I have been plowing thru all the info on this wonderful site but can not seem to find an answer to " Is it possible OR How to.. firm up the ride ( just a bit!) on Xantia V6".
I saw something about sphere pressures ( 30 is stiffer than 40 or something) but wondered if that is it? Assuming I can do that on my V6, just replace the 40 spheres with 30s.
The spheres are fine at the moment, do not need changing so that is not the issue, I just want the car to feel a little less "soft" when driving normally. When I plant it , it rides & handles very well, it's just that I will not have a licence for long if I drive like that all the time. I want to get the firmer feel at normal speeds.
Slightly firmer ride... how to?
Moderator: RichardW
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Ozzie Kuma
- Posts: 83
- Joined: 28 Apr 2011, 10:31
- Location: St Ives, Australia
- My Cars:
Slightly firmer ride... how to?
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98 Xantia V6 MK2
95 Xantia VSX
98 Xantia V6 MK2
95 Xantia VSX
Without totally handicapping the car you could try just selecting the hydractive
button where the parameters are narrowed down with a slightly firmer/sportier
range of settings for the ECU to play with. See how that works for you?
Changing pressures and jet sizes starts to defeat the objective of the whole
hydractive system really!
If you check out the jet sizes on the following sphere table, a smaller jet can
make the ride tauter but really you need to alter the centre spheres that
are controlled by the electovalve where a disc sits it the housing not on the
sphere:
http://www.attfield.dircon.co.uk/sphere_table.pdf
http://www.eastment.net/forum/activaspheres.pdf
Andrew
button where the parameters are narrowed down with a slightly firmer/sportier
range of settings for the ECU to play with. See how that works for you?
Changing pressures and jet sizes starts to defeat the objective of the whole
hydractive system really!
If you check out the jet sizes on the following sphere table, a smaller jet can
make the ride tauter but really you need to alter the centre spheres that
are controlled by the electovalve where a disc sits it the housing not on the
sphere:
http://www.attfield.dircon.co.uk/sphere_table.pdf
http://www.eastment.net/forum/activaspheres.pdf
Andrew
Nothing moves you like a Citroën
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Ozzie Kuma
- Posts: 83
- Joined: 28 Apr 2011, 10:31
- Location: St Ives, Australia
- My Cars:
thanks, I have the hydractive button on all the time,.. that does not seem to make much difference, I believe it is not a simple, instant firming of the ride when pressed, it just changes the setting a little when the car is pushed... or something like that.
I certainly do not want to stuff up a beautiful car, it is just that I have a VSX too & it rides so differently. I have always wished it had a bigger motor, so I bought the V6 & the ride is so different. Not so "encouraging" & it has its moments when it gets a little "wavey".
I am reasonable sure it is not the spheres.
I certainly do not want to stuff up a beautiful car, it is just that I have a VSX too & it rides so differently. I have always wished it had a bigger motor, so I bought the V6 & the ride is so different. Not so "encouraging" & it has its moments when it gets a little "wavey".
I am reasonable sure it is not the spheres.
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98 Xantia V6 MK2
95 Xantia VSX
98 Xantia V6 MK2
95 Xantia VSX
It's not really fair with a same car by car comparison as the V6 is a lot heavier
at the front and will be running different strut diameters and anti roll bars to
accommodate the extra front end weight.
What engine is your VSX - if it's the 2.0i 8v there's acres of space around the
engine (you can practically stand between the rad and the block!) and the
weight will be noticeably lower?
I tend to drive my V6 like a sports car complete with tyre squeal etc
(in safe out in the open countryside conditins I may add) and have no
qualms with the ride/handling or slight front end extra weight over the 2.0i.
Have you checked that the spheres are the correct fitment for the car first
before contemplating changes to it?
at the front and will be running different strut diameters and anti roll bars to
accommodate the extra front end weight.
What engine is your VSX - if it's the 2.0i 8v there's acres of space around the
engine (you can practically stand between the rad and the block!) and the
weight will be noticeably lower?
I tend to drive my V6 like a sports car complete with tyre squeal etc
(in safe out in the open countryside conditins I may add) and have no
qualms with the ride/handling or slight front end extra weight over the 2.0i.
Have you checked that the spheres are the correct fitment for the car first
before contemplating changes to it?
Nothing moves you like a Citroën
-
Ozzie Kuma
- Posts: 83
- Joined: 28 Apr 2011, 10:31
- Location: St Ives, Australia
- My Cars:
nothing is fair in life! but that is not going to stop me trying!
I take into account the fact that they are two different cars,.. mine goes like a sports car when pushed but parenthood demands a different approach,.. I just want FINE adjustment, maybe I'm asking too much.
How do I "checked that the spheres are the correct fitment for the car " ?
I take into account the fact that they are two different cars,.. mine goes like a sports car when pushed but parenthood demands a different approach,.. I just want FINE adjustment, maybe I'm asking too much.
How do I "checked that the spheres are the correct fitment for the car " ?
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98 Xantia V6 MK2
95 Xantia VSX
98 Xantia V6 MK2
95 Xantia VSX
Without removal first, if they're genuine Citroen spheres, on the crown of the
sphere the pressure is stamped in bar pressure 40 etc. If the sphere is after
market they usually have a printed in black serial/part number that can be
cross referenced with the numbers within those pdf links I made earlier.
Yes, the jet can only really be checked with the sphere off. A comment I've
recently seen by a poster on another forum (xmexclusive) referes to using a
set of fine drill bits to feed through the jet to determine the true size - a set
costing a fiver in GBP; handy when you know how!
sphere the pressure is stamped in bar pressure 40 etc. If the sphere is after
market they usually have a printed in black serial/part number that can be
cross referenced with the numbers within those pdf links I made earlier.
Yes, the jet can only really be checked with the sphere off. A comment I've
recently seen by a poster on another forum (xmexclusive) referes to using a
set of fine drill bits to feed through the jet to determine the true size - a set
costing a fiver in GBP; handy when you know how!
Nothing moves you like a Citroën
You can increase the damping at the front of a BX or a Xantia by restricting the sphere bleed jet. To do this, straighten a short length of a small coil spring to fit in the jet, the length of the remainder of the spring being chosen to hold it in place when the sphere is screwed home. Make sure the wire cannot reach the diaphragm, or the suspension may become much firmer than you expected!
Measure the jet size, decide how much restriction you want, then find a pair of small compression springs of the appropriate wire diameter. This works for non hydractive cars, but with hydractive you clearly would not want to increase the damping of the wheel spheres, so I don’t know if it is applicable.
I used this many years ago to experiment with damping on a BX, but the conclusion was that the original design was the best.
Fred
Measure the jet size, decide how much restriction you want, then find a pair of small compression springs of the appropriate wire diameter. This works for non hydractive cars, but with hydractive you clearly would not want to increase the damping of the wheel spheres, so I don’t know if it is applicable.
I used this many years ago to experiment with damping on a BX, but the conclusion was that the original design was the best.
Fred