Sphere Shape

hvanman · Post by **hvanman** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:01 pm

Hi, I recently purchased 2 remanufactured front sphere's on eBay but on arrival they are different sizes (one is more egg shaped than the other).

The seller said that they were from the same manufacturer and same stock number. He has offered to refund the cost.

Is it likely that these are still ok to use, despite being different shapes, or will I risk strange handling etc?

Thanks, Simon

JayW · Post by **JayW** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 5:27 pm

one will be 400cc Bx type and one 500cc Xantia type probably. As a pair they're likely to handle differently although not significantly i doubt.

I'd be likely to question the sellers supplying knowledge to send you such odd parts.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 6:18 pm

the egg shaped spheres were more common on CX's,

i wouldnt buy re/manufactured spheres brand new are so cheap nowadays from the likes of GSF,

regards malcolm

RxBX · Post by **RxBX** » Tue May 01, 2012 1:28 am

hvanman wrote:Hi, I recently purchased 2 re-manufactured front sphere's on eBay but on arrival they are different sizes (one is more egg shaped than the other).

The seller said that they were from the same manufacturer and same stock number. He has offered to refund the cost.

Is it likely that these are still ok to use, despite being different shapes, or will I risk strange handling etc?

Thanks, Simon

JayW wrote:one will be 400cc Bx type and one 500cc Xantia type probably. As a pair they're likely to handle differently although not significantly i doubt.

I'd be likely to question the sellers supplying knowledge to send you such odd parts.

citronut wrote:the egg shaped spheres were more common on CX's,

i wouldnt buy re/manufactured spheres brand new are so cheap nowadays from the likes of GSF,

regards malcolm

Hi All,

The 'Round/Sphere shaped' ones will be the 400cc capacity and the 'Plum shaped' ones will be of 500cc capacity !

The 'Plum Type' ones tend to be fitted mainly to the BX Estates but are used on the front for some of saloons too !

But Simon what ever you do DON'T fit different capacity ones on each side of your vehicle, likewise check that the orifice/valve sizes of the same value too !

Obviously it goes without saying you can easily fit any combination of capacity/valve size to any Green Blooded Citroen (As the thread size are all the same for all types of Sphere) but the handling/consequences will more than probably be jeopardised if not dangerous !

The most interesting combination which I came across once, was that on an XM which my brother purchased which had just been serviced and had two new front spheres fitted by a Indy Citroen garage (Supported by a recent invoice at the time) which had made the front suspension ride like a 'Pogo-stick' !

After much deliberation/checks I noticed '62' stamped into the surface of both of the spheres which where fitted onto each front suspension strut top mounts

So I thought, best to remove the spheres to inspect/check them to confirm my suspicions that these maybe Accumulator spheres which had been fitted, (which indeed they where) hence providing the ride/suspension of a pogo-stick

So much for even some 'Citroen Indy' garages supposedly 'Knowing there onions' !

So Simon, IMHO (a bit like your E-Bay Seller) they obviously don't know 'Their Ar$e' from their Elbow'

Anyhow, to check out your sphere type (Volume/Pressure/Damper) and vehicle type click on THIS pdf !

I hope that the /\ may be of help to you and others

.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » Tue May 01, 2012 8:33 am

i fitted GS fronts to the rear years ago and if you just tickled the throttle pedal the rear would hit the bump stops,

regards malcolm

Post by **Defender110** » Tue May 01, 2012 9:00 am

Thanks Richard I've not seen this chart before, interesting read. I notice AMTEX don't alter some of the spheres where Citroen do. i.e. Citroen fit differnt rears to the N/A diesel to the Turbo where amtex use the same?

hvanman · Post by **hvanman** » Tue May 01, 2012 9:19 am

Thanks for some great feedback. My car is an estate and they were advertised as being for an estate but it looks like the wrong one had got to the bottom of the parts bin...... just my luck.... I will send them back as mixing does not sound like a good idea. Cheers for the help.

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Tue May 01, 2012 9:49 am

Defender110 wrote:I notice AMTEX don't alter some of the spheres where Citroën do.

Like many pattern manufacturers, I assume they want to minimise the different items they sell when they already have something that 'will do'.

hvanman · Post by **hvanman** » Tue May 01, 2012 2:46 pm

While checking the spheres on the car (Turbo estate) at the moment, I see they are 95630610, which are in the sheet from Richard as being for a turbo diesel saloon and have a different damper value. I had noticed the car sometimes had a strange bouncing feel at the front under certain road conditions, I wonder if this was the cause?

citronut · Post by **citronut** » Tue May 01, 2012 8:46 pm

so what make brand were the remanufactured spheres you bought ,

regards malcolm

hvanman · Post by **hvanman** » Tue May 01, 2012 11:35 pm

There was no marking on the box, the advert said "Drivelink" but one had a citroen part number that was on Richards list and the other had a code format that did not match any on the list so must have come from a different source! Hopefully Citromobile may turn up a couple of good/cheap ones!

citronut · Post by **citronut** » Wed May 02, 2012 8:03 am

brand new AMTEX from GSF aren't a fortune,

and they are not re/con

regards malcolm

hvanman · Post by **hvanman** » Wed May 02, 2012 10:38 am

The ones I originally went for were £17, so a good bit cheaper, but in the end a waste of time, so if Citromobile is no better than GSF for good items then I will be popping in there...

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Wed May 02, 2012 9:05 pm

Forget GSF, get WESTROEN one's, they come with a 3yr warranty & only cost £30 each, i've had a few now & they are superb. They are re-con genuine citroen spheres, so will last & they will even fit them for free if you turn up at their premises (Manchester).

xac · Post by **xac** » Wed May 02, 2012 11:06 pm

AEP are cheaper than GSF now (and have a better website) so there's another alternative to throw into the pot

The Westreon warranty only covers if the sphere fails not if 3 months down the line it's flat.