Off topic chat about anything you like. Doesn't have to be about XMs (though they will inevitibly come up!). You can even discuss non-Citroens in here!
I had my strut tops changed pretty recently but the new ones are already starting to rust. What a hassle!
I noticed that there was a place manufacturing tops in a material that didn't decay but they were really expensive.
I think I'll stick to regular ones.
XM Driver with absolutely NO mechanical experience!
Ciaran wrote:Everytime I see an XM with busted strut tops it makes me worry about what to do with mine....
It does make me think it must be possible to manufacture replacements, though....
Ciarán
Me too
It appears to be the steel cup that has rotted in this case - which I guess is the most likely type of failure in the UK climate?
Any form of welded repair or strengthening will require the rubber inner cup to be removed and then bonded back in place I suppose - though you might get away with a welded band around the cup - using very short bursts with a long pause between each. If the repair is evident to an MOT tester it would be failed straight away as welded repairs to suspension components are a no-no. Of course, the tester would need to know what the struts normally look like, which I guess many won't?
I need to find a rotten one to practice on (fingers crossed it won't be one of my current batch!)
Tim
1969 R16 GL - welding up
1978 R30 TS - resting up
1996 Saxo D - commuting up (?)
That type of strut head failure is the easiest type of failure to examine for and find early.
The symptoms of the metal rusting of the support base are clearly seen with the cracking and bubbling of the thin top rubber.
At the first signs I carefully strip the thin rubber then examine the extent of the rusting of the metal base.
If caught early chances are it will be no more than minor surface pitting. If so rust treat the metal and paint a nice black.
In my experience with the thin rubber gone water is no longer retained under perished rubber and the rust process stops.
MOT testers seem quite happy with the treated strut heads.
Mine did look the same a few years back and it shot up with such severity I genuinely thought
I HAD hit something as it looks just like that horrid view out after a prang. Thought I'd somehow
hit low post or something.
in here!
Are they really £390.64 each! I think I would be inclined to fire up the welder and get fabricating...
