Citrojim's Saxo and Cycling Tales

[CitroJim]

Just treated the Saxo to a cambelt and waterpump kit. I'm sure it's due up...

It'll be one of the very first jobs I do on it as soon as it's home with me... I like to swap cambelts on all new cars I get...

At the same time I'll give it a full service...

[Zelandeth]

Sounds like those rollers have a lot in common with the spring clips that hold Lada heater boxes together.

I managed to lose two out of the four last time I changed a fan, and that was in a car with no seats in, with all the doors and windows closed. On the plus side, the cable ties were still apparently holding ten years later when the car was scrapped.

[CitroJim]

The Activa spannering has very much commenced

Really enjoyed it and realised just how much I've missed the spanners recently; it's still excellent therapy for me

Hub nuts undone and balljoints split amongst other prep jobs.

I think the OS has the noisy wheel bearing... I recall swapping the other one a while back and I have one in stock. It will be fitted...

Some prep work done to swap to big discs too

Own Work

The position is assumed

Own Work

Front suspension split and ready for work...

Own Work

The split boot...

eBay tells me the new boots have already been despatched

More progress tomorrow if the weather holds...

Been a great day today

[Stickyfinger]

Your SAXO has AirCon Jim....Sunroof + Air = Bonus. (Not a clue if it works however)

[CitroJim]

Your SAXO has AirCon Jim....Sunroof + Air = Bonus. (Not a clue if it works however)

Bloody marvellous

Wikipedia is wronmg then

It says 'Air-conditioning was never an option on right-hand-drive Saxos because the blower motor was mounted in the bulk-head on the driver's side. '

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Saxo

That needs an edit

[Stickyfinger]

Ahhh.....maybe the Power steering pump.....these cars with springs and no LHM have maybe confused me

[CitroJim]

these cars with springs and no LHM have maybe confused me

Same here

Surprised and shocked that such a tiny car as a Saxo needs power steering! At least it's not an electric system

[CitroJim]

Just insured the Saxo ready for Saturday's collection...

Got a stonking good deal from LV - who insures both my house and Pug 207 - and a deal that came out just a couple of quid dearer than the cheapest quote on the comparison websites

LV always seem to do me a good deal

[CitroJim]

Got some more good spannering done on the Activa this afternoon

Offside dismantled completely and the hub is off and ready for a wheel bearing change.

I couldn't hear it at the slow speeds I drive but it's certainly a bit noisy and graunchy... I have one in stock...

Also started dismantling the nearside and now ready to extract the driveshaft with the split boot

A good afternoon and again, very much enjoyed the spannering even though I no longer love/want the car itself...

I must say that over the time I've had the car and my diligent use of copper grease around all I've previously dismantled (which is most of the car now!) makes dismantling a nice, easy job... Nothing is seized and it all comes apart

Own Work - The nearside disassembly commenced...

Own Work - The Offside completely disassembled...

Hoping to get a bit more done tomorrow.

The replacement balljoint boots and the CV joint boot have arrived today so tomorrow the first tasks I'll do is drain the gearbox and pop the driveshaft out ready to swap the boot...

That's one bit of the job I'm not really looking forward to

[CitroJim]

A bit more work done today on the Activa...

I pressed out the old wheel bearing - a job I love oddly enough - and prepared the hub for pressing in the new one. I think I just love using my hydraulic press and the most satisfying bang that occurs when the old bearing finally lets go and decides that yes, it will come out to play

Also fitted a new rubber boot onto the lower ball-joint... They seem to do the job and for just under £4 for a pair they're a good solution to a split one on an otherwise good joint...

I got a bit carried away and lost track of time. Now I have run out of time to get ready for a Redway Runners social run this evening

No worries as I'm really enjoying all this spannering work. Loving it in fact

I really do know where my true love lies...

Here's the hub all ready to receive the new bearing along with all the bits considered beyond reasonable further duty!

Activa Hub - Own Work

Hopefully more work tomorrow..

In other news, the Saxo timing belt kit has arrived and I've got some oil and a filter ready to take to Somerset on Saturday to give the car an oil change. Alasdair tells me the oil looks very black! I'll then change it again very soon after...

[Stickyfinger]

as black as a witches T** mate

[RichardW]

Coming along, Jim. That hub is in remarkable condition given its age - the ones off my 10 year old 307 were (a lot) rustier than that!!

Thinking about the boot - it's probably easier to knock the outer joint off and fit the boot from the other end, that way, you only need to cut the boot off the inner joint, and not even remove the can, so all the rollers can remain in place!

[Zelandeth]

Looking good Jim, definitely seems like you're making good progress there.

Really looking forward to spending some good time getting to know this car now, will be a really interesting to compare to my time with Gabriel - and about as total a difference to the Lada as you could imagine.

[CitroJim]

I think you'll love the Activa Zel. It is a totally different drive to Gabriel though... They may be both Xantias but there the similarity ends

Progress might be a bit slower today...I pulled a muscle in my arm whilst wielding a big club hammer and cold chisel at the bearing retaining circlip that was fairly well rusted in the groove but today I do hope to press in the new bearing and get the new big brake calipers cleaned up and ready for fitting...

I'll be swimming first - with this arm it might be interesting - I might end up swimming around in circles

Richard, yes, I think the knock-off the outer joint will be the simplest and easiest way in the end... I'll be doing that job quite soon now but I need my arm to be OK as there will be hammers involved!!!

Generally the car is really quite rust-free. In my ownership it's never seen much winter use at all... Makes a difference I think... It certainly comes apart easily enough

[daviemck2006]

I agree that an activa and a 1.9td are totally different. I dont know why, but I never really bonded with my activa, which had the boost control fitted, the same as Jims, but Gabriel is totally different and I bonded instantly and love her to bits. Dont get me wrong, I enjoyed driving the activa, it was fun, but there were things about it that really did my head in. After owning an activa and a 1.9td, the only other xantia I would consider would be a v6 auto. But bigpug satisfies the v6 auto urge so for me the little fleet I have at the moment is good. Im sure Zel will enjoy the activa, although I could see it being more like his saab than anything else.