Blown front strut, a bigger problem?

tufty · Post by **tufty** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 7:37 am

First off, Hi. Been lurking here for a few years, but finally have a problem big enough to require posting.

My TRD started leaking LHM like buggery from the (somewhat knacked) return pipes on the left front strut. I probably should have realised there was a problem then, but instead, I replaced the return pipes, and the problem went away.

Than, a month or so later, just as I hit the motorway on the way back from holiday, the dash went red, steering went hard, and the car started bouncing. the return pipes had blown off the hard points under the wheel arch, and she'd ejected all her LHM over the road. So I put them back on, refilled enough to get some suspension, limped to the next service station where I filled up properly and clamped the return pipes in place.

Yes, by now I really should have realised there was a problem.

So, last week, the wife went to pick up her mother from hospital. Blam, all red, no fluid, etc etc. This time, it's pissing out the *top* of the LHS front strut. No idea if that's repairable as yet, as I've only just got back from dropping a friend's motorbike back in Dijon.

I figure there's a blockage somewhere, but I have no idea where.

Any obvious culprits?

Simon

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 8:14 am

I think your front strut has failed, a very easy replacement, if you have a spare one or can get one from somewhere.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 8:15 am

its probably just the strut seals have failed completly, i would take it back to citroen under warenty TEA HE,

the other symton of failling strut seals is the front end dropping as soon as the engine is shut off,

the easyest fix is fit another strut,

there are people on here talking about referbing the struts but i dont know have that is comming along,

regards malcolm

Post by **docchevron** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 12:51 am

Most parts sourced, bar the little seal and the flt jobby really..

Plaieoieides are still selling re-con struts apparently, if you can get them to answer the phone and actually sell you something they are likely to be the easiest and fastest bet right now.

They do come up on the bay of plenty from time to time, but fetch rather a lot of cash!

I'm after 2 for the valver since the 2 new ones from GSF are shite, and they will not take them back.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 9:05 am

Doc
you say GSF wont take the dodgy struts back, try giveing Vince who is the manager of there Liverpool branch, and also a FCF member,

might be worth talking to him as he try's to help

regards malcolm

Vanny · Post by **Vanny** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 4:51 pm

The Liverpool GSF branch HATE Citroens!

The used to be one of the biggest air cooled VW specialists in the North West, so it's not a surprise.

tufty · Post by **tufty** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 6:36 pm

I'm currently trying to source another strut. It's a bugger that I got shot of the old BX a few years back, should have kept her for parts.

Post by **Defender110** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 7:52 pm

docchevron wrote: I'm after 2 for the valver since the 2 new ones from GSF are shite, and they will not take them back.

Doc were these sh-te quality before fitting or have they failed after fitting? Do we know if they are all poop from GSF or did you get a bad pair, were they remanufactured new or reconditioned old ones?

cheers Kev

Post by **docchevron** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 3:08 am

They were brand new, ok, this was a few years back now as it goes, bvut they creaked from the moment they went on.
Went back and complained, chappy came out, had a quick look at said "they dont leak, they're fine"...

I pointed out the endless creaking and several E-mails and calls later they decide it must be the ARB or wishbone bushes.
It wasn't, it's the struts, and they are still like it. No amount of lubing has helped.
They dont stick, they just fucking creak ALL THE TIME, and it's driving me quite mad, even with the stereo turned up you can hear the damn things.

I never bought another set of struts from GSF again, although it's quite possible they were a bad pair I guess, they'd certainly been laying around for a very long time before I bought them.
They weren't bloody cheap either.
Ho hum, thats life I guess.. although I'm pretty sure GSF dont stock them anymore, and I learned today they dont keep drop links either!

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 7:18 am

Unfortunatley, GSF are rubbish for older car bits, thats it, end of discussion.

The Reading branch was good (and may still be) as it was the original base of Andyspares the well known citroen specialist who were Absorbed by GSF.

Anyone remember Lockwoods? At one point one of the best cit parts specialists, they got all chavvy etc and luckily malcolm lockwood broke away and operates as an independant individual again now i believe (with good reports heard back)

I think its about time we compiled a list of older citroen parts specialists for the site (not reccomendations you understand) just a place where people can get instant access to people who may actually know what we're talking about)

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 10:10 am

There are some (probably out of date!) specialists on the BX club website, but we don't have direct access to it to keep it updated. I've asked before whether I can have FTP access to it but I think the guy hosting it (and FCF) wants to look after it all himself...
How about a thread in the Technical FAQ that people can add to?

Post by **Defender110** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 11:50 pm

GSF Swinton Mcr. had rear radius arm bearing kits on the shelf.

Post by **docchevron** » Fri Aug 27, 2010 12:35 am

They likely will for quite a while, they fit the Xantia aswell..

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » Fri Aug 27, 2010 7:59 am

docchevron wrote:They likely will for quite a while, they fit the Xantia aswell..

And C15

tufty · Post by **tufty** » Sun Aug 29, 2010 4:22 pm

Aaaaaaaand...

Result!

Spent Saturday morning phoning around all the local breakers (I'm based in the Alps), all of whom made noises along the lines of "BX? You're joking, mate". At which point I decided to go the rebuild route, or at least try to if the parts were still available. So toddled off to the local Citroen dealers, who, for once, understand that some people actual *like* to fix ther own cars rather than having the local "garagiste" rape their wallets, and who also have a large stock of old citroen bits in a shed...

What I didn't realise was that "son-of-dealership-owner" *races* BXes, and they therefore have a load of old junkers lying about round the back, ripe to be scrounged from. And so...

"I've got a front end already half-dismantled over there, here's a 17mm socket, whip the struts off and they're yours for 20 euros."

Score! Now all I need is some hydraflush and LHM.