xantia sphere replacement

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AndersDK
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Post by AndersDK »

Yep Simon - Agree.

Or the workout version : push the car back & forth while testing on the brake pedal. Guaranteed to get a nice red colour in your face :lol:
Anders (DK) - '90 BX16Image
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reblack68
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Post by reblack68 »

My car doesn't sink when it's parked but it drops right down at the back when I start the engine. I do know the accumulator sphere has seen better days but does this behaviour mean the anti-sink one has gone too?

My thinking, based on what I've learned in this thread, is that the anti-sink mechanism is de-activated when I start the engine but the flat anti-sink sphere is unable to take over. Once it's pumped itself up again everything seems to work fine.
Richard

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Mandrake
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Post by Mandrake »

reblack68 wrote:My car doesn't sink when it's parked but it drops right down at the back when I start the engine. I do know the accumulator sphere has seen better days but does this behaviour mean the anti-sink one has gone too?

My thinking, based on what I've learned in this thread, is that the anti-sink mechanism is de-activated when I start the engine but the flat anti-sink sphere is unable to take over. Once it's pumped itself up again everything seems to work fine.
Does it begin to lift first and then some time later suddenly drop, and then lift again ?

Or does it drop first, and then lift and stay up ?

If it drops first before lifting, it's probably the anti-sink sphere is very flat but not quite punctured. (EG still has a little bit of gas left)

Over night the brake doseur valve bleeds away all the pressure in the anti-sink sphere while the suspension stays pressurized. (This is normal)

Because of the very low gas pressure in the sphere, when you start the engine and the anti-sink valve is reactivated there is a sudden rush of oil from the suspension to the anti-sink sphere to fill it up.

Regards,
Simon
Simon

1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
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Post by admiral51 »

thanks for all your replies guys i think i now can make sense of the system
the front accumulator sphere was changed 3 months ago and clicks after approx 35-40 secs so convinced that is ok
pushed down on rear corners and they both seem very flat similar to knackered struts on non cit cars ive had so points to dead spheres
it seems a safer bet to change all four corners and rear center at same time this will put this issue to bed i hope
have read other posts on hydraflushing system so think we will bite the bullet and do all in one go :lol:
think its best for piece of mind
then with full spheres and clean blood no doubt some other regulator/pipe will give up ghost but at least it keeps me busy
idle hands and all that..............
colin
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reblack68
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Post by reblack68 »

It drops right away, then lifts back up and then is fine for the rest of the day. The previous owner claimed to have replaced the wheel spheres, and they seem fine, so it looks like I need an accumulator and anti-sink.
Richard

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citronut
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Post by citronut »

if its soft to push down it is more than likely fine, when spheres are partly or fully flat the suspension will be firm or hard dependent on how flat the spheres are, so the more they are flat the less movement you will feel
regards malcolm
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