Paging the resident CXperts

[wuvvum]

As I mentioned elsewhere, my CX has developed an LHM leak from the front suspension.  It had a very slight weep when I bought it, which has got steadily worse since (apart from a brief respite when it was bodged up for the MOT...), and it's now losing rather a lot of fluid overnight.

 

It seems to be coming from a return pipe, as it doesn't come out under pressure and doesn't leak at all when the engine's running.  It seems to be getting pushed out as the car sinks.

 

Surprisingly, although this is my 8th CX, I've never had to contend with a major LHM leak before, so I don't really know what I'm doing.  I've taken a picture of the front strut where the leak is coming from - can anyone tell from the photo how much of an arse it's likely to be to fix?  At the moment it's effectively putting the car out of action - if I were using it as a daily I'd be doing 30 quid a week on LHM.

 

[Lankytim]

If it's anything like Xantias or XM's it's a £12 pipe that takes about 10 mins to fit, or just cut the pipe off next to the strut and replace the old perished section with a bit of washer jet pipe or something.

[dollywobbler]

What Tim says. Can't recall the set up on the CX but can't be too dissimilar. Remember a garage successfully bodging up a return with bits of copper pipe on my first BX. As you say, only really leaks out as the car sinks.

[artdjones]

Looks like the gaiter on the rear of a BX or Xantia.Might need a new gaiter.These Citroens are made so that the ram leaks a little into the return system so the gaiter will always have fluid in it.When the car drops it will get pushed back to the reservoir or out of a hole in the gaiter or return line.

[Bren]

I think most times a new section of pipe is grafted in rather than having the lot replaced.

[mrcitroen]

Looks like you need a front gaiter. But just double check that the two pipes are fully pushed into the spigots on the gaiter.

CX front strut is basically the same as the rear except it sits vertically. The two pipes that go into the gater are return and breather. As said above, the struts are designed to leak.

 

If it is like the GS, the gaiters front and rear are the same. It is a slightly different setup to BX, Xantia and XM where a return harness is clamped onto the strut body.

[jonathan_dyane]

It's hard to see from the picture but it may be the gaiter which is fucked. Not an awful job if the retaining pin which holds the piston rod into the upper wishbone isn't seized. Might be worth a squirt of release oil...

[Bear]

What they said, pretty much. I never encountered leaks on my CX struts so no experience to offer here!

[wuvvum]

Thanks for the pointers - looks like it's time to track down a new gaiter then.  EBay is no help - I'll have a look round the specialists.

[mrcitroen]

Try Malcolm Lockwood in Bradford 01274 640590 or AEP in Glasgow 0141 647 0800. Malcolm is generally quite helpful and has loads of NOS parts.

 

Hopefully the pushrod pin will come out OK but it may be wise to get a new one and also get a new gaiter clamp while you are at it. It may be worth replacing the other side as well.

[artdjones]

Also might be worth checking that the return line isn't blocked if the gaiter doesn't look perished.I have seen that once on the back of my father in law's BX.

[forddeliveryboy]

Getting harder to source the dust covers, the double ring superloopy clips used to cost more... this is the number you need to google: 95549188. Cx Basis in Germany usually have them at a price, Citrotech in Holland are cheaper if they can supply. I found this page http://audi.autogroup.sk/index.php?s=95549188&price=CITROEN last time I looked, before I unearthed a s/h one at the back of the garage.The clips are about a tenner, unless you try your luck with these: www.hcl-clamping.co.uk/40-double-wire-screw-hose-clamp-mollfam which are well under £1.

 

Rear cylinder dust covers were almost unobtainium last time I looked, although I think C5 ones will substitute, which are less than £10 for OE on ebay. 

 

For future reference, this is the number for the CX rear covers -

saloon: 5484368

estate: 5461864

[320touring]

This thread is relevant (or eill be) to my interests!

[mrcitroen]

I found out yesterday that the BX rear gaiters are now unobtainable from Citroen. It just so happens that these are the exact same as the GS ones, but the GS part No was discontinued a long time ago. Last time I got them ( a few years ago) from Citroen Glasgow I think they were just over the £10 mark.

 

I now have 2 cars that the unobtainable parts list is growing by the day!

[dollywobbler]

Chevronics is good for GS and BX stuff. Not sure they do much for CXs but they do have XM bits around, so maybe worth a call.

[wuvvum]

OK, so I got a few spare minutes today so I jacked the old crate up and whipped the front wheel off for a look.  I managed to get most of the silicone sealant off with relatively little effort, which made things a little bit easier to see.

 

 

The gaiter itself is intact as far as I can see.  The leak is coming from the lower of the two return pipes.  This is where I'm slightly puzzled - the pipe doesn't appear to be attached to anything inside the gaiter, it just slides in and out of the hole with relatively little effort (fnarr) - a bit like a vacuum advance pipe, but with a lot less resistance and obviously a lot less sealing.  I'm assuming this isn't what it's supposed to do?  How is it supposed to seal? 

[Inspector Morose]

Could be a blocked return. Try blowing gently through it, you should be able to. Strut seems a bit extra leaky too but they do do that sir. If clear, clean religiously (whichever religion you choose is immaterial) and two part adhesive is your friend...

[mrcitroen]

Plastic return pipes are indeed a push fit into the gaiter. However, they should not be as a loose fit as you describe.

 

I think you need to clean up the return pipes and gaiter a bit more to see what's going on more clearly.

[dollywobbler]

Mr Citroen - Chevronics has announced this morning that it has had gaiters for GS and BX remade. Now in stock.

[Eddie Honda]

Woohoo!

[forddeliveryboy]

Mr Citroen - Chevronics has announced this morning that it has had gaiters for GS and BX remade. Now in stock.

 

 

Not cheap - check on the forums, they may have found a solution using still available parts for a quarter of the cost. Chevronics don't do CX gaiters, the sources I've listed above are the only option unless you use C5 ones - which fit well.

 

OP - sounds like the piston/cylinder could be a bit worn/damaged, if clearing the line/some sealant on the joint doesn't do the job. I can dig out a good piston/cylinder if needed, they're not at all tricky or time-consuming to fit - nothing like the procedure on a car with struts.

[wuvvum]

Haven't had the chance to do any more to this yet - last weekend was too fecking cold.  I'm going to try clearing the pipe and then re-fitting it with a skim of glue on the end to hold it in place and then a skim of Hylomar to seal it (the silicone shit is far too clumsy for a job this size).  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that'll sort it - will update the thread either way...