Xantia o/s rear sphere

[Malcolm]

Long over due, but got my lad to get new GSF spheres for '98 Xantia Estate which I let him have a while ago. Removing o/s/r sphere there is corrosion on the sphere mount, so the edge of recess for rubber seal has gone on lower edge. Otherwise job went ok following Citrojims excellent instruction. Restarting, the n/s/r sphere was not sealed properly. Is this a previously experienced problem and is there a cheap solution?

Thanks
Malc

[RichardW]

Is this a previously experienced problem and is there a cheap solution?

Yes, and yes (ish). If you PM member cmorewood he has got some dowty washers that can be used. All you need to do is file the top of the cylinder down flat to give a sealing face for the washer. Ideally, this would be done by removing the ram from the car, but this can be (very) difficult depending on whether or not the clip pin will come out of the ram / arm joint. I would just file the face flat in place, perhaps filling the end of the ram with grease to catch the filings, then carefully cleaning it all out before refitting the sphere. When it happened on mine, I took the ram out, and got a friend to weld it up and re-machine a new groove in it - but I had terrible trouble with the ram pin and ended up removing the arm complete with the operating rod to get the pin out - which is possible, but not very easy!!

[Malcolm]

Thanks for the fast response. The Dowty washer sounds like a great solution. I've got a Mendahose close by, who may have such. My lad was under car doing spheres and believes it should be possible to file flat in situ. Just a shame it's a bank holiday weekend and heavens have opened. Thanks again, will post with update when completed.

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[Hell Razor5543]

I will make a suggestion to make things easier in future. Every few months (6 months maximum) loosen off the spheres and then tighten them back up hand tight (I did this on my last Xantia, Gracie, and it did make it easier). That way, when you next have to replace the spheres they will only be fairly tight (tight enough to do their job properly) but not effing tight, needing a hammer and chisel to get them turning again.

[Malcolm]

Awaiting Dowty washer from Chris and some decent weather to complete this job.

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[Malcolm]

Thanks Richard for putting me in touch with Chis. Some careful filing off the ridge and 'job's a gud un'. Thanks Chris a floating Xantia once again.

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[Stickyfinger]

[CitroJim]

Brilliant

[c.morewood]

Great Malcolm.. glad to hear you're back on the road again. You may have noticed you have to tighten the sphere a little tighter than normal over the dowty seal but it comes away just as easily when you want to renew the spheres and doesn't seem to bind like the rubber seal did.
It must be such a simple job when you file in situ and don't have to remove the dreaded suspension pin!!

[Malcolm]

Yes Chris thanks very much. From reading your post I am so pleased to have been able to file in situ. Finish was not like yours but seems OK. Yes I realised it would need a good tightening. I have used Westroen at Manchester for changing spheres and a rear height corrector. Can't see he could have removed it without damage. I assume the damage is done removing the sphere or has it already crumbled? My lad removed it so I didn't see it before removed.

[c.morewood]

The damage is done by the salt on the roads corroding the raised area holding the rubber seal in situ which eventually gives way and allows the LHM to escape past it.
I presume I your case it was close to giving out and the removal of the sphere just accelerated the point of failure.
I guess there will be a lot of these in the next few years.
I'm just happy I found an easy fix..and now made even easier by your confirmation that the cylinder can be ground in situ.
Thanks for that.

[RichardW]

Mine let go as soon as the sphere was moved - I suspect it would not have gone on much longer in any case (especially as the sphere was flat as well!!).