Xantia sphere check help ;)

[zs&tas]

Hello, ok I've got a bouncy front end on my xantia now. It's a preface lift 1996 1.8 8v auto
I want to get new spheres , is there anything I should check for when buying them ? Are they all the same fitment ? And so on ? Thanks

[GiveMeABreak]

Pop your VIN up if you want the correct sphere specifications for your car (VIN is masked by Forum software, but staff can see it).

[zs&tas]

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

Thanks

[zs&tas]

70 or 55 bar ? Think I have 55 standard but can go to 70 ? Cit numbers 95666857 and 858 ?

[white exec]

I'll grab this one, Marc

[white exec]

Hi zs,

For your Xantia 1.8i 8v saloon/hatch 103 Auto, without Hydractive . . .
RP no. 6801 = build date of 23 June 1995

Front wheel spheres:
400/55/1.5
Cit pt.no. 95 666 857, or E587004

Rear wheel spheres:
400/30/1.2
5272 34, or E587005

Accumulator sphere
400/62/--
95 666 763, or E587001

SC/MAC ('anti-sink') sphere, if fitted:
400/50/-- (special pipe thread)
5393 03, or E587010

In each case, figures are
capacity cc / pressure bar / damping aperture mm
-- = no damping

Hope helpful.

[zs&tas]

Super helpful thanks ! Appreciate the help. So will part 95666 858 fit ok , and be softer ?

[white exec]

Both these spheres (...858 and ...857) are listed by Citroen as fitted to Xantia only.

Front suspension sphere 95 666 858 (400/70/**) was fitted to Xantia (diesel and petrol, non-Hydractive), up to RP 6778.
From RP 6779 (1 June 1995, three weeks before your car) it was changed to 95 666 857 (400/55/**) for these models.

It may be that some other change occurred to Xantia suspension at the same time (? front strut), but parts show no obvious changes.

So does look as if the ride was 'firmed up' from that date, by moving to 55 bar sphere pressure.
The 70 bar sphere will give a softer ride.
Both spheres are shown as still available from Citroen.

** Damping aperture
Citroen Car Data shows damping aperture at the front of a non-Hydractive Xantia saloon as 1.5mm, but does so for only now obsolete (and unlisted) sphere part numbers.
Citroen parts does not list damping aperture for spheres, but shows only Capacity/Pressure, and the correct current part number.
I am assuming that the 1.5mm damping didn't change for the current part numbers (...858 and ...857).

If you have access to sphere re-gassing, you could always plump for whichever you prefer, and make the alteration later, if you wished to compare. In general, we advise sticking to standard pressures and specs, for safety reasons, but you do seem to have a choice here.

[zs&tas]

Hi , quick update , I received my stock bilstein spheres today and fitted them. The Citroen now has suspension again , feels pretty good up the road and back , more driving will tell. They certainly don't feel too firm which is good , and are pretty well balanced with the back when you crank it over in a corner. Prob the easiest spring change I'll ever do lol. The old spheres were date stamped 2010. And didn't have too many miles on them , prob 40 thou ? .

[white exec]

Sounding good! Did you go for the 70bar fronts in the end?

Sphere life for the classic spherical type (green or grey) is up to 5 years as a rule, but can be longer. Accumulator and anti-sink (if fitted) can go on for much longer. It's time that does for spheres in the end, rather than mileage, as the nitrogen eventually permeates through the 'rubber' diaphragm, and disappears into the LHM.

As gas pressure reduces, the suspension gets very gradually firmer, until very little springing is left. At around 10-15 bar, the ride is extremely firm and bouncy, and below that there is the likelihood of the diaphragm rupturing, as it is forced against the metalwork inside the crown of the sphere. With little or no gas pressure left (a 'flat' sphere), the only springing left at the heavy front of the car is the rubber of the strut-tops, and a severe bump can cause these to shear. At the first sign of bouncy or bumpy ride, it's time to investigate.

The photo above is of an Accumulator sphere. Corner (wheel) spheres have an additional damping valve fitted into the threaded neck of the sphere, and this damps the movement of fluid into and out of the unit.

For these classic spheres, it is good practice to have their gas pressures checked every three years, to make sure they haven't fallen to an unacceptable level. Almost no main dealers now do this, but some independent Citroen specialists have the kit to do it (the spheres are first taken off the car), and can also offer a re-gassing service, where the sphere is topped up (to the correct figure) with additional nitrogen. Re-gassing is not expensive, and may be worth while if you have bought expensive (genuine Citroen) spheres. DIY re-gassing kit is available (for about €150) if you want to check pressures and re-gas yourself.

Glad you got the ride back!

[zs&tas]

Went with stock 55s . Rides beautifully now , just floated down the A1 last two days if I did all for I may have gone with 70s but balance is important with me so I left it stock.

[white exec]

Floaty it should be! Great job, well done seeing it through

[zs&tas]

Hi, didn't have time earlier but I meant to say thanks for the write up above , I love it , find it very interesting. I have met a few special people in my life , and basically learned the benefits of Citroen suspension. When there's a guy , ex F1 designer, car engineer, racer. And he drove an old xm manual tranny with pedal extension welded in for heel and toe fun . I had to try it. The c5 was first, I find the xantia smaller, lighter, comfier, more fun, more grippy than the c5. The only downside is smaller wheels but the little 8v 1.8 would struggle with anything else. The xantia is such a sleeper , I have had no car keep up in a corner yet.
I bought it cheap low millage, it's flown through two mots and I have doubled the millage . Hands down best purchase ever
Instagram firebird173v6.

[white exec]

If you like readable technical detail about Citroen suspension, try this (if you haven't already seen it) . . .
http://citroen.tramontana.co.hu/en/the- ... ical-guide
Best to download and print.

With superb diagrams, it's co-written by a member of our sister (UK-based) Club-xm.co.uk, Gabor, who is based in Budapest, Hungary. Their own site also majors on BX development and systems.

[zs&tas]

Thanks.