Xantia - rear suspension leak

[Stickyfinger]

The picture above shows part of the "octopus" which is a single unit, the hoses are moulded into the junctions and elbows.

Good quality replacements are made by https://drxantia.com you can also find the same part distributed by other specialists.

Just a note: a lot of Dr Xantias stuff is for LHD cars...check with care

[Jaf]

Ah well luckily for me Fred is LHD. Good warning though!

Had a look today. Leak is not coming from the front height corrector. Disconnected the breather pipe from the front height corrector and the LHM came out of the breather pipe at the front, instead of going to the back (path of least resistance and all that).

So could be the security valve or the front suspension return. The front suspension pipes are relatively new so might try getting them off next.

I'm tempted to put her all back together and just stick the pipe in a bottle. Such a small amount of LHM for such a mess!

[CitroJim]

I'm tempted to put her all back together and just stick the pipe in a bottle. Such a small amount of LHM for such a mess!

Yes indeed, LHM is like blood - a little goes a long way and makes a right old mess...

A bottle might be a good short-term plan until you nail down the culprit...

[Dommo]

Apologies to tag along with another forum post here, but I am having a similar issue with my 2007 Mk1 facelift C5. I'm finding that LDS is leaking out from within the rear subframe (which is where the gaiter breather hose goes into). The gaiter on that side is also slightly wet too which makes me assume it is leaking out passed the cylinder seal. Is this a seal that is replaceable? I saw that Jaf took his cylinder apart with that shiny metal rod that the seal seals against, is there anything rebuildable in there? I just know that replacement cylinders on C5's are non existent

Thanks all, Dom

[CitroJim]

Hi Dom If the C5 cylinder is anything like the Xantia then it's just a hard-chrome plated piston moving in a closely machined bore in the alloy housing. A bit like a hydraulic ram. There's no seals and a little leakage is normal, nay deliberate, to keep things nicely lubricated... This leakage should not be excessive...

I'd think, but knowing absolutely nothing of a C5, the same trick to see if the cylinder is leaking excessively could be used as Jaf has on his Xantia.

It might be a good thought to open a new topic with your findings on this issue...

[xantia_v6]

I am not familiar with the C5 design, but I believe that unlike the Xantia, there is a seal in the ram, and no return line to the reservoir.

[Stickyfinger]

C5 Mk1 and 2 are like a big Xantia with returns etc.....it is the X7's that are ""simple"

[xantia_v6]

Ok, apologies, good to have that clarified.

[Jaf]

Got a secondhand security valve. Am changing it, just having a lolly break. What psychopath designed all the pipes at 8mm and then snuck in a 9mm??

[CitroJim]

What psychopath designed all the pipes at 8mm and then snuck in a 9mm??

A Frenchman!!! Fingers crossed it solves it Jaf

[Jaf]

Right. Security valve cured a fair bit of the leak, changed the rear height corrector and that has sorted it. Mostly, as there's a tiny drip at the front height corrector when putting the car up/down. Will keep an eye on it. Will take the old height corrector apart at some point for a look.

Passed inspection this morning! Yay!

[Stickyfinger]

Good job......

[CitroJim]

Magic!