Weaky Suspension.

farid · Post by **farid** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:01 am

Hi...
I am newbie actually here, but always log in at this forum.

I'm from Malaysia was my ride as old xantia with Bx 'soul', means have FDV.

My problem (car) when the steering at position at clock 11 or 1 while driving even stationary the light of hydraulic warning appear in dash. It will front struts sinked slowly at front and feel no suspension(hard ride)
Had cleaned second-hand FDV except changed the tiny filter which the bottom one was burst...(thank you for detailed repaired in forum)and assembled back still same. Changed second-hand PR also same.

The suspension at font will sinked slowly when went to tight parking which use steering left and right more times. Also went to big round-about even though in high speed(high rpm engine) with few minutes the struts will going sink slightly and feel like car with short coil spring.

Recently changed 2 suspension sphere(front) and Acc. sphere. The light seem disappear but suspension still going down when steering in use.

What the problem, specialist guy?
I think to put shimming in PR but have not gauge to tested. Can I put 0.3 mm shim at both cut in and cut out arrangement with calibration the unit to increase pressure?

farid · Post by **farid** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:19 am

Hi
I mean putting shims with out calibrate the unit with proper tester(don't have here in)

Because, after the new Acc sphere the sound tick also so bad ticking, sometimes in 5 sec. Or this mean the pump was weak?

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Aerodynamica · Post by **Aerodynamica** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 10:15 am

Hi and welcome,

It's difficult to say why this would happen but it sounds like there is a pressure leak of LHM at the front suspension. It might not be caused by the steering.

It can be a leaking front strut. Is the front sinking ONLY when the steering is moved to the positions you state?

The hydraulic warning light on the dashboard comes on when the pressure goes too low AND/OR if the LHM level is too low in the tank. I would check the level first.

We would need to know more about the car:

is it 'Hydractive'? or standard suspension.

Is the steering working OK itself?

My initial guess is that one front suspension strut is leaking and allowing it to drop (I had this on my old BX 14E) and the accumulator is suddenly pumping it back up -this could bring on the warning light- as a large demand can lower the accumulator pressure for a short time. This would also cause the ticking sound to occur more often even with a new accumulator.

Let us know what you discover.

farid · Post by **farid** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 1:17 am

Thank u Graeme,
As my first statement: I have old first xantia(sinker) thats mean no anti-sink sphere, pump with single discharge pipe to FDV and really not hydractive (mine xantia SX)with small pipe to mounting strut sphere.

As you said, the easier and very simple is checked the LHM level. So do I doing....its must be to checked first, it is good, the indicator in tolerance, in between the mark line.

Steering, I don't think its give the problem, may be not and I hope not. My mechanic said that this sinker was slight bit heavier than new xantia II with 2 pipes out and wit out FDV. Because after the regular cleaning LHM filter its feel slight better. also after i had change FDV.

I can say it is the standard suspension. But did you mean leaking strut is internal leaking?

Because, I noticed no leakage visible around that area. Only my brake dosouer valve not in good but can use only hissing sound when press pedal.

One more thing is front strut going down after switch off while put suspension at high setting.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:32 am

if the front strut has an internal presure leak you can check this by pulling off the strut return pipe/tube under the wheel arch,

there will be LHM pouring out of this pipe/tube,

have you also put this question over on the FCF (french car forum)sister forum to this one, as there is a lot of XANTIA specific knowledge there,

also if you know Sujit Sing in Malaysia he has a lot of citroen knowledge,

regards malcolm

toddao · Post by **toddao** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:33 am

A 'hissing doseur valve' is not a good thing and sounds like your problem. The doseur should hold system pressure and if it isn't properly sealed you'll be having braking issues next to go along with your suspension ones!
The doseur re-build is described here and all seals are still available for the later - also Xantia? - 3-slide models from Citroen. Though perhaps you could source a used Xantia doseur too and that would be better?

These system leaks are internal so you wouldn't see anything from the outside.

farid · Post by **farid** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 3:31 pm

thank u malcom
yes, i know Surjit Singh, he is good player with our toys in our country. As he recommended is to changed the whole pump set up tonew xantia II which has throw away an FDV.

That mean to put extra cost for unsure the actual problem. Anyway i'm willing to do that for real magic carpet ride back again.

farid · Post by **farid** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:34 am

Malcolm,
I put my question here because my xantia has soul with xantia set up which using FDV and might be same or should has an answer with my problem.

Anyway, try to post to FCF soon for new highlight> Thank You.

Hi Toddao,
Yes my brake valve not good also and had changed with scrap Xantia almost a year ago which original brake valve was shaking my foot as well. I try to eliminate which part were not touch before since I take this ride 6 years ago.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:15 am

brake pedle shack is usualy down to air in the brake circuit,

and the usual symton with a failing brake valve is the rear suspension sinking to the ground very soon after switching the engine off,

regards malcolm

farid · Post by **farid** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 9:49 am

Hi Citronut,
You said if Brake Valve failing will affected with sinking rapidly, in my case of course same but extra symptom with front sinking bit fast.

Want do you think?

citronut · Post by **citronut** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 1:06 pm

the rear suspension returns through the brake valve, this is why it cause's the rear end to sink,

at least on a BX this is what happens,

regards malcolm

farid · Post by **farid** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 9:55 am

Hi Citronut,

I had replaced front strut to old strut have used a long year back( used the strut back again).
Now, its seem slow to sinking after switch off the engine at normal height, when put at high setting and off the engine, it will sinking too but most slower than previous strut.

It is same to BX this featuring with 5 sphere?
Because, when stop, rear will drop first cause of brake valve.

Also, ticking of pressure regulator is much faster with new acc. sphere....

citronut · Post by **citronut** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 1:26 pm

were did you purchase the new A/C sphere and was it new or re/coned,

regards malcolm

farid · Post by **farid** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 3:15 am

Acc. sphere, I bought new, brand new and original come with original box, not Alco or some thing else which dealer claim non original parts.

The color, of course like original and not faded green like other and with numbering look and believe it not the fake one.

Also front sphere I bought new but come with new paint Silver color. Last time I re-gasses acc. sphere/ change with re-cond and re-gas the sphere sphere also didn't helped me.

Frustrated on new sphere with hissing and tok-tok sound within 3 sec.

Any different of length of the strut between other model? Noticed mine differ from replaced and running one strut.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:02 pm

maybe the ball bearing in the regulator bleed valve needs re/seating,

i have never done this myself,

but have heard of people removeing the 12mm valve with a tray underneath to catch the ball bearing,

put the bearing back in place and give it a single sharp blow useing a copper drift,

and as far as im aware there is no diference in length with all BX front struts,

regards malcolm