Xantia Suspension Questions

[larkspeed]

I have a 1997 Xantia

The front suspension has started bouncing and there is a regular click coming from the front.

Now I know the bounce can be down to one of the spheres being bad and I am pretty sure the click is coming from the accumulator.

One of the front spheres has already been replaced so I was planning on replacing the other one and the accumulator.

I know there is nothing wrong with the rear as I used a speed bump to test it.

I drove over the speed bump and as the front went over it started to bounce, I stopped the car and waited for the bounce to subside and then continued and when the rear wheels went over there was no bounce at all. My logic tells me that this means the rear is fine.

What I need here from people in the know if an opinion, is there a good chance that replacing the front sphere and the accumulator will get rid of both the bounce and the click? or would just replacing the accumulator get rid of both?

Also does anyone have a link to a good tutorial on how to change them, I'm assuming there must be some way to depressurize the system before you do it.

[CitroJim]

It would be good to know exactly what model of Xantia you have. Hydractive or non-hydractive as it may have a bearing...

What is the interval between the clicks (which are coming from the pressure regulator and signify it cutting in and out) anything less than at one end.30s means the accumulator sphere is weak/flat or there is a large internal leak.

The bouncing will almost certainly be caused by flat front suspension spheres. non-hydractive models have two - one on each suspension strut top (called the corner spheres) and visible under the bonnet.

Hydractive models have three front suspension spheres to provide the hard and soft suspension modes. In a hydractive car both the corners and the third (called the centre) could cause this problem if flat or ruptured.

There are other causes too...

Once we know the model we can get a little more detailed...

Some history would be good. Is this fault new or has it been getting worse for some time? Is the car new to you?

[larkspeed]

1997 Xantia 1.8i 5 door hatchback

The only suspension controls inside the car is the height selector next to the passenger seat, there are no stiffness or comfort controls so i'll hazard a guess it's not the hydractive system.

There is one green sphere at the top of each front suspension tower and there is another green sphere at the front of the engine near the bottom which I assume is the accumulator.

Click interval is 7 to 10 seconds and sometimes when using the height adjuster it clicks rapidly

The car is new to me, normally I would have avoided it but it was extremely cheap and I had to have a car right away on a low budget.

[CitroJim]

Yes, that's a non-hydractive model.

The accumulator is certainly flat or ruptured with a tick-rate as rapid as that and needs changing to avoid pump and regulator damage.

Replacing the front corner spheres should cure the bounciness. I take it the front height correction works correctly in that the height lever inside the car does as expected.

Spheres may look identical but they're not and it is important you obtain the correct replacements. I've not bought any for ages so can't recommend a good source but others on here have and will be along in a bit to make recommendations.

Spheres are easy enough to replace. Have a look at this guide here http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... 22&t=24595" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[larkspeed]

Thanks for that

The height correction works right including if I stand on the tow bar the car adjusts itself back to level.

I have just noticed one thing though, I went to check the fluid level, started the car and put the suspension at full high and the "top hat" seems to be way above the two red lines. could excess fluid in the system cause these symptoms as well?

[CitroJim]

the "top hat" seems to be way above the two red lines. could excess fluid in the system cause these symptoms as well?

No, the worst that will result from overfilling the LHM reservoir is a mess..

I expect the last person there did not realise the level must only be checked with the suspension set on high...

[larkspeed]

ok thanks at least I don't have to worry about that then.

[Hell Razor5543]

I recently replaced all 6 spheres on Gracie. I purchased them from AEP Direct, for a total of about £150 (and, as the cost was over £50, P&P was free). I would certainly replace the front corner spheres, the accumulator sphere, and (as there is no way of knowing how good/bad it is), the anti sink sphere at the rear (this serves the same purpose as the accumulator sphere). As you would be working at the back it wouldn't hurt (apart from the wallet, that is) to replace the two rear spheres as well. If you use AEP they will ask for the registration, so that they send out the right spheres for your car.

http://www.aepdirect.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This link would be helpful;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... 22&t=24595" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What is the mileage on the car? It is recommended to change the LHM at 36,000 mile intervals, and to flush the system every third change. Changing the spheres can be tricky, as they can be very tight (to the point where you need a hammer and chisel to get them moving). I would recommend loosening off the spheres and doing them back up hand tight every 6 months (they don't need to be tighter than that) to make it easy to replace the spheres in the future. You may also want to make the tool in the following link (and it does work, I have one myself);

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=21850" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

EDIT; Duplicated CitroJim link to the Spheres, Hyrdaflush, etc.

[CitroJim]

EDIT; Duplicated CitroJim link to the Spheres, Hyrdaflush, etc.

No worries James, better to have it twice than not at all

[larkspeed]

Thanks guys,

I should have mentioned I'm actually in The Netherlands so the suggested supplier is not viable for me.

The reason I am posting here is I am British and I don't speak dutch

I do have supplier locally that also does it via the registration and they go for 42 Euro each for the front, 52 Euro each for the rear, 53 for the anti sink and 55 for the accumulator, Advantage being it's about 2 minutes away form my house so I can just collect them.

As for a tool I can order one pre made off ebay for about 20 quid delivered

[Hell Razor5543]

There are times when the spheres are so tight the only way to get them moving is to use a hammer and chisel. I am not joking; I and others have had to do this. The way I found worked is to line the chisel up on the weld around the sphere and hit it several times until you have a reasonable 'dent' in the weld, and then angle the chisel round so that it will, when hit again, start undoing the sphere. This process does write off the spheres, but it does also get them off.

I would DEFINITELY contact AEP and see what they can do. I have just done the maths (based on an exchange rate of 1.27), and your supplier is WAY more expensive (£233) than AEP.

[larkspeed]

I just checked and with the shipping to here they are quite a bit cheaper thanks

[Hell Razor5543]

You are welcome.