My TGD Auto has been suffering from the sticking front strut syndrome with jerky suspension rises. I tried the method of cleaning and lubing the rod under the gaiter with no joy. I then read on the BX DIY site about removing the rubber overflow pipes and sticking them in a container of LHM whilst in the low position before raising the suspension to suck up some LHM to lube the internal bottom seal.
I figured that pumping was as good as sucking so I tipped some LHM into a pump oil can, flicked the pipes off from the inner wing and pumped LHM into one of them until it overflowed out of the other. Replaced the pipes and did the other side but just removed one pipe from the wing this time pumping a few squirts in there before replacing that pipe.
RESULT! transformed suspension / ride.
Apparently lubing the struts in this way became part of the Citroen 6 month service schedule on BX's??
alternate sticking fromy strut cure
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alternate sticking fromy strut cure
Kevan
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- Philip Chidlow
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I put a hand vacuum pump on one of the leak off pipes and pulled a vacuum - the other pipe was connected to a container full of lhm - vacuum pulls it thu the strut. Same end result - strut flushed with lhm. I suppose its can be taken as a 'good sign' that the strut internal seals are not leaking by sufficiently to lubricate the bore. Steve
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Kevan, did much brown crud come out?
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1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired.
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
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1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
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I'm not just a username, i'm also called Matthew.
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - My daily
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired.
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN
I'm not just a username, i'm also called Matthew.
A couple of years ago, there was a discussion on the Finnish Citroën forum about possible solutions to the design error of the front struts: the overflow/breather hole is so far from the bottom that the resulting dead-end will eventually collect water/crud and corrode the parts causing stickiness.
Two solutions were suggested: either drilling a hole at the bottom of the strut for removing water (which is somewhat difficult due to the structure of the strut) or using a vacuum pump to suck the stuff out through the overflow/breather hole.
I have not tried either of these - it's not such a big job to take the struts out every 100 000 km and replace them with overhauled ones.
The most important thing is to regularly check the rubber pipes, since driving with a broken one will quickly fill the bottom of the strut with unwanted stuff.
Two solutions were suggested: either drilling a hole at the bottom of the strut for removing water (which is somewhat difficult due to the structure of the strut) or using a vacuum pump to suck the stuff out through the overflow/breather hole.
I have not tried either of these - it's not such a big job to take the struts out every 100 000 km and replace them with overhauled ones.
The most important thing is to regularly check the rubber pipes, since driving with a broken one will quickly fill the bottom of the strut with unwanted stuff.
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I don'tunderstand how this can work unless your scraper seal is U/S as surely the first time the strut lowers it is scraped off!Roverman wrote:Ive done this and it did work well, the TZI still groaned and grumbled though, I coated exposed part of the struts in copper slip and its MUCH better!
Mathew, no brown stuff mate
Steve, like you said must be a sign the struts aren't leaking.
Kevan
1997 Mercedes C230 W202
2003 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5 - Daily driver / hobby days and camping.
1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
2020 Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross Twin Air.
1997 Mercedes C230 W202
2003 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5 - Daily driver / hobby days and camping.
1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
2020 Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross Twin Air.