Damn! Blown pipe. As if life wasn't being difficult already!

[kenhall]

Hi Andrew,

As a matter of interest have you confirmed that the leaking pipe is a 3.5mm one? The pipe which I recently fixed was the 4.5mm one going to the height corrector (I think? - correction edit - as Robert says below it is the feed line to the rear brakes, the three height corrector lines are all 3.5mm) and it corroded at the first plastic pipe clip/support after turning 90 degrees to run along the subframe tube from the nearside ( mine was the innermost pipe of the group that runs front to back behind the nearside sill).

A tip for anyone who does a splice repair like I did - the 10mm a/f nickel plated tube nuts I have are a very close fit on the black epoxy painted pipe and it was very difficult to get them to slide back along the tube after flaring. I've found that running a 3/16" drill through the tube nuts makes the job a lot easier.

Ken

[andmcit]

That's a worry Ken and news to me! I wasn't trying to be presumptuous about the pipes
either as I would've said every pipe apart from the rear anti sink feed (4.5 or is it 6.35?)
is a 3mm diameter notwithstanding the large ram feed pipes!!!? I've re-piped the whole lot
on Gs's and Cx's and only encountered odd sizes at the engine/pump end. "Fortunately",
I've only had an anti sink pipe give up on me with an Xm. This could make the job much
more challenging. It seems to be dead centre just ahead of the cross tube and I haven't
had the opportunity to get under for a closer look - car is 'abandoned' at my BiL's place
as it was limped to there for safety as I was right nearby at the time!

Now there's a damned 4.5mm rogue pipe to worry about too my for-the-scrapper-Xm's are
already looking more valuable by the minute...

[robert_e_smart]

The rear brakes supply running under the car is 4.5mm, and then splits off at a K piece and reduces from there to 3.5mm to go to each caliper.

I had this 4.5mm pipe to replace on one of mine recently.

[andmcit]

Well that's just great!! Sod's law says its the 4.5 pipe although thanks guys for the info
so I'm more forewarned what to expect when I do get to have a look underneath.

[XMX]

Well that's just great!! Sod's law says its the 4.5 pipe although thanks guys for the info
so I'm more forewarned what to expect when I do get to have a look underneath.

Andrew, don't worry too much !

I phoned a supplier this morning that used to supply 3.5mm dia. Kunifer pipe in 10 metres lengths, but I'm still awaiting the return call they promised me
..................................
XMX

Update (After I called them) !
_______________________________________________________________

PIPE O/D --- MALE End/Fit. --- RUBBER SEAL ---- 'KUNIFER' PIPE - Length
# 3.5 mm -- 55p + Vat Each --- 35p + Vat Each --- £30.60 + Vat (10 metre)
# 4.5 mm -- 55p + Vat Each --- 50p + Vat Each --- £3.50 + Vat (per metre)
# 6.5 mm -- 70p + Vat Each --- 60p + Vat Each --- £3.50 + Vat (per metre) _______________________________________________________________

For the postage costs I was told it would be extra (See their on-line charges) they have to do a special 'To Order' so delivery can be up to a week to them before they dispatch the order to you (So you have to be patient) !

I don't know who supplies them, but at least its a way forward in getting a smaller quantity supplied should you need it !

Now the big moment your all waiting for is the supplier/contact details :-

Wida Components Ltd
Rutland Street
Bradford. BD4 7EA. UK.
tel :- 01274 304499

Heres the link to the WIDA ON-LINE Components Ltd. website.

I hope this maybe of help to you/others.



.

[andmcit]

Dear me. This doesn't look remotely accessible! It's on the leading edge of the near side and space to see is non existent but it's
chucking out a whole lot more high pressure fluid than it was on the weekend where it was fizzing and was probably a mist rather
than a full bore split. So you guys that have bern here on an Xm, what's the form here - I'm guessing the damned exhaust, height
corrector rod and the fuel tank need removal!? I've read Peter saying dropping the near side engine mounts need undoing and it all
get's lowered? Not like angle grinding out an inspection access hole as I've seen on Google?? Anyone have some decent instructions
and especially photos?

Impressed by next day delivery of pipe by Lockwood's!

[robert_e_smart]

Yep,

Drop the subframe, after removing the exhaust and disconnecting the rear height corrector rod. No need to remove the fuel tank.

Lift the boot carpet, and access the rear mounting bolts through the floor. Fronts are underneath the car, if you are removing the subframe to repipe the whole lot, take care and unplug the ABS sensors.

[Dieselman]

As Robert says. Dropping the subframe is actually very easy, just remember to lift the car high to start with to give plenty of access room.

[andmcit]

It's been years since I've dropped a subframe off an Xm and that was
fully removed as I was breaking the car so subtleties of what order to
remove items weren't a consideration then! Something to be
said for the Cx in this instance - yes OK there's more chance of all the
pipes being rubbish in the first place but at least there's room to get
at and renew the pipes in situ!

The damned car is in my BiL's place which is VERY public and such
a big debacle won't be widely appreciated. Plus it's 12 miles from
home and I can't even tow it somewhere to work on it as the car
transporter trailer is innoperative and to add insult to injury IT IS
the tow car anyhow!! I can actually see how some folk decide to
call it a day with their car so I must be getting weary of all this...

[kenhall]

Removing the four subframe bolts from under the car and replacing them (one at a time!) with 1 foot or so lengths of threaded 12mm rod + nuts will allow you to lower the subframe in a controlled fashion without having to use jacks etc. This method allowed me just sufficient (awkward!) access to unclip the 4.5mm failed pipe, pull it downwards, cut it and flare it. The second cut was made alongside the sill followed by flaring. A replacement piece of 4.5mm pipe was bent to the same shape as the cut out section of rusted pipe and flared at both ends. Two pipe connectors were then used to splice in the new piece.

I chose the splice option because a) the major part of the pipe was sound and b) I only had short lengths of 4.5mm pipe immediately available and replacing the whole section would have needed a 2.757 metre length (according to Citroen Service) and c) It was the quickest option for me.

Ken