It is possible to load the BX so much it doesn't go up!

[hilarystone]

I have found today when loading logs into my van its possible to load it so much the suspension does not rise properly! I have never managed to do this to a Citroen hydraulic suspended car before… But it still drove fine without any problems…



Loaded with logs as below.




Removed a few and it went up OK.

[JayW]

I once loaded a GTi 8V with the back seats down to the roof with paving bricks (in Croydon B&Q car park) and it lifted fine and had no ill effects. I thought tyres would be likely to pop before the suspension did.

I'm sure Mat has stuffed more logs than that in his!

[rutter123]

I too have had approx 1000kg in the back of my t/d, with no issues, 35 x 25kg bags of sharp sand and cement (the chap at the builders yard was speechless) and another time 25 bags of compost and regularly a full load of cut logs which weighs in at a half ton ish. Try putting that in the back of your VW golf!! Other cars are available.

[hilarystone]

I do wonder with van whether the hydraulic filters are as clear as they might be – the steering is sometimes a little heavy soon after starting…

[xantia_v6]

I have loaded a Xantia V6 hatchback with concrete bricks until the back would not rise - take one brick out and it came up to normal height, but was terribly bouncy.

Xantia breaks had larger diameter rear ram pistons to increase the load capacity. I don't know if BXs did.

[rutter123]

BX estates have the fatter rams on the rear to cope with the extra load.

[themildbunch]

I do wonder with van whether the hydraulic filters are as clear as they might be – the steering is sometimes a little heavy soon after starting…

This is pretty common - and as the fluid warms it'll get better.. My 16v is like this and I've put hydraflush in it for now... This being thinner should stop the heavy steering and might help clean out the system if you leave it in long enough..

[Jaba]

It might be related to the rear hc adjustment. What happens if you raise height lever when the overloaded suspension is not responding ? If nowt perhaps the pump or even the hc have exceeded their best before date.

[KevR]

A reasonably healthy BX should definitely lift that many logs unless they're green and soaking wet. The only time I've overwhelmed mine was with around 1500 roofing slates. At other times I've had building materials, a JCB back axle and even a whole GSX-R1100 motorbike in the back with no problems.

[hilarystone]

They were green and welsh wet… It did not go up when I moved the height adjustment lever to high…

[mat_fenwick]

I've not loaded with as many logs as that; this is about the most:



Rear tyres were a bit sqirmy but otherwise OK. However in 2005 or so I found a BX in a scrapyard with another car on its roof. As the keys were still present I brought in a battery (with the excuse of checking the engine as I was interested in buying it) and started it up purely to see whether the car would rise. It did! However that's likely to be around 1000 kg fairly evenly distributed, so possibly not as taxing as a similar weight solely over the rear.

[rmattila]

You could calculate the approximate max load by comparing the distance between high and low position of the suspension to the travelling distance of the piston within the cylinder. That ratio is the same as the average ratio of wheel load to cylinder load over the travel.

With 180 bar max pressure and 37 mm piston, the cylinder load is 1935 kg. Use the aforementioned ratio to convert that to max wheel load.