Replacement spheres
To start with, these are the spheres originally fitted:
Model and ORGA | Part number | Volume [ccm] |
Pressure [bar] |
Bore [mm] |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Citroën | Tecnosir | ||||
Front spheres | |||||
BX 11 Berline/Break –3877 |
95 630 572 | 401550 | 500 | 55 | 1.80 |
BX 14 Berline/Break | 95 564 253 | 241550 | 400 | 55 | 1.80 |
BX 15/16/17/19/D Berline/Break –3877 3878– |
95 630 572 96 024 563 |
401550 401553 |
500 500 |
55 55 |
1.80 1.65 |
BX 19 GTi –3877 (inc. Sport & 4x4) 3878– |
95 630 610 96 024 568 |
401552 401551 |
400 400 |
55 55 |
1.65 1.40 |
BX 19 GTi 16V | 96 002 148 96 087 641 |
401450 ? |
400 | 45 | 1.25 |
BX 17 xD turbo | 96 024 568 | 401551 | 400 | 55 | 1.40 |
BX 14 Berline GE* BX 11/16/19/D Berline GE* –3877 BX all Breaks GE* –3877 BX all Breaks GE* 3878– BX 19 GTi GE* with ABS GE* |
95 564 255 95 630 575 95 630 575 96 024 565 96 024 569 96 002 145 |
? ? ? ? ? ? |
400 500 500 500 400 400 |
55 ? ? 55 ? ? |
1.80 ? ? 1.65 ? ? |
Rear spheres | |||||
BX 11/14/15/16/19/D Berline | 95 564 974 | 562400 | 400 | 40 | 1.10 |
BX 11/14/15/16/19/D Break –3877 3878– |
95 606 143 96 024 566 |
342400 402401 |
500 500 |
40 40 |
1.30 1.10 |
BX 4x4 | 95 564 252 | 402402 | 400 | 40 | – |
BX Sport | 95 630 609 | 402302 | 400 | 30 | 1.10 |
BX 19 GTi | 95 635 425 | 402400 | 400 | 40 | 1.10 |
BX 19 GTi 16V BX 19 GTi with ABS |
96 002 158 | 402301 | 400 | 30 | 0.70 |
BX 17 xD turbo Break | 96 032 914 | 402403 | 500 | 40 | 1.00 |
BX all Berlines GE* BX 11/14/16/19 Break GE* –3877 BX 11/14/16/19 Break GE* 3878– BX 17/19 xD Break GE* BX 19 GTi GE* with ABS GE* |
95 564 975 95 606 144 96 024 567 96 032 917 95 635 424 96 002 157 |
? ? ? ? ? ? |
400 500 500 500 400 400 |
55 ? ? 55 ? ? |
1.80 ? ? 1.65 ? ? |
* Grande Exportation: exported to cold climates |
It seems that no matter how comfortable the suspension of Citroëns is compared to any other car available, we are never completely satisfied with it. Many of us have tried various modifications to make it just a little bit more comfortable. A very simple and straightforward way to try this is by using different spheres than originally fitted. Changing the pressure of the spheres is likely to ruin the stability and roadholding but playing with the restrictor hole diameter can be more rewarding (in fact, the so-called comfort spheres, which can be bought for some Citroëns—XMs for instance—, are the same: larger restrictor hole diameter, nothing else).
If you examine the tables, you'll see that Citroën has modified the suspension of the BX to be stiffer during the years of production. Also, sporty versions like GTi or GTi 16V always started with firmer suspension. However, the suspension elements fitted to various BX models are interchangeable in the sense that, if you happen to have a firmer setup, you can safely change it for a more comfortable one. Roadholding might be affected in a way: for instance, if you replace a GTi 16V with TRI suspension elements, you will naturally lose the sporty handling the car was designed for; but it won't be dangerous, it will handle just like the TRI always did.
The only other suspension element that goes with the sphere are the rubber bump stops inside the front strut. Some struts have two such stops, others have one, according to the sphere volume fitted. If you replace the sphere, you might have to take out one of those buffers, too.
For instance, my 19 TRI Break was originally fitted with 500 ccm/55 bar/1.65 mm spheres at the front. Last time I had to touch the spheres, I fitted 500 ccm/55 bar/1.80 mm ones, the ones actually used on the same model a few years earlier.
You can observe the same pattern on the rear spheres as well. On the Breaks, for instance, the rear sphere restrictor hole was reduced in the same way during the years. If you retrofit the earlier ones, the suspension will be better.