Front Spheres

sleepy0905 · Post by **sleepy0905** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 2:25 pm

Hi has anyone got a good pair of front spheres for sale as i need a set but i cannot afford a new set after i have just paid out £45 for the rear set

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 5:16 pm

Quite possibly Sleepy I will have. What model are they for, hatchback or estate and petrol or diesel as I believe they`ve some variance between them?
I`m hoping Vanny is going to knock me up a sphere removal tool fairly soon as I need to replace my TZD ones as a matter of urgency!

sleepy0905 · Post by **sleepy0905** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 5:33 pm

they are for my 1.9 diesel hatchback.

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 11:07 pm

PM sent.

ellevie · Post by **ellevie** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 8:13 pm

Hi Cavmad. Re your need for a sphere removal tool, Halfords do an oil filter chain wrench for about £3. I bought one the other day and it just about fits around the front sphere, though I havn't used it to remove one yet. They also do a more expensive one for about £12 which is a metal strap with rubber padding. Hope this helps.

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 9:37 pm

Cheers Ellevie, just what I was wondering as I`d very recently thought about an oil filter removal tool.
I might get one and practise on one of the spares cars, or better still on the TZD as the spheres are u/s anyway. Having said that Euro Parts brochure says they sell spheres `from £13` (plus VAT I assume) so maybe new/recon ones are the answer.
Thing is do they come gassed up and just require fitting and a nice circulation of LHM once they`ve been put on?

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 9:43 pm

Oil filter wrenches usually break when used to remove spheres. Citroen show a picture of a double row chain wrench (heavy duty job) in their workshop manual and there are some specialist tools sold. (As well as a number of home made specials)

jeremy

Mike E (uk) · Post by **Mike E (uk)** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 9:54 pm

Pliades do a very solid tool, which has not failed yet on rear BX, XM and Xantia spheres. Costs about £20

4 of us bought equal shares on the tool, it is used regularly and well worth buying.

Mike

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:48 pm

Thanks gents. Mike, where can i find Pilades and do they have a website? Cheers,

ellevie · Post by **ellevie** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 11:07 pm

http://www.pleiades.uk.com/products_2.html

sleepy0905 · Post by **sleepy0905** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 12:29 am

I smashed three oil wrenches 2 of which were the halfords ones i now use an industrial strap wrench from potland tools in lincoln and it has never failed to remove a sphere yet even really seized ones in a scrappers.

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 2:55 am

sleepy0905 wrote:I smashed three oil wrenches 2 of which were the halfords ones i now use an industrial strap wrench from potland tools in lincoln and it has never failed to remove a sphere yet even really seized ones in a scrappers.

I took my broken socket chain wrench to Halfords and said to the Assistant, I want something stronger than this! He offered something very similar and assured me it wouldn't break. It did! Money was given back but still in middle of job with no solution at Halfords.
Went to proper tool shop & bought heavy duty socket strap wrench. Magic purchase as spheres turned well! One was extra tight but with a few hammer taps with strap tension applied it freed a treat.

ellevie · Post by **ellevie** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:59 am

Pleiades no longer do the chain wrench version. The band wrench has a 12" handle and costs £35 plus vat and around £6.50 p&p or about ££48.76 in total.

I wonder of two of the Halford cheap wrenches in parallel would do the job ?

Stewart (oily!) · Post by **Stewart (oily!)** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:03 am

Machine mart do a chain wrench for under a tenner that looks very like my french "le Halfords" one, I defy anyone to snap it.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=040210037
Cheap too.
Stewart

ellevie · Post by **ellevie** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:53 am

Yes, that definitely looks like a more solid job, and cheap too ! I must pop in next time I'm down there and have a look.