Same car as my post in the electrical section.

Its got twelve months mot with an observation about "slight fluid leak from rear suspension cylinder"

Any ideas?

I'm hoping it might be the return pipe.

I've never heard of a cylinder failing before although I suppose they must do.

Thanks,

Dave.

I've been running XMs for over 10 years and nothing surprises me now! Every car has had some fault that no others have, but your first port of call should be the return pipe, they all perish in time.

Peter.N.

Hi

XM's present a high risk at MOT because the suspension and brake system are interlinked. Any leak from a brake system is a mandatory MOT failure so the tester would be correct to fail an XM for a leaking suspension return pipe on the grounds of leaking brake fluid. To be given advisory status is unusual and suggests that the tester could clearly see the source and minor nature of this leak. It is always worth cleaning up any obvious signs of hydraulic fluid leaks before putting an XM in for an MOT.

On your car it would be worth finding the leak cleaning up the area and then see what happens. As Peter says rear suspensions do generate leaks. I had an estate that not long after I bought it dropped half a litre of LHM fluid from the passenger side rear suspension cylinder. It did this when stood on the drive two nights running. I topped up the LHM, cleaned up the drive and the cylinder then watched for further LHM loss. It dropped no more and needed no more LHM and has been through a couple of MOT's. Never did understand what happened.

Regards

XMexc