Bouncy Front Suspension

[bx16trs]

Well, 'sack cloth and ashes' as the saying goes . Been ages since I could get back to the BX but having done the front 'push down' check and found nothing moved, just bounced and was hard so looks like the diagnosis was spot on. But the rears (which are much older) moved smoothly as expected. I also noticed a loud clicking noise from the regulator and deduced I needed a new accumulator sphere as well (could this affect the front suspension and not the rear, given that that the rear ones are older, I wonder?). Anyway, I ordered two new front spheres and an accumulator sphere. By the time I left base I had the accumulator sphere and only 1 of the 2 front spheres I ordered (apparently they were waiting on a delivery to complete my order - 'triffic!). So I have one new front sphere and an accumulator sphere.
Questions, pse:
1. Will it be ok to put a new accumulator sphere on, given the front suspension spheres are probably shot? Will it perform (ref period of clicks) as standard?
2. I expect that it would not be a good idea just to replace one front sphere until the second new one arrives?
3. Is accumulator sphere replacement essentially the same as front suspension sphere replacement, but just more difficult to get at?
TIA.
Brian

[MULLEY]

It will do no harm to fit the accy sphere & one good front sphere, at least it will be drivable without sending shocks through your spine.

[bx16trs]

Hi Mat - right, have put the old girl on the ramps tonight and will let the pressure dissipate over night and crack on with the acc sphere (it is the same thread and all that isn't it - any tips?) and single suspension sphere tomorrow. I still can't figure out why the front spheres (I replaced them a few K miles ago - but several years!) are shot while the older rears (never replaced) seem to perform as expected?
Rgds. Brian
PS how do I send pictures?

[rutter123]

Ensure you release all the pressure from the system before changing spheres, i.e put it in low and undo the bleed valve on the pressure regulator 1/2 a turn to be sure, crack off the old units with a chain wrench or similar and simply screw on the new units with new seals fitted. Wait for the car to lift then bleed off any excess air with the bleed valve and the jobs a goodun.

[MULLEY]

As above The fronts supposedly last approx 3 years, the rears 4, i can only assume that the fronts take more of a battering than the rears?

[Tinkley]

I think you can get 4 years out the fronts, though, or around 60-70k. The engine weighs a bit more than an empty
rear passenger seat.....
Usually I can get the fronts and accumulator to free using a soft large Boa rubber strap, but the rears are a bit different!.

[rutter123]

I have found the Amtec spheres as supplied by GSF on the front last about 2-3 years or 50k's rear tend to last quite a bit longer nearer 5 years, plaedies say they can be regassed providing they retain 50% of the gas, bit it is actually cheaper to buy new ones, hence why i have loads of semi flat spheres in a box in the corner of my garage. Scrap metal.
A good quality chain wrench usually gets them freed off tho the rears can sometimes be quite challenging if they have been in situ for some time.

[Defender110]

http://www.sphere-shop.co.uk/

http://www.sphere-shop.co.uk/petrol-524-c.asp

Not forgetting their 'Comfort Sphere' range;

http://www.sphere-shop.co.uk/bx-748-c.asp

http://www.sphere-shop.co.uk/spheres-ca ... -376-c.asp

[bx16trs]

Right...done it! . Decided to put the new suspension sphere on the near-side to handle the pot holes. Took no time at all after freeing off with my oil filter chain wrench. The Acc sphere was another kettle of beans, though! Because of the chassis member running directly fore and aft under the sphere I couldn't get on the sphere at right angles. Put the chain on at an angle and promptly mashed the chain! Got my second chain wrench (I was a boy scout ) and it came undone - must have taken some of the pressure off the threads with the first. After cleaning 30 years of road grot from the housing the new sphere went on ok after a bit of a fiddle and keeping the new sealing washer in place. Result - the regulator now clacks once every 60-90 secs and the one new sphere has stopped me bouncing like Zebedee - a major, major improvement!. Just waiting for the other sphere and returning back to 'magic carpet ride'! Thanks for all your inputs - adds significantly to the confidence factor! Brian
PS spheres from Europarts (ebay) - Monroe and IFHS (Acc)