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Posted

...failed its MOT on the above today, both leaking fluid, along with a few other more minor things.

Citroen want £386 each for new ones, so i'm trying to source some used ones.

I have a mechanic on standby for fitting, are there any quirks that he should know about when replacing them?

 

TIA

Posted

A slight oil film on the front struts is not normally a MOT failure but it pays to wipe them before the MOT- but it would need to be a MOT station with knowledge of the C5. Fitting time for new front struts is less than an hour each so can not be too difficult and should only need to follow the Haynes manual. You will also need a couple of litres of new lds fluid and a sphere removal tool.

Posted
Paul's dead right, I've had previous experience of garages failing my car because they didn't understand how the suspension system works. Ever since I've always used the local dealer and never had a problem. You'll also find the dealer isn't doing it to a price and therefore has less incentive to fail on borderline items. Don't forget that VOSA set a maximum fee for an MOT. Also, a £40 test fee is a cheap way to get a garage to check out all the important safety bits on your car. It's less than they'd charge you for half an hours time.
Posted

The parts diagrams give the same part nos. for all mark 1 and mark 2 C5s for the front strut - left one is 5271 H4 and the right 5271 H5. The spheres vary across the models. If you get new ones they also include a new top nut and O-ring that goes below the top nut.

 

Before going to the expense/bother of replacing them, take the suspension to max height and wipe down the existing ones including inside the gaiters to see how bad the leaks are - then take the suspension down and up a few times and see if more lds fluid leaks out. If it does not, you could consider taking it back to the garage and see what they say (or pretent they have been replaced if you clean up the various nuts).

 

I had one replaced last year with a new one and when I got it back there was a lot of lds fluid down the new one - at first I thought it had not been put on right but then realised the gaiter had a lot of lds in it from removing the old one and once cleaned out it was ok. So if you do replace them, make sure the gaiters are cleaned out or the garage will fail it again. One problem when getting used ones, if they get covered in lds during the removal, it may not be possible to decide if they are any good until they are on your car.

Posted

Thanks again Paul.

I'm having more bother finding a sphere removal tool than i had finding a pair of shock absorbers, is this guy any good?

I'll get a closer look tomorrow to see what the leak is like, i've a sneaking suspicion that what you describe is exactly what's happened...

Posted

I bought that tool last year but so far have not used it. It seems to be made to order since it still smelt of paint. However, it fits the spheres, is made well enough and at the price probably can not be beaten. It also arrived in a couple of days. 

 

It is possible though the tool may not be needed - if the strut top nut is removed after it is released from the lower suspension, it may simply slide down out of the top part/bracket which can be left in place. This is in the Haynes manual if just replacing the suspension strut.

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