I have a '95 xantia 2.0i vsx auto hatchback. I am experiencing very hard suspension at the rear, especially when I go over speed bumps. It is also very hard when the boot is heavily loaded or when I carry passengers. I've had quite severe tyre wear on the front and a blow out on the rear while carrying passengers. Does anyone know what is wrong? Do I need to replace all spheres or is my rear height sensor that is faulty? Also, how many spheres are there on a 95 vsx model?
Adrain The spheres have never been touched from new. The LHM has been changed recently. Which sphere should I replace or should I just do all the rear ones? The rear anti sink sphere sound promising.
I thought the suspension is suposed to go extra bouncy if its faulty, not rock hard?
( snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :
On an 11yo car? They're about 8 years overdue for replacement...
ALL OF THEM! ESPECIALLY THE ACCUMULATOR...
OK, the accumulator acts in a similar way to the battery in your electrics. If that sphere is flat, then you have :-
No reserve of pressure if the engine cuts whilst you're on the road - which means NO BRAKES. AT ALL. It's not like a normal car where you just lose the servo. You Will Have No Brakes At All.
Nothing to dampen the pressure pulses from the pump - which can crack the regulator housing.
A pump which is working FAR harder than it needs to. And which will fail sooner.
And - just to add another reason... If the front spheres are flat, then the rubber strut tops are working FAR harder than they need to - because, apart from the tyre sidewalls, they're all that's giving you any suspension. If they let go - AND THEY DO - especially on a car that's been run with flat spheres - you may well find your front struts doing this :-
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(Yes, that's an XM not a Xant - they both do it)
That's the *least* important to change. Do 'em ALL. Seriously. They're not expensive - £20 each or so. You will not believe the difference.
When the spheres are flat, you have NO suspension other than the tyre sidewalls. The bouncing is *because* it's rock hard and just bobbling from bump to bump.
I've noticed that the rear brake pads have little wear, even after 2/3 years of use. I guess this is all related to the sphere pressure. The car does take a while to pump up in the morning, but this has always been the case since I bought the car in 2000. The car has never really braked well without the engine runing.
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