Sphere Stress

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HaydnR
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Joined: 07 Feb 2004, 17:18
Location: Burntisland, Fife
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Sphere Stress

Post by HaydnR »

Gotta Laugh
My Xantia hdi had needed its spheres replaced for sometime, it got to a point where I got fed up with my head hittibg the roof and my backside going through the seat when crossing our numerous local roadhumps.
I was out one day picking up some bits and pieces and thought I would go into the nearest GSF and pick up some new spheres. Just at this moment I passed a similar looking shop so I thought I would give them a try. I went in and asked the chap for a complete set of spheres for my model. After looking in his catalogue he came back with 5 boxes 3x alko 2x Ifhs. I commented about the different makes on which he replied " thats ok they all come out of the same factory". So with spheres and a litre of lhm I went home.
Once I got home I took the spheres out of the boxes to compare and thought if they came out of the same factory I'm a monkeys uncle. I had a look on the net and it confimed my doubts, there was no way I was going to fit odd spheres.
I looked in the suppliers catalogue and there was a branch closer to me in Chessington so the next day I went along. " We can change them here mate." was the reply I got, so off to merton I went. I saw a different salesman this time and explained the problem. I asked if I could have a complete set of IFHS as they looked far better quality. He had neither in stock, "I'll give you a ring tomorrow" he said so off home I went in my bumpy car. He didnt phone back which was to no suprise, I left it a few days until Christmas had passed then phoned the merton branch, "yeah we got them here" he said " ok you can deliver them to me when you're ready" I replied " wont be for at least a week as we only got skeleton staff this time of year" he said.
A week later I drove to the merton branch again. Saw the salesman I met on the second visit. "Sorry we dont have a complete set of IFHS"
, "Well alko will have to do" I replied. I left the shop with 4x alko and 1x IFHS. All the corner spheres were the same so I was satisfied with this.
I had replaced the spheres on my previous xantia so knew what was envolved but thought they wouldnt be quite so bad as they had been on for a shorter time. How I was wrong. As the haynes joke book said i depressurised the system. Much hammering later I had the front and one of the rear spheres loosened but I had to call it a day ofter having no luck on the last.
I spent that evening looking for advice on this forum and looking for the right tool for the job. The next morning I gave gsf a ring, they had none of the wrenches in stock. I thought I would give it a go with trusty hammer an chisel with sytem under presure with a good load in the back suspension set at its highest. with a couple of clouts the final sphere loosened, phew. I topped up the lhm done the citrobics tidied up.Job done.
I took the car for a spin around the block, I was almost sea sick, the car was rolling all over the place.
I phoned the suppliers and let them know that they had supplied me with the wrong spheres. " We'll deliver the right ones tomorrow."
I set the car up on the ramps and thought as they have given me 2 x centre spheres as replacement for the outers I would replace the centre while I had it, so with system pressurised i slackened the centre sphere. I depressurised the system and started to remove the rear spheres. The rear offside was still quite tight i had to use a pair of filter pliers and a lot of grunt then BANG I emerged from under the car looking like kermit the frog.
The nearside then undone no problem as well as yhe front. Ok now all I got to do is replace the rear centre then thats me done. It uncrewed ok but needed the pliers all the way as there was a little resistance. Then it dropped out but not onto the floor,it was at this point that I noticed the pipe attatched to the sphere, my heart sank. The pipe is now all twisted and looks like a nightmare in itself to replace.I packed up and went inside.
I looked on the internet again and found some advice on how to remove the pipe but I dont feel to optomostic let alone where I will find a replacement. Worse case scenario I will have to take it to the local cit dealer which at £70 an hour is not a thought I relish. The local cit specialist are a waste of space one of them cost me a few quid replacing abs sensors that never cured the problem and another didnt identify the problem of grinding brakes as the pads being worn to the metal.
So I sit here wiping the lhm out of my earholes in the hope that someone can give a little advice on the replacement of the hydraulic pipe.
oilyspanner
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Post by oilyspanner »

In my experience genuine Cit hydraulic pipes are fairly cheap,and have the advantage of being pre bent to shape giving valuable clues to where they go. I use a little blowlamp to heat the unions up before putting a spanner on them, once you get to where the twisted up pipe ends cut it off flush with the end of the gland nut and use a six sided socket, it must come out then. you should soon be floating on air again.
Stewart
rory_perrett
Posts: 715
Joined: 05 Nov 2001, 19:18
Location: Leeds, Yorkshire
My Cars: Xantia Exclusive 110Hdi Estate 1999
x 1

Post by rory_perrett »

Been there- done that. Took the pipe off and welded up the end, stuck it back on and ran round without a centre sphere for 6 months. When I finally got round to it, the replacement pipe cost me less than £7 from a my local Cit dealer including VAT and was quite easy to replace, less than an hours work.
Rory
HaydnR
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Location: Burntisland, Fife
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Post by HaydnR »

Thanks for the positive replies.It makes quite a daunting job look straightforward. I'm sure if some of the so called citroen specialists out there read forums like these there would be many a satisfied customer.
crooser
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Post by crooser »

after reading all that i sometimes wonder if it's really worth andyspares or gsf running this forum.
HaydnR
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Post by HaydnR »

I dont really understand the last comment.
The saga continues.
Mr european vehicle parts ( real name of company not shown as I cant afford to get sued ) phoned me this morning. " there is a problem, we have recieved the wrong spheres in they are all centres, I'm gonna phone our citroen specialist in another branch, will let you know." This comes as no suprise as the listing of spheres on the website shows no outer spheres but many centre ones. He mentioned that they seem to be catalogued wrong - now theres a suprise.
This must be payback for not going to GSF where I went for replacements on my vsx and had no trouble at all.
As for the hydraulic pipe I went to the local cit dealer who said that all their parts are in the process of being moved to their other branch 5 miles away. So off I trot to be told by the storeman after disapearing out the back 3 or four times that the computers were down and couldnt get the part no. I await their call.
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davek-uk
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Post by davek-uk »

That's a sad story Haydn, and I'm sure there is a moral to it somewhere! You should have gone the extra few miles to GSF! Good luck anyway.
Unless you can check part numbers when you see items in 'other stores', always err on the side of caution - particularly for parts for Citroen oddities! As we see all through this forum, there are loads of Citroen specalists scattered about the population (NOT!).
crooser
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Post by crooser »

HaydnR,what i meant was that if you followed the threads in this forum and used gsf-andyspares in the first place your problem wouldn't be so big.
HaydnR
Posts: 61
Joined: 07 Feb 2004, 17:18
Location: Burntisland, Fife
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Post by HaydnR »

Phone call from eu car bits this morning "It seems that we cant get you the correct spheres if you come in we will give you a refund," Hooray!
Phoned citroen in kingston to find out computer system still down and cant find part no. for hydraulic pipe. Phoned Citroen in sunbury have one in stock. phoned GSF Heathrow they have all the spheres. At last! Roll on Saturday time for hydraulic pipe removal stress.
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