Lob-sided ZX

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
AthlonZX
Posts: 64
Joined: 30 Jan 2003, 21:51
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Lob-sided ZX

Post by AthlonZX »

Hi everyone, I’ve noticed something on my zx aura TD (K-1993) and wondered if anyone can help me.
I was looking at my zx parked up, and thought it looked slightly lower on the driver’s side than on the passenger side. I first noticed it a month ago, but never thought much of it, I just made sure that my tyre pressures were correct. Finally this afternoon it bugged me enough to take a closer look, and I got the following measurements:
Drivers Side Height – Road to mid-arch 53cm
Passenger Side Height – Road to mid-arch 56 ½ cm [:0]
Both rear arches are 45cm at their highest point from the road.
To try and make the test more scientific I tried the same test spinning the car round to face the other way, after a long drive, and parked in a car park (each time the measurements were the same).
I’ve also noticed the car feels tighter on some days than others (i.e. sloppy handling one day, and sharp the next). Can the two be connected? It does make the occasional knock when going over large bumps at high speed but other than that has been fine. Any ideas?
Cheers
David C (Athlon ZX)
Citroen ZX 1993 K Aura TD 129855 [8D] miles
Citroen BX 16Valve…a project
paranoid
Posts: 770
Joined: 08 Jan 2004, 18:32
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by paranoid »

Are you a fat ass[:D][:D]
No offence!!! I am, and have had this on all my steel sprung cars after a couple of years[^]
RichardW
Forum Treasurer
Posts: 10812
Joined: 07 Aug 2002, 17:12
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars: MK2 '17 C4GP 1.6 BlueHDi 120
'13 3008 1.6 HDi GripControl
x 983

Post by RichardW »

Have a close look at the driver's side front suspension spring. My guess is you will find it's lost a bit off the end, or is even broken in the middle. Broken springs seem to be getting very common these days....
Stuart McB
Posts: 1635
Joined: 03 Oct 2003, 00:50
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:
x 1

Post by Stuart McB »

Can agree with the Richard W. Had a Rover 213 (honda) it to sufferd the same fate, lower in one corner it turned out to be a busted front spring. Not big job if you have the tools to hand. Springs don't cost much either.
AthlonZX
Posts: 64
Joined: 30 Jan 2003, 21:51
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by AthlonZX »

Thankyou Stuart, Richard and paranoid for your input. I did a quick visual inspection of the springs when I took the measurements and they seemed ok. My guess is it's probably weakened with mileage (now approaching 130,000 [:)]). I'm guessing those nice big square speed bumps the've put on the industrial estate I drive to didnt help it much either [B)].
I assume it's wise to replace springs in pairs (like shocks), so I'll probably have the job lot done.
Never mind...I've got my eye on a 1.8 Xsara VTR [8D]
Cheers
David C (AthlonZX)
Citroen ZX 1993 K Aura TD 129910 [8D] miles
Citroen BX 16Valve...a project
AthlonZX
Posts: 64
Joined: 30 Jan 2003, 21:51
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by AthlonZX »

I've been getting quotes for my ZX and I'm wondering if sorting the suspension is an economical repair...
My local Citroen specialist Citronome (Derby) quoted me £320 [B)] to have the springs, shockaborbers fitted. Has anyone got a ZX TD and a tape measure handy...so I could compare ride heights? I've been told by them zx's normally sit pretty square. The springs dont appear to be broken, and it still drives realitively well.
I've spent quiet allot on it in the last 18 months
> Sub frame mounts
> Clutch cable clip (actually broke on the way to have something else fixed!)
> 2 full services
> Boot-lock
> Front brake pads and discs
With general bits and peices I've spent around £600 on service and repair so far this year.
Considering Hilton Garage (in Derby) only offered me £100 (which was an insult in it'self considering it's worth around £600) in part ex against a xsara VTR...is it worth spending another £300-400 on?
Cheers
David C (AthlonZX)
Citroen ZX 1993 K Aura TD 130441 [8D]miles
Citroen BX 16Valve...a project
ralph
Posts: 265
Joined: 14 Jul 2003, 15:46
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
My Cars:
x 2

Post by ralph »

A car this age is only going to be cheap to run if you do the work yourself.
Parts will wear out, and if you're paying to get it done, you'll keep asking yourself if it's worth it, given that the car's market value is so low.
And the market value is low because parts will wear out!
My H-reg 205 would be long gone from my drive if I wasn't doing the work myself.
But if you haven't got the time, flat drive, patience, tools etc, DIY isn't going to be much fun, so I rekon you'd be better off trying to sell the ZX on this forum and getting a shiny Xsara, which will be a few years from needing attention every other weekend.
James.UK
Posts: 1169
Joined: 14 Dec 2003, 23:12
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:
x 2

Post by James.UK »

Why not just replace the one worn spring for now, you can always do the other at some time in the future if it ever needs changing.
Swop a ZX for a xsara?.. hmm you will lose more in depreciation on the xsara than you would buying another pre-ecu ZX. And in my opinion the ZX is a better car..
(I had a ford Mondeo that gave me ECU agro for two years, replaced the ECU 4 times, worked ok for about 8weeks each time.. Sold it with a dodgy ECU to an Auto elec.. lol.. he part exed it for something else after a month)..
jeremy
Posts: 3959
Joined: 20 Oct 2002, 16:00
Location: Hampshire, UK
My Cars:
x 2

Post by jeremy »

firstly try and ascertain that it is springs for certain - try and measure the length of each spring and compare - if they are the same - well look elsewhere.
why replace the shock absorbers? get a pair of springs and get a small garage to fit them - they are utterly conventional and should be very easy for an experienced mechanic! - Not very difficult for you either - you will need an pair of compressors which now seem to come with safety catches - a very good idea!
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=040211224
Jeremy
Stuart McB
Posts: 1635
Joined: 03 Oct 2003, 00:50
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:
x 1

Post by Stuart McB »

Got to say, had the same with my old ZX paid out for the rear suspension and an MOT but some times the DIY ain't much fun in the cold on your drive mid winter [:(]. I have always strived for what I consider the best I can get for my money. I now have a new to me Xsara VTR and got £500 back on the old ZX [:D]. I know that some folk on this site don't rate them but it is a newer ZX in a different set of clothes at the end of the day. But as for springs, not a big job at all. You can hire sping compressors now from most local motor factors. Put aside a saturday morning including tea and toast.
rossnunn
Posts: 1254
Joined: 09 Aug 2003, 03:00
Location: Boston, Lincs
My Cars:
Contact:

Post by rossnunn »

broke a front spring on a nova years back, went over a bit of a bump the wrong side of abit quick and there was a big bang. stopped to see the damage - nothing obvious, until I did a lock to lock with the steering, about half way through there was a big 'bong!' couldn't see any damage to the spring until it was up on a ramp - I had broken the first coil off, and couldn't see it being tucked up in the tower. DOH!
AthlonZX
Posts: 64
Joined: 30 Jan 2003, 21:51
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by AthlonZX »

Thankyou everyone for your input.
I dont fancy the job myself (not if the weather forecast for tommorow is to be belived!). I've gotten the quote down to £250, at another garage which seems more reasonable.
The reason I wanted to replace both sets of springs and struts at the same time is due to the fact that it looks like the passanger side was replaced more recently than the driver's side (the strut on the driver's side is black, and the strut on the passanger's side is blue...but both are at least 4 years old). When doing the 'bounce' test on the front of the car, the passanger side struct can be heard squishing, but the driver's side doesnt make any noise at all (which is why I suspected an old spring and shock absorber is the problem).
Oh my apologies for my posted measurements, they should have read
Driver's side Road to mid-arch 63cm
Passanger's side Road to mid-arch 66 1/2 cm [:0]
I'll try and get a photo of my car uploaded to my webspace tonight for everyone to see, but I'll hope to get it fixed one way or another this week.
I agree with Stuart MCB about the xsara (I was pretty shocked when I first popped the bonnet to see how little difference there was over my zx), it's an option I'm considering. I do like the zx though (my mates think I'm mad...and keep telling me it's ugly, but I've been Citroen mad ever since my dad had an A-reg BX 16 TRS when I was a kid [:D].
Thankyou everyone again for your input, and again if anyone can else can measure up their zx I'd appreciate a comparison
Thanks
David C (AthlonZX)
Citroen ZX 1993 K Aura TD 130444 [8D]miles
Citroen BX 16valve...a project
AthlonZX
Posts: 64
Joined: 30 Jan 2003, 21:51
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by AthlonZX »

Taken a few quick pics of it (sorry it need's a clean!), the zx on level pictures illustrate the problem the best.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/d.carroll2 ... 7-07-2004/
Cheers
David C (Athlon ZX)
Citroen ZX 1993 K Aura TD 130449 [8D] miles
Guru Meditation
Posts: 259
Joined: 18 Dec 2002, 02:30
Location:
My Cars:
Contact:

Post by Guru Meditation »

Hi there,
I'll be interested to see if having new springs fitted cures the problem, my ZX is also noticeably lower on the driver's side and I thought it was a sagging spring as I don't reckon the spring is broken. It's annoying as I notice stuff like that.
Guru Meditation
Dave40
Posts: 33
Joined: 10 Apr 2004, 19:35
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by Dave40 »

Might be me missing the point, but if there is 3.5cm difference in height between the front arches wouldn't this translate into a (smaller) difference in the rears, or does the bodyshell twist/flex?
Post Reply