Citroen Xantia 1.9TD Suspension probs

mpainter22 · Post by **mpainter22** » 30 Dec 2008, 22:43

Hi everyone i'm afraid i'm new here, and relatively new to Citroen ownership. I have a P reg Xantia TD VSX, this evening when i finished work the rear suspension on my car wouldn't raise from its lowest setting to normal.

However it would go to its maximum extension but when i lowered the car back to its normal height the rear of the car dropped back to its lowest setting, now when i adjust the car to the highest setting and then lower back to normal the rear of the car will not lower to normal ride height, it would however return to its lowest setting if selected on the height adjuster , i ended up having the car recovered by the RAC.

PLEASE HELP!!!

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 30 Dec 2008, 22:48

The (IN-)famous little 2" white plastic rod has dislodged.

Its located under the car at the rear, connecting the rear height corrector unit to the rear anti-roll-bar.
A new rod is approx £2-3 at your dealer, if your old one has snapped or disappeared.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 31 Dec 2008, 08:33

hi and welcome

as Anders said but the usual cause for the nylon link ball and socket to part company, is the hight corector linkage mechanisum has become siezed, it is best to make sure the exturnal mechanisum is free or the new nylon link might pop off within a short time

regards malcolm

mpainter22 · Post by **mpainter22** » 01 Jan 2009, 14:50

Ive been under the car today and found a METAL rod to be broken, its the one linked to the plastic rod on the rear height corrector is this a mjor problem or not??

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 01 Jan 2009, 15:39

No not a major problem.

This is the ballhook located on the antiroll bar.
Its fitted as a clamp, which can be opened by removing the bolt found on it.

The clamp is a little dearer than the plasticrod, but certainly no disaster.

Remember to inform your VIN number or full model details, as there are a couple of thickness variants on the ARB, which makes for a couple of clamp variants too.

Biggest problem is that the generic height would have to be adjusted again, i.e. setting the exact position of the new clamp.
This is safely done over a pit, where the wheels are still carrying the vehicle.
Please note that even cars with a catalytic converter stiill produce toxic gasses with engine running idle ...

mpainter22 · Post by **mpainter22** » 01 Jan 2009, 15:59

Cheers Anders, im assuming that the rear anti roll bar is basically the solid beam which runs under the car and is bolted to the rear arms?? how does this clamp and rod assembly all fit together??

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 01 Jan 2009, 16:07

As can be seen from this schematic (click to enlarge), its item4 that clamps on the ARB.
(the dreaded logo hides the similar clamp for the front ARB

)
As I mentioned before, the clamp opens to slide over the ARB, so there are no needs for elaborated works to remove the ARB or such huge works

Referring to the schematic, you may of course correct my quick assumption on your problem 8)

mpainter22 · Post by **mpainter22** » 01 Jan 2009, 16:15

thats completely different to what ive got sat on the desk in front of me, ive got a digital photo of the offending part, i'm not sure how to post pics on the message board

[/img]

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 01 Jan 2009, 16:39

got a long one there

- did'nt I

Here is how to submut picturers on the forum :
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=23536

Post by **myglaren** » 01 Jan 2009, 16:40

mpainter22 wrote:thats completely different to what ive got sat on the desk in front of me, ive got a digital photo of the offending part, i'm not sure how to post pics on the message board

There is a bit of a guide to posting images here.

If you want, send it to me via email and I'll bung it in for you.

I had the same problem a few years back and my friendly neighbourhood specialist charged £17 inclusive to fix it

mpainter22 · Post by **mpainter22** » 01 Jan 2009, 16:54

hi guys the pic isnt great but hopefully its of some use to you (and me)

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 01 Jan 2009, 17:21

Ahhh ...

That IS in fact the steel hook remnants of item4 in the schematic that sits in one cup of the black plastic rod item6.
The ballhook has simply snapped off the clamp.

That also means the complete height corrector assembly item2 most likely is seized and then in the first place caused the hook to snap.

Spray the complete assembly (item2) well and truly with anything that says to loosen seized metal parts.
Give it a couple of days chance to work, then spray again, but this time with canned grease on spray.
If you cant make it work again, I'm afraid you need a complete new height corrector assembly item2.

Still you also need to replace the clamp item4.

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 01 Jan 2009, 17:27

Dear knowledgable ones; is it worth to scribing/marking the position of the old clamp before removal thus avoiding the necessity to reset the correct height? i.e. Just align the new clamp to the marks (assuming the old clamp was correctly set)

mpainter22 · Post by **mpainter22** » 01 Jan 2009, 17:38

cheers Anders, just a question can the car be driven on its fullest extension or will it do more damage?? I cannot tell you how much of a god send this forum, and the users have been for me

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 01 Jan 2009, 17:40

Hi Mike and happy newyear -

If you were to re-use the old clamp it would work fine I suppose.
But with a new clamp you are not getting any help this way ...
Also remember that any slight (1mm) offset on the clamp position very easy "translates" to a 10mm variation in ride height.
Thats how sensitive things are.

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