Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

[CitroJim]

Helping a friend nice house tomorrow (reckons he'll not need the C5 boot space, we'll see how fast the Transit Luton fills up )

He will!

.... And currently awake at 4 in the morning as my littlest is full of a cold poor little chap

He and I too Post-Saunter Lurgy

May he soon be on top form

[MattBLancs]

the HDi Coupe's auxiliary belt is A LOT more tired than it appears from above!
...
6pk 1738 says the parts Asia site. For info: micro Vee belt, 6pk = 6 grooves on the pulleys
...
Amazed how expensive the belts seem to be now! I'm sure I've paid say £5 - £7 or so previously, Eurocarparts is asking £23 for example!?!?

Kept digging! 6pk1738 belt, bought £7.75 including delivery - that's more like it

[MattBLancs]

He and I too Post-Saunter Lurgy

May he soon be on top form

Get well soon too Jim

[CitroJim]

He and I too Post-Saunter Lurgy

May he soon be on top form

Get well soon too Jim

Thanks Matt Another therapeutic 5K run has helped Honestly, I'd recommend anyone who's feeling a bit below par to go out for a run. I guarantee you'll feel much better for it

Their powers seem much enhanced if done in the dark

[c16rkc]

Sorry to hear about your little one... sadly it's that time of year.

It's when they get the tickly cough it's the worst, as the little ones don't seem to understand what's happening to them, and can get a bit panicked. Hope we don't get that going around this year...

[MattBLancs]

Ready for the exchange, helping my mate move house today

[Rp0thejester]

What happened to him not needing your boot space?

[MattBLancs]

What happened to him not needing your boot space?

We've known each other a long time - I've a pretty good handle on when to ignore him!

Left home at 09:10, just got back home now (22:05) apart from 30 minutes or so when we stopped for (Dominoes) tea about half eight, have been on my feet and shifting stuff all day.

Cream crackered!

[MattBLancs]

Damper primed.

Rather chilly (10°C) but hopefully will dry ok for a quick brush on black top coat later. Various bits on the underside of the wheel arch also treated too

This is worst spot, thankfully cleaned up ok. Now also repainted:

[MattBLancs]

Comparison:

Top, rusty disintegrated upper spring carrier from 2002 HDi Coupe. About 158,000 miles

Lower, as found spring carrier from 2000 2.0 Coupe. About 169,000 miles.

Rusty top (balanced in top of complete strut from 2000 Coupe)

Am going to put the (originally AL4 equipped but all alloy engine EW10J4) strut complete onto the HDi Coupe in the short term. Will rebuild / repaint the HDi struts and new springs. Different part numbers but hopefully spring rates not that far apart (will see soon enough!)

[CitroJim]

Gosh Matt, those upper spring carriers were approaching dangerous with all that corrosion... The worry is they escape MoT scrutiny as they cannot be readily seen...

A bit like Xantia/XM strut tops... They can get very bad before the MoT man might notice...

[Rp0thejester]

The only dangerous thing that I could see was that grinning crazy man....

[MattBLancs]

Gosh Matt, those upper spring carriers were approaching dangerous with all that corrosion... The worry is they escape MoT scrutiny as they cannot be readily seen...

A bit like Xantia/XM strut tops... They can get very bad before the MoT man might notice...

Yes very much hidden when on the car, you can imagine quite how much my heart sunk when I pulled the strut down our the arch and saw that!!

Springs have had an advisory for corrosion for a couple of years, that's why I'm changing them, but the upper seat being so far gone was a big shock.

Agree not far off catastrophic collapse I'd guess.

The only dangerous thing that I could see was that grinning crazy man....

Oh don't worry about that nutter, he's harmless.

Realised that "selfie mode" and peering in from above was best way of getting an image there, but then realized I was going to be in shot no matter how I angled it, so gave it my best cheesy grin

[MattBLancs]

Knackered auxiliary belt off. A ten millimetre longer belt (1750 Vs 1740, actually Vs supposed correct length of 1738!) Seems very tight to get on.

Belt routing (memory jogger!)

Have taken idler pulley off (as can be easier to install new belt with the pulley) and though no play or roughness have popped the dust seals off and will replace the "cheese" that once was grease!

Old grease

2.0 coupe strut given quick wire brush and slap some paint on

[MattBLancs]

Probably worth keeping as a spare, no?