Top mounts and Cambelt interval

[Dandav1985]

Hello People,

Just wanted to ask a couple of questions, My top mounts are starting to knock and the van wobbles under acceleration. Been to Citroen yesterday day and there are about 6 parts on the top of the strut! Thought the top mount would just be the rubber and the bearing?? Anything else I need to change them out as I don't want to be doing the strip down again lol. Any advice on the Parts I require? as Citroen are wanting £150 as side for everything. 

Also they are saying that the Cam/Timing belt needs changing at 120k miles, this seems a little high? My Van has done 75k at the min on a 13 plate. what do you guys recommend?? Also they want £230 for a completed timing belt and pump with Aux belt, That a good price??

Cheers Dan

[polar]

http://www.eurocarcare.net/

Need model of engine fitted?

[Dandav1985]

Hello, Its a DV6 1.6 HDI 90. cheers Dan

[CourierJim]

Dan, I had the timing belt, water pump, and auxilliary belt changed last month by a good local garage, and was charged £364 in total. I decided to have this work done at 120,000 miles although I had been told by Citroen that the timing belt was good for 150,000 miles. I know of another courier with a Ford Connect (same engine), who's engine was wrecked with a snapped belt at 149,000 miles!!

I changed both coil springs and top strut bearings on my previous (identical 10 reg B9 Berlingo) quite easily by myself, but you need a spanner which enables you to turn the top nut of each strut (18mm), whilst holding the strut centre rod still with a large Allen key (7mm if I remember correctly). You will need coil spring compressor clamps as well. Sorry I can't be more helpful, but it was some time ago that I worked on struts.

[polar]

You cam belt will go to 120k no problem - the price you have been quoted seems too cheap to me.

[ffrenchie]

You cam belt will go to 120k no problem - the price you have been quoted seems too cheap to me.

The £230 price he quotes is for the parts only I think and he will find them cheaper if he looks around, just be sure to get quality not go for the cheapest automatically. A cranked ring spanner is needed to get into the strut top nut while holding the rod with an Allen key.

[geoff]

^^^ Often called a " deep offset " spanner.

[jj9]

... My top mounts are starting to knock and the van wobbles under acceleration... 

Can you clarify on the knocking...

Are you sure it's from the strut tops, is it when you go over bumps in the road or when turning the steering ?

"Wobbles" ....do you mean the van pulls to one side then the other?


You'll find a good quality cambelt kit with water pump on ebay from under £80.

If you have one, use a windy gun / impact wrench on the strut top nut then no need to hold the rod with an Allen key, obviously compress the spring first or it will go off like Zebidee !  


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[Lighty]

Just a quick note to say that you cannot undo the strut top nut with an impact gun, without an Allen key as it will spin the strut and undo it internally hence wrecking the whole strut.
We often have to replace these parts after "so called experts" have had a go.
Wobbling under acceleration is often caused by worn out inner driveshaft joints.

[jj9]

I've never seen that happen in 30 odd years, the impact gun loosens the nut with no movement of the rod.

I guess you must attract a lower class of so called expert.

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