How long should spheres last

BX Tech talk
Pcheaven
BXpert
Posts: 229
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2021 12:34 am
Location: Kent
My Cars: Landrover discovery sport 2020
Previously ipace/discovery 5/velar and many others including 2 bx gti back in early 1990
x 12

Re: How long should spheres last

Post by Pcheaven »

white exec wrote: Mon Apr 05, 2021 6:52 am Forgot - 1 click every 50secs (while driving) is quite acceptable. A click every few seconds usually means a pooped Acc sphere.

As said, check the vehicle height when set on Normal.

Also do a bounce test:
- engine running, car stationary
- press down on the front, and it should go down fairly easily by about 10+ cm, then come back up
- do same at the back (or sit on the boot ledge), should go down 15cm or so, and return
You should feel real softness.

If the height lever is set to Highest, and you do the bounce test, you will feel what it's like to have spheres without gas - solid.

Mine passes the bounce test. I did that before purchase. :)

Where should I measure the height from pls ?
BX Meteor. Sub 20000 miles. Very Original.

ToDo list.

1. ?G?e?t? ?c?a?m? ?b?e?t? ?e?t?c? ?r?e?p?l?a?c?e?d? ?e?t?c?
Have a GnT
2. G?e?t? ?t?h?e? ?r?a?d?i?o? ?t?o? ?w?o?r?k?.? ?
Have a GnT
3. Adjust the clutch
Have a GnT
4. Clean LHM tank then a complete flush
Have a GnT
5. Wash, clay bar then ceramic coat paintwork.
Have a GnT
6. Replace rear spheres
Have a GnT
7. Replace bottom hose
Pcheaven
BXpert
Posts: 229
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2021 12:34 am
Location: Kent
My Cars: Landrover discovery sport 2020
Previously ipace/discovery 5/velar and many others including 2 bx gti back in early 1990
x 12

Re: How long should spheres last

Post by Pcheaven »

white exec wrote: Mon Apr 05, 2021 6:52 am Forgot - 1 click every 50secs (while driving) is quite acceptable. A click every few seconds usually means a pooped Acc sphere.

As said, check the vehicle height when set on Normal.

Also do a bounce test:
- engine running, car stationary
- press down on the front, and it should go down fairly easily by about 10+ cm, then come back up
- do same at the back (or sit on the boot ledge), should go down 15cm or so, and return
You should feel real softness.

If the height lever is set to Highest, and you do the bounce test, you will feel what it's like to have spheres without gas - solid.

Mine passes the bounce test. I did that before purchase. :)

Where should I measure the height from pls ?
BX Meteor. Sub 20000 miles. Very Original.

ToDo list.

1. ?G?e?t? ?c?a?m? ?b?e?t? ?e?t?c? ?r?e?p?l?a?c?e?d? ?e?t?c?
Have a GnT
2. G?e?t? ?t?h?e? ?r?a?d?i?o? ?t?o? ?w?o?r?k?.? ?
Have a GnT
3. Adjust the clutch
Have a GnT
4. Clean LHM tank then a complete flush
Have a GnT
5. Wash, clay bar then ceramic coat paintwork.
Have a GnT
6. Replace rear spheres
Have a GnT
7. Replace bottom hose
Pcheaven
BXpert
Posts: 229
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2021 12:34 am
Location: Kent
My Cars: Landrover discovery sport 2020
Previously ipace/discovery 5/velar and many others including 2 bx gti back in early 1990
x 12

Re: How long should spheres last

Post by Pcheaven »

rutter123 wrote: Mon Apr 05, 2021 1:03 am If the front bumper is grounding out I suspect your problem may be the front struts sticking, if your spheres were flat (lost their gas) you would not get any suspension travel, it would just bounce, if a sphere breaks internally that will cause that corner to bottom out?
It may be worth checking that your height lever and correctors are operating correctly and don't rule out the hyd pump as a knackered one will struggle to keep up.
I also recommend Pleaides Martin is a wealth of Citroen hydro
Your very lucky if you don't have any leaks and all your major suspension components are working as they should after 30 odd years, otherwise it can become quite costly.
Yes !! I have no leaks. It had a new spider / octopus fitted in 2016. That was the last lhm change as well
Since the the car has done around 2000 miles I think
BX Meteor. Sub 20000 miles. Very Original.

ToDo list.

1. ?G?e?t? ?c?a?m? ?b?e?t? ?e?t?c? ?r?e?p?l?a?c?e?d? ?e?t?c?
Have a GnT
2. G?e?t? ?t?h?e? ?r?a?d?i?o? ?t?o? ?w?o?r?k?.? ?
Have a GnT
3. Adjust the clutch
Have a GnT
4. Clean LHM tank then a complete flush
Have a GnT
5. Wash, clay bar then ceramic coat paintwork.
Have a GnT
6. Replace rear spheres
Have a GnT
7. Replace bottom hose
User avatar
white exec
BXpert
Posts: 681
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2020 4:04 pm
Location: Sayalonga, Malaga
My Cars: 1992 BX19D Millesime
- LHD, NA, AC, RP_5800
1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive
x 70

Re: How long should spheres last

Post by white exec »

Pcheaven wrote: Mon Apr 05, 2021 1:38 pm Where should I measure the height from pls ?
.
I think Haynes lists the procedure, but this is the pukka Citroen data:
.
BX ride height.JPG
[Source: Private Cars, 050920 1992 AX ZX BX XM p.173]
.
:!: Car body MUST be adequately prevented from dropping suddenly if height adjustments are made. NEVER rely on hydraulic support when working underneath. A garage flatbed lift or pit (with ground level reference point) is the safest option.
Chris
Pcheaven
BXpert
Posts: 229
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2021 12:34 am
Location: Kent
My Cars: Landrover discovery sport 2020
Previously ipace/discovery 5/velar and many others including 2 bx gti back in early 1990
x 12

Re: How long should spheres last

Post by Pcheaven »

Many thanks. This is very useful.

I have identified that possibly the front height correctors arnt functioning correctly. ( got two fat people to sit on the front bonnet. The car goes down but didn’t auto correct it’s height within10-20 seconds whilst still under load. Apparently this signifies the correctors need looking at. So that’s on the list for Friday when it’s in the garage.

Thanks all. Some excellent information posted for me. :)
BX Meteor. Sub 20000 miles. Very Original.

ToDo list.

1. ?G?e?t? ?c?a?m? ?b?e?t? ?e?t?c? ?r?e?p?l?a?c?e?d? ?e?t?c?
Have a GnT
2. G?e?t? ?t?h?e? ?r?a?d?i?o? ?t?o? ?w?o?r?k?.? ?
Have a GnT
3. Adjust the clutch
Have a GnT
4. Clean LHM tank then a complete flush
Have a GnT
5. Wash, clay bar then ceramic coat paintwork.
Have a GnT
6. Replace rear spheres
Have a GnT
7. Replace bottom hose
User avatar
white exec
BXpert
Posts: 681
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2020 4:04 pm
Location: Sayalonga, Malaga
My Cars: 1992 BX19D Millesime
- LHD, NA, AC, RP_5800
1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive
x 70

Re: How long should spheres last

Post by white exec »

As well as the mechanicals and the not-too-long-ago LHM change, it might be worth running the old bus on Total Hydraurincage for 1500-5000km. It's Citroen's official and recommended LHM system cleaning fluid, and works really well.
1 × 5L is sufficient for the system.

As well as looking at the height correctors, check that the long lever-linkage rod is greased in its guides, and free to move properly.
Chris
Pcheaven
BXpert
Posts: 229
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2021 12:34 am
Location: Kent
My Cars: Landrover discovery sport 2020
Previously ipace/discovery 5/velar and many others including 2 bx gti back in early 1990
x 12

Re: How long should spheres last

Post by Pcheaven »

👍

I was considering an lhm cleanse.
It’s on the list for Friday
BX Meteor. Sub 20000 miles. Very Original.

ToDo list.

1. ?G?e?t? ?c?a?m? ?b?e?t? ?e?t?c? ?r?e?p?l?a?c?e?d? ?e?t?c?
Have a GnT
2. G?e?t? ?t?h?e? ?r?a?d?i?o? ?t?o? ?w?o?r?k?.? ?
Have a GnT
3. Adjust the clutch
Have a GnT
4. Clean LHM tank then a complete flush
Have a GnT
5. Wash, clay bar then ceramic coat paintwork.
Have a GnT
6. Replace rear spheres
Have a GnT
7. Replace bottom hose
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