Citroen XM Forum

Hi guys......

Ive just noticed that all the diagrams of the suspension set up on 1992 XM's only show 6 spheres, 3 front and 3 back.....as they are hydractive, why dont they have 8 like the hydractive Xantias do? Its like the front and rear accumulators double up as hydractive spheres...?

Also linking into this, how long do they take to rise...the Xantias take 1.5 minutes from rest. Are they all sinkers?

If they rise quick and are sinkers then im stoked as i like to drop the Xantia to low when i park it for a bit as it keeps the height correctors and linkages from seizing up

Hi Vince

Welcome to the world of XM's.
The original Hydractive suspension was developed on the early XM's.
Took a few goes so there is a bit of variation out there.
By 1992/3 the system had progressed to the Hydractive 2 that you know from the Xantia.
The cut over for the XM's was late on in the Mk1 production.
All Mk1 XM's were sinkers and also some of the Mk2 XM's.
The early system suspension switch does what it says.
None of this let the ECU decide rubbish, you control the early XM suspension.
These early XM's have unique suspension ECU's (3 versions with some variants).
A single electrovalve (2 non interchangable versions).
Also the joys of pipework and strut variations.
Lots of the parts are no longer available.

None of this really matters.
You will find plenty of us that believe the early systems are very reliable.
The acid test is that we have many long term owners and that few ever need or wish to give up on their cars.
The forum here will quickly determine which variant you have.
All the info you need will be supplied.

Best of luck, enjoy the new XM.

John

Hi Vince,

yep there's x3 spheres at each end on the car you'll be getting with of course the
main accumulator at the front but then that's it. They'll settle quickly onto their
bump stops being 'sinkers' and take under a minute to fully rise again.

All the best, Andrew

The car vince is concerned about has the later hydractive 2 system with sinker setup. being an s1.5 it has the most reliable setup which useually always work! and this K reg turbo D setup does work.. firstly because i tried it.. secondly when the car is started it "jumps" slightly which i beleve is a character of qorking hydractive...

So vince you have three spheres across the front and three spheres across the rear.. no anti sink sphere as she is a sinker and has a aix piston pump so comes up in around 15 seconds or so from rest.. and you have the regulator sphere on the gearbox.. thats it.. and it all works.. is not compatible with later systems and more reliable then earlyer 1989 to early 1992 systems

.

It shouldn't jump up, but I suspect a bit of use will sort that, failing that a hydraflush session.

I have my '92 on LHM + a splash of diesel at present and other than needing regassing, it's very smooth now.

I'll be getting onto the regassing and changing the LHM once well enough.

Yes they do.. a working hydractive sinker xm. gives a nidge when you first start the car.. my v6 sei on a 1992 also did it too.. the black turbo onyx on a 1993 also did it.. i dont mean a big jump up in the air.. just a small nudge...

Never ever experienced this nudge you mention Paul and despite concentrating on
The earlier cars do have several 92/83 era s1.5's including my KYAC 2.0i TCT
and the 24v both of which have the cars riding perfectly!

Neither of mine do, I've been out in the cobalt one this afternoon. They shouldn't really as the Hydractive valve should open when the door is opened to switch the system into soft mode to stop this happening.

Ah one of these only happens to paul things again then.... oh well..

Hey, we're not all ganging up on you Paul...