BX spheres for GS?

adamskibx · Post by **adamskibx** » 07 Dec 2004, 03:16

I have recently aquired a citroen gs and it needs new rear spheres. The previous owner who said that BX 14 spheres are good for the rear of the car but i dont know about the front. I know you can definately buy the front ones but ive never seen the rear ones for sale anywhere. Does anyone have any more info on this subject? Many thanks, Adam

tonespeed1999 · Post by **tonespeed1999** » 07 Dec 2004, 03:41

from what i can remember from my days as a citroen mechanic,the spheres had there pressure ratings stamped on them,gs/a fronts should have 50 or 55 stamped on the top and the rears have 40 stamped on them.i have fitted different spheres from other models before to improve the handling on BXs before.there are still people out ther who still recondition spheres ie:pliedes.[:)]try some from a xantia!

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 07 Dec 2004, 04:41

Hi Adam -
The GS front suspension cylinder setup is way different from the BX.
The GS has the double triangle arm with a cylinder working on the upper triangle arm.
Same type of suspension is used on the CX.
The BX has the McPherson type front suspension with cylinder directly acting on the wheel.
I really doubt BX/Xantia spheres would suit the GS front.
Remember it's not simply the gas precharge pressure of the spheres - it's very important to go with the corrct damping factor of the build-in damper valve. This is calibrated for the car's weight and suspension arm to cylinder mounting point - on each wheel on each model.
On the rear GS, BX, & CX shares the same principle of suspension setup.
Hope some of the (former) GS owners will comment on this.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 07 Dec 2004, 04:41

Is this what you are looking for?
http://www.gsfcarparts.com/downloads/sphere_table.pdf
Jeremy

alan s · Post by **alan s** » 07 Dec 2004, 06:53

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by adamskibx</i>

I have recently aquired a citroen gs and it needs new rear spheres. The previous owner who said that BX 14 spheres are good for the rear of the car but i dont know about the front. I know you can definately buy the front ones but ive never seen the rear ones for sale anywhere. Does anyone have any more info on this subject? Many thanks, Adam
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
According to the sphere table, the rears are close enough to be OK and the fronts are the same part number.
As regards used parts including spheres, there's a company over your way that tend to specialise in GSs
http://www.chevronics.co.uk/
You may also find that the Australian Citroen Car Clubs site is a good resource for information for you as there are still quite a number of GSs being used, some for everyday driving, and a few very keen GS owners who may be able to help if you need it any time.
http://www.citroencarclub.org.au/forum/ ... 23c0381c2f
Alan S[;)]

alexx · Post by **alexx** » 07 Dec 2004, 12:32

As Anders said, front suspension setup is different. On GS, cylinders are 35 mm in diameter and connected to 1/3 of the suspension arm. On BX, they are 22 mm and connected to the end of the arm.
Because of this, damping rate of the same sphere will be 18% higher in BX. Spring rate will be the same (in fact, it will be slightly higher because of higher weight, but it doesn't matter).
Rear setup is equal.
Spheres could be swapped - I fitted my ex. BX with GS spheres, which resulted in better comfort.
From some technical data, it seems that early BX14 front spheres are the same as GS, since part no. is the same. Other BX spheres have similar or equal spring rate (except for BX GTi). But damping rate is higher. Not because of slightly smaller central bore, but because plates covering other 8 bores are quite thicker. So ride comfort won't be the same (that's why I swapped the spheres on BX).

adamskibx · Post by **adamskibx** » 07 Dec 2004, 23:44

Thanks for all your help people. I will definately try and get proper GS spheres for comfort reasons and if i cant ill try and get the ones on the car reconditioned. Im not sure whether this is possible though as they are totally flat and i know you cant guarantee that the rubber membrane will be ok after going noticably flat. Ill speak to the people at Chevronics and see what they say.

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » 08 Dec 2004, 00:10

Hello Adam,
Take it you got back OK then. Started work on it yet, if it turns out nice i never want to see it again if that OK with you

Still havent found those hub-caps but you will be first to know if i do.

adamskibx · Post by **adamskibx** » 08 Dec 2004, 06:46

Yes thanks got back OK in the end thank god. The towing was dodgy as it got quite foggy towards the end but we stopped for a while and refreshed. Ive started work on the doors now (removing the door skins) I think the fitting of new ones will be hard ill just have to take it slowly and be patient! Im just so glad ive got one at last! Its all thanks to you and Tom Shepperd so thanks. Hope your projcts come on OK. Kind Regards, Adam

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » 09 Dec 2004, 01:30

No problems, glad you like it and hope all goes well, it definitly deserves to be saved that one.

tomsheppard · Post by **tomsheppard** » 12 Dec 2004, 17:30

Glad to hear that you got it Adam. I hope you get lots of pleasure out of it. You're Pompey based, aren't you? If so DLM is local, I'm in So'ton and I have both Haynes and autobooks manuals for the GS which are Surplus to requirements (See free to good home)
tomattomshepdotcodotuk if you want'em.

adamskibx · Post by **adamskibx** » 13 Dec 2004, 00:27

Hi Tom yes im pompy based half the time and Malvern, Worcestershire based sometimes as im at uni for another 6 months at portsmouth (popping back as much as possible to attend to the GS!!). Yes those manuals would be excellent. Ill e mail you. Cheers, Adam