How do I change the rear shock - Xantia Estate

cox377 · Post by **cox377** » 09 Feb 2010, 14:15

Hello Guys

When I get home later I should have the new shock from CitroenXM waiting for me.

I’ve changed the front accumulator sphere before, my first experience with these spheres.

From what I’ve managed to source so far, this is how I’ll go about changing the shock.

1. Place the back end on Axel stands
2. Put the suspension to high
3. Crack the sphere off a couple of turns
4. Put the suspension to low.
5. Release pressure from the doseur valve & wait 5 minutes
6. Release sphere from thread.
7. Disconnect the LHM pressure pipe
8. Disconnect the spill off pipes
9. At the point, I’m assuming there are two bolts holding the shock in place?

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 09 Feb 2010, 15:09

Slacken the sphere off HALF A TURN not much more..

one the system pressure is released the only thing holding the strut in place is the R clip at the bottom of the boot, these can be a RIGHT sod to remove due to corrosion or rust!

IF worse come to the worse and you break your R clip, I HAVE put the one that came out in with the strut.

Apply pleanty of PLUG gas oil, and keep working it slowly.

In theory they are supposed to simply pull out, but they dont always.. as you are replacing the whole strut you could be a bit rough.. The end of the strut will be crooded into the suspension arm aswell..

The sphere and pipe feed have to come off because the strut buts up against a lip, which is what pushes the body up.. and so the strut has to slide through the body TOWARDS the front of the car to get it out of place.

You may well want to get a new cilp for the boot before you put it on the car.. easy while its off the car.. probably worth it too. Make sure the two low pressure pipes go back the same way.!! Ones a leak return, the other is a breather!

Good luck

Paul

cox377 · Post by **cox377** » 09 Feb 2010, 15:23

Thanks Paul

I'll let you know how I get on lol

God wish me luck

CoXen

cox377 · Post by **cox377** » 10 Feb 2010, 08:49

bad news, on the way to work this morning and the back end was knocking like a bugger, pulled over and it was dumping LHM fluid out of the back shock, home I came and I'm now trying to fit the new one so I can get my girlfriend to work lol.

The whole boot of the old shock as split, the only thing now holding the old shock in, since taking the R clips out is the pipe, which the nipple has corroded.

Wish me luck

CoXen

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 10 Feb 2010, 10:08

You sucessfully removed the R Clip!!???

well done, the job should be a breeze then!! The R clip is the hardest part, after the sphere!

Good luck

paul

cox377 · Post by **cox377** » 10 Feb 2010, 10:13

lol

Well, I've got the R clips out, the nipple out and pipe, but I can't get the sphere off for love nor money, a mate if coming over with a chain wrench so hopefully I'll have better luck.

Trouble is, it leaked so much fluid that I think I'll have to get more before I can drive it, even though I put 2l in the last 24 hours.

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 10 Feb 2010, 12:41

Ah, you should have put her up on max first and cracked the sphere off with a sphere tool. My guess is and experiance, is chain wrench's dont seem to be strong enough, and a sold leverage IE: Pliedes removal rool, so you can give it a GOOD wallop when on high setting is the best way to remove the rear sphere.

Paul

cox377 · Post by **cox377** » 10 Feb 2010, 13:27

Well, I've got it all back together.

SNapped two chain wrenches trying to get sphere off and ended up making one from the the threaded poll, worked a treat,

Anyway, she back together, just bled the air but she's not rising. Just off to try and source some LHM in this small town

cox377 · Post by **cox377** » 10 Feb 2010, 13:42

citroenxm wrote:Ah, you should have put her up on max first and cracked the sphere off with a sphere tool. My guess is and experiance, is chain wrench's dont seem to be strong enough, and a sold leverage IE: Pliedes removal rool, so you can give it a GOOD wallop when on high setting is the best way to remove the rear sphere.

Paul

I tried putting her up to high but I think she had lost so much fluid I couldn't get her off the floor.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 10 Feb 2010, 13:53

James you only had to ask and you could have borrowed my sphere removal tool the same type as plieades sell, just clamp it on the sphere and give it a whack,

are you and the car living in Bexhill yet or is it still in Heathfield,

if in Bexhill there is a citroen specialist (Craig) in a unit in pheonix works just off town hall square, he will have LHM

regards malcolm

cox377 · Post by **cox377** » 11 Feb 2010, 09:28

Hiya malcolm,

Unfortunatly I i was in heathfield and had no way of getting over to you. I actually made one in the end out of a straight threaded rod, worked perfectly. She is all back together now and I've done 85 miles, she seems fine, touch wood.

The rod inside the strut had actually snapped, leaving the old but in the front nipple housing.
Thanks for your help

Coxen

cox377 · Post by **cox377** » 11 Feb 2010, 09:51

That was the type of tool I made, worked really well

CoXen

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 12 Feb 2010, 09:14

ok James good to hear you have fixed it,
i have not seen a snaped push rod on a hydraulic citroen,

but the DS saffaris used to suffer on ocation with bent push rods,

regards malcolm

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 12 Feb 2010, 10:13

I broke one on my BX TZD Turbo of 1991 H reg vintage, at around 140k.. spheres were good on her too...

Thats my only one Ive had though.

Paul