Spheres - Queries

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David
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Spheres - Queries

Post by David »

I am back again, this time with sphere issues.

I have searched the forum, but can't find exactly what I am looking for - so here goes.

I have bought some new spheres for my BX off Ebay, When they arrived I found the date on them was from may '99.

The seller told me that they don't loose pressure over time & there is nothing to worry about, which I know they do, so reluctantly he exchanged them for some different ones, However I am suspicious of these as there are no dates on them & the paint seems a bit scuffed, although I realise this could be just from being posted, so could anyone tell me if I can find out how old they are from the serial numbers?

Also they are slimmer & longer than my current spheres, which are from 2008, & I am sure I have read (Somewhere) that the long slim shape was discontinued for the fatter variants. So, is this true & are there any other tell tail factors that I can easily tell them apart by?

I bought a new accumulator sphere off the same person & had no problem with that, but I feel he is messing me around with these suspension spheres.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I don't want to demand a refund until I am absolutely sure that they are more crappy ones.

Thanks in advance.
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Re: Spheres - Queries

Post by rutter123 »

If they are dated 99 almost surely they will have lost some pressure, the only sure way to see is to fit them and see the results. I bought a job lot of spheres cheap dated 2005 and 4 of the 6 were as flat as your hat. I have some of the longer type but they have the gas re-filling valve on the top. Even the last pair i got from GSF was dated 2014 but seem ok, i wouldnt take any chances with 99 dated and send them back.
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Re: Spheres - Queries

Post by ken newbold »

I suspect you got some from the same seller as me, mine were dated 97, I fitted them and much to my surprise they were lovely and soft. The next day I started the car up and let the suspension down, lots of loud gurgling and then what looked like smoke rings coming out the LHM res. Put the suspension back up only to find they'd gone solid. The "smoke" must have been the nitrogen escaping.

I contacted the seller who gave an instant refund. Couldn't be fairer than that. :)
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Re: Spheres - Queries

Post by MULLEY »

David, i'd recommend westroen, they can pressure test those spheres to see if they're any good, & then you can return them & buy some from westroen instead, 3yr warranty & the chap is very knowlegeable & only fits re-charged genuine citroen spheres & not any other make. And they are in your neck of the woods :)
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Re: Spheres - Queries

Post by Tinkley »

Last spheres I bought new were from AEP the IFHS? ones and the manufacture date was one month prior so could hardly be fresher. That was about 5 years ago and they're still OK, but I may need to change them next year...
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Re: Spheres - Queries

Post by David »

Thanks for all the replies,

The spheres from '99 have been exchanged for the ones in question. However there are no dates on them, which makes me suspicious of how old they are. I don't really want to put them on if they are flat & waste time & oil, & potentially make it harder to return them if they are classed as "used".

I thought that the longer thin ones were discontinued & replaced by the fat ones but can't be 100% sure, but if someone can confirm this then I can say they are more old ones. The only thin ones I have seen before these, where the ones on my car when I bought it, 2 of which had the refill valves on them, but they all needed replacing at the time, & I haven't seen any since.

If they do turn out to be rubbish (which I believe they are) then I think I will go to Westreon, If I can get there whilst they are open, due to me working long hours.

So, does anyone know if these shaped spheres were discontinued or are they still produced? He said these are brand new & imported from Spain last week.
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Re: Spheres - Queries

Post by Defender110 »

I got a set of comfort spheres from here for mine:

http://www.sphere-shop.co.uk/
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Re: Spheres - Queries

Post by David »

I am back again,

Today I just bit the bullet & put the spheres on my car, to find that they were as hard as the old ones I removed. So I have imformed the seller & he has essentially said that I don't know how the hydraulics work, & that I probably have air in them & or sticking struts. I know that they do stick to a degree, but I know the difference between a sticking strut & a bad sphere.

He has also said that the new spheres don't have dates on them, which I find very suspicious as every one I have seen previously has had dates on them.
Is there any truth to any of this, or is he just trying to hoodwink me?
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Re: Spheres - Queries

Post by Way2go »

I think you need to quote the sale of goods act to him " that goods have to be fit for the purpose for which they are sold"! They also must be of "Merchantable Quality".

If your car rises (in normal) but is hard and does not "bounce" when you push down on it then the spheres are flat. The system is in equilibrium when at "normal" so it does not require anything else for testing the "bounce".

"Sale of Goods Act" and also "Distance Selling Regs" are your strong friends here if the seller is difficult. Remember though that they are for your statuatory right to your money back, not replacements.
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Re: Spheres - Queries

Post by David »

Thanks for the reply,
I have told him I want a refund. They are not completely flat, but they are harder than my old spheres. He exchanged the first old ones for these but I don't think these are brand new as he says.
I'll just see what happens.

Just out of curiosity, is it possible that sticky struts could make the spheres appear flat?
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Re: Spheres - Queries

Post by themildbunch »

Defender110 wrote:I got a set of comfort spheres from here for mine:

http://www.sphere-shop.co.uk/
Yes, I bought a set of comfort spheres for my estate from here too - very good service and I don't expect these have been sitting in a dusty GSF for years either.. They also seem to do correct 16v spheres.
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Re: Spheres - Queries

Post by Defender110 »

David wrote: Just out of curiosity, is it possible that sticky struts could make the spheres appear flat?
Well they certainly won't help, it would be hard to confirm the spheres are knackered with other suspension components also faulty.
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Re: Spheres - Queries

Post by rutter123 »

Have you considered having your old spheres regassed?
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Re: Spheres - Queries

Post by xantia_v6 »

David wrote:T
Just out of curiosity, is it possible that sticky struts could make the spheres appear flat?
Sticky struts will cause up and down adjustment of the suspension height to be jerky, perhaps accompanied by creaking noises.
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Re: Spheres - Queries

Post by BXcitro »

So what was the outcome David? Did you get a refund and have you got some new spheres?
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