BRUSH STATE OF HEALTH CHECK (AGAIN) DUE TO OIL SEAL FAILURE 21-7-2021 Total miles 130185

 A few miles after refilling the SA18 gearbox I noticed oil dripping from the brush inspection cover on the bottom of the motor. - oil seal at left end of motor failed.

The problem with this is the oil contaminates the brushes and commutator causing sparking, high brush wear poor power output and other bad things.

Re-assembled with springs brushes screws etc:-

Close up of double becu spring

Brushes checked before reassembly

Check brush length 40mm left

Cleaned up commutator surface using white spirit and a rag

Rotating commutator to check all bars

GENUINE vs FAKE PEUGEOT CITROEN BERLINGO TORSION BARS - BE WARNED !

 Back in March 2021 I gave up on the soft iron ebay torsion bars and decided to order genuine parts from Citroen main dealer. Cost £357 for a pair. They finally arrived on 1st July 2021 ! These have been fitted in the same way as before see images. The genuine bars are much stiffer raising the rear end 4 inches ! Previously the bars just twisted until the trailing arms rested on the rubber bump stops. Finished - back is 4 inches higher

2 bars = left side bar

Forcing new bar into position with slide hammer & pre-tensioning ONE spline.

Refitting location screw right side - note rotation trailing arms.

New rod located and screwed in left side

20 Ton Hydraulic ram used to assist pulling torsion rod through

M8 Draw bar snapped right side !

New rod going in left side

Old rod coming out left side

New torsion rod left side hammering home.- this could take several hours to get position correct.

Right side refitting locking washers and screws - clean out groove carefully. You need to think carefully when refitting the new torsion rods or you will find you have blocked access to the fixing screws!!!!

Using slide hammer to wack the new rods in right side 

New torsion rod labels have a hologram

New and old torsion bars side by side

Fake rods have a larger diameter but bend because they are just mild steel

New torsion rod labels have a hologram see part numbers thtse are 1000kg rating

32 spline end

30 spline end

New torsion rod labels have a hologram

New torsion rod labels have a hologram

New torsion rod labels have a hologram

New torsion rod labels have a hologram

Finished - back is 4 inches higher

Finished - back is 4 inches higher

Fake torsion bars - back is so low I cant get the jack under the back !!

Fake ebay torsion bars fitted - wheel is resting on the bump stop !

EBAY FAKE TORSION BARS = REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE 128173 MILES

 The suspension had been getting lower and lower so I decided now the weather has improved I would rotate the torsion bars at the rear to raise it back up.

I made a tool to pre-tension the torsion bars.

An extension bar is needed to twist the rod ONE spline ! (about 10 degrees)

While maintaining torque, hammer in the torsion rod!

Other side being done

Hand made tool and slot cut in end of torsion bar.

Close up of tool

Tool and M8 studding + M8 nut

End of tool

Damper MUST be disconnected !

Replace washers

Rod in position tool removed

Now the SAD bit. After refitting the dampers and road wheels , I had gained 2 inches of lift at the rear. However after driving over some speed humps the bars twisted and I lost about 4 inches at the rear!

The torsion bars were sourced from EBAY and are clearly not high carbon steel. They are just mild steel hence the price £32 each. WARNING they are NO GOOD they are soft steel and cant be hardened. The genuine ones are £300 a set and I am going to order them. Don't waste your time on cheap ones on EBAY !