Hard front end on xantia 2.0 vsx 1995

hayden2004 · Unread post by **hayden2004** » 31 Dec 2003, 00:52

help
please
[:(]
just replaced the front green spheres as the front is very hard ,,, and it still is what can it be ..it is the same if the sport or normel mode is pressed

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 31 Dec 2003, 01:02

Try the Citaerobics : http://citroenz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42
- you're sure it's the correct spheres for your Xantia model front axle [?]

hayden2004 · Unread post by **hayden2004** » 31 Dec 2003, 01:25

hi yes correct spheres i will try bledding

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 31 Dec 2003, 01:29

NOT bleeding hayden - Citaerobics [:)]

hayden2004 · Unread post by **hayden2004** » 31 Dec 2003, 01:43

could the fact that i just replaced the spheres and then statred it up and placed it on high then normal be the problem with it

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 31 Dec 2003, 01:51

NOPE -
Try that Citaerobic link & procedure - then ask again [;)]
You don't need any tools - you can even keep your coffee cup in one hand [8D]

hayden2004 · Unread post by **hayden2004** » 31 Dec 2003, 01:59

done that still no joy whats next...

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 31 Dec 2003, 02:07

Bad or wrong type spheres.
You're aware that several hundreds of different spheres exists for the varoius hydraulic Citroen models ?

hayden2004 · Unread post by **hayden2004** » 31 Dec 2003, 02:12

yes but i give gsf all the details and they say they are right

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 31 Dec 2003, 02:18

Ok hayden -
Now we're closing in on the problem -
What type/stock no is on the sphere box ?
What type/stock no is stamped on the spheres themselves ?
What type/stock no (GSF) is on the receipe ?
I'm trying to track down if someone mixed up the contents of the boxes - or if they handed you over the wrong sphere types.
BTW : does the suspension FEELS soft if you press down the front of car in normal height ?

alexx · Unread post by **alexx** » 31 Dec 2003, 04:16

Did you also replace middle sphere (I mean hydractive middle sphere, not accumulator sphere)? If you didn't, that's probably the reason why front end feels 'hard'. It's because of very small central bores in hydractive corner spheres. If you apply a constant force on the front end, it should, unlike non-hydractive models, sink very gradually, within several seconds, about 2 cm, and then height corrector will probably open and raise the car back.
Also, check that ride height is correct - approximately in the middle between lowest and highest position.
If all of above is ok, then you have a problem with hydractive system (probably poor electrical connection).

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 31 Dec 2003, 18:37

Tx Alex -
So you actually think that hayden's problem MAY not originally have been bad spheres ? - i.e. his old spheres MAY still be in good condition - the whole problem instead as you depicted ?
I think this is a very important information for hayden - as the route taken then with the suspension spheres could well be a dead end track.
BTW : I'm a bit surprised that hydractive corner spheres has such restricting orifice that instead the center sphere is providing soft feeling on the manual suspension jiggle test.
But that's simply the difference between academic & personal hands-on knowledge [:o)]

alexx · Unread post by **alexx** » 31 Dec 2003, 19:49

Well, it's hard to say what is the problem here, without enough information. But I think Hayden will be able to diagnose source of the problem this way and report the results.
Anyway, with engine running and car stationary, suspension should feel soft on manual bounce test, like in non-hydractive model. If you switch the engine off and close the doors, after half a minute ECU will switch to hard mode, and suspension will become hard. But, as I said - not completly - the car should dive under your weight, but very slowly.
Can someone tell me, how do hydractive middle spheres look like? Mr. Nastasic says that damper valves are in hydractive stifness regulators. So, are these spheres without dampers, do they look like accumulator spheres, or not ?

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 31 Dec 2003, 20:12

Alex -
From Gabor's techref Hydractive I chapter (page 27) :
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">1) A standard Citroen sphere base which fits a sphere
without a damper block. The sphere volume and pres-
sure differ for the front and rear, as well as according
to the model of the car;<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
As I'm confident about Gabor's knowledge, this means the center hydractive sphere in fact is a "standard accumulator" sphere, except for those differences mentioned.
Further on according to Gabor - no mention of damping elements are build in to the hydractive control valve block. These valves simply cuts in/out the center sphere.
Having this hydractive center sphere - with no damper element - connected in parallel with the corner spheres then means that extra damping must be provided on the corner spheres. This supports & explains your observations above.

hayden2004 · Unread post by **hayden2004** » 02 Jan 2004, 00:35

hi
right could i try replacing the centre sphere and could i try using an corner sphere first to try out without buying a new one yet