xantia hard ride

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

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
jonnyboy
Posts: 22
Joined: 19 Nov 2001, 08:15
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

xantia hard ride

Post by jonnyboy »

Had my accumulator sphere replaced 18 months ago, I have since replaced all the other spheres myself, but still a hard juddery ride, the front end seems to be riding too high. Both front & rear ride hight correctors are working properly, drained lhm installed hydraflush, cleaned filters. at wits end !!
Is the accumulator sphere supposed to click to regulate pressure, because mine isn't, could this be my problem, I know that too frequent clicks indicate a faulty sphere, but what about no clicks ???
If I do some cit aerobics before I set off, it seems to help for a while, but it's soon juddery again.
I'd be eternally grateful to anyone who can restore my comfort zone.
andyturner
Posts: 22
Joined: 13 Jul 2001, 20:35
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by andyturner »

[I have a similar problem with my 1995 Xantia TD (40000 miles). New spheres all round, flushed with Hydraflush, all usual checks done to system but hard ride over poor road surfaces. I have owned CXs etc and done my own repairs. I have had this car to Citroen specialists and main dealer but no one knows what is wrong. I have asked in this forum before and still no answers. Sorry I can't help you, let me know if you get anywhere with it.
Andy Turner
apt
jonnyboy
Posts: 22
Joined: 19 Nov 2001, 08:15
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by jonnyboy »

Hi Andy
Put the car up on the four poster in work today, got the y.t.s. to operate the height lever, with me underneath, lubricating with "duck oil",Car seemed to respond quicker, when I took it out for a test it was a lot smoother. The lever was a lot easier also, suspect corrosion making the mechanism's stick. Put car back on the ramp, & flooded it with a mix of petrol & used engine oil. Marked improvement in response time of height correctors. Also in eight trips, no hard ride. normally two to three trips max. before bone shaking again, so I think at last I'm getting somewhere. I'm regularly moving the height adjuster lever rapidly back & forth between min & max & it is definately getting less resistance, I'll keep you posted.
Jon
jonnyboy
Posts: 22
Joined: 19 Nov 2001, 08:15
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by jonnyboy »

Day 2 (126 miles split over 4 trips) since spring mechanism's lubricated,& still driving like a dream. Just like when I bought it.
Jon
jonnyboy
Posts: 22
Joined: 19 Nov 2001, 08:15
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by jonnyboy »

Two weeks later & playing up again !!!!!
isolated problem to faulty ride height adjuster . Part ordered, let you know the outcome next week !!
Jon
jonnyboy
Posts: 22
Joined: 19 Nov 2001, 08:15
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by jonnyboy »

New h/c fitted & height adjusted. When disconnected, found .75m of stainless 1.00mm welding wire pushed into high pressure return pipe, so seems that previous owner left it there on a prior attempt to fix it.
That removed & with new H/C my car is my pride & joy again.
Jon

[/quote]
andyturner
Posts: 22
Joined: 13 Jul 2001, 20:35
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by andyturner »

Jon
I am pleased to hear that you have sorted out your problem, I hope it continues to run well. I would just like to describe some more symptoms of the problem with my Xantia. I had owned the car for about a year before the hard ride started (20k miles 4 years old) I have replaced all the spheres now. Sometimes the ride is good other times not. Sometimes the car rises and drops of it's own accord at traffic lights etc, other times not. If I have had it on high suspension mode to wash it and then drop the lever to normal before startup ther is a peculiar creaking noise as it drops. The suspension is more often bad than good, potholed and rough surfaces are the worst but things like smooth speed bumps are not so bad. Have you had any of these symptoms? My height correctors raise and lower the car when weight is added or removed so I have no reason to suspect they are faulty. Did your car have any of these symptoms. I am at my wits end now and I am running out of ideas. I dont want to take it to a Citroen dealer but i don't want to replace parts that may not be defective. Let me know if you have any ideas,
Cheers
Andy

[/quote]

[/quote]
apt
jonnyboy
Posts: 22
Joined: 19 Nov 2001, 08:15
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by jonnyboy »

Andy
Almost an exact repeat of my symptoms !
Had the same creaking, Hard ride, dropping & rising at lights , replaced all spheres but no effect. Being as I doubt you have welding wire stuffed up the high pressur return pipe, I suggest the rear ride hight adjuster, as since I changed mine, all symptoms have disappeared. not a hard job, but use of a four post ramp or pit essential, as are new union spheres, (not supplied with R/H adjuster) & dont forget to set your ride height (centre of rear hub to bottom edge of wheel arch, 13.5" to 14")
Any other help I can give, feel free to ask
Jon
NiSk
Posts: 1422
Joined: 24 Jan 2002, 20:11
Location: Sweden
My Cars:
x 1

Post by NiSk »

If you can isolate the creeking noise to the rear suspension it would be a good idea to throughly check out the trailing arm bearings. These can cause all sorts of problems when they start to get worn. Strange that Citroen hasn't learnt anything here - same problem with CX, BX, XM, Xantia . . . On my '93 XM TD12 I've fitted grease nipples from new. No problems after 450 000 km! (grease twice a year - in Sweden we change tyres for winter, so it's easy to include greasing as a routine!)
//NiSk
andyturner
Posts: 22
Joined: 13 Jul 2001, 20:35
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by andyturner »

[quote]
The creaking comes from the front of the car when sinking from highest position without engine running, do you think I should assume the front height corrector is defective. Harsh ride is apparent on all four wheels. Height correctors do their job properly when tested by sitting on front or back of the car. Were you able to see what was wrong with your defective height corrector? I have asked various Citroen "experts" and they say that if the height corrector raises and lowers the car when weight is added or removed then they are working. Another person guessed it might be the pressure regulator that is faulty, what do you think. I am very tempted to just buy a new front height corrector for £60 from GSaF and fit it.
apt
Dave Burns
Posts: 1915
Joined: 14 May 2001, 05:30
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:
x 2

Post by Dave Burns »

My car creek's as it goes from high to low or normal height positions, so does a 98 model belonging to a family member.
I think you will find it is caused by the lower suspension arm as it rotates in it's rubber bush.
You shouldn't hear it during normal movement's of the suspension since then it is only moving by a small amount.
Dave
NiSk
Posts: 1422
Joined: 24 Jan 2002, 20:11
Location: Sweden
My Cars:
x 1

Post by NiSk »

I agree, it sounds like lower suspension bushes. However, worn front struts also creak! They also display their state of wear by increasing height in sudden jumps when moving from lowest to highest setting.
//NiSk
andyturner
Posts: 22
Joined: 13 Jul 2001, 20:35
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by andyturner »

What made you investigate the rear height corrector?, The creaking comes from the front of my car when dropping height with engine off, but self-raising and lowering at traffic lights is at the back. Hard ride is on all 4 wheels evenly. Could it be that the pressure in the system is too high or low? or is the safety valve defective?
apt
hardmanm
Posts: 73
Joined: 30 Jan 2002, 15:42
Location:
My Cars:

Post by hardmanm »

Hi everyone,
Can anyone advise me on the procedure when using Hydraflush? How long should I leave it in for? Should I bleed the brakes or anything when changing fluid?
Any help greatly appreciated, have just bought hydraflush and new LHM in the hope of fixing my "back end slow to rise" problem!
Mark
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Had my accumulator sphere replaced 18 months ago, I have since replaced all the other spheres myself, but still a hard juddery ride, the front end seems to be riding too high. Both front & rear ride hight correctors are working properly, drained lhm installed hydraflush, cleaned filters. at wits end !!
Is the accumulator sphere supposed to click to regulate pressure, because mine isn't, could this be my problem, I know that too frequent clicks indicate a faulty sphere, but what about no clicks ???
If I do some cit aerobics before I set off, it seems to help for a while, but it's soon juddery again.
I'd be eternally grateful to anyone who can restore my comfort zone.

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
JohnD
(Donor 2022)
Posts: 2632
Joined: 14 Mar 2001, 23:41
Location: Epsom, Surrey
My Cars: 2010 Citroen C5-X7 tourer
1998 Citroen Saxo 1.5D
2018 Citroen C4-B7
1998 Peugeot 306. 1.9D
2011 Citroen C1
x 72
Contact:

Post by JohnD »

Hi Mark - Leave the hydraflush in the system for at least a 1000 miles. Clean the filters before and after and also bleed the brakes. To bleed the rears, put some weight in the boot, wedge the brake pedal against the seat with a stick and have the engine running. Bleed until you see clean fluid. If the bleed nipples are reluctant to turn, give them a sharp tap on the ends before applying too much pressure - they can easily snap. With the wheel off, do not rely only on a jack - use a stand as well.
Post Reply