I dont think this is supposed to happen?...

Brigsygtt · Unread post by **Brigsygtt** » 29 Dec 2010, 13:35

Went over a speedbump yesterday and the rear of my xantia felt very firm

Pulled up a few of hundred yards away and the rear was on the bumpstops, i initially thought the rear dogbone had come off even though the height corrector is working perfectly...jacked it up and found the metal clamp on the arb has failed?!

The thing that bugs me is my rear height corrector is working perfectly, if a little too sloppy, the rear spheres are fine.

All i can think of is when i bought the car, the rear spheres were ruptured and height corrector was solid? possibly has been overstressed in the past?

Anyway have changed it for another off my old xantia, fun & games on your back in the snow

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 29 Dec 2010, 13:43

That there is a metal clip holding the dog bone on would suggest that the rear corrector links have seized at some point in the past causing the dog bone to pop off, so someone's locked it on, resulting in the arm to the ARB clamp snapping.

Brigsygtt · Unread post by **Brigsygtt** » 29 Dec 2010, 13:56

The part off my spares xantia has the metal clip on too, isnt it a standard part? The original must have popped off in the past as the plastic dogbone was very sloppy.

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 29 Dec 2010, 14:04

Interesting, I've not noticed it on any of mine, but looking at photos online some have it, some don't.
Did also find:
http://www.eurocarcare.net/hydraulics.html

Which has the replacement part for just over £20

Unread post by **myglaren** » 29 Dec 2010, 14:08

Same part failed on mine. Replacement was £12 although it was a few years ago.

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 29 Dec 2010, 14:38

I've seen the same failure on one of mine too. It seems some cars do and
others don't have the securing spring on the dogbone which would suggest
it was fitted new by Citroen.

Andrew

VertVega · Unread post by **VertVega** » 29 Dec 2010, 15:41

When I have seen the pic above I remembered that I have seen/read a similar post on this problem.
Here is also a pic sent by slim123 in FCF (year 2006) ---> Citroën Xantia Suspension/Brake issues.

Xac thanks for the link, It's good to know that Saloon and Estate brackets have different diameters.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 29 Dec 2010, 16:05

here is trade price and part No. for saloon and estate W/O H/A,

Part Number Description Quantity Price excl. VAT Price incl. VAT Total incl. VAT Selection
0000529114 CONTROL LEVER 22.92 GBP 26.93 GBP 26.93 GBP

0000529113 CONTROL LEVER 22.92 GBP 26.93 GBP 26.93 GBP

the first one is for estate's and is for 23mm ant roll bar,

the second for saloon and is for 22mm anti roll bar,

and i also have seen these faill in the same way and the last one i fitted was around £12 quid to

regards malcolm

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 29 Dec 2010, 16:09

Early and Later S1 Xantias have different Diamamiter anti roll bars.

I think around P reg 1996/7 the ARB was increased on the Hatch's, as Ive had trouble fitting an early clamp to a later hatch.

Estates always had the larger ARB due to pay load capacities.

Fracture of the Clamp Rod IS siezure of the Height corrector LINKAGES. You will need to remove the unit from the car, and free them up perfectly with a lot of WD (Or Equivilent) and working them untill they are free.

You can get the linkage house off and leave the Height Corrector in place.

Paul

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 29 Dec 2010, 16:29

i have just re/checked n service citroen and MK1 and 2 saloons are all 22mm and estates are all 23mm, the only other one listted which is 28mm is for hydractive,

regards malcolm

richardd1652 · Unread post by **richardd1652** » 29 Dec 2010, 16:37

My last 2.1 Exclusive did just the same on the way back from London to Yorkshire,what a pain.Dead easy fix though.
Richard.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 30 Dec 2010, 09:36

you also have to set the clamp to the corect position, as rotating this clamp is how you set up/adjusts the ground clearance,

regards malcolm

Xantidote · Unread post by **Xantidote** » 30 Dec 2010, 10:27

Brigsy:

Could it be that the height control unit has seized up sometime in the past, or previous spheres were very low on gas/ruptured, maybe then initiating a stress crack in the link, and which finally gave up when you went over the speed bump?

Edit:

Does the fracture all look bright metal, or is a bit of it rusty?

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 30 Dec 2010, 10:58

From studying the good picture above I'd say the clamp had a crack in the
actuation arm that allowed the corrosion in which has weakened it to the
point it's given up acting onto the HC - there isn't much clean or shiny
looking metal to see anyhow.

Andrew