#Blingo99 in MOT FAIL shocker...

[bub2006]

I'd have come and done it mate. Only taken a few hours and have nothing scheduled for Thursday

[bub2006]

I like it with no wheeltrims. Nothing looks better than an unadorned steel wheel.

 

 

You shouldn't need any special tools, the arm bearings on the BX (with the same axle) have only needed a selection of sockets, a breaker bar, hammers and a drift pin. Although I did farm out the removal of the old bearings as they proved to be a pain to get out, but your C15's bearings have probably spent at least a decade less rusting themselves into place.

We need to investigate.....

[Eddie Honda]

 

305 estate is the same beam, 306 are totally different.

Citroen has rear-beam form here, then: C15/305 estate, Blingo/405 estate.

 

 

Apparently a special tool is required.

You shouldn't need any special tools, the arm bearings on the BX (with the same axle) have only needed a selection of sockets, a breaker bar, hammers and a drift pin. Although I did farm out the removal of the old bearings as they proved to be a pain to get out, but your C15's bearings have probably spent at least a decade less rusting themselves into place.

 

I think the special tool is being armed with some method of compressing the spring (obviously not a BX issue).

 

This thread: http://visaforum.freeforums.org/c15-rear-axle-t486.html has missing pics.

 

This old gumtree ad sheds some light: https://www.gumtree.com/p/van-trucks-parts-accessories/citroen-c15-rear-suspension-spring-compressor/1164685595

 

 

...Sorry for going massively OT

[AMC Rebel]

 and the brake compensator valve degaussing.

 

 

Did you go to Hull university?

[chaseracer]

No; Newcastle Polytechnic and the University of Wolverhampton.  But the Owd Giffer is a retired radar/data-recording engineer... 

[ruffgeezer]

I like it with no wheeltrims. Nothing looks better than an unadorned steel wheel.

 

 

You shouldn't need any special tools, the arm bearings on the BX (with the same axle) have only needed a selection of sockets, a breaker bar, hammers and a drift pin. Although I did farm out the removal of the old bearings as they proved to be a pain to get out, but your C15's bearings have probably spent at least a decade less rusting themselves into place.

 

BX is NOT the same axle, on the 305 & C15 you have to overcome a bloody great spring for which a special tool is required.

 

Berlingo beams are common only to the berlingo/partner. They are similar in design to other models but that is as far as it goes.

[bub2006]

Rear axle is best for c15 then?

[UltraWomble]

Seems to be a "thing" with PSA rear beams.

The ZX went on me, the BX and also the AX.

The C8 hasnt yet, but the rear subframe bushes are fooked and clonk annoyingly over bumps.

 

That said, even if it costs £500 for another 12 to 24 months of motoring tis cheap. Well thats the way I look at it.

[Pillock]

 

 

Nearly 200k on mine after 12 years. Only advisories in that time have been a leaky rear silencer and a bit of mildue on the rear seatbelts. Rear beam currently behaving itself too. Amazing cars.

Advisory for mouldy seatbelts?

[Guest bangerfan101]

Do all citreon's suffer from kippered stub axels? My saxo adopted the pose of a shitting dog

[cms206]

Ahh you've found me out. I've actually got a hankering for one of these:

 

 

Yeah I know, instant expensive death, but the Blingo is actually getting a bit small for all the shite a family of 4 need to take on a camping holiday.

 

I just can't justify replacing it anytime soon though, it just keeps plodding on doing everything | ever ask and costing me very little. A medium size bill could be used as man-justification for an upgrade innit.

 

 

If you're upgrading to something bigger try to get an extended drive of a Vito; we've got three (56/58/59-plate) and they are singularly the most uncomfortable thing I've ever had the misfortune to sit my arse in. The pedals are a horrible layout (much the same issue I have with the Sprinter of that age), they genuinely rot for a laugh and things which should be easy to do/get are a fucking nightmare. We've just done an offside front spring on our 59-plate for example; two days work for our PSV fitters 'cos you've got to remove the brake fluid reservoir, the header tank, the wipers, wiper linkage, wiper motor, all the trim associated with that and everything underneath it. It was a colossal arseache. They'll do a set of pads in a year too. Discs maybe a couple of years.

 

Also propshafts are a service item and the Mercedes OEM ones are gash; our two automatic ones each had three MB genuine props (roughly 15k between each prop - they're only on 60k-ish) before our local machine shop started making them at half the price but easily twice the quality. The UJs can't be replaced either so it's a whole prop each time. 

[forddeliveryboy]

Do all citreon's suffer from kippered stub axels? My saxo adopted the pose of a shitting dog

 

The Peugeot arrangement used on many Pugs and Cits is a bit prone to wear if worked hard/as time passes, there's a local lady who adores Berlingos so much she puts up with the every three-five year (60-90k) replacement axle. She rarely loads the vehicle heavily but the last 7 or so miles of roads to this part of the world are very hard on suspension.

[stephen01]

​My builder mate has one of these as his van, 54 plate diesel, it does look utterly fucked but he has it serviced every 10k and hes banged about 90k on it in four years, it owes him absolutely zero. He gives it a hard time with all the crap he chucks in the back of it. His MOT tester once refused to MOT it as it was so fucking filthy inside.

[Cleon-Fonte]

I think the special tool is being armed with some method of compressing the spring (obviously not a BX issue).

 

This thread: http://visaforum.freeforums.org/c15-rear-axle-t486.html has missing pics.

 

This old gumtree ad sheds some light: https://www.gumtree.com/p/van-trucks-parts-accessories/citroen-c15-rear-suspension-spring-compressor/1164685595

 

C15_rear_spring_compressor.jpg

 

...Sorry for going massively OT

 

Ah, my error, I had assumed standard spring compressors would do the job. But why would PSA make anything that simple?

 

Apologies for the thread hijack, I'll get back to quietly basking in the glorious Berlingoness and trying to avoid looking at the things on Autotrader (again).

[Lacquer Peel]

Because they were masters of suspension. A pliant ride, load carrying abilities, a flat, low floor and minimal wheel arch intrusion? Slightly complicated solution but it works.

[forddeliveryboy]

Because they were masters of suspension. A pliant ride, load carrying abilities, a flat, low floor and minimal wheel arch intrusion? Slightly complicated solution but it works.

Not so complicated at all, really - and better than other designs. Pretty much what Citroen came up with in 1933.

 

If only Peugeot's bean counters hadn't chosen it as the item to wear and prompt the sale of a new car. That's the sort of thing the likes of elfansafety at EU level should concern themselves with - a gradual failure mode shouldn't make something unknowingly lethal.

[rml2345]

Glad to see the Berlingo will see another year as. despite never having driven one I've got a bit of a soft spot for them.
Next time I come across one at a breakers I'll see about some OEM wheel trims to keep Mr. Wobbler happy 

[Cleon-Fonte]

Because they were masters of suspension. A pliant ride, load carrying abilities, a flat, low floor and minimal wheel arch intrusion? Slightly complicated solution but it works.

 

Don't get me wrong, I don't doubt the effectiveness of Peugeot's rear suspension designs and I appreciate them for the points you mention. And they're usually trouble-free within the car's normal design life, with the usual niggling problems only seeming to start when odd folks such as ourselves keep using them beyond that point.

 

That said, the lack of ease of serviceability (compared to the relative lack of complexity of the cars) is a valid criticism that can be applied to PSA cars generally, not just to the suspension systems.

[Lacquer Peel]

All it needed were grease nipples, which I believe can be retro-fitted.

[twosmoke300]

The rear beam is prone to wear but is a masterpiece of engineering . My wife is running a 306 hdi to tide her over and the ride quality and handling is superb .

Also because there are no struts to narrow the boot the push chair goes in across the back of the seats and leaves loads of space for "stuff"

As a contrast the mk2 focus boot looks huge but because the push chair has to go diagonally it's not as practical .

[UltraWomble]

I really do prefer this "mark" of Bingo to the newer ones.

We would doubtless still have ours if SWMBO hadnt insisted we get a 7 seater.

[richardthestag]

No reason why, if the rest of the car's good.  Better to spend the money on a known quantity than risk picking up someone else's problems.

 Knowing when to stop is the tricky bit...

[chaseracer]

I really do prefer this "mark" of Bingo to the newer ones.

 

I have looked at potential replacements (i.e. later Blingo, non-egg Picasso, Oldsmobile Vista-Cruiser...) but nothing convinced me in quite the same way as the little blue ice-cream van.

 

It's a keeper.

[cros]

Rachel Riley just offered me her arse but this thread is better.

[chaseracer]

Rachel Riley just offered me her arse but this thread is better.

 

Nah, you go ahead - we'll be here when you get back...

[chaseracer]

Glad to see the Berlingo will see another year as. despite never having driven one I've got a bit of a soft spot for them.

Next time I come across one at a breakers I'll see about some OEM wheel trims to keep Mr. Wobbler happy 

 

You must have a go next time I see you.  I have the OEM trimzz at the back of the garage somewhere...

[cros]

Nah, you go ahead - we'll need here when you get back...

 

OK I'll just be a minute.

[forddeliveryboy]

OK I'll just be a minute.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bal_LSKFK8U

[UltraWomble]

Cute - but I still prefer Carol

[Cavcraft]

I have looked at potential replacements (i.e. later Blingo, non-egg Picasso, Oldsmobile Vista-Cruiser...) but nothing convinced me in quite the same way as the little blue ice-cream van.

 

It's a keeper.

 

Agree you've done the right thing by keeping this, but if you ever do get shut and want to replace it, the Kangoo is a worthy competitor for space and drive. Mind you, mine was a petrol, not sure how long a diesel would last before it ate its injectors and chewed the fuel pump up.