Best place in and around M25 to have spheres changed

[9000se]

Hi All,

Having had the Activa for a while, I can't help but feel that the spheres are likely to need changing, not least because the ride seems much harsher than the CX and it sinks when parked.

I have called around a few placed, but since it needs 10 spheres (might as well get all of them done at the same time), could anyone recommend good places (cheapish labour...)?

I am also going to get the cambelt replaced at the same time too.

Many Thanks.

[white exec]

Not far from home...

SGG (previously Shalford Green Garage, in Shalford)
Citroen specialist for decades, going back to DS, H-Van, 2CV.
https://www.sgg-dunsfold.co.uk
Ask for Tom.

Off A281 Horsham-Guildford road, on the Dunsfold Aerodrome site, a stone's throw from the Top Gear track.
All the usual jobs, including sphere re-gassing, and can make up hydraulic pipework from scratch.

[9000se]

Great stuff, thanks Chris. That is a lot closer than the places in Hertfordshire! Will give them a call tomorrow.

[JohnD]

Here's another one for you::: http://www.witmun.co.uk/
Way back in 1990 when I bought my first Citroen - a BX TZD Estate, after a few years I got them to regas the spheres. They fitted valves to them. Thereafter I had them regassed every two years. The cost - "Put something in the tea fund"

[9000se]

That's great, thanks John!

[9000se]

Have given them both a call, both great. Witmun is very close to me so that's great!

Another question, I am planning to buy spheres myself from SphereShop, which I think is where most people source their spheres.

I would like a softer ride so am thinking about the 70 bar sphere instead of the 45 bar sphere for the front (rear are all 30 bar?) I think all spheres are direct fit (?) and has anyone experimented with this, and how would the cornering be affected considering all other spheres and hydraulic rams are still in place?

[white exec]

If choosing a different sphere for a corner (wheel), don't forget that the spheres' damping aperture - the last figure of the three* - needs to be the same, or damping will be affected too.
Activa experts will advise.
*eg 400/50/0.7
Not all sphere stockists seem to list this full information.

An alternative approach could be to stick with classic shape spheres there, and have them fitted with Valprex valves, so you can then have them gassed/regassed to pressure of choice, standard or otherwise.

[9000se]

Thanks Chris, indeed no numbers on the website.

What I am thinking is:

Front:
From: https://www.sphere-shop.co.uk/xa-45-fk- ... -182-p.asp
To: https://www.sphere-shop.co.uk/xa-va-com ... -349-p.asp

Back:
From: https://www.sphere-shop.co.uk/xa-30-ry- ... -161-p.asp
To: https://www.sphere-shop.co.uk/xa-ha-com ... -350-p.asp

Would it affect the hydractive system and the activa anti roll bar system...Many Thanks!

[xantia_v6]

I would advise against fitting a hydractive Xantia or XM with spheres that are different from the original specification. I would especially say that it is unwise to fit corner spheres with higher pressures or softer damping, as the control parameters in the ECU are programmed to operate with the original sphere specification.

I know that there are "professionals" who will tell you that fitting non-hydractive or "comfort" spheres is a good idea, but they are talking out of their a*****oles.

If you do not like the way an Activa rides, then it probably needs repairing to original specification.

[white exec]

I will go along with all that, and certainly in relation to XM.
Mike is an Activa expert, and I'm not, hence my caution.

No pressure or damping figures are given for those IFHS 'Comfort' spheres, so we don't know what their spec is.


As time went on, original Hydractive (Hydractive > Hydractive II > Hydractive 3 & 3+, and Activa) became increasingly finely tuned, with ECU and hydraulics carefully programmed to work together, and to permit the car to be driven both gently and to extremes - and it could well become quite unpredictable to alter the intended balance, to the point of compromising safety. This is particularly so in respect of damping.

I think the first step should be to get all spheres replaced with known good standard (new) ones. If this turns out not to cut the mustard, and there are no other faults, then just maybe a tweak could be looked at - maybe.

In the case of XM, so-called Comfort spheres (which are, in fact, only spheres borrowed from older, long-travel hydraulic Citroens) been tried, and results have always been reported as significantly compromising the car's handling. For that reason, we'd always advise against it, both here and on the Club-XM forum. Xantia fluid suspension is not significantly different, but in the case of Activa, at one level more demanding.

[Stickyfinger]

With what I know, everybody who has any experience does not change ACTIVA sphere types/pressures, except the conversions to Grey flat ones (longer life/needs an adapter) from C5's but always with the same numbers. The car is way too well set-up for that to be needed.

[9000se]

Thanks all, very comprehensive and grateful appreciated. Whilst wasn't certain earlier on, the observation regarding the ECU tuning makes complete sense.

Considering that I'm pretty sure the anti-sink sphere needs changing, I'd imagine the other ones are also quite old (my research shown it might probably have been last change in 2010 according to a former owner on a Pistonheads post), which suggests the spheres are really old and with new ones, I am hoping for a smoother ride (it's not horrible per se, just not as nice as the CX...but then it doesn't wallow either...).

[white exec]

If spheres are old, new ones will improve the ride. Expected life is 3years+. Anti-sink and Accumulator spheres might do much, much more.
If you get new ones fitted, after 3 years-ish, and before ride starts to deteriorate, consider getting Valprex valves fitted to them all (SGG can do this, and some others too). This will allow them to have their pressures checked, and topped up with nitrogen. If you do this before the gas pressure has dropped below 10-15bar, spheres can be kept going for years - it's complete loss of pressure that usually and finally ruptures them, as the membrane hits the sphere top. In the long run, it'll save money, and will ensure the ride is as good as it can be.

SGG introduced me to regassing, when they were in Shalford Green, and did the job more than once on our BX19RD. I now have my own re-gas kit here (about €150) for the eight spheres on the XM.

[DHallworth]

I travelled from Glasgow to BL Auto's in Welwyn Garden City to have work done on my Activa and would make the trip again in a heart beat. What they don't know about Activa's isn't worth knowing

One of the only garages I've ever heard of that properly under the workings of an Activa.

David.

[9000se]

Thanks Chris and David for the contribution / recommendation, I will take that into consideration but for now I will stick with the factory fitted ones. SphereShop did come back and say the comfort spheres would fit, but for the purpose of safetly, I will stick with original spec!