Suspension.

[greyboy]

:P I have a 2002 C5 2.2 HDi sx hatch. It has done around 115k miles and runs extremely well. The ride is not as good as my previous Xantia but has got worse in the last few months. The car tends to roll about like a boat at medium speed and is jittery over poor road surfaces. It also is very harsh when hitting pot holes. The Xantia was cured of the same symptoms by recharging the gas spheres. Does the C5 have the same spheres and can they be recharged in the same way?

[citroeneddie]

I think that the spheres will probably need recharging as mine need doing after 120k miles.

 

Speak to your dealer about getting a quote and let me know how you get on.

[kfk]

:P I have a 2002 C5 2.2 HDi sx hatch. It has done around 115k miles and runs extremely well. The ride is not as good as my previous Xantia but has got worse in the last few months. The car tends to roll about like a boat at medium speed and is jittery over poor road surfaces. It also is very harsh when hitting pot holes. The Xantia was cured of the same symptoms by recharging the gas spheres. Does the C5 have the same spheres and can they be recharged in the same way?

the C5 does have spheres, but not the same type as xantia due to the vehicle running with LDS Fluid (orange) and NOT LHM (green).

 

I'm not aware of anyone offering to regass these yet. However, regassing shouldnt be considered as a reliable repair.

 

When regassing the spheres the question has to be asked where did the gas go?......invariably its through the membrane and into the hydraulic circuit. You cant check the condition of the membrane, which has already done over 100k, so why throw money away on a regas.

 

Get the spheres pressure checked at you dealer and also the computor codes checked, incase it has an electrical fault.

[greyboy]

Yes, I have now found that due to the higher pressures involved, it is not possible to recharge the spheres. Apparently they are now far cheaper, around £35 each. I have the car booked in at the main dealer this week and will let you know the outcome.

[greyboy]

:P After a 2 minute visit to the main dealer they said the rear spheres needed changing but the fronts were ok. The suspension was "bounced", if it is rock hard, the spheres have gone. Cost for the rears is £130 inclusive of VAT & fitting. (same price for the fronts).

[citroeneddie]

Seems a good price to me especially if you have a warranty with the work from a Citroen Dealer

[kfk]

:P After a 2 minute visit to the main dealer they said the rear spheres needed changing but the fronts were ok. The suspension was "bounced", if it is rock hard, the spheres have gone. Cost for the rears is £130 inclusive of VAT & fitting. (same price for the fronts).

There are more technical ways of testing them........but that would add to the cost, which isnt really necessary if the bounce test is conclusive.

[greyboy]

I've now had the rear spheres changed and the handling/ride is now back to normal. (ie not quite as good as the Xantia). The garage had made an error with the price of parts, however as the bill was £255 !! I had to haggle and had the labour price dropped to £40/hour instead of £60 and 12.5% discount on parts to bring them down to £82.55 each + VAT. I think i will do the fronts myself as Euro car parts does the spheres for £36.50 + VAT each and they only screw on/off.

[kfk]

Whilst the sphere does 'just screw on and off'.......have you worked out how to let the pressure out of the system before you remove them?

 

I think you will find thats the technical bit and what your paying for......its not the same as a xantia or BX.

[citroeneddie]

I think the labour rate and parts charge is reasonable considering its a Citroen Dealer

[citroeneddie]

Oh and welcome back Kfk, not heard from you for a while ;)

[safari]

I have done over 100k in my C5 Estate and was considering replacing the spheres - however my tyres needed replacing and so I went to Bathwick Tyres and had all 4 tyres replaced with Michelin Pilot Primacys - Since I have owned the car the it has never had the same tyres on all wheels and not Michelins because most of the time they are too expensive. But at Bathwick they were only £165 for a pair fitted and balanced and the tracking/alignment done. They also did this for rears as well. The point I am making is this - since then I have done about 1000 miles and the ride has never been better. It is probably the best it has been since I bought it - the only criticism I have is that there is a little too much body roll in corners at low speeds and roundabouts and can be a tad too much float at high speed roads. The most important improvement though is the town ride which is very soft and for the first time silent!

 

Interesting to see that some people think the Xantia ride is better than the C5 - now I am convinced the C5 is better especially considering the mileage I've done.

 

I have decided the C5 is very sensitive to the tyres you put on it and get the tracking done regularly and the ride is much better. (Also make sure you have topped up the Hydractive Fluid which you can buy from Citroen)

[kfk]

I have done over 100k in my C5 Estate and was considering replacing the spheres - however my tyres needed replacing and so I went to Bathwick Tyres and had all 4 tyres replaced with Michelin Pilot Primacys - Since I have owned the car the it has never had the same tyres on all wheels and not Michelins because most of the time they are too expensive.  But at Bathwick they were only £165 for a pair fitted and balanced and the tracking/alignment done.  They also did this for rears as well.    The point I am making is this - since then I have done about 1000 miles and the ride has never been better.  It is probably the best it has been since I bought it - the only criticism I have is that there is a little too much body roll in corners at low speeds and roundabouts and can be a tad too much float at high speed roads.  The most important improvement though is the town ride which is very soft and for the first time silent! 

 

Interesting to see that some people think the Xantia ride is better than the C5 - now I am convinced the C5 is better especially considering the mileage I've done. 

 

I have decided the C5 is very sensitive to the tyres you put on it and get the tracking done regularly and the ride is much better.  (Also make sure you have topped up the Hydractive Fluid which you can buy from Citroen)

I recently went on a tyre training course for Michelin.....they went to great lengths to explain how there tyres are better.

 

Unfortunately, i always find that customers look a them as being black round and expensive!!........the thing is you get what you pay for.

 

The questions i would ask people is this:

- you want good fuel economy, so why skimp on your tyres

- you want a quiet ride and enjoy listening to your CD's, or need to talk on hands free, so why fit a noisy tyre?

- You want good wear characteristics ensuring the whole tread is in contact with the road, why fit a budget tyre?

 

And finally, What stops your car?.....it isnt the brakes they just stop the wheel going round......you wouldnt fit 2nd rate brake pads?

 

Interesting thought, when i ring men up to inform them tyres are worn they will often choose budget, why?........because 'its only the wifes car'......nice thought.

[greyboy]

Wise words indeed from KFK. I was thinking of going down the budget route myself as the rears need doing. I will now get the Michelins to match the fronts (before i hand the car over to Mrs Greyboy) ha ha. "Pro Tyres" in Fareham, Hampshire is pretty good on prices. I will let you know how much.

[Stuart js]

Hi all

I have owned over the years, GSA's(2), CX's(3), BX, XM, Xantia and now own a C5 (2.2HDi auto 2003, 108,00 miles and 45 mpg on a run at 60 mph average). I have always worked on my own cars,I am not mechanic, just someone who is will to learn. I have replaced the spheres on the CX, XM and Xantia so I have a little experience. Please read below somethng I have translated (Using an on-line translating site) from a french Revue Technique workshop manual (ISBN-10: 2726865410 or

ISBN-13: 978-2726865415), I hope I have not compromised any copyrights - I would like to think that some of you may buy one yourself.

 

As for the spheres just unscrewing, you will need a very good chain wrench and alot of patience, they dont 'JUST' unscrew, they are usually very very tight. Be very carefull you could do damage to pipe connections if you are too agressive.

 

As for tyres, I run the cheap option at the moment and suffer from side wall instability and have been old this will stop or really reduce with Michelans so the next will be Michelans especially on the front.

 

My C5 is a good ride, not a soft as a recharged CX or XM but about the same as a recharge Xantia, I will be replacing my spheres this year and am expecting to notice a difference.

Enjoy your Citroens and travel in Comfort.

Stu :blink:

Now as promised..........

 

Release the pressure of the hydraulic circuit

Note; with the suspension hydractive 3 +, the relaxation screw is located on the stiffness regulaters. on the suspemsion hydractive 3 it is situated on a hydraulic raccord between the suspension element left and right, to the before and to the defers vehicle.

Start the engine

Place the height controller into the low position.

Stop the engine

FRONT - Unscrew the relaxation screw (1) of a turn and wait until the complete pressure drops in the suspension hydraulic circuit before (to see figures)

REAR - Unscrew the relaxation screw (3) of a turn and wait until the fall is complete pressure in the hydraulic circuit of the rear suspension.

 

Drain, fill and purge hydraulic circuit.

Notes: the liquid reservoir LDS is pressurized. The liquid LDS never must be reused.

To drain - Start up the motor.

Put the vehicle in low position.

After having to stop the motor, get up and wedge the vehicle wheels hanging.

Open the cork of the liquid reservoir LDS.

Remove the upright front wheel.

Remove embellish it mud before upright

Release the hose of the reservoir that is located in the wheel arch and recover the liquid.

Rest the hose and his necklace when the reservoir is empty.

Refit the splashguard and the refit the wheel.

 

Refill and purge

Notes: the check of the liquid level LDS is done with the véhicle in low position.

Put the vehicle on its wheels.

To Fill the liquid reservoir LDS to the indicator "MAX"

Apply a pressure of 0.5 bars in the liquid reservoir LDS

Start up the motor.

Wait until vehicle stabilizes.

Put the vehicle in high position.

Put the vehicle in low

Turn the steering back and forth, lock to lock.

Turn off the engine

Check the liquid level LDS. If the level is below the mini mark (to see figures), it is necessary to add 1 litre of liquid LDS the maximum level of the LDS liquid, for the suspension, for Hydractive 3 ist the mark "BASES" and the maximum level of the LDS for the suspension Hydractive 3 + is marks "HYD"

To Measure the control heights.

Place the vehicle on a bridge 4 columns

Place the vehicle in normal position

Release the parking brake and start the engine to raise the vehicle.

to this that the weight becomes too important and to relax it.

Leave the vehicle to stabilize itself

Check the distance between the ground and the bercaeu to the back of the fixing brackets before of suspension triangle to the zone 1 for the before.

To the back, between the ground and the crossing to the zone 2 (to see figures)

To Lower the vehicle to the hand, to maintain it an instant then the reàcher.

Let the vehicle stabilizes itself and measure again the hauter. do the moyanne of the two values

 

hope this help someone.

:lol: