how soft should the rear be?

[xantia_v6]

I would say that anyone who supplied spheres without giving you the part number is not to be trusted. I haves twice (two different 'speciaslists') been supplied wrong specification rear spheres.

[Mandrake]

I would say that anyone who supplied spheres without giving you the part number is not to be trusted. I haves twice (two different 'speciaslists') been supplied wrong specification rear spheres.

Agreed.

When we ordered new rear spheres for my Dad's Xantia SX hatchback many years ago (from a Citroen dealer too, albeit in NZ) he was supplied 40 bar estate spheres. This was our first Xantia at the time and we had very little technical documentation for the Xantia so weren't any the wiser until we discovered how ridiculously soft the rear end was - it was completely bottoming every time you accelerated.

After years of GS's, CX's etc we knew that although Citroen's squat a lot at the rear that they don't squat nearly as much as that one was. The rear end also felt really floaty and was all over the place at speed. I think I actually enquired here on the forum and discovered that the hatchback should be 30 bars not 40 so they were duly returned for correct replacements - problem solved.

[chinkostu]

I would say that anyone who supplied spheres without giving you the part number is not to be trusted. I haves twice (two different 'speciaslists') been supplied wrong specification rear spheres.

If after trying everything it's no better i'll get in touch with them as opposed to slandering names, as it could be an honest mistake (it was supplied and fitted by them as i couldnt trust myself!)

It isn't bottoming out on normal accelleration but theres definate squat if you give it a full tin of beans!

[Mandrake]

A significant amount of squat under full acceleration is normal on an SX. How does the rear end feel at 60mph on an undulating country road ?

If it feels very "overactive" and unstable and seems to be up and down all over the place with the road undulations (compared to the front) then they probably are the wrong (estate) spheres. However if it feels steady and secure under those conditions it is probably the correct spheres.

In other words if it feels wrong at high speeds it probably is. Estate spheres will be under-damped on a hatchback so this will make the rear end too lively and feel a bit unsafe.

[white exec]

Are there any markings on the rear spheres?
On genuine Citroen spheres, pressure in bars is stamped into the metal, usually a figure about 5mm high.
They also carry a part number.
Non-Citroen spheres should also have some identifying marks.