xantia spheres - best place to buy

[hamster]

The sheres on my xantia estate need replacing soon as its starting to get a bit bouncy.

I did the accumilator 12 months ago so that should be ok but I need to do the anti sink and 4 corner spheres.

Where is the best place to get them from?

What are peoples thoughts on using recharged spheres as opposed to new ones? Are they as good? Do they last as long?

I ussually use GSF or euro carparts for my bits but have been looking around for different sphers suppliers.

I just came accross this place who claim to use the same spheres as citroen supply at a fraction of the cost - AEP Direct

Also looking at maybe taking it to some where like westroen and just getting them to do it for me as well as an LHM change. Westroen
They offer a three year warrenty so must be prety confident with their product. Any thoughts?

thanks

Graham

[Xantidote]

In the past, I used Westroen (Manchester), and no complaints. He'd tell you what pressure the old spheres were down to, and you could see the pressure was right on the recharged/exchange spheres.

For the last 5-6 years I've been buying new from GSF, as the price nowadays is similar to a visit to Westroen, but more important for me, I save 60-70 miles going to GSF, and I get a natter with Vince as well. Of course, you've got to fit the spheres yourself, so there's a time element there, but being under the car gives you the opportunity to cast an eye over everything.

Martin

[citronut]

i agree with Martin AMTEC spheres from GSF are quite good, they are new not re/con and a reasnoble price

regards malcolm

[Toby_HDi]

I bought mine from GSF. Good price indeed.

Then change them yourself, its easy. If you need a hand then I'm only up the road somewhere

[addo]

I'm a believer in supporting cottage industry where possible. By rushing towards the bright lights of cheapness, we are extinguishing our own spark of resourcefulness. Much as people like Pleiades may like choccy biscuits, they don't pay the rent!

Only new spheres I have bought, replaced damaged ones. They had gone so flat the diaphragms were damaged and regassing popped them. It's an impressive noise.

[Ross_K]

What are peoples thoughts on using recharged spheres as opposed to new ones? Are they as good? Do they last as long?

Recharging spheres?

I thought it was just DS-driving beardy types and folk down under who did that any more...

[addo]

Oh no! Two smackdowns in one post.

You forgot to add "... and people who punch themselves in the face while refitting a towbar".

[Ross_K]

No offence intended to our antipodean friends of course...

Now if you were a Saab-driving university lecturer, that would be a different story

[citroenxm]

Hmmm...

Ive been a GOOD Belever in GSF spheres HOWEVER - (SORRY VINCE If you read this too) for three reasons from my OWN findings have stopped buying from them.

Firstly, they had raised there prices on there EBAY account..
Secondly, I HAVE had spheres with low pressures in them resulting in a not so soft as expected ride on customer cars.
Three, Spheres have been over a year old, and I do beleve they can loose efficiency standing on a shelf.

Ive started getting them from AEP Direct. The Spheres from AEP are cheaper, and so far the few Ive had from them have been NO OLDER then 3 months..

So, as far as prices go for new ones, its New Spheres for 20 quid each.


Paul

[DickieG]

My personal experience of GSF and Pleiades has been excellent with every sphere gassed to the correct pressure whereas my one experience of Westroen was somewhat less favourable. When I buy sphere's from GSF I always buy them from their Heathrow branch and find that they are always no more than just a couple of months old.

I bought a number of NOS sphere's from eBay a couple of years ago which now means that those sphere's are the best part of five years old (maybe more, I'll have to check) but checking them on my sphere pressure tester reveals them to have maintained pressure very close to the original setting which suggests that sphere's lose very little pressure during storage.

I'm now a firm believer that "Anti-sink" hastens the pressure loss in sphere's because a "sinker" left parked overnight will effectively leave a sphere rested and in an "on the shelf state" rather than having the weight of the car pressing against the diaphragm, which may go some way to explaining why sphere's on DS's, CX's BX's appear to last longer than those on Xantia's.

[DickieG]

I thought it was just DS-driving beardy types and folk down under who did that any more...

Oi!

[addo]

I nearly bought a Saab once! What put me off, was the disconnected steering feel and inability of the seller to quantify its fuel consumption.

[citronut]

Ross wrote
"
I thought it was just DS-driving beardy types and folk down under who did that any more... "

good job Richard (DickieG) is not a beardy then,

addo wrote
"while refitting a towbar"."

at least you wernt removeimng it, ecpesecialy if it had dual electrics and the ball still fited,

regards malcolm

[hamster]

Ok. I'm about to order new front, rear and anti sink sheres. Accumilator was done couple of years ago when i got the car but may do that as well.

Can somebody remind me how often i should here it clicking when i listen to it and should i do it at normal ride height or up on full height? Can't remember!

[Toby_HDi]

Normal height, the clicking of the pressure regulator cutting in and out at intervals of more than 30secs indicates a good accumulator. Less than this and it may need replacing.

Good luck! Hope the weather brightens up for you.