Elmas Xantia V6 and Musical Stuff

[elma]

Partial success, got remote central locking now. Just swapped the locking brains between the cars rather than soldering in the keys.

The drivers door barrel worked for me once then gave up so I guess it can be fixed. The boots still spinning, I wonder if it's just not secured correctly.

Also I think I stumbled across Fifis secret

[elma]

Today I had big plans for the front spheres. However as I stated up all night soldering bits from one keyfob to another I'm Mr wobbly right now. I've worn myself out throwing a ball in the river that the dog kept bringing back too.

Not wanting to be totally lazy I did the brake pedal mod. Worked beautifully as ever, the brakes are lovely now. Amazes me that you can still buy a 20yr old Xantia that's not had it done. Good job it's got abs though, using it a bit more than normal while I get used to the better brakes.

[CitroJim]

I find the brake pedal mod a transformation.. Pleased you've found it good too James

Yes, ABS is definitely needed on a Xantia... found that with it duff they are a bit lethal...

I'm amazed some models were offered without ABS...

[myglaren]

I find the brake pedal mod a transformation.. Pleased you've found it good too James

Yes, ABS is definitely needed on a Xantia... found that with it duff they are a bit lethal...

I'm amazed some models were offered without ABS...

The one I had - an 'N'-reg sinker, had no ABS and I was told at the time it was not possible to fit ABS to Citroen brakes.
Never had a problem with them and did lots of miles in it.

[Stickyfinger]

?? the brake pedal mod ??

[elma]

Yes the brake pedal mod, adds feel to the brakes. You remove the little plastic cylinder from the underside of the brake pedal near the top. It has a spring in it to damp/modulate braking pressure. If you disassemble the thing and replace the spring with a nut and washer it's like swapping from side pull brakes to disc brakes.

My first Xantia, N738YRX, a Xantia TD with antisink didn't have abs. It was a bit lethal with the mod but I still didn't revert to the spring.

[Stickyfinger]

interesting

[daviemck2006]

So are they better with or without the mod then. The brakes were the one thing I wasn't too happy with. I wonder if mine is done, and if the new discs and pads will make a difference. Slso it will be good for some of the activa guys, Jim and Alisdair to drive my car once it's back together to see how it compares to theirs.

[elma]

I think better with, the pedals floaty without and direct with the mod. It makes the brakes feel exponentially more powerful.

I've had the drivers lock barrel out tonight and decided locks are for locksmiths. It has improved no end for a stripdown and clean. Unfortunately I broke a bit off the end inside. Still works but you have to know where to stop pushing the key now. Also I couldn't get the flap to start coming down consistently to cover the hole. I guess this is why it was so full of crap and jammed.

I'll live with it for now. I've got 2 working barrels, 2 working keys and 2 working plips. I won't be getting locked out. When more important things are done I'll take the best barrel from red and the one from greens boot to a locksmith for an overhaul. I'll need to get a key to house the 2nd plip as well.

[BenC5HDi]

So are they better with or without the mod then. The brakes were the one thing I wasn't too happy with. I wonder if mine is done, and if the new discs and pads will make a difference. Slso it will be good for some of the activa guys, Jim and Alisdair to drive my car once it's back together to see how it compares to theirs.

They feel better with it, but the brakes aren't great as standard anyway even when new and in perfect order! The standard Activa brakes aren't up to the job IMO.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[daviemck2006]

The thing I did not like was the pedal felt low, but it was totally slack and could lift up more than an inch and fall down again with no resistance at all. Then about 1 mm of pressing from no brakes to hard brakes. They stop ok, just absolutely no feel at all, and difficult to achieve smooth braking when driving gently. Ok when pressing on though, the feel is better then. I've drawn a conclusion there then,,,,,,,,,,it is an activa so press on all the time [emoji13] [emoji106]

[CitroJim]

Davie, I'll do the brake mod to yours whilst it's here if you like. It only take a few minutes and needs just a short length of 15mm copper water pipe..

[xantia_v6]

I did not like the feel of the standard brake pedal, but it also had trouble judging smooth braking with a solid pedal.

My solution (which worked well for me) was to retain the spring, but pretension it by adding about 6 or 9mm thickness of washers inside the plastic capsule. This gives a bit of initial bite, but allows the pressure to be modulated easily on heavier stops.

The XM pedal (which I presume to be solid) seems fine in standard form. I think that it must have less mechanical leverage on the valve than the Xantia (I only have experience of driving LHD XMs).

[CitroJim]

That's a good idea to preload the spring Mike.. You can tailor it to your exact liking them...

I find the big braked cars (V6 etc.) don't benefit as much from the mod as the smaller braked cars do...

Yes, Activa brakes are marginal but late S2 Activas got the big brakes... Mine is soon to be upgraded, I now have all I need to do the job...

[Stickyfinger]

I have no problems with the feel or the action of my brakes, and I have "tested" them a few times now and I found them both responsive and with good feeling.

As for stopping power, in one case the car was lifting off a rise in the road so was "unloaded" and I needed to slow rather quickly, a small lock up but I found I could even feather that situation and keep off the ABS.

It would be interesting then to try a car with such a mod (a big brake one) to see if there is an improvement.....