Comfort Spheres - CITROEN XM Internet Reference

61 Comfort Spheres

Suspension
61 Comfort Spheres
Well to be exact, we do not really have a _new_ XM, but our 1989 XM 2.0i certainly drives like new with
2 new front spheres (at Hfl 100,- (50 US$) a piece) and all the other (5) spheres refilled.
Until last friday I thought our XM was not optimal in suspension comfort in the normal-mode and pretty
hard in the sports-mode. I was wrong ! Our XM was bad in normal-mode and stone hard in sports-mode
!
Friday I went to Cypharse in the Netherlands to have the spheres checked. As it turned out the two outer
front spheres were dead and almost dead, the inner sphere was 10 or 20 bars low. So basically the cars
front suspension consisted of the inner sphere alone. On the rear axis things were not that bad, all
spheres were 10 or 20 bars low in pressure.
We replaced the two front spheres with two so called "comfort spheres", these spheres have slightly
bigger damper holes which makes the suspension softer. The inner front sphere was just refilled. On the
two rear spheres we made the pressure a bit higher then normal (this also makes the suspension a bit
softer) in order to adapt to the new front spheres. The inner rear sphere was also just refilled. (Refilling
the spheres costs Hfl 100,- (50 US$) for five (5) spheres.) The accumulator sphere was also refilled.
As a result our XM now is really very comfortable. The difference between the XM and a DS is not too
much anymore now !!
I can really recommend to have the pressure of the spheres in your XM's checked, and I can also
recommend those "comfort-spheres", they really bring a XM close to a DS regarding suspension
comfort.
Series II
Has anyone put "comfort spheres" in an XM with Hydra-active II suspension? What difference did it
make to the car's behaviour whilst driving, apart from (hopefully) improving the ride? I've got a new(ish)
v6 Exclusive, and the ride just isn't as good as my DS or CXs.
====
Is this your first XM? Suspension may be a bit harder on XMs but roadholding and handling
is better than on DS and CX. Don't try any tricks with comfort spheres. If your XM really is a new one,
the suspension should be much softer than earlier XMs. I think you just have to get used to it.
I did (I own a DS, CX and XM) too but it took a while.
If you want to be sure, have the spheres checked. Some XMs have been in stock for quite some while.
Spheres loose 1-3 bars pressure every year when they are in stock. Also check tyre pressures.
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