Xantia front suspension height

bigbossa · Unread post by **bigbossa** » 18 May 2011, 21:58

Hi back now

Yes it has had something done , the MOT said nearside anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in ball joint .previous owner had it done.
Do you think that there was probably no need to change the spheres?

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 18 May 2011, 22:11

Depends how old the old ones were and how they compare quality wise with what you have on now.
The only way to really test a sphere is to put it on a test rig and check the pressure.

I would say that when the P-bush(es) was done the clamp on the anti-roll bar was inadvertantly moved (or the dogbone was popped off).
You definitely need to get the car up on a full length ramp to check what state it's in, and if required, adjust the clamp so the front is at the right height.

bigbossa · Unread post by **bigbossa** » 18 May 2011, 22:33

Xac wrote:Depends how old the old ones were and how they compare quality wise with what you have on now.
The only way to really test a sphere is to put it on a test rig and check the pressure.

I would say that when the P-bush(es) was done the clamp on the anti-roll bar was inadvertantly moved (or the dogbone was popped off).
You definitely need to get the car up on a full length ramp to check what state it's in, and if required, adjust the clamp so the front is at the right height.

OK , the spheres that were replaced said 08 , the mechanic assumed he had fixed the problem because the front became softer. He said the dog bone was still intact, He was actually telling me that the height at the front was acceptable . Anyway Im taking it back to him tomorrow. Just feel like I wasted the money on these new spheres he got them from the local motor factors for £86 for the pair. he refused my offer of getting them from GFS saying he could not guarantee them

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 18 May 2011, 22:44

If they were genuine citroen spheres fitted in 08 then they'd probably still be OK, but would have been down on pressure a bit.
If they were GSF spheres then changing them would have been about right.
For £43 a sphere though I'd want genuine Citroen spheres.

bigbossa · Unread post by **bigbossa** » 18 May 2011, 23:01

Xac wrote:If they were genuine Citroën spheres fitted in 08 then they'd probably still be OK, but would have been down on pressure a bit.
If they were GSF spheres then changing them would have been about right.
For £43 a sphere though I'd want genuine Citroën spheres.

Hi Xac
Will try and get the old ones back , they kinda looked like they had been removed before they had marks on them like a chain strap , maybe they had been regassed.

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 18 May 2011, 23:18

The other thing is BX spheres are dampened to a different level to Xantia spheres, and a different volume in some cases.

For instance, the 1.9TD BX hatch has spheres with a volume of 400ml, pressure of 55psi and dampener of 1.65
Where as the Xantia 1.9TD hatch has front spheres with 400/55/1.5
http://www.attfield.dircon.co.uk/sphere_table.pdf

GSF's old sphere chart.

bigbossa · Unread post by **bigbossa** » 18 May 2011, 23:40

Xac wrote:The other thing is BX spheres are dampened to a different level to Xantia spheres, and a different volume in some cases.

For instance, the 1.9TD BX hatch has spheres with a volume of 400ml, pressure of 55psi and dampener of 1.65
Where as the Xantia 1.9TD hatch has front spheres with 400/55/1.5
http://www.attfield.dircon.co.uk/sphere_table.pdf

GSF's old sphere chart.

so theres a possibility the spheres are wrong

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 18 May 2011, 23:56

Yes.
Depending on how wrong, they may not make much difference.

bigbossa · Unread post by **bigbossa** » 19 May 2011, 00:12

Xac wrote:Yes.
Depending on how wrong, they may not make much difference.

Cheers pal..let you know how I get on tomorrow

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 19 May 2011, 07:58

it is unlikely you would disturb the hight adjustment by fitting a new drop link,

i do partly go with Xac on the poped doggy bone, but would still give the linkage turrets a good lubeing and working,

as the usual cause of a poped doggy bone is seized linkage's,

regards malcolm

bigbossa · Unread post by **bigbossa** » 19 May 2011, 10:04

This morning the suspension has become softer again, the height to the wheel arch is not so big but the same as when I first started this thread about a hand and a half.
Tempted to just blow this guy out and go to a mechanic in Horsham who suggested looking at the corrector/dog bone before even thinking of changing the spheres. This bloke charged £40 for changing them took him all of 15 mins while I watched. Something I could have done if I had the tool ...rushing into things again

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 19 May 2011, 12:08

Going on what you've told us, I have no confidence in the guy you've been going to when it comes to his hydraulic suspension workings knowledge

bigbossa · Unread post by **bigbossa** » 19 May 2011, 12:12

Xac wrote:Going on what you've told us, I have no confidence in the guy you've been going to when it comes to his hydraulic suspension workings knowledge

I'm afraid your right , really think I would be wasting my time and more money if I went back to him. Just an update, suspension soft when I went out this morning came out of the shops ....rock hard!!

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 19 May 2011, 13:01

It definitely sounds like the autocorrect linkage has become disconnected, most likely at the dogbone.

If you have axle stands, set the car on high, put the axle stands under the front jacking points, you may need to jack the car a bit to do that in which case put your jack on the subframe under the car (big thick panel goes from one side to the other with large nuts showing - I try and put the cup of my trolley jack over the nut just behind the front wheels).
You may have enough room to get under on the lowest setting of the axle stands, otherwise carefully get the car up on the first setting (I get them up on the lowest, then jack one side up a bit more, raise the axle stand, and repeat the other side very carefully).

Set the car on low and the back will drop giving plenty of room under the front.
Stop the engine, set the height lever to normal, dive under and follow the rod forward to the height corrector, you should then see the white dogbone.

bigbossa · Unread post by **bigbossa** » 19 May 2011, 13:09

Thanks Xac , will have to borrow some axle stands of a mate.
I just put the car through the Citrobics and that seems to get the suspension back to soft , the height at the front wheel arch is stiil about a ham and half