Captain Slows Activa Rescue Thread

[Captain Slow]

Too kind Jim.

One droplink arrived today



Only £12

[Captain Slow]

The spheres are here, but I don't know which is which. The ram bush is also here, thanks Jim.

It's off to a friends garage tomorrow, however I now have a new issue...the front won't raise. Bugger.

[CitroJim]

Pleased the bush arrived safely Simon

...the front won't raise. Bugger.

Check the dogbone has not popped off the height corrector. I had it happen once but it was the dogbone complete with ball. I had to replace the whole height corrector and it was a ballache. Lying on cold concrete outdoors with an air temperature of minus five. Changing a front height corrector on an Activa is a ballache at the best of times.

[Captain Slow]

The Activa is down at my friends garage having some essential work done as we speak. He will write up a detailed list of issues, but one thing he mentioned is that the car is turning to the left whilst up on the 2 poster ramp.

Ideas?

[Captain Slow]

No ideas then....

Next question. The rear ram is ofgf having the bush changed, but the joint at the other end is very loose. Is this common?

[kitchD6C]

And a third question while I'm doing it....to change the spheres I released the pressure on the Activa sphere block on the rear and the Activa accumulator on the front with the bleed nipples before removing the spheres. Got it all back together again.....do I need to bleed these back in like brake calipers, or are the nipples just a pressure release?

[Citroenmad]

No ideas then....

Next question. The rear ram is ofgf having the bush changed, but the joint at the other end is very loose. Is this common?

It can be when the protective boot has got a slight split in it and let in water and grit. The ball joint wears, these ball joints are not available!

I had this problem with my Activas rear ram and Jim has the evidence. The ball joint was very worn, its a wonder if didn't pop out

[CitroJim]

The ball joint was very worn, its a wonder if didn't pop out

It was!

Simon, the only source of serviceable balljoints are otherwise wrecked rams that cannot be repaired. Sadly, most can be repaired so truly dead ones are rare. However, I've thought about this and if you look at my website you'll see the balljoint is threaded onto the top of the ram piston and the balljoint is not dis-similar to a beefy droplink end. I reckon it's quite possible to make a new balljoint using a droplink and cutting a suitable thread on the end of it.

I've not tried it but I see no reason why it should not work. You may need to visit a factor and look at a range of droplinks and see what might make a suitable donor.

[Captain Slow]

It was put back together and the rear was silent, so I guess its ok.

An update with questions to follow

[Citroenmad]

It was put back together and the rear was silent, so I guess its ok.

An update with questions to follow

Oddly enough, mine was totally silent, despite the wear in the ball joint.

[Captain Slow]

Activa rescue is well underway. All new spheres are fitted, as is the Activa ram bush (thanks Jim)

Turns out the hydroactive sphere was ruptured. The ride is much better now, with no knocking.

Next on the list is the brake lights, along with a service and a replacement engine mount.

[wurlycorner]

Gret news there.

How did you/your mate manage to identify which sphere was which, in the end?

[CitroJim]

Gret news there.

How did you/your mate manage to identify which sphere was which, in the end?

Bounce tests... As described in the Activa Buyer's Guide

One very useful adjunct to Activa ownership Iain, is a sphere tester. With ten of them it is a godsend!!!

Not sure where you live but mine is always available for use by those in the locality...

[wurlycorner]

How did you/your mate manage to identify which sphere was which, in the end?

Bounce tests... As described in the Activa Buyer's Guide

Ah... I meant when the 10 new ones landed and they didn't know which one was which

One very useful adjunct to Activa ownership Iain, is a sphere tester. With ten of them it is a godsend!!!

Not sure where you live but mine is always available for use by those in the locality...

Thanks, I'm in Chelmsford, Essex.

[Captain Slow]

It was worked out by the pressures on the boxes