Last night while doing a quick check over the car when i got home and fixing a leakign coolant hose i checked the softness of the rear as it has felt a little stiff lately.
haviong a towball this makes thigns easier as with the engine running i can just stand on the towhitch. Anyway doing this the car only sags about 1-2".
From what i have gathered on the forum a hydractive xantia should sink quite a bit unless in hard mode. What i am unsure of is if this also applies to Activa's or if they are inherently that bit stiffer anyway?
If it is meant to sink more i am guessing that it will be time to replace the hydractive rear sphere or balancing sphere as its sometimes reffered to. Can these be bought from GSF???
Activa rear end softness
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Sl4yer
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KP
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CitroJim
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Hi Will,
Did you ever do any more with this?
Yes, Activas are considerably stiffer. In hard mode, the rear should be almost rock-solid but you should feel a bit of movement in soft mode.
Do this:
Start up and allow the system to reach full ptressure and the height to stabilise.
Bounce the rear and get a feel for how hard it is. It will be in soft mode at this point.
Stop the engine, shut all doors and bounce the rear for 30 seconds. After 30s, the hydractive ECU will switch to hard and you'll feel a difference hopefully.
Make sure the hydractive valve is properly switching by listening for a good click followed by a steady hum as a door is opened and then closed (setting the suspension to soft) and then the hum continuing for 30s until it ends with a good click as it reverts to hard mode.
A lack of good solid clicks says the diode mod needs to be done.
A normal Hydractive Centre Sphere will be Ok if this is the problem. GSF do sell them. If you want an Activa-specific one, best to get Martin to repressurise an accumulator but honestly, there is only 5 bars in it so hardly worth the bother. Standard Hydractive is 50 bars/400cc and the Activa is 55 bars/400cc.
Did you ever do any more with this?
Yes, Activas are considerably stiffer. In hard mode, the rear should be almost rock-solid but you should feel a bit of movement in soft mode.
Do this:
Start up and allow the system to reach full ptressure and the height to stabilise.
Bounce the rear and get a feel for how hard it is. It will be in soft mode at this point.
Stop the engine, shut all doors and bounce the rear for 30 seconds. After 30s, the hydractive ECU will switch to hard and you'll feel a difference hopefully.
Make sure the hydractive valve is properly switching by listening for a good click followed by a steady hum as a door is opened and then closed (setting the suspension to soft) and then the hum continuing for 30s until it ends with a good click as it reverts to hard mode.
A lack of good solid clicks says the diode mod needs to be done.
A normal Hydractive Centre Sphere will be Ok if this is the problem. GSF do sell them. If you want an Activa-specific one, best to get Martin to repressurise an accumulator but honestly, there is only 5 bars in it so hardly worth the bother. Standard Hydractive is 50 bars/400cc and the Activa is 55 bars/400cc.
Jim
A bit of a Citroen AX fan...
A bit of a Citroen AX fan...
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KP
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Thanks Jim,
Not done much yet as money is tight at minute post xmas
and valentines day as well!
Will give that bump test a try later today when i get home and see what happens. Not sure about clicks but definately hear the humming that you mention from front and rear hydractive blocks.
Im guessing the lower pressure of a non activa sphere would make the ride possibly a bit softer as well would it not?
Not done much yet as money is tight at minute post xmas
and valentines day as well!Will give that bump test a try later today when i get home and see what happens. Not sure about clicks but definately hear the humming that you mention from front and rear hydractive blocks.
Im guessing the lower pressure of a non activa sphere would make the ride possibly a bit softer as well would it not?