My first Activa

[CitroJim]

Skull, I'd not even trust a brand-new dual mass pulley...

Any solid pulley from a petrol XU engine will do fine...

[Skull]

Skull, I'd not even trust a brand-new dual mass pulley...

How do they do them at the factory then

[CitroJim]

Skull, I'd not even trust a brand-new dual mass pulley...

How do they do them at the factory then

Guesswork

[Skull]

Well I think the belt was out maybe a tooth but it's all changed and back together and she's headed off for her MOT ....

I'm expecting advisories at a minimum for the exhaust and possible brakes as they feel a bit wooden to me ... emissions

MOT DAY ....

Everything is crossed and it will just be nice to know exactly what needs doing .....wish me luck

[Skull]

Repair immediately (major defects):
Offside Rear Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))
Service brake effort inadequate at a wheel o/s & n/s rear (1.2.1 (a) (i))
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))
Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Tester wasn't available to ask percentages on brakes so it looks like a strip / clean and a bleed of the rears minimum.
Offside rear - probably earth clean up.
Windscreen washer - I think the elbow near the bonnet hinge popped off when the tester opened bonnet was working yesterday.

Fairly pleased after SIX YEARS off the road

[white exec]

photo via Google Picasa

[xantia_v6]

If there is nothing obviously wrong with the rear brakes, I would suggest that perhaps pads with the wrong friction material have been fitted.. Get a set of OE Citroen pads, or Ferodo, or Mintex or Bosch, as these have the correct soft linings required to get a Xantia through an MOT.

[Skull]

xantia_v6

Cheers for the tip I can't remember what was fitted when I stripped them, I did get plenty of air out of the rears when I bled them, and I also loaded the boot up and went for a heavy brake drive they both got hot so they're working so you might be right .....

[Hell Razor5543]

Failing that, make sure there is a couple of hundredweight in the boot (when you take her for the retest), to open up the valve further and allow greater pressure to the rear brakes.

[Skull]

Hell Razor5543 Cheers

Yes I've heard conflicting stories about weighting the rear to alter the brakes rear-bias for the MOT test ...could be interesting to see

[xantia_v6]

It definitely does not work with a Xantia, as the test limit is proportional to axle weight, and so is the pressure to the rear callipers. I tried it with a Xantia which was a few percent short of efficiency (and had already cleaned up the callipers and de-glazed the disks). With 250kg of concrete in the boot, the MOT test result was exactly the same as with an empty car. A new set of pads fixed it.

[Hell Razor5543]

I know it worked for me on one occasion, but the pads were also fairly new and decent (the MoT tester was fairly new, and also had not spotted that the handbrake is on the FRONT wheels!).

[Skull]

Activa_V6 / Hell Razor5543

That's that rumour squashed then

On a side note other bits that need attention noted during my drive:

Driver's seat has 2 switches for adjustment but only the base tilt works and is very comfortable.
Blower motor is sporadic and surges between low and high speeds (may even be linked to braking with indicator on).
Rattle on acceleration from off side rear (possibly spare wheel carrier).
Rear suspension starts to sink within a few seconds of switching engine off (hopefully just anti-sink valve).
Rear window demister has a broken line.
Slight moisture / mist in headlights.
Exhaust is quite noisy and although not a failure I think I will try to reinforce the rear joint which does seem to bear the majority of the weight of the system.
After the first wash it's had for a long time there are a lot more scrapes and scuffs to the bodywork than was apparent when the car first arrived 7 weeks ago now ....oh how time flies....weekend more and hopefully we'll be sorted

[Skull]

If there is nothing obviously wrong with the rear brakes, I would suggest that perhaps pads with the wrong friction material have been fitted.. Get a set of OE Citroen pads, or Ferodo, or Mintex or Bosch, as these have the correct soft linings required to get a Xantia through an MOT.

Early start stripped them out again can only just see the Bendix name under the backing pad

Going to ring the tester and ask how much the were down on efficiency / re-bleed and get the abrasive wheel out on my drill can't see much else wrong so maybe you're right about the material xantia_v6 always thought Bendix were OK though

[Skull]

If there is nothing obviously wrong with the rear brakes, I would suggest that perhaps pads with the wrong friction material have been fitted.. Get a set of OE Citroen pads, or Ferodo, or Mintex or Bosch, as these have the correct soft linings required to get a Xantia through an MOT.

Stripped them out again and discovered the OSR caliper pistons truly siezed - I've been caught out as I have stripped the pads out and lubed up before bleeding, bled them which is the side that let out loads of air (possible an indicator ) so it looks like I've mistaken heat in the disc as a sign of a working caliper

What appears to have happened is my possible explanation that either it's been siezed for ages and worn the pad down to JUST allow rotation or when it was laid up someones backed the pads off I don't know which is more likely but it would seem that there is just enough pressure / friction to build up heat whilst heavy braking but still allow the wheel to rotate by hand when the rear is jacked up.

After a brief chat on the phone with the tester this morning to get some indication of the percentages of the rear brakes all I could get from him was 'working but not enough effort shown' ... 'probably needs a caliper or piston seal'

So he was right but if I'd had the percentages it might have been a good indicator

I can't get my head around is why there is 'not enough effort shown' at both rear wheels (the near side pistons I can push in with my thumbs)

I've tried freeing the pistons off with the brake disc removed, caliper remounted and pads stripped out with a wooden handle in the gap to prevent the pistons totally popping out but they aren't extending under brake pressure. Soaked them with penetrating fluid and will try again in the morning ....

So it looks like I need a working OSR caliper for a 224mm rear disc - second hand preferably and then a re-test if I'm quick enough - short winter days don't help ....