Correct spheres for BX19GTi

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JimW
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Correct spheres for BX19GTi

Post by JimW »

My GTi is back on the road again - after 3 1/2 years SORN - complete with a new MOT, but the ride is very hard so I'm planning to change the four suspension spheres (I did the accumulator a few years ago).
It's an '88 19GTi (8 valve) and, as it's post '87, does has ABS.

GSF tell me that the right parts are 45 and 30 bar, but a bit of research seems to suggest that these are correct for the 16v, but (I think) could be used as alternatives.

It seems as if lower pressure corresponds to a harder ride - I'm changing them because they're (much) too hard currently, so this doesn't really appeal.

The best data I have found suggests they should be 400/55/1.4 & 400/40/1.1 - can anyone confirm this for me, please?

Thanks in advance,
Jim.
'88 BX 19 GTi, 94000 miles
'96 Laguna RXE Family, 175000 miles
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Re: Correct spheres for BX19GTi

Post by Old-Guy »

I think my old laptop at home may still have on it a copy of the old GSF sphere table, which showed the complete data; I'll check this afternoon.
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Re: Correct spheres for BX19GTi

Post by electronmirror »

Hello Jim,

From the old GSF sphere table the data for BX19GTI shows this:

Front........400/55/1.65

Rear.........400/40/1.1

You are correct in that lower pressure equals harder ride.

If you'd like a copy of the table, it's in PDF format, send me a PM with an email address and I'll respond promptly.

Ted
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JimW
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Re: Correct spheres for BX19GTi

Post by JimW »

Thanks for the response, Ted.

I reckon you're looking at this table:

http://cx.podolsk.ru/xm/docum/citroen_kule.pdf

In the skimming I've done this morning I've seen that there are some doubts about the absolute accuracy of that table...

I've also been consulting http://www.dworzak.at/Kataloge/KATALOG_ ... N_2005.pdf, which sort of seems to confirm what GSF have told me (e.g. If I understand it correctly, that any BX with ABS needs the 400/45 & 400/30 - as per the 16v).

However, I'm most interested in this image:
BX Sphere details
BX Sphere details
which I know I've seen in the past and looks like it's from an official Citroen doc.

My GTi was made in Feb '88 (ORGA = 4125), so I'm presuming it is an '88 model year.

So, I guess I have two questions
1) How do I read that table - is my car included in ->88 or in 88-> (or, does up to include the year stated, or is it from that includes that year) ?
2) Has this table been made obsolete by anything Citroen have released subsequently?

Again, thanks in advance for anything to help me understand this correctly,
Jim.
'88 BX 19 GTi, 94000 miles
'96 Laguna RXE Family, 175000 miles
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Re: Correct spheres for BX19GTi

Post by Old-Guy »

My understanding of Citroen's and GSF's use of model years ->88 means up to (but not including) MY88, 88-> from MY88 onwards (including). It's unnecessarily confusing, though logical as many changes of spec start from the beginning of the Model Year (1st Jan) so it's likely that your BX is to 88MY spec. However, beware that Citroen, in common with other manufacturers, made/make vehicles to the old MY spec alongside ones to the new MY spec to use up stocks of parts (or because they are running behind schedule on certain models) and a shortage/surplus of old/new parts will result in manufacturers building 'mongrels'; in the past we had a Mk1½ Golf and a Mk1½ Astra/Kadett GTI in the family, both were a nightmare for parts - usually essential to take the old ones along except for service parts where I had compiled a list of the part numbers that fitted. Our Xantia 1.9TD SX estate, though built in late Jan 96 is to 95MY spec - sunroof and no aircon, no engine ECU or EGR - fortunately, as far as I can tell, it's pure-bred.

I think you'll find that Ted is looking at the table from GSF's old website, and which,as far as I know, is no longer available on the web but some of us have retained a copy. To expand the data he provided:

Front:
data - 400/55/1.65
Citroen - 95 630 610/96 024 568
Amtex - N45310

Rear:
data - 400/40/1.1
Citroen - 96 635 425
Amtex - N45342

However, this table (a PDF document covering all models upto Xantia) doesn't distinguish between ABS/non-ABS or model year for BX GTi.
On the other hand, if you've got data from GSF by e-mail or over the phone from someone at their HQ who sounds as though they know what they are talking about, you probably been given good data.

You could of course ring Plaides (search posts for current phone number) - they'l know for sure!
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Post by addo »

Service Citroën still covers it reasonably; they work off the ORGA predominantly in their listings.
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Re: Correct spheres for BX19GTi

Post by citronut »

here is a sphere table

http://cx.podolsk.ru/xm/docum/citroen_kule.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Regards, malcolm.

current ride a BX 1.7 TZD estate
1986 MK1 BX 1.9na D Auto(in Mothman Andy's stable )
layed up roppy 1.9TD XANT estate, now gone to meet her maker
purple and lilac metalic 2CV(VIOLET)registered to her in doors
1972 DS special been layed up aprox 31 years
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