Xantia SEIZED rear spheres - what to do?

[ashy90]

How big of a problem is it when the rear speheres wont budge on a Xantia? If even a garage cannot get them to shift?

Am thinking of buying a Xantia which needs new spheres - only thing is the rear spheres are supposedly stuck, corroded themselves to the threads I believe?


Will a Citroen dealership be able to shift them, and if not, what next?

[DickieG]

It all depends upon the method being used to remove them, I've not had a problem with getting them off using the Pleiades tool failing that a cold chisel and a club hammer will do the job, the suspension needs to be on the highest setting to brace the struts in place. Do you know what/how method the garage was using?

[Xantidote]

I struggled many years ago to remove a rear sphere on a BX. I only discovered afterwards that the secret is not to depressurised the hydraulics until you've managed to move/rotate the sphere a few mm or degrees. Maintaining the pressure initially ensures the suspension cylinder doesn't rotate as you try to turn the sphere. Maybe you need one of CitroJim's lump hammers, and a 1/2" cold chisel?

I'm basically saying what DickieG has already said, but in different words.

You will succeed in the end

Martin

[CitroJim]

I'm basically saying what DickieG has already said

And I am too... And what Martin said...

[myglaren]

Anointing with PlusGas over a 48 hour period prior to attempted removal could make all the difference to corroded-on spheres.

[xmexclusive]

For a sphere on a rear cylinder that cannot be repressurised I use a threaded bar with clamps fixed to the subframe.
Then with a couple of linked jubilee clips to lock the cylinder to the bar and hold it rigidly in place.
Can then use tha Pliaedes tool on the sphere without risk to the pipework.
For rusted in push rod "R" clips I use a long threaded roofing hook bolt through the eye of the clip as a puller.
Winding the nut on the hook bolt gently puts the clip metal in tension which makes it more likely to break the rust bond and release the clip.

John

[Peter.N.]

Hammer and chisel method has always worked for me - if all else has failed, as already mentioned with the system pressurised, as soon as it moves depressurise and you should be able to unscrew by hand. When refitting only screw in hand tight.

Peter

[citronut]

all the years i have worked on and around hydraulic citroens, i have never had to resort to the hammer and chisle method,

ashy90 were are you located
regards malcolm

[robert_e_smart]

On the last XM I broke, I had to wedge a piece of steel between the hydractive pipe nut and the subframe to stop it from spinning as the cylender retaining lug had broke off (system under pressure). The only reason I wanted to recover the sphere was that I had re-gassed it on the car prior to scrapping.

[CitroJim]

i have never had to resort to the hammer and chisle method,

I am staggered at that Malcolm! What's your secret?

[addo]

In-situ gassing?

[citronut]

i have never had to resort to the hammer and chisle method,

I am staggered at that Malcolm! What's your secret?

i do surcome to the club hammer not the drift a chisle though, but to whack my clamp/Pliaedes sphere removle tool,

regards malcolm

[davetherave]

Good strap wrench + 3ft breaker bar + scafold pole. Never fails

[Carsten S]

I don't use the chisel-method, except for the accu sphere. (My wrench is to big to fit there)
A good strong chainwrench will do the job. Sometimes I use a 1 m pipe as extender on the chainwrench. Ridgid C-14 is highly recommended. http://www.toolstop.co.uk/ridgid-31315- ... 0mm-p13823" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This method also works well;

[DickieG]

I don't use the chisel-method, except for the accu sphere.

I'd say that's rather a debatable point as the regulator on which the accumulator is mounted is only held onto the engine by three rather small bolts,,,,,,,,,,,,,

The rear sphere's however if they are locked by the suspension being on high is much sturdier, I use the Pleiades tool which is uses a metal strap and then maybe apply a scaffold pole onto the end of it but if I didn't have that I'd have no problem using the chisel method because in this instance the rear sphere's are flat or at least very close to being flat so beyond any chance of being re-gassed as the diaphragm will be damaged.

For what reason wouldn't you or anyone else use the chisel method especially if a strap wrench of whatever design isn't available, after all if you were new to Citroens and didn't wish to invest in a strap wrench at this stage what would you do?