1997 1.9TD Estate - A Tyre-ing question about handling

[CitroJim]

You can always pop up and see me Sam and then compare with Gabriel...

[KennyW]

Sam,

The difference between my 2 Xantias was noticeable, the 1.9TD was definitely lighter than my HDi. Both were still on original clutches with 210,000 miles and 187,000 miles respectively.

So It maybe some time before the need to change the clutch, but I would certainly buy a clutch kit now and store it carefully.

So it basically comes down how a person drives.

Kenny

[beko1987]

It's been fine so far (touches wood). But I have been noticeably more careful with it! Knocking it out of gear rather than holding the clutch whenever I can etc, changing gear before a corner so if it goes it doesn't go halfway round etc. I still get The Fear whenever I press it but hopefully that will pass!

[ekjdm14]

The Fear.... ugh, I had that with the ZX after the wishbone snapped and I replaced it... It does pass, yes

[CitroJim]

Yes, I understand 'the fear' very well... It will certainly pass

[beko1987]

So, 'The Fear' is subsiding. I keep meaning to tweak the cable again as the gears can be ever so slightly hard to select, but still fine.

But I'm now turning my thoughts to the wayward handling.

Symptoms:
Harsh ride (unrelated to this I think)
Wandery steering
Crashing over every broken bit of road
Feeling every little bump
Steering wheel shake at most speeds, especially 50+ (but not too bad, had worse etc)

Whilst I have no doubt some of that is due to issues with the green blooded parts, some probably isnt.

Tyre wise, I have one part worn mitchelin fitted by the previous owner and not balanced on the front passenger, one very perished, with properly visible cracking to the sidewall on the inside of the tyre.. Rears are almost down to the wear markers, quite overall perished but no massive cracks (I'm amazed they werent flagged on the MOT tbh).

My plan is to get the fronts replaced and balanced. The tracking is OK, it does wander left ever so slightly, but I can't reliably reproduce it so I think part of that is down to particular roads. Hopefully new, soft rubber may help the wandery steering and some of the crashiness, and make me feel more confident that one tyre isnt massively cracked. I can only afford 2 at a time so I'll do the fronts this month and the rears next.

However one of my advisories was for nearside front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2). Is that this http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Citro ... dc1&000016 ? Will there be much benefit in changing it?

My other thought is the wheel bearing that flagged up, but I can't hear that (over the top of all the other noise anyway)...

The car needs new tyres anyway, so I may as well get those done regardless, but what else could I look at? I'll ignore the harsh ride for now as hopefully that's an easyish fix with spheres and hydraflush (got bubbly LHM to look at too...)

[mickeymoon]

Flat spheres, knackered drop links, worn wishbone bushes. I'd suspect the first causes the harsh ride and feeling every bump. The drop links will make sound even worse, and the knackered bushes will make your steering wandery.

Your tyres likely cause the vibration.

Get the spheres replaced asap as if they are not absorbing the bumps, some other part of your car is, which isn't designed to... then things break.

[beko1987]

That's ultimatly what will happen, wether I go and see citrojim to check the spheres first or just change them, I haven't decided yet, but I can't afford that this month, 2 tyres and new droplinks is do-able though, and if it stops the wandery steering that would be ace, it's almost a white knuckle ride in the wind on the m40!

[CitroJim]

Just come and see me Sam, I have a sphere tester here...

[beko1987]

I will, partly because you can show me how to remove the anti sink. But can a 'dead' sphere be refitted to get me home and about until I order one? Or is it curtains once removed and de pressurized?

[Timmo]

Have a look on the local sales sites and ebay etc. For sets of wheels with tyres, you may be able to get a decent set for less than 2 new tyres would cost you, I managed to get 4 rough alloys but with 3 Brand new tyres for 80, quick home refurb and they are spot on, have also gone down the part worn road on the good ladies car, 2 matching tyres, 7mm tread 15 each, local shop charged 12 each to fit and balance, always worth a look!

Drop links I ignored the advice given here and bought cheapies, lasted a few months befor the knocking returned, replaced with delphi/bilstein (couldn't get lemforder) and been spot on since! Is also worth cracking the nuts off with the weight still on them,

[Hell Razor5543]

If you can get hold of some, Plus Gas may help in removing the anti sink sphere. Make sure to spray it daily (for at least a week prior to removing the sphere) where the sphere screws onto the bracket. This bracket is not very strong, so it is possible to damage it when removing a very tight sphere. Plus Gas will help un-seize the sphere from the bracket. Not for nothing is it known as dismantling fluid.

Something that helps make things easier in the future is to fit a normal sphere seal onto the sphere when you fit it. Although it does not need it (as there is a small pipe screwed into the sphere, with a pipe seal) this seal will help prevent the sphere from seizing onto the bracket.

[white exec]

If you do have flat spheres (gas pressure right down), and it's like driving on wooden suspension, then you shouldn't be driving the car at anything more than walking pace. As others have said, huge damage can occur, with the real possibility of the front struts tearing their rubber, and bursting through the bonnet. I kid you not.

Forget the tyres: get the spheres checked and sorted first. Jim will be able to test whether they could be regassed, or are beyond it.

[beko1987]

It's not fully wooden, but it's not silky smooth. Sadly I have no choice but to drive it. Part of the issue is the rear height not sitting right, if I tweak it from the lever it suddenly goes much nicer. It's sitting too low at the back, what's the finger test again? Letting it settle itself the tyre wall is halfway hidden, and it's got 195/65/15s on, so that's a big sidewall!

I'm afraid I value tyres not disintegrating at speed over the ride, I'm having to balance the work needed, if I tried to do it all at once the cars gone to the scrappy and I'll buy a better example, but small bits here and there is doable. It should be March when I buy the spheres anyway, so not long to wait, I'll work a day out with Jim and go see him. It's ridden hard for so many years talking to previous owners another month won't do it much harm

Plusgas, I have a tin in the boot, I can spray every day no bother.

Droplinks - euro car parts and gsf don't stock llemforder ones, which is a shame as I've had their stuff on the zx and meriva. Might look on ebay and see if their there. Still got to look at the ones on my car and check the right ones are coming back for my reg, although knowing ecp even if they did whats in the box could be completely different.

I'm prioritizing tyres and Droplinks first. I'll get the really old, worn to the marker rears changed and fitted to the front, then Droplinks fitted. Then I need to clean and reset the rear height corrector, which hopefully is just a job that will cost me time and a tin of brake cleaner (touch wood)

[Hell Razor5543]

Citronut (may his soul rest in peace) used to say the way to sort out height correctors was work and lube, work and lube, and repeat until it moved freely. He would use white grease.