How to repair a strut-top?

NewcastleFalcon · Post by **NewcastleFalcon** » 04 Jun 2011, 05:28

Strut top corrosion is a common MOT failure point, and the price of a new one probably condemns many old Xantia's to the scrapheap.

I think Paul (citroenxm) advised me not to throw away my old strut tops.

Are there any creative thinkers who can come up with a DIY refurbishment plan? Is the bit that goes simply a ring of metal with four tapped holes at each corner? Is that beyond a bit of amateur metalworking?

Any thoughts?

Neil

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 04 Jun 2011, 07:46

TBH its not worth doing it yourself, new ones are expensive yes but at a little over £120 each not awefully bad at all.
There are issues rebuilding yourself, firstly removing the old baseplate without damaging the aged rubber and then if you can remanufacture a new base you have to glue them back together all the while hoping that the old rubber isnt going to tear co axialy after many years of stress helped along by being forcivly removed from the old baseplate

There is a company that Xmexclusive of this forum, XMforum and strut top fame deals with to get strut tops rebuilt but this mainly deals with the issue of the rubber as the tops are stripped and re-cast with a new polymer resin, whilst small structural repairs can be made to the cones by welding this is mainly an xm top repair as they dont tend to rust like xant ones and new they are around £350 each if available at all which makes paying for the repair and shipping costs worthwhile.

For my Activa tops i just kept an eye out on the forum here, so long as you get the right non or hydractive ones you will be ok, you can even drill out and tapp non hydractive ones and fit them if you like.

D

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 04 Jun 2011, 07:50

Take a look at the speared strut top thread for information about their repair, or check Jim's article in a recent edition of the Citroenian.

NewcastleFalcon · Post by **NewcastleFalcon** » 04 Jun 2011, 15:25

Managed to find the Citroenian article by Jim on the internet. Elastomer.eu from Lithuania I think (the two mentions of Lithuania were circled in red anyway!) had posted it up and it hit the google search as the first item.

Some interesting pictures, including the author

here's an extract

This is a strut top which i recently replaced. I will keep it in the shed just in case it can be economically recycled at some point.

Neil

xmexclusive · Post by **xmexclusive** » 04 Jun 2011, 19:26

Expect to get my next batch ready to send off for remanufacturing in the next month. These will be mainly large strut XM ones.
There are some interesting redesign features that I want to negotiate about. I would like to incorporate the C5 design corrections Citroen made.
Design history is XM poor but results did not show untill after the Xantia changes made things many times worse. Most problems then eliminated with the C5 one.

John

Post by **CitroJim** » 04 Jun 2011, 19:39

Interesting to see a Citroenian article making an appearance on FB

For those who wish to see the article Neil found, it's here

I see that not only is my picture all over the web but my home address and telephone number too

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 04 Jun 2011, 19:44

CitroJim wrote: I see that not only is my picture all over the web but my home address and telephone number too

Might be an idea to ask them to put a block of colour over your details Jim.

Post by **CitroJim** » 04 Jun 2011, 19:55

That's a great idea Xac...

I'll get hold of them and ask... I've no worries FCF members having this info but not the whole world...

KINGas · Post by **KINGas** » 06 Jun 2011, 18:37

Hi guys,

I've just covered Jim's personal info in scanned photos.

Regarding strut tops.
XM's strut tops renovation is ordered from various countries and this project is moving fairly good.

Xantia's are moving very slowly as we don't get orders and renewed only a few for Lithuanian clients. But today we received a couple Xantia strut tops from France and will have some positive move.
For Xantia's right now and in the near future we will add (and weld) additional metal plate from the bottom if the plate will be hardly damaged by corrosion. In the further future we have plans producing new bottom plate, but currently we don't have such opportunity.

Post by **CitroJim** » 06 Jun 2011, 18:50

KINGas wrote: I've just covered Jim's personal info in scanned photos.

Thank you sir

That is most kind!!!

Excellent news on Xantia strut tops too