Simon's new Xantia V6 and Leaf blog

[Mandrake]

I don't want to jinx it but I may have some news regarding the seizing brakes tomorrow thanks to the services of a small blow torch and a pair of mole grips...

If you manage this I shall still have it, and I'll pay you for the hoses and discs on top..

Hi Michel,

Don't worry about the discs and pads - I had already bought them weeks before discovering the dripping sump and realising how bad the wheel arch rust had become since the last MOT.

Well, I can report that the front brakes are working sweet as a nut now after replacing both hoses.

I started off with a few careful laps of the block with minimal brake use and checking with an IR gun each lap to make sure there was no abnormal heating and worked my way out to some longer routes and finally did a couple of blasts on the motorway. All told I think I've done about 30 miles tonight...

No binding anymore and they're super sensitive as well - in a way that they haven't been for years with them reacting to the lightest touch of the pedal.

If anything they're a bit on the over sensitive side now! This car has the brake pedal spring deletion mod fitted to make the brake pedal action feel like a proper Citroen... and it does now.

The hoses must have been gradually failing for years until they reached a point where the problem became obvious. Amazing that they lasted 27 years in hindsight, I probably should have replaced them years ago.

So if you want to drive this thing away we're back on and it should make the journey home without issues. I'd just suggest maybe check the engine oil level a couple of times on the way to be safe although it seems to be a slow weep at the moment, probably less than an egg cup worth over a whole week.

I still need to search for paper work etc, also there is an assortment of spare parts that might as well go with it if they're wanted including a front right lower suspension arm bought but never fitted, (I think one of the bushes clonks a little) a couple of spare second hand coil packs, a spare rear height corrector and linkage, a sphere removal tool and a few other sundry items I've collected but will never need again...

[Stickyfinger]

Good job getting it fixed.......well done

[CitroJim]

Well done Simon Excellent!

[Gibbo2286]

I remember when I first came into the trade hydraulic brakes were quite rare, Morris mainly and I recall we used to take off blocked hoses and run a hot wire through the to burn out the blockage.

[CitroJim]

I remember when I first came into the trade hydraulic brakes were quite rare, Morris mainly and I recall we used to take off blocked hoses and run a hot wire through the to burn out the blockage.

indeed!

[Mandrake]

Looking through all the papers belonging to this car while finding them and found a receipt from the previous owner for new brake hoses fitted in 2012!

Can brake hoses really fail again in as little as 12 years ?

Having said that, my 2 litre petrol Xantia I had in New Zealand had issues with the front brakes where they never seemed to be as sensitive and responsive as they should be no matter what I did to them mechanically, and that car was 8 years old when I bought it and 12 when I sold it.

In hindsight I suspect it could have had brake hose issues - and back in those days I was not really aware of the manner in which a brake hose could fail (internal collapse under vacuum) and it never crossed my mind that a brake hose could cause insensitivity in the brake response and need replacing in an 8 year old car. Given these hoses seemingly failed in 12 years it does seem plausible that NZ Xantia needed brake hoses too but I will never know!

I have no idea if that car is even still on the road - probably not.

(Edit: I checked and the registration has been cancelled but it doesn't seem to be possible to get any information on when...)

[NewcastleFalcon]

Flexible brake hoses can fail the MOT for rusty ferrules long before they expire from some internal breakdown. I have replaced at various time the front and rear flexible brake hoses on the Micra at MOT time. Ferrules on the new hoses rapidly return to a rusty state, although granted the sensible would take some action to mitigate this with some protective coating as part of the replacement job.

Fails
Offside Front Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (1.1.12 (f) (i)) (2022)
Nearside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded x2 (1.1.12 (f) (i)) (2019)

Neil

[Stickyfinger]

It could be they fitted Non LHM safe hoses

[Mandrake]

It could be they fitted Non LHM safe hoses

That just happen to be the right length and have the right fittings ?

Seems unlikely...

[Stickyfinger]

Yes....if you order by "length".....fittings are standard brake parts, nothing Citroen about them. All pipes/fittings are "brake standard" up to the ABS block.......

Did the old pipes have a green band around them ?

[Mandrake]

Yes....if you order by "length".....fittings are standard brake parts, nothing Citroen about them. All pipes/fittings are "brake standard" up to the ABS block.......

Did the old pipes have a green band around them ?

Around where ? The rubber or the metal ?

Can't say I noticed but the metal bands were all rust so any colour marking they might have had is long gone...

[Mandrake]

Well that's the end of a long era of Xantia ownership, a bittersweet moment. Sad, but also a relief in some ways.

All told I've owned three different Xantia's over a 16 year period two of them great cars, one not so much (problem child first V6 ) and both my parents at one time had Xantia's as well (2 litre Petrol and 1.9TD) so they have been a mainstay in the family for many years in both NZ and the UK.

The car has been collected tonight on behalf of a buyer who contacted me privately and I don't think reads this thread anyway so I'll leave it up to them whether they wish to speak up or remain anonymous but I believe it's going to a good home that can give it what I can't and that it has at least a chance of getting back on the road, which is a lot better outcome than going to a scrapyard and straight into the crusher...!

The Xantia V6 was a bucket list item for me after owning a 2 litre Xantia, now after 10 years of ownership and the first 5 of those being remarkably problem free I think I've been able to tick off that bucket list item and the car has now aged to the point where it was no longer fun to be working on it due to difficulty sourcing parts, rust making every job even small ones involving a (rusty) bolt a chore, as well as the panel rust that has appeared in the last couple of years that is beyond my ability to do anything about. Having to do a heater matrix 2 years ago also took the sheen off the ownership experience... (!)

I'm not sure if I'll ever be buying another combustion car (certainly as a main car) so this is not just likely to be my last Hydro-pneumatic car but possibly my last combustion car as well!

I have plans to replace the Leaf next year as well (by which time we will have had it for 5 years and put around 60k miles on it) with another EV with a lot more range and a bit better interior accommodation and boot space that will adequately replace the Xantia as the long trip car and load hauler, so watch this space for that. The Leaf will probably go up for sale not long after that.

Thanks everyone who has helped out with all my pleas for help, both in person and information and advice that has kept the car going a lot longer than it probably would have if I didn't have that support network!

[mickthemaverick]

Undoubtedly a day of mixed emotions Simon and fair to say you may not be alone in missing it! Since you suggested that the new owner may not read this thread, I have a feeling that we may hear more about the car in due course]

At least you can concentrate on the better aspect of now being free of the ongoing burden it had become and look forward to your new planned replacement next year.

Needless to say it doesn't have to be French as you can join us fraudsters who no longer own French cars but stay active on the forum as a matter of general interest.

[CitroJim]

I echo Mick's comments Simon. Pleased it's gone to a good home and I do hope we'll hear more of the car in due course...

Like you, I owned and ran all sorts of Xantias over many years and they do get under your skin. Maybe you can do as I do and still occasionally get to play with one and keep the flame alive

[NewcastleFalcon]

Well done buyer and seller. Must be a great relief Simon. Don't think I have shed any tears about former cars since my Dad got rid of our first ever car...a Ford Anglia in the 1960's. He replaced it with a 1955 is Morris Cowley, a hideous black very old-fashioned looking thing compared to the Anglia

Neil