Steering: Ghost hands.......

cheesey · Unread post by **cheesey** » 12 Apr 2003, 02:13

Hi,
Just got my hands on a Xantia 1.9 TD SX L reg.
Working my way through the problems but this one scares me!
Every so often it feels as if someone has grabbed the steering wheel and jolted it, hard to explain but the steering seems to go light for a half a second. Scary on a corner but it also does this on the straight.
I don't know if this is connected, but the brake pedal feels very light and pulses when i brake but I know this is not the ABS cutting in.
thanx.

NiSk · Unread post by **NiSk** » 12 Apr 2003, 04:10

Sounds like a change of LMH oil and cleaning of the hydraulic filters is in order. THAT procedure IS pretty well described in Haynes manual. If the LHM oil looks anything other than flouresant green and if the service book dosn't show regular changes, it might be a good idea to run some hydraflush though it first. Instructions are included on the can (available from any citroên dealer).
//NiSk

Unread post by **alan s** » 12 Apr 2003, 04:57

Further to NiSks suggestion, here's a comparison of old & new LHM.
Alan S
http://www.aussiefrogs.com/snippets/lhm_story.htm

algieuk · Unread post by **algieuk** » 12 Apr 2003, 14:26

Get your tracking checked too...sounds like you could be getting some tramlining.

DLM · Unread post by **DLM** » 12 Apr 2003, 14:43

If it's fishtailing at the back and wandering, the rear arm bearings could be shot and giving you unwanted rear-wheel steer....though it sounds more hydraulic.
David

Dave Burns · Unread post by **Dave Burns** » 12 Apr 2003, 23:10

Could be the accumulator sphere or on an L reg, the flow distributor, or even a combination of the two, assuming it has a FDV.
Dave

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 13 Apr 2003, 01:44

I think DLM is near the mark. Your Xantia has passive rear wheel steering which works beautifully on our ZX. The system simply works by allowing the subframe to move slightly on its mounts so as to allow the rear wheel to point a little in the same direction as the fromt wheel.
Have a good look at the mounts etc - they are more important than you think!
jeremy

cheesey · Unread post by **cheesey** » 13 Apr 2003, 05:26

Thanx in advance!
Definetly the hydrolics as the steering froze on me today and became very heavy. Bought accumulator sphere and will give that a go.

Unread post by **alan s** » 14 Apr 2003, 18:04

If it tends to lock more in one direction than the other, could it be the hydraulics on the steering rack.
I have heard it suggested that the F/D can be removed, cleaned externally then left in a container of petrol, blown out & refitted which can help in certain cases due to partially blocked filters in said F/D.
After all, the F/D is the gadget that points the hydraulic at the steering and the rack hydraulics are what control it from there.
May be worthy of checking.
Alan S

jack.dempsey · Unread post by **jack.dempsey** » 14 Apr 2003, 19:56

I had a BX which did exactly this - steering would go heavy for a second unsually at the most inopertune times - frightened me a time or two. Fix was simply to flush out the old green blood and run with hydraflush for a couple of weeks. It used to take for ever to 'pump up' the suspension - but after the above treatment it used to pop up like a cork out of a bottle. Try it - it cost only a few pounds to do this. My wife called it magic and still can't believe that so many things improved from such an easy procedure.

wrinklet1 · Unread post by **wrinklet1** » 14 Apr 2003, 20:25

Hi, not sure, but, I had a problem with my xantia TD SX. Ran ok, then all the power went off , just as though someone was pulling against the wheel. The problem was....the hi power hydraulic pump was tired. This problem occured more when it was cold.
I sorted the problem out by changing the hydraulic pump, it took 45 mins to do and it sorted out the problem. It is also worth taking note that, you must change the accumalator sphere, otherwise, it may put extra pressure on the new pump. Change your fluid and clean the filters too.

algieuk · Unread post by **algieuk** » 18 Apr 2003, 14:35

Another simple one.....make sure there is no air leak in the pipe from the reservior to the pump. This can cause all sorts of weird behaviour, and it doesn't have t be a big leak.