What a fun day.
I've made up some retaining brackets to ensure the struts never go for an excersion through the bonnet
They just bolt to the strut mountings:
http://www.aussiefrogs.com/shane/xantia/afupload/strutretip2.jpg
Everytime I check the oil level I'll just give them a shake and ensure there not under tension. If ever I see the legs have straightened (which means they'll be probably be touching the hydraulic line to the strut), that will mean the strut rubbers have let go.
While I was playing with the struts, I put the car on high and pulled the dust cover back
I then greased the piston 3 times after moving the car from high 2 low about a dozen times.
The struts used to bind and the car would take about 1minute to drop the last centimeter if you put it on 'low', it would also slowly creak upto high if you put the car on high. Strangly it didn't bind in the intermediate positions that are used out on the road (remember this car has anti-sink valves, so the height extremeties are rarely used).
I also changed the oil, guess what this idiot did. New engine oil & filter, I also decided at each oil change I'd change the 2litres of ATF that could be drained (rather than 50,000kms or whatever they suggest...). I'm topping up the AFT after changing, hmmm this brand of ATF is a very dark red.... Start the car put it in park, fill some more..... Hmm a bit of sh!t just flowed into the funnel. HOLLY SHIT I MUST BE POURING IN OLD USED OIL :cussing: :cussing: :cussing: I do a mad sprint for the ignition key and then dive back under and whip the drain plug back out.
Gee's I hope like hell I haven't done any damage pouring a heap of crap into the automatic :nownow: Then it's a mad rush to Big W for another 5litre bottle of ATF (and a permanent marker for the shed so I can write USED OIL across containers when I pour the used oil into them ).
seeya,
Shane L.
I've made up some retaining brackets to ensure the struts never go for an excersion through the bonnet
They just bolt to the strut mountings:
http://www.aussiefrogs.com/shane/xantia/afupload/strutretip2.jpg
Everytime I check the oil level I'll just give them a shake and ensure there not under tension. If ever I see the legs have straightened (which means they'll be probably be touching the hydraulic line to the strut), that will mean the strut rubbers have let go.
While I was playing with the struts, I put the car on high and pulled the dust cover back
I then greased the piston 3 times after moving the car from high 2 low about a dozen times.
The struts used to bind and the car would take about 1minute to drop the last centimeter if you put it on 'low', it would also slowly creak upto high if you put the car on high. Strangly it didn't bind in the intermediate positions that are used out on the road (remember this car has anti-sink valves, so the height extremeties are rarely used).
I also changed the oil, guess what this idiot did. New engine oil & filter, I also decided at each oil change I'd change the 2litres of ATF that could be drained (rather than 50,000kms or whatever they suggest...). I'm topping up the AFT after changing, hmmm this brand of ATF is a very dark red.... Start the car put it in park, fill some more..... Hmm a bit of sh!t just flowed into the funnel. HOLLY SHIT I MUST BE POURING IN OLD USED OIL :cussing: :cussing: :cussing: I do a mad sprint for the ignition key and then dive back under and whip the drain plug back out.
Gee's I hope like hell I haven't done any damage pouring a heap of crap into the automatic :nownow: Then it's a mad rush to Big W for another 5litre bottle of ATF (and a permanent marker for the shed so I can write USED OIL across containers when I pour the used oil into them ).
seeya,
Shane L.
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