Headlight Adjustment, Squeeling Brakes And Banging Suspension

[Guest IOM]

I bought a new C5 exclusive in November 2005 and have just had the first service 16000 miles. During the past two years it has been in and out of the dealers workshop for faults. Three that they cannot rectify.

1 Headlights are far two high and I am continually being flashed by oncoming vehicles. The garage tell me they are ok and are not adjustable. It is driving me mad and I can't believe that they cannot be adjusted.

2The suspension knocks and bangs(from new) and new spheres were fitted but after the service it's back

3The brakes squeel and the garage said it is due to the new material used on modern cars and I will have to put up with it.

 

Any helpers please ?

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

If it is the rear brakes that squeal then this is a common problem. There is lots on this (try a search) but basically, corrosion occurs between the rear alloy calipers and the subframe which pushes the calipers out. The cure is to remove the calipers, clean up the corrosion, apply copper grease to the contact faces and re-assemble. 2 years old is about right for this to occur (my experience). You will also probably find the front and rear brake pads are siezed and need removing and the metal contact points cleaning up and applying copper grease.

[Guest IOM]

Welcome to the forum.

 

If it is the rear brakes that squeal then this is a common problem. There is lots on this (try a search) but basically, corrosion occurs between the rear alloy calipers and the subframe which pushes the calipers out. The cure is to remove the calipers, clean up the corrosion, apply copper grease to the contact faces and re-assemble. 2 years old is about right for this to occur (my experience). You will also probably find the front and rear brake pads are siezed and need removing and the metal contact points cleaning up and applying copper grease.

 

 

Thanks. I will check this out.

[raymond]

I bought a new C5 exclusive in November 2005 and have just had the first service 16000 miles. During the past two years it has been in and out of the dealers workshop for faults. Three that they cannot rectify.

1 Headlights are far two high and I am continually being flashed by oncoming vehicles. The garage tell me they are ok and are not adjustable. It is driving me mad and I can't believe that they cannot be adjusted.

2The suspension knocks and bangs(from new) and new spheres were fitted but after the service it's back

3The brakes squeel and the garage said it is due to the new material used on modern cars and I will have to put up with it.

 

Any helpers please ?

 

1) All head lights can be adjusted manually and you can find these adjustment knobs on the top part of the lamp when you open the bonnet and you can adjust them by a philips torx head driver. In the case if your car is fitted with an auto leveling device, you can also set the level at the control module attached to the lamp, it is visible anyway. I wonder whats wrong with your mechanics?

 

2) You need to check whether the problem came from either the sphere or other mechanical linkage to the suspension system. I believe if you can raise up your car with the Hydractive system and apply weight to make an up down bouncing movement, you can already know whats wrong. Try it!

 

3) The brake squeel could be due to the uneven wear condition of the pads against the Disc, usually what happen to the front pads is the friction width is smaller than the disc and causing incomplete wear to the disc, you can feel with your finger by touching the edges on the external and internal diameter to feel the uneveness, remove this uneven surface and your problem could be solved.

[Guest IOM]

1) All head lights can be adjusted manually and you can find these adjustment knobs on the top part of the lamp when you open the bonnet and you can adjust them by a philips torx head driver. In the case if your car is fitted with an auto leveling device, you can also set the level at the control module attached to the lamp, it is visible anyway. I wonder whats wrong with your mechanics?

 

2) You need to check whether the problem came from either the sphere or other mechanical linkage to the suspension system. I believe if you can raise up your car with the Hydractive system and apply weight to make an up down bouncing movement, you can already know whats wrong. Try it!

 

3) The brake squeel could be due to the uneven wear condition of the pads against the Disc, usually what happen to the front pads is the friction width is smaller than the disc and causing incomplete wear to the disc, you can feel with your finger by touching the edges on the external and internal diameter to feel the uneveness, remove this uneven surface and your problem could be solved.

 

That's great thanks. The mechanics seem reasonable but getting past the bloke on the desk is the problem, he thinks he knows all the answers but obviously he doesn't. I wiil get onto the fixes straight way.

Thanks