Brake failure on Xantia

nridley · Post by **nridley** » 01 Mar 2005, 00:02

My brakes have failed on my Xantia today (not nice on the M4 in rush hour). When you press the pedal normally, and hold it there, nothing happens for about 2 seconds when the brakes suddenly kick in. If you press the pedal hard the car pulls violently to the right and the wheels lock up after a couple of seconds. I think there is air in the system but others are saying it is something more serious. I tried to bleed my brakes yesterday but can't get to the flipping bleed screw on the front wheels as it is in such an awkward position (I did raise the car on axle stands, run engine and put on high suspension and remove wheel by the way). I have a new front accumulator sphere to put on as well and have booked it into a local Citroen specialist for tomorrow (they were kind enough to take it in straight away). I have no idea how much it is going to cost - any ideas?

Post by **RichardW** » 01 Mar 2005, 00:37

Sounds like gas* in the brakes - gives totally different feeling to air in the brakes in a normal car.
* it's probably nitrogen, which probably means one of your spheres has ruptured and is leaking gas into the brakes.
Cost - hopefully just a couple of new spheres and bleeding the brakes - £100 [:o)]

nridley · Post by **nridley** » 01 Mar 2005, 00:43

All 4 spheres are new apart from accumulator sphere - could it be this one?

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 01 Mar 2005, 01:40

Unless your Xantia is extremely early you will have a 2 outlet pump which powers the brakes and suspension with 2 cylinders and the steering with 6. This system is fine as long as the accumulator is good. If its not then you are relying on the pump alone and its not very powerful!
Sounds like gas in the brakes. Citroebics may make some difference but it sounds as though it may be in the one way pipes to the brakes. (Citroebics - raising and dropping the car a number of times - purges air from the majority of the system - but not the bits without return pipes - like brakes)
jeremy

nridley · Post by **nridley** » 01 Mar 2005, 02:21

Well it is a 1993 (L) Xantia so is one of the early models. I am liking the gas explanation and desperately hope it is this and nothing else serious. Will keep you posted after it has been to the Citroen specialist garage tomorrow.

nridley · Post by **nridley** » 01 Mar 2005, 19:44

New accumulator, new front and rear brake pads and system bleed. £160.

naxia · Post by **naxia** » 02 Mar 2005, 02:54

Use 0000000000 ive fiund them to be very chep for the balls, less than 20quid each