Citroen XM Forum

russ92xmsed wrote:What I said as I saw that!!!

It makes me cry - especially on an Activa...

It's one of the things I fear every time I hit a pothole or bump. I wince every time!

russ92xmsed wrote:It's one of the things I fear every time I hit a pothole or bump. I wince every time!

Funny you should say that Russ... I do too and just after Christmas I fully intend to have mine off and send them to Mr. Kingas for refurbishment... I hate a bonnet with tents in it...

Speed bump + naff strut tops = double struter!

No more Andrew....it's too painfull.

I'm jealous.... I want to do that on the drivers side. It looks a little crusty, but I'm assured it's okay. I have treated it and it seems fine. The other side is like new.
One thing I do notice is on hard lock turning to the right, it sort of judders a little.....

There is a little surface rust present. Nothing nasty, a rub back and some dinitrol will stop that. Seasoned Xm owners know about rust. Most xantias are prone to the same problems.

Last piccies I promise! It's not just Xantiae that suffer:

A 2.0i I had this unfortunate failure on:




the rubber failed NOT the cone shoulder!!

That really is enough disturbing images for one evening Andrew This page should carry a warning like on the BBC news to say that it contains distressing images and those of a sensitive disposition should not look...

I have one of those suspension things on my workshop and looked at it. I still find it hard to find to see if/when or how the state is. On the last picture I cannot see any rust. Every year I look underneath the plastic covers with a mirror and every year I see the same i.e. nothing strange. How can you properly see the problem starting apart from the rust that I don't like too much on Robert's Xantia?

You need to peel back the rubber on the curved section just under the dome below where the sphere screws in. Failure occurs when moisture gets in under the rubber and sets up corrosion. The rubber is not necessary for any protection. Often on a bad one you can see blistering in this rubber and fine cracks. That's a sure sign rust has got hold underneath it. If you peel back the rubber you can then do some serious strength checks with a hammer and punch and if all passes muster it can be de-rusted and painted for protection. The get up in under and spray a load of rust prevention wax in after first driving out any dirt and moisture with an air line and some heat. A job best done during a fine settled dry spell in the summer...

The bottom plate can rust too and again because moisture gets trapped under the rubber. If you see it bubbling again this is a sign and gain if you catch it quick it can be saved. That pate can develop holes which allow you to see the road from the top...

S2 Xantia strut tops seem to last much better than S1 tops. Whether or not it's just because they are newer and not had time to fail yet is a moot point.