Just when you thought you had a good one.

Your knowledge is wrong, then. The Xantia (and most Citroens, in fact) have radius arms attached to a central tube at the back for their rear suspension. The bearings fail on them, causing the wheels to splay out at the bottom, like this: / \

I can't remember about the bounce test, but spheres are no biggie. If he's been good, he's probably just doing you the courtesy of letting you know about potential future problems. If you get the bearings done now, you won't end up with a scored radius arm and need that repaired too.

If he was trying to rip you off, he'd have said the struts needing doing - unless of course the front was sticking, in which case, they would need doing.

Richard

I though they had trailing arms which I've replaced on a couple of Citroens (BX and XM). I know there's a anti roll bar but serpently the Haynes BoL makes no mention of radius arms. I'll have to go outside and have a look.

-- Malc

Yes, they're the same as what you know as the trailing arms. I've seen both terms used in BX land. I think both terms are accurate.

cheers, clive

Oh that's ok then. I'll replace them when they start creaking. I've replaced about 4 in the past so I reckon I've got the knack. I couldn't see anything unusual when I went outside and grovelled in a puddle just now.

-- Malc

Malc ( snipped-for-privacy@lightindigooverthere.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Tyre wear even on the insides and outsides? Put it on high, then go and sit next to a rear wheel and get somebody to drop it flat. You should hear some creaking and cracking if it's on the way out.

Yup tyre wear fine. The last 3 arms I had go creaked like blazes going over undulations, no mistaking the problem.

-- Malc