rear suspension stuck down, only comes up manually

chestercheese · Post by **chestercheese** » 10 Aug 2011, 22:44

hello
i'm need to this site,
i have a citroen xantia est diesel
i was driving home last night and the suspension went down and bouncy,
left it over night and the rear was right down, suspension was very hard, the front is working normally,
i got it on a ramp and when i moved the rear lever forwards, it went up and stayed there, drove around for an hour or so then it dropped and went hard,
so got under and hit the lever forward again and up it went,
do you think it the rear anti sink spear of is it the leveling valve thing? any help would be great,
many thanks dan

lexi · Post by **lexi** » 10 Aug 2011, 23:02

I would lubricate the mechanisim thoroughly and clean with small wire brush. Tap it with small toffee hammer to free up. Get someone to operate lever inside while on a ramp .............it will let you see what is happening. When free, spray grease it up

A new sphere at 25 quid is also money well spent as these two jobs may fix it.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 11 Aug 2011, 08:02

has the doggy bone (short white nylon link) popped off, if so it will require a new one not a lot of dosh from the dealer, 2 or 3 quid i think the last time i bought one,

but as Lexi says the linkage turrets will need to be freed off, the only way to do it so its long lasting, is remove the bracket/hight corector mounting and worl/lub it on the bench till its floppy loose/free,

regards malcolm

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 11 Aug 2011, 12:48

Sounds like the Dog Bone is defenatly missing, as its this small plastic link that regulates the "Automatic Height" ...

If you have been under and not noticed a White Plastic clip in the area then its missing and thats whats causing the car to drop as it has no height reference..

The topic has been discussed very recently here...

I cant find the posting now.... :-/

Paul

chestercheese · Post by **chestercheese** » 11 Aug 2011, 18:57

hello and thanks for your replises
i had a look and the plastic bone thing is there but the little metal rod that its connected to has snapped, the part thats clamped on to what looks like a bar, from left to right, does anybody know what it called so i can replace it??
many thanks again dan

Trainman · Post by **Trainman** » 11 Aug 2011, 19:09

Here you go............

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=27122

wotwot · Post by **wotwot** » 11 Aug 2011, 19:10

Thats good in a way as in it is all repairable.
Someone will be along to give you the name of the part shortly.The reason behind the snapped part is probably the height corrector being seized.
there is a sticky i think on the overhaul of it have a quick search.
You will be up and floating before long.

Trainman · Post by **Trainman** » 11 Aug 2011, 19:10

Here you go............

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=27122

chestercheese · Post by **chestercheese** » 11 Aug 2011, 19:26

thanks for that info but its on the rear suspension,
its only the back of the car that wont go up untill i push the lever forward (from under the car) As i'm looking up at it, towards the o/s of the centre sphare there is a dog bone? that has a little metal bar that is clamped on to what i think is call a link bar, that has snapped, and i need to replace but i dont know what thats called???

wotwot · Post by **wotwot** » 11 Aug 2011, 19:33

You will probably need to free up the height corrector as well.
A quick visit to a local scrappy will get you the link rod.

Oh and be safe always block the car up on axle stands or something before venturing under there.

chestercheese · Post by **chestercheese** » 11 Aug 2011, 19:37

i have freed up the lever and moves as it should now but theres nothing to hold it in postion, unless i move the lower lever forward then it goes up, and it will drive great untill its left idle for a few hours then it drops and goes hard,

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 11 Aug 2011, 19:53

if you post the last 8 digits of you chassis/VIN No. i will get you the price and part No.'s of the bits you require,

the last time i bought the clamp it was around £12 quid, and it is relativly easy to fit,

regards malcolm

wotwot · Post by **wotwot** » 11 Aug 2011, 20:08

As a quick temp repair weld it back together. And then fit a new one when you get it.

chestercheese · Post by **chestercheese** » 11 Aug 2011, 20:16

yeah i tryd that, did'nt last long, ha ha, so do you guys think this will sort my prob out? i'm also gitting an anti sink sphare tomorrow aswell,

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 11 Aug 2011, 20:28

Welding the Clamps do Not work... no Ive tried that aswell...

The common MISTAKE has been made here again!!

Its NOT THE HEIGHT CORRECTOR THATS SIEZED... It will be the pivot linkage right infront of the height correct that will have siezed.. NOT the one attached to the metal rod, the other one with the Ball Joint for the dog bone...

Height correctors do NOT sieze, they are internally lubricated by design, its only when s**t gets into the system problems start having..

Are you in the North Wales, Chester area ???

Im only over at Anglesey if you have problems!!

Cheers
Paul