front sphere removal xantia mounting brackets

Post by **admiral51** » 07 Jun 2007, 17:57

hi all
just finished one job and another rears its ugly head

i have a leaking front sphere on my xantia and it looks like it has been persuaded to go on.
as with previous jobs it has been attacked by a caveman so decided to check with motinfo to see what faults had been spotted at previous mots
quote from previous failed mot
nearside front sphere mounting bracket suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded****dangerous***

from what i understand this is the mounting bracket that has been in previous threads with the "spearing" through the bonnet
i suspect this has been done as it passed the mot 4 days later but not by a mechanic

my question is is it possible to snap the thread off inside the sphere if it has been tightened up too much when trying to remove it
i dont want to try it if its going to cost me more than just a sphere should i let a stealers remove it and let them bear the cost if it snaps
cheers colin

Stewart(oily) · Post by **Stewart(oily)** » 07 Jun 2007, 19:20

Sounds like this thread may apply to your car
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=19386
Stewart

Post by **admiral51** » 07 Jun 2007, 19:31

hi stewart
yes thats the thread but im not convinced the person who put it on was all that clued up
not worried about the strut/mount itself as that it new its the sphere that worries me
it is leaking(only a bit) but it has gouges in it along the middle ridge and if its gone on too tight or even cross threaded then is it possible i will snap the thread the sphere goes on thereby needing a new strut/mounting
cheers colin

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 07 Jun 2007, 19:39

sounds like the sphere seal nead replacing,easy peasy just depresurise the system,remove the sphere fit new seal and dont forget to run a finger full of citro blood on the matting surface of the seal,as if this is not done when you screw the sphere back into place it will chew up the seal,then it will leak,and no you wont shear the thread off of the sphere
regards malcolm

Post by **RichardW** » 07 Jun 2007, 20:08

And fit the seal to the mount NOT the sphere.... probably what has happened here - then some muppet has crunched the sphere up with a pair of big stilsons to try and get it to seal. It requires to be hand tight only, and if it doesn't seal you've done something wrong

You might have some 'fun' persuading that sphere off though

Post by **admiral51** » 07 Jun 2007, 20:38

thanks malcom and richard
one thing i forgot to ask do they undo clock or anti

and i presume the words fun and persuade should not really be used in the same sentence here

thanks colin

Post by **RichardW** » 07 Jun 2007, 21:08

Anti clock - normal right hand thread.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 08 Jun 2007, 08:29

you should not have much prob undoing the front ones because of the angel they are on the strut top,and if you have a proper tool to undo them with, i have both a stanley 30cm pipe chain wrench and a proper citroen clamp type as pliadies sell, and yes you do fit the seal the the sphere mount first
regards malcolm

Post by **admiral51** » 07 Aug 2007, 20:16

finally got round to changing leaking sphere and caveman had been very sloppy

no BL%$£Y seal in there not even a chewed up one

colin

Sturdybloke · Post by **Sturdybloke** » 07 Aug 2007, 20:52

admiral51 wrote:no BL%$£Y seal in there not even a chewed up one

Sounds like the same monkey who had messed around with a old Sierra GLS that I had (previous to me buying it). Why bother with the cam cover gasket when window sealer will do just as well

BTW Colin I got your message thanks. Will wait for the photos

All the best - Craig.