Type
Front:
Independent, with vertically mounted strut (Macpherson type) and lower arm and steering knuckle, hydropneumatic suspension cylinders supplied with fluid from main hydraulic system via front height corrector, anti-roll bar, bump and rebound stops.
Rear:
Independent, with trailing arms, hydropneumatic suspension cylinders supplied with fluid from main hydraulic system via rear height corrector, anti-roll bar, bump and rebound stops.
Height -normal driving position (engine idling):
| Front | 166 + 10 mm -7 mm |
| Rear | 223 + 10 mm -7 mm |
Anti-roll bar diameter:
Front
| BX 19 GTi 16v and Estate | 23.0 mm |
Rear
| BX 19 GTi 16v (pre March 1989) | 19.0 mm |
| BX 19 GTi 16v (from March 1989) | 21.0 mm |
Steering
Type:
Rack-and-pinion with optional power steering, steering column with universal joint and coupling.
| Turns Lock to Lock Manual steering | 3.76 |
| Power steering | 2.83 |
| Shaft Length Manual steering | 384.5 mm |
| Power steering | 329.5 mm |
Wheel alignment
Front
| Toe-out | 0 to 3 mm |
| Camber angle | 0º ± 30’ |
| Castor angle | 2º ± 35’ |
| Wheel offset | -7.9 mm |
Rear
| Toe-in | 1.6 to 5 mm |
| Camber angle | -1 ± 20’ |
Wheel hub bearings
Type:
Twin track ball-bearings
Wheels and Tyres
| Type | Speedline Alloy |
| BX 16valve | 6 J 14 |
| Tyres | 195/60/R14 Radial Tubeless |
| Pressures Front | 2.1bar 30PSI |
| Rear | 1.9bar 27PSI |
Torque wrench settings Nm lbf ft
Front suspension
| Suspension strut unit upper mounting | 20 14 |
| Suspension strut to steering swivel | 70 51 |
| Suspension arm to steering swivel balljoint | 30 22 |
| Track rod balljoint | 38 27 |
| Suspension arm pivot (spindle) nut | 160 116 |
| Anti-roll bar connecting link | 45 33 |
| Anti-roll bar to subframe | 27 20 |
Subframe bolts
| BX 16 and BX 19 (front and centre) | 57 41 |
| BX 16 and BX 19 (rear) | 95 69 |
Rear axle
| Suspension arm shaft | 130 94 |
| Anti-roll bar bearing flange | 65 47 |
Axle mountings
| Front | 50 36 |
| Rear | 28 20 |
Steering
| Column upper mounting | 12 9 |
| Column upper joint clamp | 20 14 |
| Column lower flange joint | 25 18 |
| Rack mountings | 57 41 |
| Track rod inner to outer locknut | 38 27 |
| Track rod balljoint nut (outer) | 38 27 |
| Track rod balljoint nut (inner) | 50 36 |
Road wheel Bolts
| Steel wheels | 80 58 |
| Alloy wheels | 90 65 |
| Hub nut (front and rear) | 270 195 |
| Lower suspension arm/hub carrier balljoint nut | 30 22 |
General information
The suspension is of independent hydropneumatic type. At the front, it comprises a vertically mounted hydraulic suspension strut unit, a lower suspension arm and an anti-roll bar. The suspension cylinders are supplied with hydraulic fluid from the main hydraulic system via the front height corrector which is actuated by the front anti-roll bar. The anti-roll bar is attached to the suspension arms with two links.
A trailing arm rear suspension system is used. The rear suspension cylinders are supplied with hydraulic fluid from the main system via the rear height corrector. As with the front, the height corrector is actuated by the rear anti-roll bar.
Ground height clearance is adjusted with a lever mounted inside the vehicle, the lever being connected by operating rods to the front and rear height correctors. Automatic damping is incorporated in the suspension cylinders.
Steering is of rack-and-pinion type,mounted on a crossmember attached to the front subframe. The steering column incorporates a universal joint and a coupling. Power steering is fitted to some models and this system incorporates a self-centring action which varies according to the speed of the vehicle. Power assistance is derived from a power-operated hydraulic ram cylinder mounted on the steering rack. The hydraulic pressure to the ram is supplied by the main suspension and braking system hydraulic circuit, the pressure being controlled by a flow distributor unit and a control valve.
