Beefing-Up ZX Suspension
Discussion
I have a Citroen ZX Turbo Diesel Volcane, which I use for towing a race car on a trailer.
I like to run the trailer with as little nose weight as I can get away with, as then it handles better and doesn’t overburden the rear suspension. The problem is of course, the car-trailer combination then tends to snake at high speed.
My thoughts are to stiffen dampers and springs and maybe put an anti-roll bar and/or auxiliary springs on the rear.
Has anyone been down this route before? Any thoughts?
Laurence
I like to run the trailer with as little nose weight as I can get away with, as then it handles better and doesn’t overburden the rear suspension. The problem is of course, the car-trailer combination then tends to snake at high speed.
My thoughts are to stiffen dampers and springs and maybe put an anti-roll bar and/or auxiliary springs on the rear.
Has anyone been down this route before? Any thoughts?
Laurence
ZX runs torsen bars on the rear, you can try to find beefier ones but they are likely to be expensive. You may find bars out of a 306 GTi-6 maybe of larger diameter which would give you a little more stiffness and then add a set of good shocks as your old setup may well be quite worn. Whatever you do to the rear make sure you do something similar to the front or the car would be a pig to drive.
Maybe look into a torsion beam off a citroen or peugeot van?
This is just a stab in the dark but one must assume they are stiffer as they are intended to carry heavier loads. And would probably be cheaper than a GTI-6 axle. Someone with more van knowledge than me will tell you which vans would have a suitably beam but Partners and Berlingo's would be a good start!
This is just a stab in the dark but one must assume they are stiffer as they are intended to carry heavier loads. And would probably be cheaper than a GTI-6 axle. Someone with more van knowledge than me will tell you which vans would have a suitably beam but Partners and Berlingo's would be a good start!
If you like the engine, replace the ZX with a Xantia or BX. The suspension enables you to tow nearly anything and in a very stable manor. The Xantia Estates are best, as they use bigger brakes than the hatchbacks and tow beatifully, yet you still get the same engine. Or failing that, you can get a 2.1TD. Aslong as its been looked after, these 2.1's are fantastic. Much more grunt and much smoother.
Hi All
Thanks for your contributions. Yes, I must admit, I had thought of chopping it in and getting a 2.0 HDI Xantia, but it really depends on if I can uprate the ZX at a reasonable price. Is rear torsion bar replacement an easy job? and once fitted, can the ride height be adjusted somehow?
Thanks for your contributions. Yes, I must admit, I had thought of chopping it in and getting a 2.0 HDI Xantia, but it really depends on if I can uprate the ZX at a reasonable price. Is rear torsion bar replacement an easy job? and once fitted, can the ride height be adjusted somehow?
It may even take more than that....they can really be seized in a treat. Plus the Volcane's sit quite low, and to adjust them otherwise would ruin the pretty sharp handling. You'd also have the shocks at full stretch alot of the time, and I'm pretty sure the passive rear wheel steering (which works by reacting to suspension travel in corners) wouldn't take kindly. Personally, I wouldn't consider it.
If you do like the ZX's, the ZX estates sit higher at the back. Could source an complete axle setup from one, as it's designed to ride higher. But personally, as I said, I'd go with the hydropneumatic. It can't really be beaten for towing unless you spend some heavy cash. On BX's and Xantia's, the heavier the towed load, the more power the suspension system applies to the rear brakes. ZX's have a mechanical version of this, like many cars, but its not an active system.
Basically with something like a Xantia, you don't really know that you're towing. Its only the lack of grunt that gives it away lol!
If you do like the ZX's, the ZX estates sit higher at the back. Could source an complete axle setup from one, as it's designed to ride higher. But personally, as I said, I'd go with the hydropneumatic. It can't really be beaten for towing unless you spend some heavy cash. On BX's and Xantia's, the heavier the towed load, the more power the suspension system applies to the rear brakes. ZX's have a mechanical version of this, like many cars, but its not an active system.
Basically with something like a Xantia, you don't really know that you're towing. Its only the lack of grunt that gives it away lol!
Kitchski said:
Basically with something like a Xantia, you don't really know that you're towing. Its only the lack of grunt that gives it away lol!
Unless you have an Activa wth a boost upgrade like me 
The Xantia really is a great car, it just looks crap, and that suspension is likely to cost more than the car is worth to maintain if it goes wrong.
I dunno there Mikey, I had an Activa with the boost played with (up to about 200bhp and 250lb ft of torque) and although it didn't struggle towing a car trailor, there was a noticable decline in power, just as you'd expect of any car really. The other downside is that the economy got EVEN WORSE! I didn't think it was possible!
If you did go for a Xantia, I'd go for a 2.1TD. Can be a bitch to replace some items like the clutch or timing belt, but its a great engine.
If you did go for a Xantia, I'd go for a 2.1TD. Can be a bitch to replace some items like the clutch or timing belt, but its a great engine.
Edited by Kitchski on Sunday 27th May 10:08
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