C5 2008-2016 Wheel Bolts

[Sherbet66]

Hi,

 

I've recently purchased a C5 2008 Exclusive, it has locking wheel bolts that I want to remove and replace with ordinary wheel bolts, I figured I could pick some up on eBay or the local scrappies but I'm not sure if Citroen do a range of sizes or these are generic. I've seen C4 ones but I'm not sure if they fit.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

 

[Rookie2]

Hi Sherbert66

 

There are only a handful of bolt sizes for these passenger vehicles, it could be that the C4 are the same size but check first. Do not buy wheel bolts from a scrap yard, you do not know if they have been involved in an accident and thus fractured etc.

 

cheers

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

I would buy them from a Citroen dealer using your car VIN, that way you know they are the correct specification and are new and have not been abused. Better than forever worrying if a wheel is going to come off every time you use the car. A look in the parts diagrams for the C5 (X7) lists 2 different bolts 540567, 540572. The first seem to be the most common and the second where steel wheels or light alloys are used - both have the same thread size so you may not be able to visually tell the difference. They are the same part numbers as used on the C4 (B7) model. They seem to be about £3 each on ebay so will be similar at a dealer and at least from a dealer you know they will not be chinese copies.

 

If the existing locking bolts are in good condition, you could note the bolt key number in your handbook and order a spare from your dealer if you are concerned you are going to lose it. Then always use a torque wrench when doing the bolts up or checking them if done up by somebody else. According to the Citroen service box procedures, the wheel bolts should be done up to 100 Nm for steel or alloy wheels.

 

Since your car has the hydractive suspension, you should raise it to max height and then switch the engine off before jacking up to avoid possible suspension problems later. Also do not go under the car without using axle stands since if a height sensor is caught the suspension can quickly drop to a very low level, quicker than you can get out of the way.

 

Have a look on the c5 Technical Section at the pinned Common Problems topic for things to check on your car, leaking steering racks being one of the most common.

[Sherbet66]

Many thanks for the advice, much appreciated. 

[barose]

Just purchased an 05, C5 Tourer. Locking wheel tool is missing. Dealer price for a new one is just over £55. New bolts are about £4 each. Any suggestions on how to get the old bolts out? Also missing are the spare key (£155) and hand book (£15). I have ordered the handbook from the dealer but they need the car to program the new key, needs to be booked in. Any suggestions or advise would be most helpful. When does the timing belt need to be replaced? Thanks in advance.

Edited April 4, 2017 by barose

[Rookie2]

Hio Buddy

Personally I weld a bolt to the head of the locking wheel nuts (assuming they are not sunk in bolts) and turn the bolts out as normal. If you have someone local with a mig welder, if they are carefull it can be done with no burn dmage to the alloys, except, as I say, those wheels which have sunken bolts, they are impossible to do this way.

You can also look at getting some stud extractors, they look like a normal socket set but inside they have  a left hand sipral blade which digs into the wheel nu as you try to remove it, they do work if you have enough room to get them onto the wheel nuts.

If you buy a decent set of drill bits you can drill them out, time consuming but it does work.

 

Another way to try is to park the car parallel to a wall, Hammer a slightly smaller socket onto the wheel nut, fit a knuckle bar to the socket you have hammered on, put a scissor jack or bottle jack between the wall and the knuckle bar to put some weight onto the socker, then using the knuckle bar turn the wheel nut off. repeat for each wheel nut.

 

have fun

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

There are some other ideas here on removing locking wheel bolts http://www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk/citroen/topic/20752-how-do-i-remove-locking-wheel-nuts-without-the-key/

 

The timing belt should have been already replaced, interval is 10 years or about 100k miles if sooner but it depends on which engine your car has and whether petrol or diesel. Sometimes people leave the handbook in one of the drawers under the front seats or possibly keep them to sell on ebay. I also once read that unscrupulous car dealers would keep the handbooks and spare keys. If the dealer can not get a handbook you may need to go the ebay route or find one from a scrap car but you can ask on here for any help.

 

Haynes do a workshop manual for the 2001 to 2008 C5 and I would get one if you are doing your own maintenance. On the C5 technical section there is a pinned topic of common problems to look at and there are ones covering the brakes on the problems and fixes section.

 

If you need to jack the car up always first raise the suspension to max height to avoid possible suspension problems. Never go under the car without using axle stands since if a height sensor is caught the suspension can quickly drop to a very low level before you can get out of the way.

[barose]

Thank you! I really appreciate the advice.Brian