Height Corrector Hight Question

[kiwi]

What should be the correct height of the BX off the ground in the Normal Road position.

Explain a bit better should the back be slightly higher than the front or the opposite away around or simple the same all around and where do you measure this point? Or points?

Why he asks

BX19TZS is lower at the front than the Back and has more of a stiffer suspension feel when driving.

BX19TRS is lower at the back but feels smoother

So it got me thinking about height correctors.

[citronut]

i find they should be with the door sill line to ground sitting level along its length,

to give you the actual hight values i will have to dig out my OE BX mauals later if you still require it

regards malcolm

[kiwi]

I got this sneeking feeling the TZS which is the one down at the front may not be at the correct height or playing up. The heights if you have them would be good, I cant seem to find them in the info I have.

Something that Doc wrote maybe me start thinking about the Front HC being the cause of the stiifer ride on this car most notable being able to feel the bumps in the roads.

[Aerodynamica]

Haynes book sez the front height should be 166 +10 or -7 mm measured from the middle of the subframe lower edge to the ground (standard tyres etc and right pressures obviously)

Rear: 223mm +10 or - 7mm measured from the middle of the rear sub frame cross member to the ground.

I'd say that the rear should not be lower than the front and that it should be level as Malcolm says or, if anything slightly lower at the front.

Of course, it's darn well difficult to get it to go to the settings indicated and find they've stayed set if your corrector linkages and/or suspension arm bushings and bearings are not in good condition.

[Vanny]

its also unusual for the subframe to be flat.

My understanding is that Citroen have a rather large (car sized) jig to set the ride height from the factory.

[kiwi]

Well without getting to complex would I be right to assume that the Height Corrector may not be working as well as it should be on the TZS.

I figured at first flat spheres but if my memory serves correct the effect of a seized/faulty HC would also mean the front height could be to low meaning I get this stiffer ride.

[MULLEY]

If the bush linkages that connect to the height corrector are worn, would that cause the problem rather than the actual height corrector itself? It could of course be the whole lot thats rather worn out.

If you measure up as per the specs provided & it is kinda in the ballpark, perhaps your accy sphere might be a bit flat. I think it was Mark who said that when he changed his, the damping of the suspension was quite a bit better.

I guess there's quite a few variables that could cause poor ride, if the main spheres are ok, then it must be the other bits, which one? will probably only reveal itself once the part or parts have been replaced?

[Aerodynamica]

if my memory serves correct the effect of a seized/faulty HC would also mean the front height could be to low meaning I get this stiffer ride.

Aye, true but it could equally run too high for some time if the corrector is gunged up.

Honestly, the only way I know to check this is to have the car at 'normal' height, push down (i.e sit on the bonnet) the front and wait until it begins to re level the height. Ideally, this should be within 15 seconds but if it stays low for 20-30 or more then the corrector or the lever trying to move it are ineffective and need looked at.

Similarly, if from normal height up one notch on the height lever to intermediate, there is a major wait for any movement or just NO movement then it's the same story: either the corrector valve's internal movement damper is clogged AND/OR the lever tryig to move it has too much slop on it's pivot AND/OR to much free play where it touches the ball on the corrector.

You'll only know by getting the fugga up on a 4 poster to watch the mechanism move while underneath.

Other things that can make the ride poor are swollen, seized suspension rubber bushes and/or jamming suspension struts (also sticking brakes but you'd know if this was the case)

Also: just thought, all of the above might be working OK but if the normal height of the car is trimmed too high or low then it'll also 'feel' bumpy as it either tops out out or bottoms out. Perhaps your front axle suspension is too high trimmed?

[Jaba]

The easy check for ride height is - at the front you should be able to insert your hand vertically between the wheel and the wing with not too much if any clearance.
If the front checks out ok and the car is then not level adjust the rear height.

This all assumes that the height control linkage is adjusted properly and the car has been driven a bit so that you are measuring the real, in use ride height.