Chevronics supplying GS boxed spheres for my bx

[Pcheaven]

Not what I was expecting - to be asked if I wanted the dear or cheap ones.

They gave me 400 not 500's as per original spec on the car.

Quite disappointing, if they arn't going to supply original spec ones - for whatever reason. Then as a paying customer I should have been informed

[rutter123]

Pleaides are the guys to go to.

[Jaba]

I will be interested to hear what Chevronics say.
The BX14s GTis and Turbos saloon and estates are supposed to have 400 with 500s on diesel and petrols except the early ones. This is in an ideal world as there are 6 different specs of size, pressure and damping for the various models as well as a so called comfort sphere and I don't think you will find anywhere selling the complete range any longer. You should have, if yours is a 1.6, 500/55/1.80 part# 95630572. Others fit harder or softer according to their taste.
I am not sure how important it all is, I fit 500s on my GTi as I find them a bit softer on speed bumps and as they lose pressure they change anyway. I would be quite happy to have 400s on though. It is more important to fit the right ones on the rear - 400s - I have found as I do notice the difference.

[white exec]

Sphere specs:

It's important to get all three of a sphere's figures correct:
eg 400/55/1.2
= volume cc / pressure bars / damping orifice mm

Increased volume = softer and more pliant ride
Increased pressure = softer ride (which isn't intuitive, but more gas = more to act as a spring)
Larger damping aperture = less damping

A sphere marked 400/62/-- has no damping, just (usually) a 5 or 6mm hole.
Spheres without dampers include the Accumulator sphere, and any of the centre spheres on Hydractive models.

After-market suppliers rarely state the damping figure, which isn't helpful.
They mostly don't state the original Citroen part number either. This doesn't help in checking what you're ordering.

Citroen Parts (ServiceBox) lists the correct part numbers, and also the Volume and Pressure for every sphere.
It also doesn't state the damping factor, but this can be easily looked up in the Private Cars (mechanic's handbooks) booklets which Citroen have regularly published. These list each sphere for all variations (saloon, estate, V6, GTi etc etc) and all sphere positions. The numbers listed there (95....., 96.....) are factory indentifiers, not part numbers, so use ServiceBox for the current Citroen part numbers.

Citroen also offer two qualities of sphere: top quality ("for cars up to 3 years old"!!!) and a budget quality (3+ years old). Citroen have patents on sphere design, which includes the use of 'multicouche' triple-layer flexible membranes for hot-location spheres (eg those in the engine bay, and near exhausts, as well as the 'saucer' spheres used on later cars). The life of genuine best Citroen spheres is usually very long, which pays off if you opt for making your spheres re-gassable, rather than simply paying for replacements when ride deteriorates.

Citroen also pay attention to the performance of the damper inserts, which consist not just of the slow-flow central drilling, but also of the small stack of rigid and spring steel washers that make up the damper's by-pass, which opens up under rapid movement.

Many aftermarket sphere stockists appear not to know precise details of sphere variations, and just operate from a listing of their own sphere markings, which (as said) usually makes no mention of the damping figure. Worse, is the frequent reliance on car registration numbers to identify the vehicle. This is not a good route for ordering, because of the sheer number of model technical variations that occurs with hydraulic Citroens.

Genuine Citroen spheres are not the cheapest, but at least you can be sure of what you're getting, especially when checked on Parts against the vehicle's VIN number.

[Pcheaven]

Thanks all
Some great information here

I think the consensus is that chevronics should not be generalising over specification and model suitability.

I am very glad Kitch spotted it and could help me out.

[RobC]

+1 for Pleiades

[Tim Leech]

Noone is perfect and errors are made, Chevronics aren't cheap, but they do supply alot of obsolete parts and Rob himself travels to France to collect parts to sell over here that keep cars on the road so I would be a little more charitable!

I've had work done by them, all first rate, and ive sold Rob cars and he was very fair.

I would call him up and have a chat with him, hes very approachable.

[white exec]

I've had parts from Chevronics, including a complete set of NOS BX mudflaps just a few weeks ago. Helpful and swift.
They're certainly one of the professional Citroen-dedicated businesses we have, and ought to be cherished. Not the cheapest, but none of these specialists are in a position to be.

[Pcheaven]

Noone is perfect and errors are made, Chevronics aren't cheap, but they do supply alot of obsolete parts and Rob himself travels to France to collect parts to sell over here that keep cars on the road so I would be a little more charitable!

I've had work done by them, all first rate, and ive sold Rob cars and he was very fair.

I would call him up and have a chat with him, hes very approachable.

Agreed, no one is perfect, Mistakes are made. Ask my wife - I am never correct

They have a well deserved reputation - on the whole. I have friends who have purchased from them, and couldn't say enough good things about them.

However this wasn't an error, it was a business decision to have a one size fit all policy on front Spheres.
Yes they sell many parts that help us keep the cars on the road, however many (Most ?!) BX owners want to keep their cars original as possible. So some clarity around this at the point of purchase, or on the web site would have been appropriate.

It wont stop me buying from them, though in future I will have to ask if it matches original specification

[Pcheaven]

Sphere specs:

It's important to get all three of a sphere's figures correct:
eg 400/55/1.2
= volume cc / pressure bars / damping orifice mm

Increased volume = softer and more pliant ride
Increased pressure = softer ride (which isn't intuitive, but more gas = more to act as a spring)
Larger damping aperture = less damping

A sphere marked 400/62/-- has no damping, just (usually) a 5 or 6mm hole.
Spheres without dampers include the Accumulator sphere, and any of the centre spheres on Hydractive models.

After-market suppliers rarely state the damping figure, which isn't helpful.
They mostly don't state the original Citroen part number either. This doesn't help in checking what you're ordering.

Citroen Parts (ServiceBox) lists the correct part numbers, and also the Volume and Pressure for every sphere.
It also doesn't state the damping factor, but this can be easily looked up in the Private Cars (mechanic's handbooks) booklets which Citroen have regularly published. These list each sphere for all variations (saloon, estate, V6, GTi etc etc) and all sphere positions. The numbers listed there (95....., 96.....) are factory indentifiers, not part numbers, so use ServiceBox for the current Citroen part numbers.

Citroen also offer two qualities of sphere: top quality ("for cars up to 3 years old"!!!) and a budget quality (3+ years old). Citroen have patents on sphere design, which includes the use of 'multicouche' triple-layer flexible membranes for hot-location spheres (eg those in the engine bay, and near exhausts, as well as the 'saucer' spheres used on later cars). The life of genuine best Citroen spheres is usually very long, which pays off if you opt for making your spheres re-gassable, rather than simply paying for replacements when ride deteriorates.

Citroen also pay attention to the performance of the damper inserts, which consist not just of the slow-flow central drilling, but also of the small stack of rigid and spring steel washers that make up the damper's by-pass, which opens up under rapid movement.

Many aftermarket sphere stockists appear not to know precise details of sphere variations, and just operate from a listing of their own sphere markings, which (as said) usually makes no mention of the damping figure. Worse, is the frequent reliance on car registration numbers to identify the vehicle. This is not a good route for ordering, because of the sheer number of model technical variations that occurs with hydraulic Citroens.

Genuine Citroen spheres are not the cheapest, but at least you can be sure of what you're getting, especially when checked on Parts against the vehicle's VIN number.

this is very informative - thanks

As you say, its important to have the sphere volume correct.
Next time I purchase spheres I will ensure all 3 specifications are available, as opposed to BX Front Sphere.