Citroen XM Forum

Hi All,

Now confirmed my suspension strut, 27mm top nut, driver's side, is leaking at the join of the inner and outer cylinder (2.1TD 1998).

I need one to get the car on the road.

I seem to have every strut except the one I need.

Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Lee

As far as I know all strut top nuts are the same 27mm across the flats.
It is just the different diameter threads for the middle hole that varies.
Struts are not handed and will fit either side.
Main strut variations are strut rod taper and thread diameter.

John

It's the thread diameter at the top, which takes the nut after passing through the mount (which holds the sphere) which I have in mostly 24mm.

I do have a strut with the correct top thread of 27mm but because the one removed was not symmetrical, it was assumed by the garage that they were sided.

If this assumption is wrong, that is great news, because I can use the strut that I have.

Something I did not realise.
According to the parts list your garage is right, front struts are handed.
It gets worse each side has four different variants for Mk 2 XM's depending on model and age.
Sorry about the problems that causes.
At this stage I have no idea about the actual differences or any method of part marking to sort secondhand ones.

John

The difference between sides is where the ARB drop link mounts. It is obvious when you look at a strut. The mount is towards the rear of the strut to allow for the tighter turning of the inner wheel on full lock.

Thanks John/Will.

Just to make it worse, my driver's side strut top has been replaced with one marked "XM 2.5".

Are the 4 variants due to the permutations of thread size and strut rod taper?

Provided I obtain the correct side with a 27mm thread, can I use either variant of tapered rod?

Lee

The thicker strut rod was introduced on the release of the 2.5. All diesels and 3.0 petrols then followed.

That is the strut you need.

To add detail, the struts changed P/n at rp 7321, but the strut head remaines the same, thus should fit without issue.

Series 2, 2.1 and 2.5 units are the same. (large size)

Thanks again Will, that's actually interesting.

My 1994 car is RP6491 and my 1998 car is RP7254 according to ServiceBox.

However, the front right strut top has been replaced on my 1998 car with a strut top from a 2.5L car, so it looks like the "wrong" one was fitted.

Lwdajo wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 27, 2019 8:46 pm

However, the front right strut top has been replaced on my 1998 car with a strut top from a 2.5L car, so it looks like the "wrong" one was fitted.

No. The same struts and strut tops are fitted to 2.1 and 2.5 litre cars. There is no change in the strut top even though the strut did change part number. Possibly, that was a supplier or minor change, but irrespective the strut top remained the same so either strut must physically fit correctly.