rear height level

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shaunthesheep
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rear height level

Post by shaunthesheep »

it's me again <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
as you all know i've replaced my rear trailing arm bearings now, and now want to check that the rear is at the correct ride height, as i don't seem to have an intermitent height setting.
the rear height correcter was replaced in easter this year, the garage told me that he did'nt both setting it set, as it looked ok to him.
checked haynes for how to check ride height, but it states that it nneds to be raised up on a four post lift, which i don't have, what i do have is the use of a under car pit, can i check the ride height using the pit?, or does it have to be done on a four post lift.
dom
Niek
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Post by Niek »

Hi Dom,
As far as I know (not too familiar with Xantia's but with Xm and Bx) you leave the car on the ground and measure from the bottom of the car to the ground. If you need to adjust it, there is a clamp on the stabilizing (???) rod that connects the two wheels with each other and the car (wow this is getting fuzzy). If you were to rotate this clamp, it will (through a series of rods) pull or push on the height corrector and raise or lower the car (or the other way around).
Be careful though because it is very sensitive...
Niek.
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Post by RichardW »

Niek,
Fuzzy, but right!
Dom, what you can do is check that the front is right (should be 70mm between the tyre and the bottom of the wheel arch - at least it is on a BX, and I'm pretty sure the Xantia is the same). Then check that with the car on level ground the bottom of the sill is paralell to the ground. Non presence of intermediate height might mean the manual height adjuster needs adjusting.
Richard
Niek
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Post by Niek »

My memory suddenly returned to me, the stabilizing bar I mentioned is of course an anti-roll bar...
Niek
shaunthesheep
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Post by shaunthesheep »

ok chap,
i did have an intermittent height before the rear height correcter was replaced.
if the manual height adjuster needs adjusting, how do i do it?
this 70mm measuare i take it it's to the bottom of the bodywork on the arch?.
what should the correct height be on the back?
dom
Edited by - shaunthesheep on 20 Sep 2002 19:27:41
alan s
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Post by alan s »

Dom,
From memory, the height on a BX is 160mm from the bottom of the crossmember to the floor and I think it's the same at the back but measured at the bottom of the pivoting point on the swing arm. So a measurement on the front of the Xantia should give you some idea on what it should be.
In any case, the part I think you will have to adjust is the clamps on the steel rod that runs front to back rather than the adjustments that fit to the sway bar. If these have been moved by the garage, you should fairly clearly see the old marks were they originally were located & if you reset at that point, I think you'll probably find it will be close enough.
Speaking from the point of view of a BX, it's not real hard to tell when the height is wrong based on its ride & handling qualities and I'd imagine the same applies to your Xantia also.
If as has been stated, the dimension is checked between guard arch & tyre, a measure between the front crossmember & the ground and a part (pivoting point on rear arm?) or alternatively the underside of the rocker panel could be the starting points for comparable measurements. It will be a job that can only be done over a pit or on a 4 poster and under NO circumstances on the ground with you under it.
Alan S
shaunthesheep
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Post by shaunthesheep »

alan,
just got under the car VIA A PIT, looks like the rear height correcter was sitting in the wrong place, adjusted it by loosing off the clamp & pushing v.hard to move the clamp round towards the bottom of the car body. checked the rear height in normal, from centre of rear hub to bottom of wheel arch body trim = 13 1/4 inchs, does this sound about right, or would i be better of taking it back to the garage saying, "if you would have set it up in the first place, then i wouldn't be having all this trouble".
dom
Fox
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Post by Fox »

When I had my rear height corrector replaced I had to get the ride height adjusted.
Took it to an independant Citroen specialist who charged me 25 quid.
1994 Citroen Xantia SX 1.9 Turbo Diesel
147,500 miles
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