Back On The Road, XM V6 Estate, spere query.

HI,

I'm thinking of getting my V6 XM back on the road, and treating it to a full set of spheres. Normal wheel spheres seem accesable, but apart from the centre spheres there's one odd looking beastie tucked way above the various pipes, brackets and bits of bizarre plumbing at the rear of the car. Doesn't look in the least accessable, unless one contemplates cutting a hole through the flat deck above. Does anyone know what this sphere does? Is it anti sink? I thought the series 2 Exclusive Estates didn't have anti sink. Also, how good is the sphere removal tool GSF are selling for £30 plus VAT and delivery? Spending the best part of £40 for a tool I would seriously not want to use more than once every couple of years is maybe a bit steep. Does it have any other uses; shifting awkward nuts, opening jam jars; removing stones from horses hooves maybe?

Or should I just consign the XM to memory, (some happy, some not, all interesting)and buy the Rover 214 a friend's offered me for £200?

Happy motoring,

Jim.

Jim, why giving up your xm now that you have almost sorted it? That's wrong psychology.

George

XM - Rover 214 not in the same league, or has your XM bancrupted you?

Peter.N

The extra sphere at the back sounds like the so-called "anti-sink sphere". If so, I shouldn't lose too much sleep over it; it's only function is to provide a reserve of pressure for the rear brakes in the event of sudden hydraulic failure, in which case the anti-sink valve would close and cut off the brakes' normal supply. I don't think Citroen ever intended anybody to change that particular sphere!

Derek

Thank you Gentlemen,

No, my XM's not bankrupted me, but since my stroke it's been languishing in a garage in Forfar. I've got my licence back now, so I have to make the decision; do I get my gentleman's carriage back on the road or opt for something more affordable, but arguably less `fun'. By affordable, one must take into account the fact that the Rover 214, complete with 1 years MOT would cost less than replacing the spheres alone on my XM. I don't know whether I need a full set; it had new wheel spheres fitted by the previous ownder just onder 3 years ago, but with a full set I'd know that if the rear was still very slow to rise and the ride was still harsh, it wasn't the spheres at fault.

If the odd sphere lurking inaccessably at the back is `anti-sink', could it being tired be the cause of the back sinking after parking up for the night?

Regards,

Jim.

No Jim, as I said the only purpose the anti-sink sphere serves is to provide a back up supply of pressure to the rear brakes in the event of hydraulic failure.

Tracing and curing (fairly) rapid sinking at the back end can be expensive as it can only be caused by internal leakage of one or both suspension units or a component in the anti-sink system.

If you are prepared to accept a half minute wait in the morning whilst your car pumps up, I'd be inclined to leave well alone. Interestingly, the reason why Citroen introduced anti-sink was because they split the pump output with the majority going to steering and front brakes, and only two pump cylinders supplying the suspension - on the old system all the output was available to the suspension once the steering and brake requirements were met.

Glad to hear you've recovered from your stroke, now is the time to enjoy yourself and that will be best done with your XM!

Derek

Hi Again Jim

I also am pleased to hear that you have your license back and able to hopefully enjoy driving again. But I cant help saying that if you can afford it you will enjoy it much more in your XM.

I am retired (theoretically) but still do about 20k a year in my XM. Since my mother sadly died, I am now in a position to buy a 'modern' car but so far I havn't found anything to match the XM for ride quality, comfort, space, economy, and that I can repair myself, so I am going to keep it as long as I can.

Peter.N.

If the odd sphere lurking inaccessably at the back is `anti-sink', could it being tired be the cause of the back sinking after parking up for the night?

Not entirely the whole story, I have to say. But if it were replaced the car would NOT sink overnight (or over-week either).
And replace the centre rear sphere at the same time. If the anti-sink has been neglected, so will that have been also.

Loosen the subframe bolts at one side slightly and remove the ones at the other side , then both spheres are accessible. Needs a pit or a lift for that job, however.

Further thoughts on you early queries. Spending the money to buy the Pleaides special tool will be the best you have ever spent if you have to do ANY Citroen sphere removal.

Hi Techmanagain,

Is the Pleaides tool the one sold by GSF? Even at £30 a time, I guess it makes sense to get something that makes a job that, at its best, can be descrided as `awkward', and at its worst~~~~~~~~~~~~?

Regards,

Jim.

That makes sense - my CX begins to rise even as it spins on the starter...... My old Activa took ages by comparision

Jim,

you could renew your spheres by axle if you are not sure what's going on with the ride. Of course go for the easier front ones first -that's what I did, and the difference was so noted that I was very happy to pay for changing the rear ones as well, a soon as I got the chance-.

George

Is the Pleaides tool the one sold by GSF?

Couldn't locate the tool on GSF, but the Pleiades tool is about that price. Why not go to Pleiades direct? Tel 01487 831239. Postal service. I hire mine out to neighbours at £2 a time!

Hi Combwork

Pleased to hear that you are able to drive again.

On the subject of anti-sink neither of my V6 cars have anti-sink. Both are exclusives, one 1995 ORG 6675 the other 1996 ORG 6910. Neither have anti-sink.

From its age I would be surprised if your car has Anti sink

I have only examined the anti sink on a 2.5TD as most of us only see a limited range of XM's.

On a 2.5 the anti-sink is the 4th sphere on the rear sub frame and is mounted on top of the passenger side rear arm on a bracket that is welded to the sub frame.
The bracket has a large hole (possibly threaded) and a large diameter nut to hold the sphere in place. Unusually the LHM pipe is screwed directly into the centre of the sphere.

Regards

XMexc

XM EXc

Are you saying that you have N reg, series 2 cars with 7-sucker pumps?

I didn't know that they were on any thing after the image-update in 94...and your RP's rule out the possibility of earlier manufacture followed by a long wait!

Wierd! Ah well - Citroen...

Chad