It must be my turn.....

[vince]

Ok so the car is going in tomorrow morning to get the front caliper freed off and a new set of pads fitted.....It wasnt much fun driving to work this morning with little braking efficiency....

So, I got in the car after work today in Huddersfield to drive back to Oldham on the m62 and just before i get onto the motorway the back box shears off Result: A very noisy Xantia....

So what can you do......get on the motorway anyway, realise that the noise evens out at 60mph and drive all the way home at that speed

Im off out now to have a better look and see if it will make it to the garage in the morning as is

Lets hope this is just an adjustment period to becoming a commuter car and doesnt continue

[ACTIVE8]

This will be the failure in the usual place, at the front of the rear box.

The rest of the system drops onto the rear subframe reinforcement bar which acts a support when this failure happens.

While the back box stays on its supports, and remains in place.

[dnsey]

It's usually possible to make up a new flange to repair this failure for a good few thousandadditional miles. The secret is that the exhaust dosen't get very hot that far back, so a variety of sealants can be used as desired.

[vince]

Cheers guys, ive just come back in and yes thats exactly where its broken off. Isnt it great that the centre section rests so nicely on the bar....should make it nicely to the garage in the morning

Once its replaced, im going to paint the exhaust with high temp paint to seal it against surface corrosion. No doubt however that its condensation on the inside that causes the rot.

The centre pipe at the bends needs treatment too....it will be all as good as new again soon

Wont bother repairing it, i get parts at cost working at GSF so should be in the regionof £30 ish for a new one (i hope)

[Gregg1100]

Hi Vince,
The £30 that you quoted in your post must be for the front pipe less the CAT. I paid £36 for mine--and the car goes better and with better fuel figures too.. I welded a nut to both the bolt heads--makes it easier to hold them with a spanner from up top.
Greg

[h2ocooler]

The Xantia's i have had both broke there, when i did the repairs i welded steel rods from the edge of the box to the pipe to stop the flexing and cracking, worked a treat and the repair lasted for 2 years till i sold the car!!
Rob

[rory_perrett]

Greg

What sort of mpg improvement did de-catting give you?

Rory

[KP]

Vince for the price of a new box its hardly worth messing around with repairing/bodging it.

If the centre section can be done at the same time get the decat one, the tiny amount of extra noise is not really noticable and helps the engine breath easier.

I always thought diesel exhausts rusted from the outside in due to the exhaust fumes containing some unburnt oil still so thus protecting it where as petrol is quite acidic in its exhaust fumes and rusts from inside out???

While your replacing it Vince dont forget to check the rubber mounts as they often cause PITA moments when they finally let go as you wrestle it into place! I used some vaseline on my new mounts on the last car to make it easier to slip the mounts onto the box and the body

[vince]

Thanks for the tips guys,

In true (im too busy fashion) it went into M&M Auto engineers this morning in Holmfirth. They are Citroen Specialists and customers of GSF.

It needed a new caliper after all and a new set of pads as the old ones were shot, and a new backbox was fitted with a new correct clamp.

The rubber mounts we nice and solid still and the centre section has plenty life left in it. Once it does go though then its de cat time for sure if it doesnt cause any problems at MOT time

Everything is now back to normal again.....