Storing Car For 3 Months, Use Suspension To Lower On To Axles Stands?

[Owens88]

Hi

 

I am going to store my C5 in a garage in France. I understand that it is good practice to take the weight off the tyres. I going to use axle stands (assuming that I know the correct place to put them !). 

Could I raise the car to max height, put the stands in place then lower the car using the suspension controls?

 

Or will this just make the car controller go wacky?

Thanks in advance.

 

John

[paul.h]

If you did this the wheels/tyres would still be on the ground since the suspension needs the weight of the car pushing down for the suspension to lower. The suspension struts are not like a 2 way hydraulic ram, only using hydraulic pressure to raise the car. The weight would be shared with the wheels and stands but as you suggest, the height sensors will not be in the correct position for the height selected so it may affect the controller.

[Johndouglas]

Could I raise the car to max height, put the stands in place then lower the car using the suspension controls?

Change your car to a BX then you can..... :rolleyes:

[Parkesie]

For 3 months just over inflate the tyres a bit.

[Owens88]

Thanks Paul H. 

Sorry John Douglas. I don't comprehend.

Noted Parkesie.

[paul.h]

I believe the BX suspension used hydraulic pressure to raise and also to lower the car - so with the body supported the wheels would lift off the floor.

 

One thought, caravans do not move very often and due to low mileage covered it is recommended to replace the tyres after about 5 years as opposed to waiting for them to wear out. Some people remove the wheels when not going to be used for some time but most do not bother (including myself) but I check the pressures every couple of months and check them for any damage/cracks and this is also done at the annual service. Caravan tyres are often reinforced ones due to the caravan weight but whether this makes a difference I do not know.

[Owens88]

Again thanks Paul H. However (and this is not a challenge!) I thought the C5 had hydraulics doing the raising and lowering.

 

As it happens I won't use that option . I may buy an axle jack and 4 stands. I am now thinking through the process of using a jack, inside a garage, and somehow, getting all 4 axle stands supporting the car.

[paul.h]

The C5 only uses pressure to raise the car - you can hear the pump running but when set to lower it does not run but the car quietly goes down.

 

Before jacking the car up it should be raised to max height, it says this in the handbook, and this will avoid any suspension system problems. The best place for the stands will be at the jacking points on the sills - but then jacking up becomes a problem. I normally use axle stands whilst leaving the car jack in place and at the rear put a stand under the round cylinder that points down and at the front under the suspension arm at a strong welded flat part. Maybe these points could be used for a jack. You could consider buying 3 extra jacks instead of axle stands and leaving them in place at the sill jacking points. A 2004 to 2008 C5 jack is part no. 672596 and a 2001 to 2004 C5 jack is 672591. The former is £23 and the latter £44 from citroencarparts.net so will be about this from a dealer. These are without the jack handle but you already have this.

[PICASSOCONVERT]

If it helps, I leave my C5 on the drive unused for up to six weeks from time to time - just parked as normal. I haven't had any tyre problems but the first thing I have to do after about more than 4 weeks without use is charge the battery (I can't leave a trickle charger running).

 

I agree with paul.h about caravan tyres - it does seem to be good advice to change them after 5 years even if they are not fully worn or showing signs of deterioration. I also check the torque on my caravan wheel nuts before every journey.

 

David

[Johndouglas]

Quote: Change your car to a BX then you can..... :rolleyes:

 

Sorry John Douglas. I don't comprehend.----Quote.

 

Sorry for the late reply. If you had a BX, to take the wheels off the ground all you need do is to raise the suspension, put blocks under the sills, move the suspension lever to lower the suspension and the car would come down onto the blocks, then the wheels would pull up off the ground. Later Citroens such as the Xantia and C5 don't do that.

[MikeLane]

I'm sure I've used the suspension High/Low positions to change wheels on both my Xantia and C5. I.e. Raised the car, stuffed the jack under the appropriate jacking point and then selected Low and the wheel came off the ground.

Are you saying that all 4 wheels won't come off the ground if jacks or axel stands are located at all the positions when in High and then switched to Low?

(BTW my 2005 C5 has just passed it's 10 year MOT with no probs. My MOT bloke lets me look at the underside and it's perfectly clean. Also, after 105K the EOLYS tank is still 1/4 - 1/3 full! Wonderful car!!!)

Edited March 11, 2015 by MikeLane