VSX Xantia Leaking LHM at Rear

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 06 Oct 2007, 16:02

Now I've managed to get the diesel VSX estate to run again on proper
diesel I've decided to tackle the LHM leak on the rear end.

At first it appeared to be a height corrector though on geting the car
reversed up on high ramps at the back I can see fluid in quite fast and
high volume running from above the rear centre sphere off the sphere
itself. It is difficult to see exactly where this is starting from although it
doesn't appear to be the spheres seal itself and more the electrovalve
main housing for the centre sphere.

The large bore centre feed pipe appears quite corroded and the two
big bore pipe nuts jointing onto the centre sphere housing don't appear
too healthy as regards rust corrosion.

The only alternative point I can envisage leaking is a poor seal where
the electrovalve switch is mounted onto the centre sphere housing itself.

My Question here really, is is this a particularly leak prone part and
exactly how is the pipework undone on the feeds into it and IIRC there's
a knack to the central sphere's removal? The car rides really well so all
appears happy regards the ride and operation of the suspension/height
corrector etc.

As always, does anyone have any ideas/suggestions or fixes to help me
stop my fluid leakage?

All the best,
Andrew

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 06 Oct 2007, 20:17

I've had another look at the offending item and it looks to as though
there's excessive corrosion apparent everywhere on the central
sphere/hight corrector area. It all really does look like it's been at
the bottom of the sea for a few years...

I have a rear subframe I dropped off an earlier saloon VSX though
don't fancy the differences in an estate with anti sink incorporated being
a viable option in a repair/swap over.

The thing that worries me about a replacement centre sphere housing
and electrovalve is the likelihood of all the pipes rounding on the
rams as well as the centre valve body and I'm almost into a full rear
end rebuild scenario.

I'm still mulling over exactly what's going on here as the car was lifted
onto high and left for ages not running and it didn't sink and I was able
to clean everything up around the rear centre sphere to see if I could
nail exactly where it's leaking. It didn't leak until I set the car to normal
ride height where it leaked immediately just in the area mentioned!?

I don't really know what to do next!!

Andrew

shaker · Post by **shaker** » 06 Oct 2007, 21:13

Could be the same problem I had - the electrovalve bodies are known to corrode and leak. You can check it by seeing if the leak stops if you disconnect the HA computer - see:-
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... ectrovalve

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 06 Oct 2007, 21:17

firstly are any of the pipes on the spare sub frame the wright size/bore, if so you might be able to just salvage them just in case you cant get the rusty ones undune without chewing them up, also if it only leaks on lowering the suspension its got to be a return pipe/point were the citro blood is comming from
regards malcolm