Front struts.

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:14 am

Are they rebuildable? can you still get new ones?

Basically i feel the ones on the St Tropez are acceptable right now but do have an annoying amount of 'stick-tion'

in my old days of BX'ing i used to just go to the local scrap yards and buy the struts that appeared new or newest, this worked fine then but we all know that BX's have dissapeared from scrappies.

Any suggestions please?

scarecrow · Post by **scarecrow** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:18 am

I had a similar problem, though mine wasn't so much jerky as creaky.

I found that doing the 'aerobics' trick a few times has cured the noise - for now!

citronut · Post by **citronut** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:33 am

here are the two kits for overhaul parts required

Part Number Description Quantity Price excl. VAT Price incl. VAT Total incl. VAT Selection
95597221 CYLINDER KIT 4.48 GBP 5.26 GBP 5.26 GBP

95650941 CYLINDER KIT 25.83 GBP 30.35 GBP 30.35 GBP

looks like both kits might be required for one strut, if they are still avalible

regards malcolm

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 3:48 pm

I think I'll need to investigate this as the left-front strut keeps blowing the return off. Must get it sorted as it's a bit damp in that area! Though thankfully she can't be loosing much...

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 4:39 pm

In the meantime, can't you either zip tie them onto the pipe where it keeps blowing off or using one of those metal clip thingies (sorry brain has gone to mush & can't remember what they are called, doh). Thats what i did & seemed to work, gave me enough time to sort out a 2nd hand strut & not having to worry about them blowing off whilst i was stll using the car.

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 5:20 pm

Yeah, I should probably be out there now but instead I'm feeling ill and lying on the sofa. Besides, the ground is soaking wet as we had more snow overnight. Oh for a workshop! (well, I could move the 2CV and then get the Renault 21 out of the garage but that's even more effort!)

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 5:22 pm

Oh dear, hope you start feeling better soon. Yeah, car maintenance alway's takes a back seat when i get poorly, so know where your'e coming from....

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 12:47 am

MULLEY wrote:In the meantime, can't you either zip tie them onto the pipe where it keeps blowing off or using one of those metal clip thingies (sorry brain has gone to mush & can't remember what they are called, doh). Thats what i did & seemed to work, gave me enough time to sort out a 2nd hand strut & not having to worry about them blowing off whilst i was stll using the car.

Risky, you might blow the Octopus apart as they're designed to cope with leak-off not heavy flow!

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 12:31 pm

In that case, I'll live with a slight leak!

Just spoken to Pleiades and they're selling recon struts for £120+VAT or about £190 fitted. Seems enormous compared to the purchase price of the car but I guess these things do cost money to keep going. And she does get some hammer...

sdelasal · Post by **sdelasal** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 12:37 pm

Do Pleiades sell the seal/Recon kits I hear about or are they really unobtainable. Any sources in France or Germany? Steve

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 12:56 pm

120 plus vat seems reasonable for re-con ones TBH to my mind anyway. Considering what price new ones were going back a few years.

Personally im gonna try and find a couple of reasonable used ones and then re-build them myself. (assuming i can get the kits mentioned)

Its not a problem driving it at all, they are nowhere near as bad as the ones on my old silver 16v. they were bad.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 1:19 pm

Didn't realise that could happen way2go

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 1:36 pm

Dollywobbler wrote:Seems tiny compared to the depreciation on a brand new car, that you probably won't enjoy as much

Edited for accuracy.

I guess the various seals must be available, if Pleiades are reconditioning struts. Wonder if they'd sell the kits separately?

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 2:01 pm

Ha! Thanks Mat. Was a statement of fact. I'm quite happy hurling money at the BX as it's a great motor. Found some rot under the washer bottle yesterday though, reminding me that bodywork is likely to be the next big expense...

EDIT - Actually, how big a job is strut replacement? Could I reasonably expect to do it myself with my feeble toolkit?

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 2:17 pm

yes Ian,

you could manage it no bother mate.

Mine is rusty under the washer bottle too, when ive finished fettling the Acadiane for its MOT then i may pull the front wings off the St Tropez and do the welding it needs and the inner wings bits again but properly