helping out

stuart_hedges · Post by **stuart_hedges** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:53 pm

I have a vague recollection of it being pointed out in road-tests of the time even, this unwillingness to cope with low-speed city bumps. I certainly notice it in mine, and more than one hydraulic Citroen owner has expressed it to me in the fact that the faster you go, the better they ride (except mine, which has a shocking wheel wobble at the moment, but we'll gloss over that for the moment).

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:18 pm

Interesting discussion. Being the sort of amateur who'd rather earn money doing what I can do properly and pay a respected specialist to help keep my BX on the road -

- I'm taking my GTi into Dennis at Citroen Softride tomorrow.

I'll be leaving him with a few bits and bobs, including new struts, discs, pads, front flexis and so on. The main part of the mission is this: to cure it's ride issues - particularly back-end, bump steer and poor 'pothole performance'. It'll have both rear arm bearings done. The GTi spheres will be checked for condition and possibly recharged as appropriate, but I'm tempted to go for new non-GTi spheres (softer). There'll be a new accumulator sphere fitted. (It's had a recent LHM flush and change and there are no leaks or noises from the pump etc.). The tyres are new-ish Michelin Energy and they seem a good choice*. Along with the shiny new Citroen struts and a thorough check and overhaul of the linkages front and rear should all go towards hopefully, getting the car being as good a ride as possible given that it isn't being completely disassembled and rebuilt!

With a nice oil change (synthetic, as since new) and new plugs, the car should be well placed to do another few years yet...

*I am having my four best graphite Speedlines professionally refurbished and a nice part-worn set of 195 Pirelli P6000's or equivalent fitted... Not entirely for ride reasons; it's largely vanity!

I shall report back on findings, and results... and cost (:shock:

)

maxgreenwood · Post by **maxgreenwood** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:35 pm

i think part of it might be the rest of the suspension's response is smooth and floaty, so you notice that high frequency stuff more than in a normal car where you get used to being shaken around constantly. Thats my theory anyway, i regularly drive my partner's golf IV which when i had my ZX i thought was a very smooth car, now i think its just as bumpy as any other modern car. It is quiet inside though.

maxgreenwood · Post by **maxgreenwood** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:08 pm

I'm tempted to go for new non-GTi spheres (softer)

Phil - i've got normal estate spheres on mine, and i'm now curious to know what it would be like with GTi/TD spec ones - the front of mine bottoms out easily over speed bumps sometimes, so i reckon the others wouldn't do that as easily, and they probably wouldn't change the 'high-frequency' response of the system that much?
i suppose if you like driving it fast its worth having the firmer ones, but if i'm right in thinking yours is an auto i think? - then you're probably into cruising style driving so softer ones may suit. I like them.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:31 pm

You're right, it's an auto. And because it's getting on not only in years but sheer miles, I don't think driving it furiously around is the best way to treat the old girl.

Having said that, the GTi spheres are firm and well-suited to the 'performance' aspect of even the auto GTi (which in reality is certainly no slouch) so if they are in tip top order, then I might keep them and see how the other changes have affected (improved !?) the ride before I throw the baby out with the bath water.

The 16v I sold a year or so ago had brand new Citroen 16v spheres fitted by Dennis, and along with some tweaking of the ride height resulted in a very respectable sports feel without compromising the ride. It rode surprisingly smoothly in fact.

Let's see how this all pans out over the coming days...

maxgreenwood · Post by **maxgreenwood** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:37 pm

good idea, see how the work on it changes the feel first. The Gti auto would be in my top five most desirable BXs. Along with Toddao's yellow one!

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:39 pm

Looks like new spheres needed on the rear, so I've decided to stick with GTi spheres for the time being, and as I said above, I'll wait to see how the other changes alter the ride. Had a good look underneath, and the pipework's in tip top condition - in fact the rear suspension cylinders look extremely good too considering the age/mileage.

B-Hive · Post by **B-Hive** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:20 am

I have to say that maybe the holy grail of ride is unattainable. My Mk can be just beautifully compliant MOST of the time. or indeed some of the time, other times on what has been described here, the ride is quite harsh and lumpy (there..I have said it!!!) short sharp corrugations are not the BX's best friend. Struts, design, what ever..but I do remember the CX in London seeming to crash into potholes..maybe she was in need of suspension tuning too..who knows...

i guess thats the love hate thing with the BX especially. promising the undeliverable...(all encompassing suspension superiority)

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:49 am

After all the work, the verdict is favourable. Money well spent: The car feels a lot more sure-footed, the ride is more comfortable, less crashy, but surprisingly maybe the car also rolls less under fast cornering. Luckily it doesn't want to step out of line alarmingly mid-corner if it hits a road surface imperfection.

Also taking into account other work done, I think it's pretty much as close it's going to get to being BX-standard

Only criticism would be that the front spheres are a little hard, but we decided to see how the rest of the car was before replacing those, which we'll do in a month or two's time.

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:06 pm

Philip Chidlow wrote: Only criticism would be that the front spheres are a little hard, but we decided to see how the rest of the car was before replacing those, which we'll do in a month or two's time.

A little puzzled by that remark, is that a cash-flow decision or for some other reason?

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:17 pm

Well, partly. It was to do with getting the things I knew were wrong first, see how it changed things. The spheres (not genuine Citroen) aren't that old, so it seemed a good idea to work incrementally and judge each bit of work. It rides so much better now, but I think now, replacing the spheres will top it off - literally

And now I've run out of money to do it until next month

ellevie · Post by **ellevie** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:56 pm

Thanks for the feedback Phil.

When I was attempting to restore my BXs by replacing various parts I would typically drive the car around the block after replacing something hoping that I wouldn't be able to "feel" the road. I was looking for that elusive spongy feel at low speeds at not much more than 10 mph.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 7:07 pm

I dont think the bx is heavy enough, thats why the cx always feels so much nicer.

ellevie · Post by **ellevie** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:31 pm

The weight is undoubtedly a significant factor but there is no reason why sufficient engineering and money could not overcome the disadvantage of the reduced inertia of the BX. Some of the luxury BMW motorcycles have very smooth suspension and they are certainly much lighter than a BX.

In any case I'm sure my 19TRS was much smoother when I first had her in 1992 and I also test drove a much smoother example a few years ago.

jonathan_dyane · Post by **jonathan_dyane** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:25 pm

I could be wrong, but my gut feeling is that the 'crashiness' of the BX suspension is due to a combination of the cars light weight and the macpherson strut suspension set up; the GS/A are only a tad heavier and ride *beautifully* with their proper wishbone suspension set up whereas the considerably heavier Xantia also with struts manages a better ride than the BX with a good bit of float (not as good as the G however, although I must confess to having never driven a Hydractive car).

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