Front Drivers Suspension Help

[tonyhaz]

Hello

I have xsara Picasso 1.6 16v petrol.

The drivers side suspension is making a horrible clunking noise when I hit and humps or uneven roads and pot holes, I think it was pot holes that caused it, I've looked under the car as it sounds like something loose, but I not found whats causing this, and it's getting worse, it's fine on a smooth road and if there's a speed hump it sounds like do thing is going to brake off, it's driving me mad with worry, has anyone else had this ?

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

It could be a front anti roll bar drop link. The joints in them wear over a few years and then they give a knocking noise when going over bumps. They do not cost much and are easy to replace. There is a nut at each end and an allen or torx key may be needed to stop the joint turning whilst undoing the nuts. To check for wear a lever can be used against them or the anti roll bar or the joint at one end undone.

[tonyhaz]

Hi

Thanks for getting back, after getting it checked, the strut is leaking and when I put a bit of wood under it to test it, it's not returning, so it's had it, I've just got another strut with spring, so I will fit that and see if it still makes the clonking noise, if it still has a noise I will change anti roll bar drop link, I take it that's the bit on the strut, I strut I just got has a bit of it still on it, I've never replaced a strut is it just the 4 bolts at top and the one at the bottom ?

 

Thank you

[Johndouglas]

is it just the 4 bolts at top and the one at the bottom ?

Not quite! The drop link needs removing. Once the clamp bolt is removed, knock a small chisel into the gap on the swivel hub to spread it slightly.

[tonyhaz]

I don't have any spring clamps, I thought it would just come off and swap it over,

[Johndouglas]

The suspension spring is under tension. The spring compressors need to be securely in place.

[paul.h]

If you are going to use the coil spring on the replacement strut, make sure it has the same colour bands on it. Citroen fit different strength springs to different models/years and the different springs are identified by the colour and number of bands painted on them. If it is different then you should fit your old one, otherwise the car will not handle the same at each side. Also check that the bearing at the top of the strut/spring is in good condition and turns smoothly, otherwise it will be noisy when turning/going over bumps and may cause the car to pull to one side.

 

Whilst the drop link is disconnected to replace the strut, you will notice if it is worn since on a new one the joints in it will be tight but on a worn one they will be very loose.

 

A bit of wood under a strut to test it would not tell you anything since a strut will stay in the same place that it was compressed to. It is the coil spring that causes it to return to the normal position. All a strut does is damp the bouncing of the coil spring/car but when worn/leaking the damping is not as effective so the car will bounce more.

[tonyhaz]

Many thanks, when I do hit speed hump to fast, I get a thud as though it's hitting something, and if I wiggle the stering like when F1 warm tyres up, I get knocking, but as mentioned hitting any bumps cracks etc it's rattle as though the spring is loose and jumping around, but on looking everything is solid, it's really annoying not seeing what's causing it, but strut is leaking so it's worth changing it, it came from a citroen spares place and was listed for my year model and CC.

This all started when I had new springs fitted last year, one snapped so I had both replaced and since then one sides been giving me trouble

[paul.h]

'This all started when I had new springs fitted last year, one snapped so I had both replaced and since then one sides been giving me trouble'

 

This reminds me when I had the front springs replaced under warranty on a C3 after one broke. Then one side always knocked/was noisy and it turned out to be the strut top bearing which had been damaged during the spring replacement. A few years later I also had to replace the drop links after an advisory in the MOT but before this it had been knocking.

[tonyhaz]

It sounds like mine could be the same then, my car always passes it's mot with no advisories, but I'm thinking this year may change :-(

[tonyhaz]

Been looking online for a diagram of the front leg or a manual but nothing about

[paul.h]

You can see the Citroen parts diagrams as a free service on the service.citroen site, select language and then register as another professional and member of the Citroen Owners Club. You can also pay for extra services such as looking at a manual on a time basis but I have not done this. http://service.citroen.com/do/changerParametres

 

 If you are keeping the car, the Haynes workshop manual is worth having and covers the work you are going to do.

[tonyhaz]

Cheers for that

How do the drop link arms come off ?

[Johndouglas]

How do the drop link arms come off ?

Spanner on the nut. An Allen key on the bolt to stop it turning.

[tonyhaz]

Is it possible to change the whole thing without a spring clamp as I don't have any and no one I know has any and I'm doing it on Sunday

[Johndouglas]

If you are using a different strut with a spring already on it, you should be OK. But don't remove a spring from a strut without first using a pair of spring compressors.

[tonyhaz]

That's great news thanks

[tonyhaz]

Well the leg is on, but I pulled the drive shaft out from the wheel, so ordered a new one, hope there easy to fit and I don't brake nothing else

[Johndouglas]

Do you need a new driveshaft? The old one - if it's ok should go back in.

[paul.h]

The driveshaft is supposed to be held in the wheel end of the cv joint by a round clip with a cut out which fits in a groove in the shaft. To help the shaft go back into the cv joint, a jubilee type clip can be put on the clip to hold it in the groove and then the shaft knocked in. It is recommended a new clip is used but Citroen list it only with a new gaiter. However, when I have replaced gaiters on other cars, I have not used new clips and had no bother.

[tonyhaz]

The ball bearing come out, so I took it as being naff now, new one comes today

[tonyhaz]

Need help please, fitted new driveshaft but it's not engaging the gears ?

[Johndouglas]

You sure you've got the correct shaft?

[tonyhaz]

Checked new one against old one and it's shorter, so annoyed as I gave my reg to them to check, waiting to hear back from them :-(

[paul.h]

If you want to use the old drive shaft, the ball bearing should go back in to the cv joint if the ball cage is turned at a more than normal angle. To do this the gaiter will need to be removed from the joint and slid up the driveshaft and you can then fit the shaft back in to the cv joint. New clips or tie wraps will probably be needed to fasten the gaiter at each end.