Front height corrector leaking (renamed)

[andycadabra]

http://s951.photobucket.com/albums/ad35 ... id%20leak/

I've been through the Haynes manual and exploded diagrams in parts list, but can't find anything resembling this.
It's situated between and (slightly above the level of) the subframe and driveshaft on the drivers side, like a miniature wheel about 2.5 inches in diameter, and lhm fluid seems to be leaking from the rubber membrane?, and falling on to and then dripping from the rubber hydraulic pipes below.
I've just had an engine change done by a sloppy garage and it's highly likely that they've damaged something vulnerable in the engine bay, especially as they insisted on taking out and replacing the engine from underneath (breaking one of the pipes of my heater tap in the process which has taken me hours and hours to fix!)

[mat_fenwick]

That's your height corrector. I've never done it but apparently is easy to rebuild. If the car is mobile it might be worth contacting Malcolm for help, if he doesn't see this.

[andycadabra]

Thank for the quick response Mat - as this seems to have been existed since the engine change, do you think it's something that the garage have damaged (such as damage to the rubber membrane, if indeed that is designed to contain fluid), or is it just something that gets ill on its own?.
Even if they were responsible I doubt they'd have the knowledge to fix it, bearing in mind you've suggested a 140 mile round trip to benefit from Malcolms expertise!

[andycadabra]

I think I didn't recognise it from the manual because it's supposed to have a dust cover over it. According to Haynes, it can't be serviced or repaired. However Citroen classics in Staines have a servicing kit for leaking ones.

http://shop.citroenclassics.co.uk/heigh ... -253-p.asp

I'm hoping I can replace the parts in the accessible leaking side in situ.

[Vanny]

I think i'd wan't to avoid doing it on the car, getting any dirt in will seriously hamper the performance of the suspension. Not to mention the speaking that will go on when you drop something from the innards. Personally i've never found the front one too difficult to get off, though i believe some people dread the idea of fighting with it.

[andycadabra]

It looks fairly staight forward, Vanny - Undo the bolt, remove the diaphragm and big washer holding it in place and put new one in adding the ring to hold diaphragm and cover the garage presumably knocked off and discarded.. Off course I'll de-pressurize the system first..

[citronut]

the side of the H/C you see in your photo can very easily be replaced in situe, just watch carefully as you dismantle,
so firstly you dont loose the spring or other bits,
secondly so you know which order it goes back together,

undo the 8mm nut remove the metal disc, then with a small tray underneath lift the outer lip of the diaphragm and pull it from the center spindle ( its usually tight coming over the threaded section )
under the diaphragm there is a very thin stainless steel disc and a very light/soft spring ( no real tension/load at all )

these are the only bits you will need to take off,

DO NOT GET UNDER A HYDRAULIC CITROEN WITHOUT IT BEING FIRMLY SUPPORTED ON STANDS

obviously clean the area thoroughly with petrol before taking anything apart

this will have been caused by the engine change,

also your H/C would have had a plastic cap as there is no alloy retaining ring around the edge of the diaphragm

Martin at Pleiades on
01487 831239
sells a H/C overhaul kit for around £40 quid including postage

he doesent sell individual diaphragm's and dust covers anymore

[andycadabra]

Thanks for the detailed instructions, Citronut. Citroen Classics say that their kit provides all the parts needed to re-seal a leaking height corrector - 2 x diaphragms, 2 x rings to hold diaphragms, 2 x dust covers. I can get that for £32 Inc postage, but if there is a possibility I might need other parts it might be better to get Martins (on the basis this would presumably contain enough to service the whole unit).
When I first noticed the leak was coming from the height corrector I felt the 8mm bolt to be a bit loose and presumed that that was why it was leaking, so I tightened it up, only to find that the front-end wouldn't rise at all unless on the highest setting, so I loosened it again, and added fluid, but today the suspension is hard again, and the ride height lower than it should. Does the tightness of this bolt have a bearing on this or is it just a result of getting low on fluid? I can't really use it as it is.

[citronut]

nop thats the same as Martins kits come with,
if you have a poke about in the dark corners of you engine bay you might find the plastic cap/lid your H/C would have had, which is instead of the alloy ring and rubber dust cover,

in fact it does not come with the alloy rings,

if you cant find it ask the garage that did the work if they found a black plastic caplaying on the floor under were your car was worked on

regards malcolm

ps.
Martins does come with three pipe seals though

[andycadabra]

Thanks Malcolm for the info, but do you think the tightness of that bolt is important, as tightening it seemed to coincide with my front suspension becoming useless!. Before that it was just a leak.
I don't suppose a radiator clip would hold the diaphragm in place enough to prevent it leaking, at least temporarily?

[citronut]

you will probably find the diaphragm is split were they have bashed it with the engine,

if the kit you mentioned has the alloy retaining rings i would purchase that and just use the bits you require for one side

if you have seriously over tightened the spindle nut you could damage the H/C


regards malcolm

[andycadabra]

Malcolm -I was afraid you'd say that! I did tighten it but only with a small spanner - I don't usually overtighten bolts but if this one's really delicate.. . If I had damaged it, would the parts I damaged possibly be the pipe seals included in Martin's kit?, if not I'll stick with the Citroen Classics one and just hope that the leak is responsible for the loss of front suspension.

[citronut]

no no no
i thought you meant you had massively tightened the nut in the center of the diaphragm,

i think if you have used more leverage on this nut than required, all this would do is rotate the spindle which will probably un hook the ball coupling from the linkage at the other end of the H/C,

if you have over tightened the pipe flair nuts this could just fracture the pipe/s,

i very very seldom find i have to fit new pipe seals but just re/use the old ones

regards malcolm

[andycadabra]

I wouldn't say I massively tightened it, Malcolm, and I definitely haven't touched the pipe flare nuts. I bought the kit online from Citroen Classics, only to receive an e-mail within 2 hours stating that they were out of stock for the next 2 weeks at least, so contacted Martin, who's going to send the same kit today, albeit at a slightly higher price.

I wonder what's happened to mess up the front suspension. At the moment the height from the ground to the lowest part of the sill is varying between 14.5 and 16.5mm, and the suspension is hard but functions. It will rise to the other settings, yet the intermediate ride height is as hard as the maximum. The manual gives a front ride height of 16.6mm but I don't know if this is measured to the bottom of the sill or from a slightly lower point.
I remember when I was first investigating the leak, the 2 bizarre bits of hydraulic pipe that resemble giant springs were sitting slightly lower than the bottom of the subframe so I bent them so they'd be more protected in the event of driving over something nasty, so I'm not sure if that's affected anything. From what I can tell, the ride height can be adjusted where the collar of the lever from the height corrector meets the anti-roll bar

[citronut]

i thought you had tightened the pipe nuts as you were asking if you would need pipe seals as you thought you might have damaged then in your tightening,
or did i miss read you reply

do not touch/adjust the clamp on the ant roll bar firstly as i dont think it has been moved and secondly untill you have checked everything elss

regards malcolm