1.6 Hdi Bouncy Rear Suspension

[Stephen79]

I recently acquired a 2007 C5 1.6 HDI from an uncle of mine. The car needs a lot of little jobs. It kept cutting out on him but after sticking a new battery in it everything seems ok for me. I put 4 lizarte spheres into the car 12 months ago. Now however the back of the car is extremely bouncy. If you put your foot on the towbar and let go the car springs right back up, no resistance whatsoever and driving along it pitches a lot when you press the brake. My question is, are the rear spheres gone already after only 12 months? It would seem strange if they are. When you get into the car you can hear the pump working and the car rises, I am a little confused! Any help or advice greatly appreciated.

[MikeLane]

Did you put the correct suspension spheres on front and rear axles? The pressures are different.

Also there are regulator spheres front and back - these have different pressures form each other and the suspension spheres.

The problem could also be a jammed or damaged height adjuster.

(DON'T try checking/testing this unless the rear of the car is on axle stands!)

[Stephen79]

Thanks for the reply Mike. I think this car only has 4 spheres. Is not the hydractive3+ that has the middle sphere front and rear? I'm fairly certain the correct spheres were fitted. I will check the height corrector when I can next week.

[paul.h]

The following is from the Common Problems topic and may be of use:

 

44. How to check the suspension spheres.

This topic contains useful information from coastline taxis on how to check which sphere is at fault if the suspension is hardhttp://www.citroen-o...ues/#entry83812

[MikeLane]

Thanks for the reply Mike. I think this car only has 4 spheres. Is not the hydractive3+ that has the middle sphere front and rear? I'm fairly certain the correct spheres were fitted. I will check the height corrector when I can next week.

Yes you're right. It was available on some 2.2 and 3l. models but not 1.6. Sorry

[Stephen79]

Problem sorted. I splashed out on some genuine Citroen spheres.. €354! That's euro. This seems to have cured the bouncy suspension. I could have spent €120 on the lizarte spheres again but if they are only going to last another 12 months I felt there was no point. The genuine parts are ridiculously expensive though.. Looks like beans and toast for the month ahead..