Harsh ride.

BX Tech talk
Post Reply
User avatar
Mike E (uk)
1K Away
Posts: 1115
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 9:10 am
Location: High Wycombe, Bucks
x 1

Harsh ride.

Post by Mike E (uk) »

Every little bump in the road makes the car shake.
Height is OK.
Just fitted new front spheres from AEP.

Rear pushes down OK,
but front still rather stiff.

I suspect the spheres are still the problem.

how easy should the front be to push down or could it be something else causing the problem?
la BX 16 soupapes: sachez apprecier avec moderation.



It might be clever now, but it won't be in the morning!
Kitch
Over 2k
Posts: 6417
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2005 9:36 pm
Location: Fareham, Hants
My Cars: Too many to list
x 88
Contact:

Re: Harsh ride.

Post by Kitch »

Unless the struts are shot, the spheres are really the only thing that can affect ride quality to that degree. AEP do normally do the proper 16v spheres - you didn't have regular ones fitted before by chance? The 16v ones are noticeably stiffer.
One third of a three-spoke BX columnist team for the Citroenian magazine.

CCC BX registrar: The national BX register - click to submit a car!

1983(A) 16TRS (Rouge Valleunga)
1990(H) 16Valve (Rouge Furio)
User avatar
Mike E (uk)
1K Away
Posts: 1115
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 9:10 am
Location: High Wycombe, Bucks
x 1

Re: Harsh ride.

Post by Mike E (uk) »

The struts are original 1992, and not as smooth as they used to be.
I have a known good recon pair here.

Before I replaced the spheres, the front was solid. It least it can be pushed down now, but it is not soft.
The previous spheres were the correct type.

Probably I will change the struts.
la BX 16 soupapes: sachez apprecier avec moderation.



It might be clever now, but it won't be in the morning!
Kitch
Over 2k
Posts: 6417
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2005 9:36 pm
Location: Fareham, Hants
My Cars: Too many to list
x 88
Contact:

Re: Harsh ride.

Post by Kitch »

Thing is, if the struts were knackered enough to affect the ride to that extent, the car wouldn't rise and fall smoothly at all. It'd be noticeably stiff and jerky, so you'd have spotted that longer before the spheres went.

I wonder what the chances are that you've been sent a pair of spheres which are incorrectly boxed? So the number on the box is correct, but what's inside isn't. Happens a lot in the parts trade!
One third of a three-spoke BX columnist team for the Citroenian magazine.

CCC BX registrar: The national BX register - click to submit a car!

1983(A) 16TRS (Rouge Valleunga)
1990(H) 16Valve (Rouge Furio)
rutter123
Over 2k
Posts: 2695
Joined: Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:54 pm
Location: South Lincs
My Cars: 90 Bx Tzd turbo ven red 295k
74 D Super 5 black
05 Volvo V50 2.0d 180k
65 Peugeot Boxer work van 280k
x 136

Re: Harsh ride.

Post by rutter123 »

Did u check the manufacturing date on the spheres? I recently got a pair from gsf one dated 04 /14 and the other 06/09 a pair in the same box with some 5 yrs between them, they got me another set both 04/14. They can loose pressure when sat on the shelf for years, they may be stamped with the pressure usually 55 or 65 bar or similar. Sit 4 people in the car then try again.
90 BX Tzd turbo 294k SORN undergoing major surgery
90 BX Tzd turbo estate 46k awaiting surgery
65 Peugeot Boxer Van the new workhorse
52 Toyota Rav4 180k Bulletproof Jap reliability
User avatar
MULLEY
Over 2k
Posts: 8406
Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:10 pm
Location: Derbyshire
My Cars: 1999 Xsara LX 2.0HDI (90) Hatch - Fern
2002 C5 2.0 HDI (110) Estate - Jasmine - SORN
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - SORN
1992 TZD Turbo Estate - SORN
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired - SORN
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
x 8

Re: Harsh ride.

Post by MULLEY »

Air in the system which needs purging? or did the old spheres shit out their nitrogen into the lhm?
2002 C5 2.0 HDI Estate - Jasmine - Now SORN
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.
User avatar
Mike E (uk)
1K Away
Posts: 1115
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 9:10 am
Location: High Wycombe, Bucks
x 1

Re: Harsh ride.

Post by Mike E (uk) »

Doesn't the system self purge back to the reservoir? Except for the brakes which are a dead end.

Please someone correct me if I am wrong.
la BX 16 soupapes: sachez apprecier avec moderation.



It might be clever now, but it won't be in the morning!
User avatar
themildbunch
BXpert
Posts: 592
Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2010 9:38 pm
Location: Stroud, UK
x 5
Contact:

Re: Harsh ride.

Post by themildbunch »

I'm not sure how much the spheres can loose over time if not fitted... I had a pair of cheap, unused Amtex recon rear spheres with an 03 / 04 stamp on in the shed and stuck them on the rear of my diesel recently and they seemed fine much smoother and softer than the old ones

If you have anyone local who can regas spheres that would confirm if yours are correct / leaky, etc..
1988 BX 19 Gti 16v
1991 BX 17 TZD Estate
1991 BX 17 TZD Estate
Kitch
Over 2k
Posts: 6417
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2005 9:36 pm
Location: Fareham, Hants
My Cars: Too many to list
x 88
Contact:

Re: Harsh ride.

Post by Kitch »

Mike E (uk) wrote:Doesn't the system self purge back to the reservoir? Except for the brakes which are a dead end.

Please someone correct me if I am wrong.
It does. I've always held the 'air in the system' thing to be a myth!
One third of a three-spoke BX columnist team for the Citroenian magazine.

CCC BX registrar: The national BX register - click to submit a car!

1983(A) 16TRS (Rouge Valleunga)
1990(H) 16Valve (Rouge Furio)
User avatar
Jaba
1K Away
Posts: 1893
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 7:54 am
Location: Usually in the garage
My Cars: BX GTi, C3 Auto
x 80

Re: Harsh ride.

Post by Jaba »

Last time I went to Westroen for a recharge I took some new old stock spheres with me for testing. Although they were about 8 years old they were still up to normal pressure.
So I do not believe that they lose anything while on the shelf. The guy at Westroen confirmed this as he said they only lose pressure when they are being used on the car and his measurement of my spheres demonstrated this.

Mike, this can only be the struts. The thrust bearing at the top end dries out leaving it without lubrication. I store my struts upside down to keep the bearings immersed in LHM to maintain lubrication and keep the felt washers at the base of the bearings lubed up.
The Joy of BX with just one Citroën BX to my name now. Will I sing Bye Bye to my GTI or will it be Till death us do part.
User avatar
Mike E (uk)
1K Away
Posts: 1115
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 9:10 am
Location: High Wycombe, Bucks
x 1

Re: Harsh ride.

Post by Mike E (uk) »

If I can still push the car down at the front by leaning on it, can it still be the struts though?

If they were stiff, wouldn't that be impossible?
la BX 16 soupapes: sachez apprecier avec moderation.



It might be clever now, but it won't be in the morning!
mds141
Over 2k
Posts: 5288
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 1:26 am
Location: Lancaster
x 9

Re: Harsh ride.

Post by mds141 »

A flush through with hydrauincage and fresh LHM returned the suppleness to the ride of the valver. I keep the struts lubed once a year as well.
Mark Smith

Is it just me or is everything shit?

1989 BX GTi 16 valve. Blanc Alpine. Completed the Citroen Classic Challenge Ecosse and 1337 miles without a hitch.
2000 XM VSX 2.1 td Auto. Rouge Magenta.
TGD saloon many years ago.

1990 Swift 'Corniche' 12/2 aka BXClub HQ.
Honda Firestorm. Gone, but not forgotten.
2015 Triumph Tiger Explorer XC.
User avatar
MULLEY
Over 2k
Posts: 8406
Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:10 pm
Location: Derbyshire
My Cars: 1999 Xsara LX 2.0HDI (90) Hatch - Fern
2002 C5 2.0 HDI (110) Estate - Jasmine - SORN
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - SORN
1992 TZD Turbo Estate - SORN
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired - SORN
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
x 8

Re: Harsh ride.

Post by MULLEY »

Clogged up lhm tank filters can cause suspension to feel hard, so worth cleaning & while you're at it, if the lhm is old, clean the tank & purge the lhm out of the brakes when you put nice new stuff in. If none of this does anything, then perhaps you have the wrong type of spheres on your car?
2002 C5 2.0 HDI Estate - Jasmine - Now SORN
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.
User avatar
maxgreenwood
BXpert
Posts: 830
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 9:44 pm
Location: Dublin, Ireland

Re: Harsh ride.

Post by maxgreenwood »

might be worth checking the ball joints, they make a big difference in my experience, they can stick if they dry out and get partially seized, with the BX being pretty light it does tend to make the front end up lock up on slightly rough surfaces. Anyone else experienced this? I've had re-conned struts, new spheres, LHM and that has been the final link in the chain. Any creaking when steering or up and down can be a sign.
'92 16TXS (m), Dark metallic green, 74k
'90 16TZS (m), White, 86k
'89 19TRS auto, Olympic Blue, 133k
'88 Saab 900 8v Turbo (auto) 107k Red with Tan leather, lovely drive and well maintained.
'07 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi 85k (m). Practical family wagon
User avatar
Mike E (uk)
1K Away
Posts: 1115
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 9:10 am
Location: High Wycombe, Bucks
x 1

Re: Harsh ride.

Post by Mike E (uk) »

Thanks for the help chaps.

I took a front strut off, and that was fine.

On the 1st day of the challenge, we put new rear spheres on.

This improved things greatly...Until later that day...

when my rear height corrector started misbehaving by sticking either on high or low position.

It probably has muck in it.

I had to stop to reset the height often. When it was correct, the ride was very good.

So the conclusion was that I need to:
overhaul and clean the height correctors,
clean the tank filters and flush & replace the LHM.
la BX 16 soupapes: sachez apprecier avec moderation.



It might be clever now, but it won't be in the morning!
Post Reply