Xantia - rear suspension leak

[CitroJim]

The weather changed a bit, from -5 to 28!! Glorious. (A bit hot for running, Jim )

Not too hot for me Jaf, I love running in the heat I've run a half marathon with the thermometer edging 30 degrees... My times of living in the tropics acclimatised me to the heat very well and removed most of my cold tolerance

I've found a cylinder on ebay. Would anyone know if any will fit? It's off a 1.6.

I don't know for sure. The big difference will be those for Hydractive cars as those have a much bigger 10mm hydraulic pipe union whereas the non-Hydractives have a 3.5mm union... Of the non-Hydractive ones I'd take a chance and say they're the same - or at least usable... After all, it's the sphere that determines the character of the rear suspension, not the cylinder.

Once I've replaced it I'd like to have a go at the seals on the original one, if anyone has any tips.

It'll be interesting to see what you find... I'm suspecting you'll find a scored piston or scores in the cylinder bore. Being fairly soft aluminium alloy it will easily suffer damage if any grit gets in through a damaged gaiter...

Do let us know what you find Jaf

[xantia_v6]

There was a period in 1999 or 2000 where they used a different pipe fitting, which was not interchangeable, but you can only check that through the part number or the RP number of the car it was fitted to.

[Jaf]

Finally got the bit. In photos new one is on the right or in front. Pipe size is the same but the gaiter is slightly smaller, as is the internal cylinder and piston. Being a bit dim I didn't take measurements but I have fitted it. I wanted to know for sure that this was the leak. It seems to be! The original piston looks more cloudy and is not smooth when pushing it in/ out, the new one is smooth.

[CitroJim]

That's a bit of wear on the piston then... Certainly explains the leak... I don't think the slight size difference will make much difference. Does it feel OK when driving?

[Jaf]

Thanks Jim! Not easy to find these anymore and suspect the other side will go soon...might be lucky. I haven't driven her yet but the citroaerobics were fine. I'll check her again tomorrow, including little drive. Then order tyres Monday. Hope to get those wed/thur.

Providing retest goes OK then Fred is due a service and big tidy up. Poor old girl is getting tatty. 25 this year.

Honestly, was tiny bit worried about weird french suspension punting me off the mountain! Thank you again.

[Jaf]

Leaking. Gaiter full of LHM. So either I'm unlucky with the secondhand cylinder or there's something else up.

[CitroJim]

That's not good Jaf

What you need to do now is to disconnect the black leakage return pipe from the suspension cylinder and see if it's something other than the suspension cylinder filling up the gaiter... Run the disconnected pipe into a plastic bottle, empty the gaiter and go for a drive and see what happens...

If the bottle contains a significant amount of LHM then something else is back-leaking in to the gaiter...

If you find the gaiter is now dry you know the cylinder is OK.

Hope that makes sense..

[Jaf]

That's a great help. Thanks Jim. Will have a go tomorrow.

[CitroJim]

I'll be eager to hear the result Jaf...

[Jaf]

It appears to be a problem in the breather pipe system. It connects both suspension cylinders to something to do with height control, then towards the LHM tank. Every junction lets some LHM out, which is gradually slowing. Wondering if the pipes just got saturated or perhaps the return to tank pipe is blocked. Or if the height control unit is faulty. Leak was increasing when doing citroaerobics but that seems to have stopped now, just slow drips.

I'm going to let the system drip itself out for a couple of days. Then can hopefully see where the leaks coming from. (Or ideally no more leaks!)

[CitroJim]

The height corrector is a good candidate Jaf

[Jaf]

Height corrector has a slow drip, small drop every 12 secs. I've found your overhaul procedure Jim.

However. Return to front of car has a fast drip, big drop every 3 secs. I've traced the pipework (I think) to connector at the front, goes to either side and to the tank. Pipe is clear at tank end. So whatever is feeding into the pipe?? Leak is only with engine running, doesn't change with height changes.

Next step is to trace the pipes at the front. Not easy to see in there!

[admiral51]

Jaf not sure if this will help or hinder but assuming the location is the same for RH/LH drive cars if the leak is coming from below the LHM tank and slightly behind the N/S front wheel ( RHD ) and near the bottom of the bulk head have a look Here.
There are a few pipes running into and out of it but there is an 'L' shaped fitting that was leaking on mine which i could not find a replacement for but someone did post a new link to available parts but cannot seem to find it.

Colin

[Jaf]

Thanks. But I think it's this...

I will take photos tomorrow. There really shouldn't be this much LHM, it's just a breather pipe. So guess either the front height corrector or the security valve (whatever that is) is leaking, which is going all the way to the back of the car rather than travelling up a few inches to the tank! It is dry around this connector though. Will pull it apart but worried it will disintegrate!

[xantia_v6]

The picture above shows part of the "octopus" which is a single unit, the hoses are moulded into the junctions and elbows.

Good quality replacements are made by https://drxantia.com you can also find the same part distributed by other specialists.