Rear sphere change

p20 · Unread post by **p20** » 16 Aug 2005, 21:21

Hi, just a quick one. Can you change the rear spheres on a Xantia with the car on ramps? The Haynes BOL suggests putting it up on axle stands and removing the relevant wheel - is this just to allow better access, or is it the only way? Thanks in advance.

bernie · Unread post by **bernie** » 16 Aug 2005, 21:46

Ramps are fine.
Just remember to undo the spheres a little whilst at full height then remove when at zero pressure

p20 · Unread post by **p20** » 16 Aug 2005, 22:09

Cheers again bernie - what a star. I had two questions, and you've answered both of them in about 5 minutes!!

Mandrake · Unread post by **Mandrake** » 17 Aug 2005, 02:22

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by p20</i>

Hi, just a quick one. Can you change the rear spheres on a Xantia with the car on ramps? The Haynes BOL suggests putting it up on axle stands and removing the relevant wheel - is this just to allow better access, or is it the only way? Thanks in advance.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
I think ramps are better, the problem with axle stands is trying to depressurize the suspension fully, which really needs the weight of the car to do it.
I've always used ramps for this job. Just back the car up onto the ramps, set the manual height lever to low *with the engine running* and leave it like this for about 3-5 minutes to allow it to fully depressurize.
When it is depressurized, you should be able to grasp the sphere and wobble the entire cylinder that its attached to several millimetres to either side. If you cant, and its still rock hard, there is still some pressure.
When you can wiggle it easily, turn of the engine and open the bleed screw on the regulator, then do the change...there is plenty of access with the wheel still on when driven onto ramps.
Regards,
Simon