Xantia rear down

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » 03 Jul 2006, 13:33

Xantia Estate '98. Wife has just come in - rear suspension down. The front cmes up and goes down - Citrobics. First time in high position I lifted rear up and hydraulics lifted it up to top, but have been unable to repeat this.

The spheres - 6 off along with fluid were changed 2 years ago by specialist. Is this spheres or is it likely to be high correcter?

The car rear has been sinking when not running - anti-sink valve. Could this be the cause of both problems?

I'm just on way out to work now, so wont be able to respond for 9+ hours. Any info greatly appreciatd.

Malcolm

Post by **Peter.N.** » 03 Jul 2006, 14:36

Probably the plastic bit of the rear height control valve linkage has broken

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 03 Jul 2006, 17:12

I agree with Peter. You'll probably find that height corrector linkage needs lubricating as well and in fact was the cause of the arm dropping off.

It will not be spheres, even if they are flat. The height corrector will stay open till the suspension is at the correct height. Curiously if the spheres are flat it will rise quicker as there is no gas to compress.

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » 03 Jul 2006, 22:36

Thanks for replies. Wife came home not 10 minutes before I had to be away to work -panic.
I've just also read an earlier post of very similar issue
- 'plastic ball link between the anti-roll bar and the height corrector'

Wife was keeping eye on forum, so passed me the info earlier. Contacted GSF and was told that they get loads of enquiries for these but this is a main dealer part. That really surprises me. I'll reluctantly have to go to my local dealer in morning once I've confirmed it.

Too late to do anything tonight now home - 22:30, will have to have a
look in morning. Thanks very much for the advice. It really is great to have access and support from the forum and members.

Malcolm

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 03 Jul 2006, 23:01

When you receive the invoice of that plastic link - you will be shocked - and know why GSF dont stock these

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » 04 Jul 2006, 07:48

I've just been under car. The 3cm link rod from clamp around the rear anti-roll bar that has broken at it's upper elbow. The 'plastic ball link' appears OK.

This looks to be a single bolt securing the clamp at top and the end of the broken link rod making the pivot for opening the clamp. This is the control for ride height i.e. adjustment of? Is this something that I can replace, marking it's position on anti-roll bar before removal? Haynes is not at all helpful

Does it highlight another issue - height corrector linkage in need of lubrication. I've regularly kept up to Citroebics having no apparent issues.

Is this link rod a usual failure? This would appear to be a stronger piece than the plastic ball link. Too early yet to contact dealer, is this likely to be a stock item?

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 04 Jul 2006, 11:19

How to repair this link depends on many things including your wealth, time available, facilities, possession of a scrap metal bin and so on.

If you have the facilities its probably not very difficult to remove the bracket and repair it - epecially if you have a MIg welder and some scrap metal.

However if you can't do this youmay be lucky in finding a scrap one that's better than you own, otherwise its new.

You will need to re-adjust the ride height when you have restored the linkage. this is quite sensitive - a small rotation making quite a difference.

Be careful working underneath Citroens - especially when working on this linkage - make sure the car is supported so that it cannot crush you should the suspension drop. These cars DO KILL!

Mandrake · Post by **Mandrake** » 04 Jul 2006, 11:23

Malcolm wrote:I've just been under car. The 3cm link rod from clamp around the rear anti-roll bar that has broken at it's upper elbow. The 'plastic ball link' appears OK.

The "plastic" links don't break that I'm aware of (they're actually nylon) but the cups in them do wear away making them loose - eventually they start to pop off at the height corrector end due to the high stresses on them. Once that starts happening replacing it is the only option.

So you may or may not have this problem later on

This looks to be a single bolt securing the clamp at top and the end of the broken link rod making the pivot for opening the clamp. This is the control for ride height i.e. adjustment of? Is this something that I can replace, marking it's position on anti-roll bar before removal? Haynes is not at all helpful

The short curved rod is actually bronze welded to the clamp, and the weld is probably just cracked and broken. If you undo the bolt and disconnect the plastic link you can easily remove it and probably get someone to re-weld it.

The only snag is knowing what angle to weld it at - it may not be obvious and its fairly critical. (From memory its approx 45 degrees, so that it only just clears the rollbar by about 5mm) Failing that replace it...

Does it highlight another issue - height corrector linkage in need of lubrication. I've regularly kept up to Citroebics having no apparent issues.

Is this link rod a usual failure? This would appear to be a stronger piece than the plastic ball link. Too early yet to contact dealer, is this likely to be a stock item?

The linkage could be a bit stiff and need greasing, but it could just be a freak occurance, like a poor quality weld...problems with the plastic link are far more common but I can recall at least 4 or 5 people over the last year reporting the weld on the clamp failing, so it does happen...

Regards,
Simon

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » 04 Jul 2006, 13:02

Thanks to every one for their input to this job. Job's done height now reasonable and reacting correctly to applied and removed loads.

I have the clamp in front of me now. The rod leaving the clamp has 'sheard' approx 7mm from clamp. It's bright metal colour inside with some small dark patches at opposite sides - possibly highlighting some imperfection.

Went down to my local dealer - two anti-roll bar diameters to choose from. Back home to measure up - 23mm. £13.53 & £1.56, total £17.73 for clamp and nylon link.

Adjustment was a pig! As tou said Jeremy, a very sensitive adjustment. Things are moving but I'll have to revisit and do more lubricant tomorrow.

Once again thanks to every one for their input - really appreciated thanks very much. Once you know what you're looking for......

Malcolm