front shock

dave j · Unread post by **dave j** » 05 Feb 2006, 14:47

is a leaking front shock an mot failure,
and can you repair it,
i have tried to find a replacement online but can't seem to locate one,
it is a 1994 xantia 1.9d it is only one side n/s ,do you have to buy them in pairs i found 2 items which might be the part on the andyspares site but the difference in price is £100 ,

N45548 SHOCK STRUT BQ FR LH £29.50

N43462 HYDRAULIC STRUT GEN FR LH £142.00

does anyone know of a site where i can get said shock and how much it should cost £142 seems a lot for a shock absorber

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 05 Feb 2006, 15:10

You dont have shock absorbers on a Xantia.
Instead you have the McPherson type hydraulic ram cylinder to lift the suspension. The gas sphere fitted on top is both the spring and shock absorber element.

Thats why the high cost as it is the hydrauliuc ram cylinder - not a shocker - you pay for.

It will be well worth the time & effort to clean down all around the affected suspernsion cylinder to trace the leak. The suspension cylinder very rarely fails at all. But seals on the gas sphere or the hydraulic pipe fails. The hydraulic pipe itself may have developed a rust pin hole which is leaking (although such a failure would rather cause a high pressure spray leak).
There is a rubber leak-off hose attached to the strut - check for rotten rubber which leaks.

dave j · Unread post by **dave j** » 05 Feb 2006, 16:46

thanks for the speedy reply
have just cleaned up the strut and found no leaks,there was not a lot of oil etc on it just a bit and a bit of grime
but the dust cover is a very bad fit and had slipped down letting all the crap onto the strut,
also the steering gaitor is split and the grease from that could have found its way onto the strut,
the mot station just said the front shock is leaking do you want us to replace it for you,
i asked him to show where it was leaking and his answer was ,oh it's off the ramp now and we have another car car on the ramp,but we can fix it for you,
i have had the car up and down the suspension a few times and there is no sign of a leak,
either it is a mechanic who is not familair with citroens or more likely he was just trying to get me to spend on the repairs,
well im just going to get the steering gaitor repleaced and take it back,
because if it is not leaking then it can't fail the mot

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 05 Feb 2006, 18:04

Or take it to another MOT station

dnsey · Unread post by **dnsey** » 05 Feb 2006, 18:06

I wouldn't go back to that garage!
They 'found' a leak on a shock absorber which doesn't exist, but can't explain where to look for it, and missed a split steering rack gaiter - or do you mean the CV joint one - either of which should have meant an MOT fail.
Get the gaiter done ASAP - and make sure that the joint's completely cleaned out and re-greased with the correct lubricant first.
Give the boot at the top of the strut a good clean inside, and re-fix it with tight cable ties.
Keep an eye on the strut though - there may be a leak somewhere around it which only shows up when the suspension's moving.

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 05 Feb 2006, 18:10

If he thinks its got shock absorbers, he certainly isnt familiar with Citroens! As Anders says, its probably an external leak, the most likely being the return pipe or fitting which is clamped onto the lower end of the strut with a metal clamp. The rubber pipe perishes and splits, you will have to change the complete connection,unless its just the end attached to the metal pipe thats gone, in which case you can usually cut the end off and refit, they are not very expensive and obtainable from GSF. If, thats what the problem is. If you have to replace it, I have always had difficulty in fitting the metal clip and usually use a plastic cable tie.

dave j · Unread post by **dave j** » 05 Feb 2006, 18:36

thanks for the help guys,
i really don't think that there is a leak,
i have been all around the strut cleaned it up which didn't take long as there was only a little bit of oil on the lower part of the strut ,checked the return pipe and there is no evidence of a leak,
just a dodgy mot station there are a few out there
but i might change the return pipe as there just might be a small leak that is not obvious

zzf00l · Unread post by **zzf00l** » 05 Feb 2006, 19:51

Surely you can't resist the tempation of going back for a re-test and a more detailed explanation of the MOT Inspectors comments.... prefereably in front of the Garage Owner!!!!

dave j · Unread post by **dave j** » 05 Feb 2006, 20:03

tell you what mate,
i can hardly resist going round there with a big stick !
the people there are cowboys,while i was there some old lady came in and said that her lights were not working,
they started tutting and shaking thier heads and told her ,that intermitent electrical problems were hard to find and that she would have to leave her car there,never once did they mention fuses bulbs etc probably ripped her off,but i'm going to get the steering gaitor fixed and if they don't give me the mot i'm going to complain to vosa

mezuk04 · Unread post by **mezuk04** » 05 Feb 2006, 20:19

It is disgusting the garages that are allowed to carry on like this.

http://www.whatcar.com/news-article.aspx?NA=218563

What they were expecting something different.
I really would go back to them!!!!

_kid_ · Unread post by **_kid_** » 06 Feb 2006, 01:40

I find council run mot stations totally neutral, they are indifferent to passing or failing a car, as they have no prior financial motivation to do dodgy tests. Also they understand the concept of service even thought it is just an mot.

Ring your local council for details.

Also there is an absolute massive topic or two on the site below

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/sho ... ml?t=90777

Kowalski · Unread post by **Kowalski** » 06 Feb 2006, 11:31

The MOT test centre I usually go to is privately run and is just an MOT test centre, they aren't a garage as well. They tend to be very thorough, the tiniest faults are picked up on and advisories given on.

What you've got to do is make clear to them that you understand the mechanics of your car and can't be conned.

zzf00l · Unread post by **zzf00l** » 06 Feb 2006, 12:57

I remember being told that my 'Brake Servo' needed replacing!!

Clogzz · Unread post by **Clogzz** » 06 Feb 2006, 13:47

dave j wrote:I can hardly resist going round there with a big stick !

Looks like the big stick may be of use before you get there.
Beware of strut gaiters falling off the top by themselves.
They may be an indication that the strut top mount is about to break.
Put the big stick across the guards, above the strut top nuts, with the wheels in the straight ahead position.
If one nut is closer to the stick than the other, the mount is letting go.

bxbodger · Unread post by **bxbodger** » 06 Feb 2006, 15:36

have just cleaned up the strut and found no leaks,there was not a lot of oil etc on it just a bit and a bit of grime
but the dust cover is a very bad fit and had slipped down letting all the crap onto the strut,
also the steering gaitor is split and the grease from that could have found its way onto the strut

Don't get too carried away with big sticks!!! The tester can only report on what he can see, and from your description what he saw was an oily dirty strut!!!

Testers aren't allowed to dismantle, but as the gaiter was loose, he was perfectly entitled to look, and thats obviously what he did, and saw oil and dirt.

He was probably only erring on the safe side- after all, he doesn't know that you aren't an undercover ministry inspector, does he??

The fix is to clean it up, and secure the gaiter.