If the batteurs served no damping purpose, why were they fitted?

They do - but so do the friction dampers. Trouble is, they're usually shagged, because they're bloody difficult (AIUI) to set up effectively.

Anyway - who cares? Proper A-series had hydraulic dampers all round from the early '60s, right?

Well I can tell you how effective they are. Did the last raid in my 1975 Viking Van fitted with inertia dampers on the front, none on the back.
Driving on 10 million corrugations felt much different from my wifes 2cv without dampers. Driving on sealed roads is another matter, not really needed. I guess that's why Citroen stopped fitting them on later cars.

Oh dear, real A-models have no shockabsorbers at all

There is, but they can be 'interesting' if a bit less than frcition-ey

Paul,
I'm guessing that you haven't taken into account the fact that dampers on an A series work in the opposite sense to those on 'conventional' vehicles, including motorcycles.

With both types of damper, in normal use, the 'working' portion of the rod passes to and fro through the end seal as the car is driven.

However, with an A series car, the part of the rod which lies beyond that 'working' section will have to pass through the seal if the vehicle is used on more severe terrain and also when the vehicle is raised off the ground for servicing or inspection.

If that part of the rod has become rusty or pitted, the seal _will_ be damaged and start to leak.

When I used to fit Lipmesa dampers 'dry', I had some which lasted barely 2 years before they started to leak, which did hurt.

Greasing the rods to extend the dampers' life beyond 8 years/40,000 miles and counting doesn't seem to hurt at all...

ken
( It might be of interest if anyone on here who has Lipmesa dampers on their car could have a look to see if the rods on their dampers show signs of pitting or corrosion. The 'hard chrome' plating on them doesn't seem to be as durable as it was in the good old days, imo, but there's a solution available to anyone who's receptive to advice gained through experience.)

Adrian,
I'm sure we've had this discussion before, but maybe once more for old time's sake.
< http://www.flickr.com/photos/30132857@N06/4343750209/ >

"The heavy steel slider which provides the 'inertia' for Citroen's ingenious inertia damper is poised on top of a single spring.
This spring is wound onto and firmly attached to both the slider and the outer case of the unit.
Note that the small quantity of oil which is added to the assembly does not provide any form of hydraulic damping, but is simply to provide lubrication ensuring free movement of the slider in its housing.
The batteur damps any high frequency, low amplitude displacements of the vehicle's radius arm, with the friction dampers at the axle end catering for low frequency, high amplitude movements.
In simpler terms, batteurs are the business on pavé... "

@ Russell,
batteurs can have no effect on the result of an MOT 'bounce' test, that type of displacement is controlled by the friction dampers alone.

ken

That's what my dad says.

So, forgive me, but what are dampers?

Sam,
"Often referred to as shock absorbers in common parlance, dampers are the main energy dissipators in a vehicle's suspension.
They are required to dampen vibrations after a wheel strikes a pothole and also to provide a good compromise between low sprung mass acceleration (related to ride) and adequate control of the unsprung mass to provide good road holding."

Or in other words, if the dampers are jiggered (or Brand X), your car will probably handle like a drunken camel.

ken.

Awesome, thanks for all the info. I'll be picking up a set of Lipmesa's, Ecas have the set of 4 on offer. Then I'll have some fun fitting them.