A day of revelations

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Stempy
Posts: 1626
Joined: 26 Feb 2004, 23:21

A day of revelations

Unread post by Stempy »

Had a bit of spare time so decided to spend it on the Xantia and made some interesting discoveries with regard to some recent problems.

The first being the rear end sinking with the engine off even from high setting. I gave it a good bleeding but there didn't seem to be any air coming out, then I came to the realisation that when on the high setting it only sinks if the door or tail gate is open, so the conclusion is that the electrovalve I replaced must be leaky, which would also explain why it sinks quicker than normal when left parked up.

Next I found the source of the mystery knock from the front suspension. Having replaced every component bar the struts and hub I was at a bit of a loss, but the problem revealed itself today by pure chance while replacing the copper washers on the autobox oil return pipe which was weeping again, probably due to using aluminium washers previously.

Anyway, I digress, with the wheel off I noticed a rub mark on my shiny new lower arm just where the anti roll bar passes it on the bend, so it would seem that when I threw it all back together the ARB wasn't properly centralised and was just clipping the lower arm as they passed. A bit of leverage with a lump of wood has now repositioned the ARB to a more central position.

Finally, thanks to Jim, I fitted the roof rack screws in the empty holes so should now stay dry under the rear seats. :roll: :D :D 8-)
It infuriates me to be wrong when I know I'm right

Lexia ponce

http://perception.dyndns.biz/~avengineering/index.htm
Peter.N.
Moderating Team
Posts: 11774
Joined: 02 Apr 2005, 16:11
x 1240

Unread post by Peter.N. »

I think faulty electrovalves are responsible for a lot of sinking cases, one of my XMs drops at the rear almost as soon as you stop the engine but on the odd occaision that it does stay up a small ammount of movement to the valve will cause to to drop immediatly.

Peter
Stempy
Posts: 1626
Joined: 26 Feb 2004, 23:21

Unread post by Stempy »

Sadly, the story hasn't yet ended as after a drive this afternoon I find the ARB has worked its way back to a non central position and is occasionally clipping the nearside lower arm again. Are there different size ARB bushes and should they prevent lateral movement of the ARB as it seems to slide through them fairly easily by hand, not loose, but a good shove will slide it through? I obtained the new ones from GSF and they looked the same as the old ones but is it possible that the ID is larger than it should be?
It infuriates me to be wrong when I know I'm right

Lexia ponce

http://perception.dyndns.biz/~avengineering/index.htm
RichardW
Forum Treasurer
Posts: 12508
Joined: 07 Aug 2002, 17:12
x 1456

Unread post by RichardW »

Front ARB is 22mm for hatch, 23mm for Estate, 28mm for Activa. So if you've got estate ones, then they will be 1mm too big....
Richard W
Stempy
Posts: 1626
Joined: 26 Feb 2004, 23:21

Unread post by Stempy »

Well I looked at the GSF receipt and it quotes part no. FSK6088 special order non refundable so I'm stuffed even if they are wrong. :x

Looking at the Eurocarparts site they are listing 28mm bushes for the V6 where as Citroen Service site shows 22mm.

I'll have to contact GSF I guess and ask them where they get their bushes from to see what I've actually got.
It infuriates me to be wrong when I know I'm right

Lexia ponce

http://perception.dyndns.biz/~avengineering/index.htm
Stempy
Posts: 1626
Joined: 26 Feb 2004, 23:21

Unread post by Stempy »

Latest update on this is that GSF have apparently had all their Xantia ARB bushes recalled by the supplier due to a part number mix up so it was pot luck whether they supplied a 22mm, 23mm, or 28mm. :roll:

I thought it strange that the ARB was looser with the new bushes than with the old, so now I await a pair of correct size bushes and hopefully that will finally put and end to all front suspension noise.
It infuriates me to be wrong when I know I'm right

Lexia ponce

http://perception.dyndns.biz/~avengineering/index.htm