(HELP) Front Suspension Sphere Bracket, Not available any more ???

[asunaro]

Very important parts "Front suspension sphere bracket" is now "OUT OF STOCK" at all Citroen dealers all over the world !!

This parts is made of rubber which decays with age, so need to be replaced every 10 years or so, otherwise the rubber gets crack and car can not be on road anymore.

Does anyone know OEM supplier of this parts. The said Citroen Original parts number is "5271 89".
If someone does, please let me know, so that we can contact the supplier and ask them for reproduction !!

Regards,
Asunaro

[xmexclusive]

Hi asunaro

Welcome to Club-xm.
There is now a Latvian firm remanufacturing defective strut heads (sphere brackets).
Search on this web site or on club-xm.co.uk for details.
They require the original strut heads to repair which can take the car off the road for some time. So far I have had a batch of 7 repaired and am in the process of fitting them to cars. I am also collecting scrap strut heads ready for the next batch that I will send. There are a number of different strut head designs for XM's so it is important the correct type is obtained if a spare one is sent for remanufacturing.

John

This post has been edited by xmexclusive on March 02, 2011 10:41 am

[asunaro]

Dear John,

Thanks for your prompt reply.
I will do a search for this Latvian firm --- but worry a bit about quality.
No prejdudice about Latvia, but non original parts for important and vital parts of car.
Is this a common practice to many European people already with many positive feedback ??? How long have they done this sort of work ???
Sorry for my concern, but reliability and durability should be first verified by myself.

Asunaro from Tokyo

[xmexclusive]

Hi Asunaro

To meet your particular requirements I recommend that you buy from Citroen.
The parts are still available at the present.
It has been made very clear on this website that you must check the suitability for your needs of any components recommended or advice given.

John

This post has been edited by xmexclusive on March 02, 2011 05:19 pm

[asunaro]

Hai John,

I have been searching but still can not find any Citroen dealer which can supply the sphere bracket.
So, please introduce me any Citroen dealer who can offer the said parts.

You can write me to my mailing address.

Your reply would be highly appreciated.

Regards,
Asunaro

[xmexclusive]

Hi Asunro

No UK dealer now holds stock they have to be back ordered by the dealer from the factory in France. Most dealers find it easier to say not longer available. I am aware of people who have obtained this way in the last year. As soon as stocks run out we doubt that Citroen will reorder. It is for this reason that I have chosen the remanufacturing route. I expect to keep my XM's for quite a few years so have decided to hold enough spare strut heads for all my cars.

John

[asunaro]

Hi, John,

Thanks for your reply.
I will also investigate the remanufacturing, but still have a great concern about quality of remanufactured parts.

Regards,
S. Suga

[razor]

QUOTE (xmexclusive @ March 02, 2011 10:28 am) 

Hi asunaro
Welcome to Club-xm.
There is now a Latvian firm remanufacturing defective strut heads (sphere brackets). 
They require the original strut heads to repair which can take the car off the road for some time. So far I have had a batch of 7 repaired and am in the process of fitting them to cars. I am also collecting scrap strut heads ready for the next batch that I will send. There are a number of different strut head designs for XM's so it is important the correct type is obtained if a spare one is sent for remanufacturing.
John

There is also a firm i Stockholm Sweden that remanufacturing defective strut heads. They too require the original strut heads to repair. I dont know the price (yet)...

[ActivaV6]

QUOTE (razor @ April 19, 2011 01:52 am) 

There is also a firm i Stockholm Sweden that remanufacturing defective strut heads. They too require the original strut heads to repair. I dont know the price (yet)...

Bonjour,
Je suis un membre de Passion Chevrons, forum des véhicules Citroën en France. Possesseur d'une Xantia Activa, cette voiture est confrontée aux mêmes problèmes que la XM, rupture des dômes de suspension. Je suis intéressé par le nom et l'adresse de cette entreprise.
Merci
Hello,
I am a member of Passion Rafters, forum of the Citroën vehicles in France. Owner of a Xantia Activa, this car is confronted to the same problems that the XM, rupture of the suspension domes. I am interested by the name and the address of this enterprise.
Thank you

This post has been edited by ActivaV6 on May 15, 2011 11:05 am

[xmexclusive]

Seach the forum.
Set to 365 days,
subject: strut mounting,
members name: KINGas.
This should get you a long thread with the Latvian photos and description on pages 6 and 7.
Company website is: www.elastomer.eu

Best regards

John

[ActivaV6]

Merci,
Cette entreprise est connue du forum.
C'était pour comparer le type de rénovation avec celle de Stockholm.
Surtout dans la rénovation des parties métalliques.
amitiés françaises.

Thank you,
This enterprise is known of the forum.
It was to compare the type of renovation with the one of Stockholm.
Especially in the renovation of the metallic parts.
French regards.
Daniel

[xmexclusive]

Sorry, I missunderstood the information you were seeking.
I have not seen any technical details of recent Stockholm rebuilt brackets.
There has been some comment on our other XM forum that the price is around twice that of the Latvian rebuild.
A few years ago there was a Scandanavian system of a kit for glued on metal top clamps. I think there have been a few reports on its use on our sites.
I never considered it quite good enough for the price to want to try a set.

John

[ActivaV6]

Merci

[razor]

QUOTE

A few years ago there was a Scandanavian system of a kit for glued on metal top clamps. I think there have been a few reports on its use on our sites.
I never considered it quite good enough for the price to want to try a set.

I think you mean the "Nylanderfästet" or maybe the " THÖRNQVISTFÄSTET".

The rebuilt brackets are rather new, and I don´t know anything about the quality yet. When I first heard about it a year ago, the price was 600 SEK.

[xmexclusive]

Thank you razor for the links.
I looked at the description of the Nylander kits a few years ago.
I was not particularly happy with the insitu welding needed.
At the time the kits could only be obtained as matched pairs and I needed 3 strut heads all of the same hand. The cost of a kit then was around £130 plus carriage.
This later version seems to use overlapping plates to avoid the need for welding.
The price again converts to around £130 and hopefully this is also for a matching pair.
It would seem that both these systems do not install new elastomer but rely on high strength adhesive to rebond the damaged unit.
I have doubts that this would be an adequate repair to strut heads with badly torn elastomer.

John