M 95 S2 2.1td Autobox swap plus OTHER work

[citroenxm]

Some fun and games today.. drivers side drop link has been banging away for a few weeks so after a pair arrived yesterday I set about getting them on today...

Drivers side all went well, with no issues

Cleaned the threads off on the drop link ends with wire wheel..

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Bottom one turned so a.quick grip with mole grips stopped that and it was free..

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Bit dry in there

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New bar.. looks quite substantial.. no idea where its from i didn't order them.

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However nearside was a slightly different story. The drop link swapped over just as easily but sadly the wheel bolts gave me a different story they were very stiff and hard to remove.. and one bolt snapped off, flush with the disc however..
So I ran my thread cleaner tap through the threads and they cleaned up nicely ill tackle the broken stud when I go to do the discs. It needs discs as the drivers one got too hot when the caliper was binding for its mot..

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So thats them done for now, next I want to do 2x 3 litre fluid changes on the autobox before Wetherby.

[Dieselman]

Is it a long time since the wheel bolts were removed.
I always apply a smear of copper anti-seize grease to the threads of wheel bolts, for exactly this reason.
The seat provides the locking torque, so greasing the threads makes little difference to the actual stretch of the bolt, nor the likelyhood of it coming loose.
Most bolt torques are given with the threads lightly oiled to reduce thread friction and binding failing to give full clamping force.

I'm sure you know, but a decent quality cobalt drill bit will make short work of drilling out that stuck bolt. Maybe even tacking weld onto the end will see it removed easily as the heat will break the rust bond.
Obviously you have the thickness of the disk as projecting stud to attach to.

Looking at your pictures, the strut return pipe is on it's last legs, best to replace now before it fails.

Was that the bottom drop link ball joint with the rust in.
I can see the boot is split, but Citroen advise applying sealant to the metal/rubber joint to stop water running into the boot and rusting the joint.

[citroenxm]

It was the lower yes.. and it was the lower that had the most play.. the top is slightly sheltered by the top joint housing.. yes the strut returns are due a change.. need to get some. I think ive got some but possibly xantia ones meaning they are too short for top setting...
Reassembly actually did involve copper slip on the threads.. should ideally do the other side but they weren't half as bad.. we went for a 20 odd mile ride tonight to give a good test and it was nice n peacefull again.. I still get a knock from engine Rock at the drivers top side although all bolts appear to be tight.. its only since I had the whole lot out 3 years ago to swap the box..

[Dieselman]

I still get a knock from engine Rock at the drivers top side although all bolts appear to be tight.. its only since I had the whole lot out 3 years ago to swap the box..

Are you sure that's not the sphere knocking against the scuttle? Those saucer spheres come mighty close to the scuttle lip.

Alternatively, it could be the lower torque bush yolk banging on the subframe, due to the engine sitting lower as a result of aged engine mounts.

[citroenxm]

I dont think so, its not that kind of knock.. .. yes they are close.. but don't think they are that close to produce the knock I get..

[citroenxm]

This car despite used on and off each day is on standby .. but between then and now hasn't given any greif outside routine maintenance etc .. I did another 6 litres of dex2 change on the box ... and do actually want to do another.. despite the small milage we do each year..

I put my air conditioning vaccum pump and dials on to see what state the system was in after changing the ac compressor etc only to find I couldn't get a vaccum on the system.. so I need to go back into that and look over it..

September 8th 9th 2023 saw chevrons at little Horwood.. this year we all went and did an over night stop to break up the drive... car loaded up .. and it was hot weather too.. but she went there and back .. returning around 45mpg average, using cruise control at 70 mph where possible..

The total for the time was 50 quid of derv at @1.50ppl to go, and the return was 50 quid @1.60ppl and I still had some left when we got home.

How ever hard use of the blower motor in the car took a small roll and it stopped working on our way home..

Under trim off, I knew it wasn't the speed pack as they usually make it go fill speed with no control when the transisters go, pulled the plug off and as I suspected the negative lead had got too hot with use.. as a tempry measure I cleaned the connector reassemble the plug then after a bit of wiggling the blower come back to life with full control....

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I think ill find some higher quality and higher temp connectors and swap them over .. these low quality connectors were never suitable for the high current draw the motors do during long operation use..

Cars current milage now, 269,570 miles.

[Dieselman]

How ever hard use of the blower motor in the car took a small roll and it stopped working on our way home..

That's black leather seats for you...fit some nice light velour, or alcantara and you won't feel as hot....or cold in the Winter.
Even light leather seats are noticeably more comfortable than black, but modern leather seats always feel sweaty due to being painted with plastic paint. You are actually sitting on Pvc.

Cars current milage now, 269,570 miles.

Still clicking on.

[citroenxm]

As the Lady of the house is slowly experimanting driving an Auto, the gear selector display had gone back to showing various shapes...

So I whipped the instruments all out again, and upon looking at the pin solder joints I found more cracks, so I went over them all again, reassembled and once again we can see what gear were in properly,,

Strange for them to crack again, unless I had done a rubbish job last time, see how long it lasts this time..

[gwolfski]

Did you use lead-free solder? Lead-free solder is more likely to crack.

[citroenxm]

Not sure. Just a roll ive had for some time...