Hi all,
My front struts have been sticking for a while and I would like to solve it properly. But it looks like front strut rebuild kits are not available for 10 years or so. Are there any solution’s available?
Front strut rebuild. Kits?
-
- Confirmed BX'er
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:21 pm
- Location: Arendal, Norway
- My Cars: 1991 Citroen BX TZD TURBO 4WD*
*aspirational - x 2
Front strut rebuild. Kits?
1992 TZD Turbo berline, aircon, ABS
1991 TZD Turbo berline
1989 GTi 4x4 berline, ABS
1991 TZD Turbo berline
1989 GTi 4x4 berline, ABS
-
- BXpert
- Posts: 477
- Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 4:44 pm
- Location: Widnes
- My Cars: 1985 BX 19 GT (DKK), 1971 Morris Minor Traveller, 1971 Commer Auto-Sleeper, 1969 Commer Jennings Roadranger.
'88 BX GTi (a long time ago) - x 116
Re: Front strut rebuild. Kits?
I can't remember if Kitch mentions where he gets the parts but this is worth a watch
-
- Confirmed BX'er
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:21 pm
- Location: Arendal, Norway
- My Cars: 1991 Citroen BX TZD TURBO 4WD*
*aspirational - x 2
Re: Front strut rebuild. Kits?
Thanks, I watched the episode, but it focuses on flushing a strut, not rebuilding and has no mention of parts, unfortunately. Would you suggest I give mine a rinse instead of rebuilding?
1992 TZD Turbo berline, aircon, ABS
1991 TZD Turbo berline
1989 GTi 4x4 berline, ABS
1991 TZD Turbo berline
1989 GTi 4x4 berline, ABS
-
- BXpert
- Posts: 340
- Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2015 6:13 pm
- Location: here and there
- My Cars: Peugeot 308 CC
Citroen XM V6 ES9
Citroen Xantia V6
Jaguar XJ-S V12 - x 54
Re: Front strut rebuild. Kits?
There was a discussion on FCF in 2002 which lists the part numbers of the components in the kit. https://frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1901
Another straw to clutch would be a call to Pleiades.
Another straw to clutch would be a call to Pleiades.
-
- BXpert
- Posts: 185
- Joined: Fri Sep 10, 2021 6:22 pm
- Location: Osijek, Croatia
- My Cars: 1989 Cimos-Citroën BX 16 TRS
2007 BMW 318D (the "company car") - x 43
Re: Front strut rebuild. Kits?
There was a video a few years back on it. And it covers which parts are needed. However, some of them may not be available. Me and a few others in the local BX community in the Balkan region are attempting to find some alternatives. I'll let you know how that goes.
Unfortunately the way I had to fix my struts for now was to just get a bunch of unknown condition used ones and try them all.
Proudly daily driving a 1989 BX 16 TRS since 2021
-
- 1K Away
- Posts: 1936
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 7:54 am
- Location: Usually in the garage
- My Cars: BX GTi, C3 Auto
- x 88
Re: Front strut rebuild. Kits?
Pleiades are the only source of parts for the front struts but I believe they will only sell you a reconditioned strut.
In the past I have stripped a strut down and fitted a recon kit but the strut still stuck on the way down due to the wear ridge which forms on the inner piston at the top and bottom of its normal range of travel. Those wear ridges would have to be polished out to get a smooth action.
The easiest answer these days is to fit used ones that are not sticky - they do exist if you are patient.
In the past I have stripped a strut down and fitted a recon kit but the strut still stuck on the way down due to the wear ridge which forms on the inner piston at the top and bottom of its normal range of travel. Those wear ridges would have to be polished out to get a smooth action.
The easiest answer these days is to fit used ones that are not sticky - they do exist if you are patient.
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.
-
- Confirmed BX'er
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2020 7:47 pm
- Location: Ledbury
- My Cars: Citroen BX St Tropez, Citroen CX Prestige Trubo 2, A-H Frogeye, Porsche 944, Lancia Delta Integrale, Lancia Fulvia S1
- x 4
Re: Front strut rebuild. Kits?
The fix has been to reattach one hose and join the other together with a smaller diameter pipe. Seems to have done the trick, albeit there are tiny leakages from where these rubber lines attach to the hard lines on the chassis. We do have a replacement hose set if needs be although it helpfully came without the clamp that was supposed to be with it. I,ve included a photo as attached. The reason for working on the car in the first place was to replace the bodged hose in the photo (now done).
I suspect that the strut has a failed seal or other issue despite appearing to function as normal.
-
- BXpert
- Posts: 588
- Joined: Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:15 am
- Location: East London
- My Cars: 1991 Citroen BX 16v
- x 28
Re: Front strut rebuild. Kits?
If you’re getting any significant flow through those rubber hoses then it’s a sure sign of strut seal failure, as you surmise. They’re not meant to have anything but the tiniest dribbles of LHM in them under normal operation.
1991 Citroen BX 16v
-
- Confirmed BX'er
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2020 7:47 pm
- Location: Ledbury
- My Cars: Citroen BX St Tropez, Citroen CX Prestige Trubo 2, A-H Frogeye, Porsche 944, Lancia Delta Integrale, Lancia Fulvia S1
- x 4
Re: Front strut rebuild. Kits?
Suspected as much, thanks