LHM leak

[rd27]

Hello folks
My BX has had quite a serious LHM leak for a coupke of weeks now but i've been regularly topping up as I need her for the bad weather, my other car is rear wheel drive so we'll say no more.
However, now the worst of the weather has passed I need to get it sorted, i'm not exactly sure where the leak is coming from but as the car is lowered into service low, a large volume of LHM leaks underneath, likewise small amounts leak when parked with the car left in the normal position. I would presume it's a strut return pipe but I can't see exactly where the leak is coming from as it just drips off of the back of the front subframe closer to the drivers side. I did read on here it could be a leaky height corrector or a strut return pipe popped off due to excess pressure from worn, creeky struts.
I'd just like some guidance on where the strut returns run or will I have to drop the subframe?

[Dollywobbler]

Strut returns are entirely on the strut. Simply jack the car up, whip a wheel off for better access and have a look. They usually split. One pipe doesn't cause much of a leak, the other pipe will spray it all over the inside of the wheel. In fact - that's an easy check. Put the car on full lock and see if the inside of each tyre is sticky!

[rd27]

It can't be that then, the leak comes from underneath the car and drips off the subframe. Where do the strut return feed into?

[mds141]

Could it be worth checking the pipe unions are all nipped up tight?

[MULLEY]

I'd hazard a guess that its the octopus pipe that connects upto the front height corrector. Its a fairly sharp bend on the rubber pipe & as the years go by it splits. See if you can spot the split & carefully cut it back past the split, & try & re-fit. Warning though, once it's split once, its probably going to do it again. I think a few members on here have done a repair by using some more pipe & attaching it to the octopus on that pipe which appears to last quite a while. I'd budget for getting the octopus done & if you really want to keep your car for quite a while, you may as well get the other one replaced at the same time as it will save money in the long run. I got my local indie to do both for 4hrs labour, i supplied both octopi.

If it's not that, please ignore the above

Strut return pipes don't really pee out that much lhm, hence why my initial thoughts are as above.

[Way2go]

It is most likely the octopus itself has perished rather than the pipe you mention. It lives just above the subframe so be prepared for a dirty and lengthy repair. If you do it yourself the octopus used to be available from GSF circa £29 + VAT. (You can get a 10% discount at GSF for showing the BXC card that you can print off this website)

A garage will charge you 3 hours labour on top of whatever they charge the part at.

[rd27]

Thanks for the reply guys, Mulley what local garage do you use and would you recommend them? I don't live a million miles from you so wouldn't mind travelling if they're good and reasonably priced.

[citronut]

there are two rubber pipes going to the front height corrector, one is a small bore short branch from the octapussy,
the other is a bit larger in diameter which is the main front suspension return to the tank, this is the one that has split,

i usually cut the split section off back to the H/C and patch a short length of metal/copper pipe in then reconnect to the H/C with a short length of rubber,
it is very tight for space but doable

regards malcolm

[Defender110]

I'd hazard a guess that its the octopus pipe that connects upto the front height corrector. Its a fairly sharp bend on the rubber pipe & as the years go by it splits. See if you can spot the split & carefully cut it back past the split, & try & re-fit. Warning though, once it's split once, its probably going to do it again. I think a few members on here have done a repair by using some more pipe & attaching it to the octopus on that pipe which appears to last quite a while. I'd budget for getting the octopus done & if you really want to keep your car for quite a while, you may as well get the other one replaced at the same time as it will save money in the long run. I got my local indie to do both for 4hrs labour, i supplied both octopi.

If it's not that, please ignore the above

Strut return pipes don't really pee out that much lhm, hence why my initial thoughts are as above.

/\ As this, I would jack your car right up and prop on axle stands before going underneath with a rag and can of brake cleaner. The leak should soon show itself when running and may be a very simple fix. If you need to resplice an existing rubber return I usually tighten a very small cable tie round the newly repaired pipe to help prevent it re-splitting.

[nige]

on mine it was the coiled pipe rubbing for the last 20 odd years on the subframe, finally wore through. Replaced the coil pipe and this time wrapped it fuel hose to stop any chafing

[MULLEY]

rd27, i use Frontlines in Chesterfield, they are an indie who seem pretty knowledgeable on hydraulics. They look after all french cars & the owner Pete is a friendly knowlegeable chap I can't remember his number, but if you google them you should find the website and contact details. Mention that they did my octopus on my bx (i think it was last year or the year before?), check my blog.

Or the much cheaper option is to do what citronut proposes, you'll have to find someone who knows how to do that though, otherwise the repair might not hold & you'll be back to square one again.

[citronut]

im 99.9.5% certain this leak is the main front suspension return from the H/C, as it leaks a lot as the suspension is settling/sinking,

this is not part of the octappussy as usually slit octappussy pipes dont bleed to that extent

regards malcolm

[rd27]

Thanks Malcolm, I'm going to have a good look for the source of the leak on my next days off armed with this new info. I'll keep you guys posted on what I find.