Xantia Height Corrector Strip down - AGONY!

Post by **Rhothgar** » 15 Jan 2011, 13:05

Hi all, It's not really painful only the thought of splitting the first internal diaphragm is and the cost of replacing a whole corrector.

Currently got car in bits. All the mechanism is working like a dream with each level on the rear corrector rotating under its own weight - HEAVEN!

Problem is I have removed rubber cover, first nut and metal disc but, cannot for the life of me, remove the first internal diaphragm.

I even put it in my mate's ultrasonic cleaner just in case there is a bit of gunge holding it in.

Any tips please for removing this diaphragm without damaging it. I have tried unscrewing the rear bracket which has withdrawn the screw backwards thus allowing me to get under the diaphragm through the bolt orifice but I feel I am giving it too much tension with a tiny screwdriver to try and free to from the edges.

Post by **Rhothgar** » 15 Jan 2011, 13:18

Already punctured a bit of the edge now!

Post by **Rhothgar** » 15 Jan 2011, 13:30

Question is now - is the height corrector ruined?

Post by **Rhothgar** » 15 Jan 2011, 14:13

Finally worked out how to get the diaphragm off.

Stupid me had downloaded the BX Height Corrector exploded diagram and obviously didn't pay that much attention to it.

The rubber on this first internal diaphragm is reinforced as many of you will know and I have punctured it on the edge that sits against the ring which secures it.

Am I right in thinking that there is 2500 psi pressure behind that diaphragm? Surely it can't be that high in the height corrector..

I am taking some progress photos as I go along, here and there, so with my missus' super macro camera, we should have some good shots to add to the forum.

My mate has nipped off to his other garage as he seems to think he has some old height correctors there which he was going to strip down as a matter of interest.

I assume all the diaphragms are identical across BX, C5, Xantia and XM's?

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 15 Jan 2011, 14:33

yep nyou have to gently prize the alloy ring/band off which retains the diaphragms,

im certain all the bits are still availible and yes the H/C's are all the same, im not sure about the C5 though as i aint been there yet

lokks like you were talkng to your self up to now in this thread, so excuse me for interupting

regards malcolm

Post by **CitroJim** » 15 Jan 2011, 15:53

No, there's not 2550psi behind the rubber, thank goodness. The only pressure is damping leakage and that's not much at all.

Any height corrector should provide spares...

Post by **Rhothgar** » 15 Jan 2011, 15:55

Hi Malc - hope you're well.

I was. I suppose everyone's relaxing or out shopping or tinkering with the Cits.

I have damaged the diaphragm. Luckily it is the rear facing one so if it does leak, I should be able to replace it IF i can find a spare.

According to the Citroen service catalogue, the diaphragms are NFP so not sure where to get a spare unless someone on the forum has a HC kicking around.

Just about to put it all back together now and might start the fron HC if I have time.

Was going to do the Hydrarincauge today but I only have 5 litres and I think that it either a push or a pipe dream for a total refill so better not stick that in until I can be sure the diaphragm is not leaking.

Post by **Rhothgar** » 15 Jan 2011, 15:56

CitroJim wrote:No, there's not 2550psi behind the rubber, thank goodness. The only pressure is damping leakage and that's not much at all.

Any height corrector should provide spares...

Hi Jim

Hope you're well.

My mate didn't find one.

I shouldn't get a catastrophic loss of green blood then if it is leaking.

Post by **Rhothgar** » 15 Jan 2011, 15:59

Also, I found that great thread which shows all the discs on a BX corrector.

Is this the same for a Xantia HC? Cannot see for the life of me how it strips down any further than taking front and rear diaphragms off.

Should I lubricate it with LHM when I put it back together? Not sure my mate has any at his garage, I'll have to check his stores. Any other substitute? Could use a bit of Hydrorincauge I suppose?

Post by **CitroJim** » 15 Jan 2011, 16:45

Rog,

If you can wait a while, i have a guide to stripping a height corrector in preparation...

It's a shame the seal kits have gone NFP but you might try Pleiades for a seal.

Whereabouts and how badly did you damage the old seal?

Post by **Rhothgar** » 15 Jan 2011, 16:56

HI Jim

I have taken some very detailed Macro pictures so maybe we can collaborate on doing the guide.

I will upload them to my server probably over the weekend and give you a shout and you can look at them.

I was going to prepare a guide myself now for the height correctors but if you are mid-flow, there is no point in my duplicating the information.

There are two tears. One is about 1 mm and the other 2 - 3 mm..

I guessed it would be an idea to orientate them upwards although I am pretty sure that the whole height corrector must be full of LHM behind the diaphragm if it is acting as a damper so I am sure a leak will manifest itself.

I have taken photos of the tears and general condition of the diaphragm also so that will be an invaluable what NOT to do.

Post by **CitroJim** » 15 Jan 2011, 17:23

Yes, tears of that sort of size will leak well. You're right there is constant LHM behind the diaphragms and it'll leak fairly well...

Don't do as I tried once and attempt to repair the tears with a bicycle patch. The LHM will quickly eat both the patch and rubber solution!

Some really good pictures will be magic!

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 15 Jan 2011, 17:28

im sure i have got some diaghrams lurking somewere,

it might still be worth calling the dealer and aiming this No. at them

Part Number Description Quantity Price excl. VAT Price incl. VAT Total incl. VAT Selection
5410732 CORR DIAPHRAGM 3.40 GBP 4.08 GBP 4.08 GBP

the other opption is thoughraly clean then supper glue the tears/splits,

as i find rubber is about the only thing supper glue does stick properly,

regards malcolm

Post by **CitroJim** » 15 Jan 2011, 17:42

As long as you clean the area well with a solvent, superglue should be fine.

It is often used to glue O rings when custom made from a length of rubber...

Rubber, I've found is one of things superglue seems to stick pretty well.

Not sure of its LHM resistance though...

Post by **Rhothgar** » 15 Jan 2011, 19:00

Cheers Jim.

Questions to anyone.

It doesn't appear to be leaking yet.

Have started the car.

New problem. It is doing a see-saw.

On low setting, front goes down, read raises to full.

On high setting, the reverse happens.

What could be casuing this? Cannot upload photos of the way I have set the levers.

I did not undo the small nut and bolt from the connector rod from the height setting in the car.

The spring which goes through this bracket I have set positioned exactly as before which was one spring through the slot in the bracket and the other at the rear. Exactly as my other post where I uploaded the 'dirty' pre-job photos.

This is going to be difficult to perhaps understand in words but I'll try.

When I separated the HC from its bracket, I didn't make a note of where the little nodule goes in the 'arm' which comes off the back of the HC. From what I can deduce the little nodule from the upper end of the vertical lever fits into the square hole in the arm coming from the back of the HC and the springs fit either side.

Can the height corrector slide in the brackets where its held with the two bolts?

And therefore if it does which way would I slide it to raise the car if the internal height setting is set to low?

Hope you can understand this OK.

Will bleeding the rear brakes have an effect on the height in that I obviously disconnected the 3 pipes from the rear HC so lost over a litre of fluid. Will bleeding allow the HC to fill up or is this an automatic thing?

Or do I just keep doing Citaerobics until it corrects itself?