Xantia 1.9TD - Boucing all over the shop!

Immatoity · Unread post by **Immatoity** » 27 Feb 2003, 22:19

Hi
I have an M Reg 1.9TD.
I recently changed the brake pads & unknowingly over-inflated the tyres.
It now is a nightmare to drive -any bump or indentation makes it bounce all over the place -its very,very scary ( I drive 40 miles to work every day). There is also a "clanking" noise from front drivers side which is a recent development
Is this just a result of the tyres or has a sphere gone? How the hell do you tell which sphere has gone?
I have pushed the car in all corners to see what it does (you know sit on the bonnet etc)with engine switched on ,and the front right seems not to bounce as much,but does bounce.
Desperate here -my local Citroen garage, who are con-men, quoted £170 for the replacement of front 2 spheres.
Hellllllpppppp
PS My missus has a 1.8i N Reg -sunroof goes up but doesnt slide back -any ideas/costs?

Homer · Unread post by **Homer** » 28 Feb 2003, 01:30

It sounds like spheres. When they go the ride firms up. I very much doubt over inflating the tyres did it.
The front ones are pretty easy to do yourself and the most likely to have gome.
You might be better off finding a local independant Citroen specialist, if it is the fronts there isn't much labour involved and they should be able to get the parts cheaper than you.
£170 from a main dealer sounds quite reasonable really, by Citroen main dealer standards anyway. That ammounts to bringing the car into the workshop and opening the bonnet.[:p]

Kered · Unread post by **Kered** » 28 Feb 2003, 01:30

If you inflated the tyres super hard then I suppose it is conceivable that, with the tyres not soaking up the road undulations as normal, that the spheres were subjected to far more stress. If the O/S one has gone then there is effectively no spring and the resultant shock to the car on driving could well make something "clang"
You can buy replacement spheres from the online shop on this site for under £20 each + carriage + VAT.

Immatoity · Unread post by **Immatoity** » 28 Feb 2003, 02:07

cheers lads
-still want to know how u can tell if ones gone or not?
I will replace myself -but obviously rather replace on thats gone than 2!
as to the citroen dealer! i replaced the door the other week and found I needed a "star" like allen key fitting -I phoned them and asked them if they sold them -they said, "no, these tools are only available to citroen dealers -u will have to bring it in for us to do it" -what a load of Sh*t! I phoned an independent garage up who told me I could pick up the tool at any good parts/diy shop - I did for £8. to be honest, I feel like complaining -how stupid do they think we are?
anyway - can someone post a link to instructions on replacing spheres please as i have tried library for Haynes manual( which i look at a lot) and its out!

Dave Burns · Unread post by **Dave Burns** » 28 Feb 2003, 02:32

Replace or regas the spheres in axle sets and never singularly, if you had a car with ordinary steel springs on it you wouldn't put one weak one and one tough one on the same axle, at least I hope you wouldn't.
The affect will be the same if you have a good sphere at the correct pressure and one that has lost some of its pressure on the same axle.
If its as bad as you make out you realy ought not to drive it, not only is it potentialy dangerous to you and other road users, if you hit a pot hole with effectively no way of absorbing the shock, the entire suspension leg can and sometimes does get punched out of its mounting, destroying the bonet and anything else in its path on its way up.
Not to mention where you are going to end up if you are unlucky.
Not wishing to be a scaremonger but it does happen and can have far reaching ramifications, well beyond that of mere twisted metal.
Dave

marco1 · Unread post by **marco1** » 28 Feb 2003, 03:10

hi mate do the job yourself do all four £90 about from andys took me 1 hour job done...easy, good strap wench and hammer!!

Homer · Unread post by **Homer** » 28 Feb 2003, 05:02

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Immatoity</i>

anyway - can someone post a link to instructions on replacing spheres please as i have tried library for Haynes manual( which i look at a lot) and its out!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
I don't even think the Haynes manual covers it.
The most likely ones to go are the fronts and you say that's the end that is firmest when you try to bounce it. Front's are easy enough, you drop the suspension to the lowest setting, release the pressure by turning the nut on the front of the regulator, unscrew the old spheres using a strap wrench, screw on the new ones using new seals, tighten the pressure release screw, start the engine and raise and lower the car a few times using the height control lever.
If it is the back ones then get somebody who knows what they are doing. They are pretty tricky without a pit or ramp mayway.
And as has been said, don't do them in 1's. Do both fronts or both backs together.
And if it is really solid then you probably don't want to be driving it. I had one very hairy moment in a BX which decided to bounce it's self into oncoming traffic. Solid spheres are great for going round smooth roundabouts but not so good if there is a bit of subsidence.

tomsheppard · Unread post by **tomsheppard** » 28 Feb 2003, 14:15

For your comfort, I have replaced rear spheres within the last week.The difference was amazing and the cost £45.24. The work took 30 minutes using nothing more elaborate than a hammer and chisel to start the old ones moving. If you are planning to do it yourself, I would reccommend new spheres. The front ones are easier to remove than the rear. There are many helpful postings on this site if you use the search facility. Your Citroen dealer is obviously cutting corners. Mine offers sphere replacement FROM £100 each+vat! GSF will deliver the bits within a couple of hours. I am certainly a satisfied customer. One last thing; Halfords want £7 for the litre of LHM that you may need for a top up. Order it from GSF with your new spheres and the difference in price will all but cover the delivery.

Immatoity · Unread post by **Immatoity** » 28 Feb 2003, 21:35

hi
Been to daventry branch and got 2 spheres plus LHM fluid £32.
One question (that they werent sure of in the branch) -is my Xantia Hyrdactive or non-hyrdactive - I assumed it was & got those spheres.
Cn someone confirm this? I have the ride height " lever" in the car but no "sport" switch.
Cheers
PS 1)Any ideas on the sunroof
2) I have had the 1.9TD for about 14 months -what do I regularly need to check/change & at what mileage do I have to look out for certain things = camshaft etc?

Immatoity · Unread post by **Immatoity** » 28 Feb 2003, 21:37

i know I have typed hyrdactive instead of hydractive!!

blueboy2001 · Unread post by **blueboy2001** » 28 Feb 2003, 21:55

Yor car will not be Hydractive. In '94 only the VSX was equipped with hydractive.

Immatoity · Unread post by **Immatoity** » 28 Feb 2003, 22:46

I thought all Xantia had at least HYDRACTIVE I(mechanically controlled hydropneumatic suspension)
and that later cars had Hydractive II or Activa.
Please let me know chaps
[:(]

nick · Unread post by **nick** » 28 Feb 2003, 23:04

'Hydractive I' is the computer controlled system that was fitted to early XM's.
'Hydropneumatic' is the all mechanical system fitted to the lower spec Xantias.
Nick

Immatoity · Unread post by **Immatoity** » 28 Feb 2003, 23:09

so i have to change them lol![:D]
what would the potential problem be if I used the ones I have?
I know its a silly question but...........

NiSk · Unread post by **NiSk** » 01 Mar 2003, 20:10

Basically, you'll have rather hard suspension ("sport" to be exact) - the extra spheres on the hyractiv setup give you the soft setting (in conjuction with the wheel mounted spheres).
//NiSk