelf life ?

Post by Armidillo »

lancia58 wrote: 27 Dec 2021, 18:11 Hi

I changed all spheres but the rear anti sink, so I decided to change it as well. Assuming the new rear anti sink sphere I installed is defective why it stiffens the rear suspension ?

Thanks
Zohar
OK, that makes sense. Anti-sink spheres are often neglected, as they do not affect the suspension or braking under normal operation.

Here is the puzzle - air in the system usually makes the suspension more bouncy - not stiffer. I remember the first time I had new tyres fitted to my Xantia, I forgot to make sure the car was set to high before it went on the hoist. Apparently the weight of the wheels hanging down was sufficient to suck air into the system - certainly the car was very bouncy and soft for a while after that!

So my wild theory is that, assuming that when the 5 other spheres were changed the brakes were not bled then either, you have got used to having air in the system. Given that the anti-sink sphere was changed without depressurising the system, perhaps more air was blasted out than got in, resulting in a firmer, but more normal, suspension feel. You need someone who knows what is 'normal' for a Xantia to check it out for you.
lancia58
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Re: Sphere has shelf life ?

Post by lancia58 »

Hi

I installed today the old anti sink sphere and bled the brakes but the rear suspension is still stiff. I am going to change the rear spheres hoping this will sort the stiff rear suspension

Thanks
Zohar
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Re: Sphere has shelf life ?

Post by Stickyfinger »

Basic question.

Does the car lower and raise (front & rear) into each of the height settings ?
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lancia58
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Re: Sphere has shelf life ?

Post by lancia58 »

Yes it does
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