Spheres for VSX

davewithington · Unread post by **davewithington** » 03 Feb 2010, 11:05

Hi gents.

I'm seeking your opinion on spheres for my TD SVX.

This month's job is to change the fluid for Hydraflush, and change the corner spheres. (last month was the waterpump, December I changed the accumulator sphere.) Next month will be the other spheres, and possibly discs and pads - working through as you can see. Don't pay council tax for a couple of months so I'll put the cash to good use.

So, I've been recommended to fit normal SX spheres, not SVX. the ride at the moment is slightly jiggly, not as soft as I would have expected, but tastes and therefore ride settings have changed since my GS days, and I can't for the life of me remember how the BX rode.

What d'you reckon then. Standard SVX, SX or possbly something else.

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 03 Feb 2010, 12:45

Hi Dave,

If you fit standard SX sphere to her, it will overcome any possible fault with the electro valves that can keep a VSX with Standard sphere in hard mode, which in my opinion is NOT what a Citroen was desgined to run like.

Ive a mate with a VSX but with proper SX spheres and the car "floats" as Citroens should. My SX also floats as it should, so me PERSONALLY, SX spheres. However, im sure purists for Hydractive systems may well ome along and confuse you more..

**<runs and hides>**

Paul

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 03 Feb 2010, 12:59

I'm with you Paul, the idea of hydropnumatic suspension is that it give a soft ride, so many pople are preoccupied with being able to corner at 60 mph that practically everything has rock hard hard suspension today, if you don't drive like that fit the softer spheres. I use 'comfort' spheres on my XMs but fitting non hydractive spheres should be even better.

Peter

davewithington · Unread post by **davewithington** » 03 Feb 2010, 14:22

From january 1996 to May 2002, we drove a pair of 2CVs, so I'm used to soft French suspension.

I'll go with SX spheres

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 03 Feb 2010, 15:04

Peter.N. wrote:I'm with you Paul, the idea of hydropnumatic suspension is that it give a soft ride, so many pople are preoccupied with being able to corner at 60 mph that practically everything has rock hard hard suspension today, if you don't drive like that fit the softer spheres. I use 'comfort' spheres on my XMs but fitting non hydractive spheres should be even better.

Peter

Peter,

Comfort spheres are in a way Normal Non hydractive spheres, or as we are calling them SX spheres, as the Xantia SX does NOT have hydractive.

Paul

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 03 Feb 2010, 18:39

Don't forget, on the VSX, it's the centre two spheres that give the comfortable ride if the electrovalves are working.
So if you're thinking of doing a complete sphere change, I'd swap them out and see how she is.
Also check if your electrovalves are working so you're not perminantly in hard mode.
Then decide about fitting non-hydractive to the corners.

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 03 Feb 2010, 19:07

I can't believe we've got two "what spheres for my hydractive Xantia" thread
(VSX here and Exclusive elsewhere) going on in parallel!!

VSX = Exclusive = Athena

yes - maximum wallow with squishy soft comfort spheres and decent
centre spheres if that's your thing! More body composure on the VSX is
how Citroen intended it to work new out of the box in the first place
- clearly they were wasting their time...

Better off using 185 65 15's instead!!

Andrew

davewithington · Unread post by **davewithington** » 04 Feb 2010, 13:49

Must admit that there seems little difference in ride with the hard switch pressed.

Perhaps I'd be better changing the centre spheres first?

How do we check the electrovalves then?

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 04 Feb 2010, 14:32

davewithington wrote:Must admit that there seems little difference in ride with the hard switch pressed.

Perhaps I'd be better changing the centre spheres first?

How do we check the electrovalves then?

The switch does nothing other than lower the thresholds at which the suspension goes into hard mode, ie it only has effect when going round bends etc, and makes the suspension harder sooner than in normal mode.

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 04 Feb 2010, 15:04

davewithington wrote:Must admit that there seems little difference in ride with the hard switch pressed.

Perhaps I'd be better changing the centre spheres first?

How do we check the electrovalves then?

Open a door, and listen to see if you have a buzzing coming from the front and back.. if you have then thats the first hurdle passed, you then need to determind they are switching to soft mode (UNLESS the buzzing tells us that) Im NOT a real expert on the operation of the Electro valves, there are better knowledged people then me - I PERSONALLY much prefer ordinary SX soft squashy suspension!

Paul