OE rear shocks

[Moog]

Hi,

Just wondered what the original make of shocks (front and rear) were when new for 2001 Xsara Picasso 1.6 8v?

And were they gas?

Thanks,

Moog

[GiveMeABreak]

If you want part numbers you'll need to put your VIN up (Automasked on post submission). Yes they are gas filled.

[Moog]

If you want part numbers you'll need to put your VIN up (Automasked on post submission). Yes they are gas filled.

Ah that's great.

VIN: VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]

Have tried Euro Car Parts cheapie Anschler shocks in the past and they seemed very crashy and hard.

Need front coil springs too - if there's any preference for those too?

My local motor factors do cross-reference Citroen parts numbers but offer up some weird and wonderful brands...

Just wondered if there's a preferred make for a Citroen Xsara Picasso.

Many thanks!

[Hell Razor5543]

Euro Car Parts are more commonly known as Euro Crap Parts. You might want to consider GSF next time.

[GiveMeABreak]

ECP are well known here for poor quality parts.

These are Citroen part numbers for your Picasso:

Rear shocks: 1623314780: priced at £70.12 each
Front Springs: Part 5002QK priced £140.34

These prices are inclusive of VAT direct from Citroen.

[Moog]

Euro Car Parts are more commonly known as Euro Crap Parts. You might want to consider GSF next time.

Hahaha - they certainly seem to be!

Thanks for the tip-off!

All the best.

[Moog]

ECP are well known here for poor quality parts.

These are Citroen part numbers for your Picasso:

Rear shocks: 1623314780: priced at £70.12 each
Front Springs: Part 5002QK priced £140.34

These prices are inclusive of VAT direct from Citroen.

That's really kind of you! Thank you again.

[Moog]

I called my local Citroen dealer today. The told me they have two makes of rear shocks - Citroen and "Eurorepar"? The latter being their own aftermarket brand that's inferior with a shorter warranty? Is that right?

It turns out the OE genuine Citroen ones are £10 cheaper (and better?). Unfortunately they're not in stock in the UK and need to ordered from France.

My only guess is that the shocks aren't current parts as there are fewer Mk1s on the road so they're flogging them off cheaper?

So, if I can't get Citroen ones easily, is there a decent branded make? Monroe for example? The current Anschler ones are a bit crashy over anything but a perfect road so I'm looking for comfort.

Thanks,

[GiveMeABreak]

You'll find now that this is a common approach - getting parts in from abroad as stocks are now kept to a minimum, short of service parts for example. PSA update their prices overnight and fluctuations can vary significantly based on supply and demand of course. Sometimes you can find that the genuine Citroen part can be cheaper than a cheap part if you know what I mean.

So if you can wait, get the original, otherwise you'll have to take a chance on an aftermarket one.

I can't recommend anything shock absorber-wise personally, seeing as I've only had Hydropneumatic / Hydractive suspension on all my own cars for the last 35 years up until recently!

[Moog]

I can't recommend anything shock absorber-wise personally, seeing as I've only had Hydropneumatic / Hydractive suspension on all my own cars for the last 35 years up until recently!

I've heard that the "hydro/hydra" Citroëns can be a faff and costly to run if you get a neglected one but I've started looking at BXs...

When I was a nipper my favourite teacher at junior school had lovely "wafty" Citroëns - I loved watching the suspension settle when parked and rise like magic when she drove off. Loved the quirky single-spoke steering wheel and the strange magnifying speedo.

Plus my uncle has a huge Safari or something similar with the moving headlights... Fascinating as a kid!!

[GiveMeABreak]

Indeed, my French teacher back in the 70s used to drive a GS Pallas and totally ignored the school speed humps (and the kids for that matter) for the 100 meter drive from the staff car park to the school entrance!

[Moog]

Well, to end the saga, I bought some KYB rear shocks.

Fitted them yesterday and had a long trip out today to test them.

Result is, the car no longer has a rock-hard ride (particularly for rear passengers) and it doesn't 'crash' over bumps

The 2-year old Anschler ones from EuroCrapParts have very little give in them at all unlike the new KYBs when I 'primed' then. No wonder they gave a harsh ride.

Sad I couldn't wait for Citroen ones, but I don't get much spare time so had to go aftermarket.

I'll post the part number in case it's helpful to someone else.

[GiveMeABreak]

Another ECP failure to add to the list. I don't know what it is with these people, but their parts are atrocious.

Glad you have a decent ride back.

[Moog]

Another ECP failure to add to the list. I don't know what it is with these people, but their parts are atrocious.
Glad you have a decent ride back.

It's that saying, I guess: "Buy cheap, buy twice".

When I was at my local Halfords Autocentre twice getting tyres fitted, both times I heard the staff on the phone to ECP getting parts for cars in the workshop. That's another good reason not to use these type of centres. (Reason I went twice for tyres, I ordered all-seasons online but they fitted summer ones instead...and as it was closing time, I had to drive back the next day to have the correct ones fitted....)

I have heard that ECP is usually the first-stop for used car dealers who need cheap parts for an MOT pass and so quality/longevity isn't a concern as long as they outlast the warranty. I made the mistake of using them in a hurry and the decent shocks were out of stock so took what they had in stock - their own brand of Anschlers.

[GiveMeABreak]

They do have a bad reputation here - well deserved too from my own experience in earlier days. I see they have not improved one bit by the looks of things. At least next time you will be forewarned,