Suspension

[hertsnminds]

I know it has been mentioned in a few posts but I thought I would try to get all the suspension issues under one topic.

 

The car had its 12,500 mile service last week, one of the things I asked the dealer to look at was a clonking noise from the front drivers side. They told me they could find no fault or reason for the clonking but that the rear suspension was rubbing on both sides and would need replacing (under warranty).

 

I know there are other owners who have had the same rear suspension issue and just wondered how common it is.

 

Ian

Black 55 VTR+

[Stuey]

mine has been fine. It knocks a little bit at very low speeds but I think that the dampers arent being used properly at that speed.

[Mike5483]

I have a front suspension clonk too.

 

As with you, my dealer says they can find no reason for it.

[wozza]

Had some klonking at the front mentioned it when i took it in replaced one of the bushes been fine since.

[Rob555]

I have still got my clonk from the n/s front suspension at slow speeds and new front shockabsorbers have had no effect.

[Joeblunt]

Since 6 months old / 4k my C4 1.6Hdi (92) SX Hatchback has felt like the suspension on the back was non-existent, every bump in the road it felt like underside was hitting the rubber stops. They replaced the rear Shockers and for awhile it seemed better but no. Reported again to dealer and again New Shockers were ordered as they had new part numbers.

 

Yesterday it went in for the new rear shockers & 25k Service. I am pleased to say my suspension problem is solved! Although they've fitted new shockers my feeling it was the other things thats solved the problem (See below):

 

2 x Rear Shock Absorbers.

2 x Flexible Joints.

Rear Damper Bushes.

Rear Subframe Bushes.

 

These Bushes are the offending so & so's!!!!! <_<

[jonfish]

From delivery my rear shocks groaned in stop start traffic. They greased them and said they might improve which they did. However I was always disappointed with the ride (and a little with the handling) compared with my old style focus and the test drive C4 which I put down to daft 17" alloys on my car. At the 1 year / 12500 mile service I asked them to look at a knocking noise at the back thinking it was the exhuast. They replaced the rear shocks (only I think) and the ride and I think the handling is and remains significantly better (2500miles 2.5 months).

 

Nothing significant at the front just the odd strange clonk when setting off turning quite sharply down steep hill. It would be nice to have the new shocks at the front as well incase they make a difference.

[VTRPlus]

Just had my C4 VTR+ in for its 1.5k service, while it was in I asked them to look at the rear suspension as it squeaked real bad when travelling along bumpy roads etc, I thought they may just grease it but I now have to take the car back on Fri to get them replaced

[kfk]

Since 6 months old / 4k my C4 1.6Hdi (92) SX Hatchback has felt like the suspension on the back was non-existent, every bump in the road it felt like underside was hitting the rubber stops. They replaced the rear Shockers and for awhile it seemed better but no. Reported again to dealer and again New Shockers were ordered as they had new part numbers.

 

Yesterday it went in for the new rear shockers & 25k Service. I am pleased to say my suspension problem is solved! Although they've fitted new shockers my feeling it was the other things thats solved the problem (See below):

 

2 x Rear Shock Absorbers.

2 x Flexible Joints.

Rear Damper Bushes.

Rear Subframe Bushes.

 

These Bushes are the offending so & so's!!!!! :P

Glad to hear its more comfortable...........I cant see how you thought my one drove better though :o .....every time i get in the car or put something in the boot it 'farts' at me.

[C4VTS]

I cant see how you thought my one drove better though :(

When I test drove a VTR HDi, it definitely soaked up the bumps better than my VTS, and I was very impressed with the ride quality.

 

My VTS does seem to crash over the potholes sometimes, and generally seems firmer.

 

I thought I read somewhere that all C4 models have the same suspension.

Is that really true?

[kfk]

I cant see how you thought my one drove better though  :(

When I test drove a VTR HDi, it definitely soaked up the bumps better than my VTS, and I was very impressed with the ride quality.

 

My VTS does seem to crash over the potholes sometimes, and generally seems firmer.

 

I thought I read somewhere that all C4 models have the same suspension.

Is that really true?

8 types of rear damper

3 types of front damper

at least 7 types of front spring

at least 3 types of front anti rollbar

at least 3 different rear springs

[C4VTS]

8 types of rear damper

3 types of front damper

at least 7 types of front spring

at least 3 types of front anti rollbar

at least 3 different rear springs

Interesting :(

 

Thanks kfk

[Joeblunt]

Since 6 months old / 4k my C4 1.6Hdi (92) SX Hatchback has felt like the suspension on the back was non-existent, every bump in the road it felt like underside was hitting the rubber stops. They replaced the rear Shockers and for awhile it seemed better but no. Reported again to dealer and again New Shockers were ordered as they had new part numbers.

 

Yesterday it went in for the new rear shockers & 25k Service. I am pleased to say my suspension problem is solved! Although they've fitted new shockers my feeling it was the other things thats solved the problem (See below):

 

2 x Rear Shock Absorbers.

2 x Flexible Joints.

Rear Damper Bushes.

Rear Subframe Bushes.

 

These Bushes are the offending so & so's!!!!! :P

Glad to hear its more comfortable...........I cant see how you thought my one drove better though :) .....every time i get in the car or put something in the boot it 'farts' at me.

My suspension is ten times better now, you felt every pothole, dip, crack, lump, bump, in the road, now many are hardly noticeable and the bad ones are dulled right down.

In comparison pre new bushes - yours drove like mine does now. Never noticed any farting? You sure its not putting the driver under strain when lifting the tailgate causing the Anal nerve to discharge gas? Don't try and blame the car!!!! :(

[wozza]

VTS has a stiffer ride. Your actually made aware of this when you buy it when you read the brochure also should have a thicker antiroll bar etc.

 

All to aid in keeping bodyrool to a minimum and giving it more of a hot hatch feel.

[rcandelori]

VTS has a stiffer ride. Your actually made aware of this when you buy it when you read the brochure also should have a thicker antiroll bar etc.

 

All to aid in keeping bodyrool to a minimum and giving it more of a hot hatch feel.

The only problem I have with the stiffer suspension is that it amplifies trim rattles. But the handling is brilliant though.

[incubus]

I have the VTR+ 110BHP version and i'm wondering if my Shocks are diff from some other versions...??? I ask because iv'e read that there are problems with Shockers..? As for Handling..mmmmmmm... ;) Not sure about this 1...I'm still a little confused with this ESP Malarchy..? Before my C4 i had a Ford Focus and that things handling was Legendary..a couple of miles from my home there is a stretch of road with a crazy bend at the end.... :) I loved it in the Focus..But in the C4 even with the ESP its just not the same..Just dont compete for pure cornering joy... :( I corner it about 10mph slower in the C4 cus i just know it'll brake loose... :blink:

....

[wozza]

Turn the ESP off when your having some fun and the traction control. Otherwise the computer will try correcting things for you.

 

And dont be too worried about the end braking loose a tad its easily managed when it does break loose.

[incubus]

You cant turn the ESP off though...Can you...????? Mine comes back on when it reaches 30mph... :blink:

[wozza]

Dont know how have it on my car would have thought you could disable it though seems a bit of a pain if you cant.

[Stuey]

there should be a button down by the headlight level'o'meter rolling switch thingy that says ESP...press this....enjoy

[Mike5483]

I found it comes back on at 30MPH to.

[jonfish]

I too had an old type focus (petrol 1.6) and now have C4 VTR+ 110 HDi hatch. Although my C4 is now much improved and I like the car very much, (see earlier in this thread) the focus beat it hands down for throwing round corners. I don't believe it's anything to do with ESP or any other electronic aids, just basic ability. For me one of plus points of the C4 is the ESP which I would never switch off - I've seen what it can do. I wish we knew which was the "best" combination of kfk's multitude of types of springs and dampers etc. and could get Citroen to fit them under warranty. Maybe if you complain enough.

[wozza]

Seen a lot of reviews which say theres not that much difference between them but the focus is a little better.

 

But drop some cheap lowering springs on the C4 or just some uprated ones that dont lower by a massive margin some will do it by 15mm etc so not really that noticeable and might give you the nicer handling you want without the loss of too much comfort.

 

Also will give you some more confidence in the car. Want to put some on mine but gonna wait a little bit first before i do anything else.

 

And when the ESP comes back on can you not just press it again to turn it off?

[watermeade]

Just to add my two pennyworth,I had the farting back end on mine when I first got it,if you pressed down ever so slightly on the back it would let out a low groan,this now appears to have dissapeared,and I did have a cracking noise coming from the front n/s when I hit potholes,manholes etc but mentioned it on a recall and it seemed to dissappear with apparently no intervension,as I have mentioned on other post my suspension is hard enought to loosen fillings,but have just had to use a hire car to go to London in and guess what turned up a C4 SX 1.6 petrol the same as mine!! but on an 06 plate with 10k on the clock,and to my suprise I found this had all the same (faults) foibles as mine - hard suspension,rough tickover at the lights and about the same petrol comsumption,so have concluded mine must ok ( in a warped kind of way)

[C4VTS]

I think the C4 feels more secure in cornering than the new Focus, but I don't really know which actually holds the road better.

 

Driving on the absolute limit of any car is best left for a track day, rather than chancing your luck on a poorly surfaced, potholed public road :blink: