C5 Sphere Suspension Fluid Change

[Guest CalumG]

Hi,

 

I have changed the spheres on my Xantia and the LHM Fluid. I would like to do the same on my wifes C5 estate.

 

I understand the C5 is a little bit more intelligent. So here are my questions.

 

1. How do I release the suspension pressure to change the spheres?

2. Can I change the hydractive fluid without any computer system problems/interference.?

 

My wifes car is over five years old and the suspension is a tad hard where as my Xantia floats as it should.

 

Any help with this procedure would be good.

 

Also I have been quoted £50.00 each for the replacement spheres does this sound about correct?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Calum.

[DaveK]

If you're not too far away it maybe worth a trip to the guys at Westroen, Manchester. Charge £25 each sphere for a Xantia, plus £40 to change fluid and clean filters. They have the equipment to regas old spheres. tel- 0161 881 1061. Have website too. Google 'Westroen Spheres' should find it. They probably do the C5 too.

I have a (new to me) C5 Exclusive, Jan 2005. Compared to the Xantia the suspension is horrible- very hard and joggly. Main dealer says diagnostic check shows no fault. Don't think anyone bothered to take it out for a run though. Has electronic adjustment for suspension height but if it was the lever type as on the old Xantia, I'd say it was riding too high. Anyone know if it can be altered to give the proper Citroen comfy ride? Car's done 18,000 miles.

DaveK.

 

Hi,

 

I have changed the spheres on my Xantia and the LHM Fluid. I would like to do the same on my wifes C5 estate.

 

I understand the C5 is a little bit more intelligent. So here are my questions.

 

1. How do I release the suspension pressure to change the spheres?

2. Can I change the hydractive fluid without any computer system problems/interference.?

 

My wifes car is over five years old and the suspension is a tad hard where as my Xantia floats as it should.

 

Any help with this procedure would be good.

 

Also I have been quoted £50.00 each for the replacement spheres does this sound about correct?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Calum.

[Guest rcihjenn]

If you're not too far away it maybe worth a trip to the guys at Westroen, Manchester. Charge £25 each sphere for a Xantia, plus £40 to change fluid and clean filters. They have the equipment to regas old spheres. tel- 0161 881 1061. Have website too. Google 'Westroen Spheres' should find it. They probably do the C5 too.

I have a (new to me) C5 Exclusive, Jan 2005. Compared to the Xantia the suspension is horrible- very hard and joggly. Main dealer says diagnostic check shows no fault. Don't think anyone bothered to take it out for a run though. Has electronic adjustment for suspension height but if it was the lever type as on the old Xantia, I'd say it was riding too high. Anyone know if it can be altered to give the proper Citroen comfy ride? Car's done 18,000 miles.

DaveK.

 

Hi,

 

I have changed the spheres on my Xantia and the LHM Fluid. I would like to do the same on my wifes C5 estate.

 

I understand the C5 is a little bit more intelligent. So here are my questions.

 

1. How do I release the suspension pressure to change the spheres?

2. Can I change the hydractive fluid without any computer system problems/interference.?

 

My wifes car is over five years old and the suspension is a tad hard where as my Xantia floats as it should.

 

Any help with this procedure would be good.

 

Also I have been quoted £50.00 each for the replacement spheres does this sound about correct?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Calum.

[Guest rcihjenn]

If you're not too far away it maybe worth a trip to the guys at Westroen, Manchester. Charge £25 each sphere for a Xantia, plus £40 to change fluid and clean filters. They have the equipment to regas old spheres. tel- 0161 881 1061. Have website too. Google 'Westroen Spheres' should find it. They probably do the C5 too.

I have a (new to me) C5 Exclusive, Jan 2005. Compared to the Xantia the suspension is horrible- very hard and joggly. Main dealer says diagnostic check shows no fault. Don't think anyone bothered to take it out for a run though. Has electronic adjustment for suspension height but if it was the lever type as on the old Xantia, I'd say it was riding too high. Anyone know if it can be altered to give the proper Citroen comfy ride? Car's done 18,000 miles.

DaveK.

 

Hi,

 

I have changed the spheres on my Xantia and the LHM Fluid. I would like to do the same on my wifes C5 estate.

 

I understand the C5 is a little bit more intelligent. So here are my questions.

 

1. How do I release the suspension pressure to change the spheres?

2. Can I change the hydractive fluid without any computer system problems/interference.?

 

My wifes car is over five years old and the suspension is a tad hard where as my Xantia floats as it should.

 

Any help with this procedure would be good.

 

Also I have been quoted £50.00 each for the replacement spheres does this sound about correct?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Calum.

[Guest rcihjenn]

I too have recently bought a C5 and am finding the ride horrid - really joggly and pitchy.

I'm wondering if there are different grades of sphere like on Xantia/BX's?

The suspension feels OK if you dip the car corners at standstill - it's not rock solid - but on the road it joggles side to side(!) over bumps.

I'm more than a little scared by the electronic control of the suspension - it feels as if it's riding too high like DaveK says.

Any clues how to soften up a C5 ride, I too would be super grateful to learn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Cheers

to all

richjenn13

 

 

 

 

If you're not too far away it maybe worth a trip to the guys at Westroen, Manchester. Charge £25 each sphere for a Xantia, plus £40 to change fluid and clean filters. They have the equipment to regas old spheres. tel- 0161 881 1061. Have website too. Google 'Westroen Spheres' should find it. They probably do the C5 too.

I have a (new to me) C5 Exclusive, Jan 2005. Compared to the Xantia the suspension is horrible- very hard and joggly. Main dealer says diagnostic check shows no fault. Don't think anyone bothered to take it out for a run though. Has electronic adjustment for suspension height but if it was the lever type as on the old Xantia, I'd say it was riding too high. Anyone know if it can be altered to give the proper Citroen comfy ride? Car's done 18,000 miles.

DaveK.

 

Hi,

 

I have changed the spheres on my Xantia and the LHM Fluid. I would like to do the same on my wifes C5 estate.

 

I understand the C5 is a little bit more intelligent. So here are my questions.

 

1. How do I release the suspension pressure to change the spheres?

2. Can I change the hydractive fluid without any computer system problems/interference.?

 

My wifes car is over five years old and the suspension is a tad hard where as my Xantia floats as it should.

 

Any help with this procedure would be good.

 

Also I have been quoted £50.00 each for the replacement spheres does this sound about correct?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Calum.

[Randombloke]

Be worth you guys telling us if the suspension on your C5 is H3 (no sport button) or H3+ (sport button).

 

If it's H3+ and rides poorly, it might be stuck in sport mode. Used to happen with some XMs.

 

I don't think slightly hard spheres show up on the diagnostic, but kfk, iannez and BarbsC1 are your ports of call for confirmation.

 

If the nitrogen has leaked out of the spheres the ride will be hard. Search for test methods elsewhere posted by names above.

 

The spheres can be removed and tested. Worth finding a decent repairer in your area.

 

May also be worth running the car up and down on the suspension a couple of times and see if it settles in the same place.

[Guest rcihjenn]

Sorry!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, which H3 important - mine's bog standard H3, car 2003 110bhp LX 2.0 HDI Estate

Did wonder whether the clever(!?) computer can be tweaked to give softer settings, though wouldn't expect a Citroen Dealer to be any help there! But aware that H3+ has extra bits to allow soft/hard settings, so guess that standard set up won't have such options?

 

Yearn for good old BX days, when you could browse list of spheres and choose to suit your temprament (my TZD was transformed by fitting 500/55/1.65 spheres in place of specified ones).

 

Are the new "mushroom spheres fitted to C5's rechargeable?

 

I have horrid feeling that basically Citroen are "Germanizing" their ride (after all, they're pretending the new C5 IS German!).

I remember the wonderful ride on Pug 205's and 504's, - compare that to a 206 or 307!

Why won't someone French remember that the reason we buy their unreliable cars is cos they're so comfy to drive! If I wanted a VW i'd have bought one!!

 

Grateful thanks for your input.

 

Cheers

richjenn13

 

 

Be worth you guys telling us if the suspension on your C5 is H3 (no sport button) or H3+ (sport button).

 

If it's H3+ and rides poorly, it might be stuck in sport mode. Used to happen with some XMs.

 

I don't think slightly hard spheres show up on the diagnostic, but kfk, iannez and BarbsC1 are your ports of call for confirmation.

 

If the nitrogen has leaked out of the spheres the ride will be hard. Search for test methods elsewhere posted by names above.

 

The spheres can be removed and tested. Worth finding a decent repairer in your area.

 

May also be worth running the car up and down on the suspension a couple of times and see if it settles in the same place.

[Randombloke]

Sorry!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, which H3 important - mine's bog standard H3, car 2003 110bhp LX 2.0 HDI Estate

Did wonder whether the clever(!?) computer can be tweaked to give softer settings, though wouldn't expect a Citroen Dealer to be any help there! But aware that H3+ has extra bits to allow soft/hard settings, so guess that standard set up won't have such options?

 

I'm not sure if H3 has 6 spheres, but I think it might. If it does then the middle sphere(s) could have gone hard but the car might still be ok to bounce.

 

Taking the car down a few clicks (using diagnostic/laptop) might improve suspension softness. On the older cars the higher it went the harder it got.

 

Yearn for good old BX days, when you could browse list of spheres and choose to suit your temprament (my TZD was transformed by fitting 500/55/1.65 spheres in place of specified ones).

 

My first BX had harder than standard on the rear, and it was also better for me.

 

Are the new "mushroom spheres fitted to C5's rechargeable?

 

Don't know.

 

I remember the wonderful ride on Pug 205's and 504's, - compare that to a 206 or 307!

Why won't someone French remember that the reason we buy their unreliable cars is cos they're so comfy to drive! If I wanted a VW i'd have bought one!!

 

Between 1982 (passed test) and round about 1985 I drove 504s a lot. A brilliant compromise, good handling yet suspension that was absorbent enough for roads in Nigeria.

 

With something like H3+ we can have DS/GS ride in straight lines and 205 cornering.

 

With coil springs on the latest C5s we might have hard jouncy, Passat style ride. At that point we may as well buy a Passat, or a Skoda equivalent.

 

Some other postings here have mentioned "comfort spheres" for C5, but I suspect it's simply a case, as you say of using a sphere with a higher initial pressure and therefore larger volume of gas to compress. This will give a softer ride.

 

It would be interesting to find some information on this, as simply swapping either the centre spheres (bigger/smaller difference between sport and normal mode on H3+) or the four corners (harder/softer ride generally) might help improve things with higher tyre pressures for better fuel economy.

[Ronin]

An interesting question. I'd like to know for future reference... Maybe KFK or Iannez can shed some light on it or if they have the time , give a quick tutorial... Pleeeeeeaaase :rolleyes:

[Guest rcihjenn]

I'd love to see such a tutorial too - pretty please!

 

Just read that the auto express top 100 placed to C5 at top of all tested for ride comfort - which is where you'd hope to see it - but mine still bangs my head off the roof when I go down our lane, which my BX never did!

 

Thanks to all for your input - this is what makes the Web worth while!

 

Cheers

 

richjenn13

[Guest rcihjenn]

Hi,

Just wondered if you'd made any progress on the ride quality on your C5?

I'm just putting my BX back on the road - my back can't cope with being joggled around any more!!

Before I put the C5 up for sale, trying to see if there's any way that it can be made to ride proper!

 

Very best regards

richjenn13

 

 

If you're not too far away it maybe worth a trip to the guys at Westroen, Manchester. Charge £25 each sphere for a Xantia, plus £40 to change fluid and clean filters. They have the equipment to regas old spheres. tel- 0161 881 1061. Have website too. Google 'Westroen Spheres' should find it. They probably do the C5 too.

I have a (new to me) C5 Exclusive, Jan 2005. Compared to the Xantia the suspension is horrible- very hard and joggly. Main dealer says diagnostic check shows no fault. Don't think anyone bothered to take it out for a run though. Has electronic adjustment for suspension height but if it was the lever type as on the old Xantia, I'd say it was riding too high. Anyone know if it can be altered to give the proper Citroen comfy ride? Car's done 18,000 miles.

DaveK.

 

Hi,

 

I have changed the spheres on my Xantia and the LHM Fluid. I would like to do the same on my wifes C5 estate.

 

I understand the C5 is a little bit more intelligent. So here are my questions.

 

1. How do I release the suspension pressure to change the spheres?

2. Can I change the hydractive fluid without any computer system problems/interference.?

 

My wifes car is over five years old and the suspension is a tad hard where as my Xantia floats as it should.

 

Any help with this procedure would be good.

 

Also I have been quoted £50.00 each for the replacement spheres does this sound about correct?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Calum.

[Malcolm]

Hi,

Just wondered if you'd made any progress on the ride quality on your C5?

I'm just putting my BX back on the road - my back can't cope with being joggled around any more!!

Before I put the C5 up for sale, trying to see if there's any way that it can be made to ride proper!

 

Very best regards

richjenn13

Hi Guys. It's been interesting reading your comments about the ride quality of the C5. I have an 02 2.2HDI with the H3+ suspension and I use the sport mode all the time. Why?. It's more comfortable. The car has now done 35,000 miles and I've had it 18 months and bought it with 21,000 miles so I assume it has the original spheres. I tried it in the sport mode a couple of times shortly after I had bought it simply out of curiosity but now use it all the time. I can only assume that it's stiffening the damping and not the springing and this contributes to the better ride quality. By the way, of the 3 citroens I have owned to date my XM coped better with speed humps than either my Xantia or C5 and the sport mode on the XM seemed to make absolutely no differnce at all.

Malcolm

[Guest rcihjenn]

Hi Guys. It's been interesting reading your comments about the ride quality of the C5. I have an 02 2.2HDI with the H3+ suspension and I use the sport mode all the time. Why?. It's more comfortable. The car has now done 35,000 miles and I've had it 18 months and bought it with 21,000 miles so I assume it has the original spheres. I tried it in the sport mode a couple of times shortly after I had bought it simply out of curiosity but now use it all the time. I can only assume that it's stiffening the damping and not the springing and this contributes to the better ride quality. By the way, of the 3 citroens I have owned to date my XM coped better with speed humps than either my Xantia or C5 and the sport mode on the XM seemed to make absolutely no differnce at all.

Malcolm

 

Hi Malcom, Thanks for your interest.

It's interesting to note your comments re Sport mode.

 

From what I can see, on the C5 the lower spec cars without switchable Sport/Comfort mode (like my LX) DON'T have the middle spheres a la Xantia.

 

It seems that on the higher spec cars with switchability, selecting Sport mode effectively cuts out the centre spheres, reducing the available sphere volume and tightening up the ride.

 

I'm aware that this runs counter to your experience with Sport mode!

 

So it would seem that perhaps those of us unhappy with our C5 ride are perhaps those with only Hydractive3, not 3+??

 

Anyone got observations to add - am I perhaps barking up the wrong tree?

 

It's interesting that the old BX managed fine on 4 spheres.

The Xantia seemed to have 6 whatever the model (I'm omitting Accumulator sphere from total), the C5 varies.

I have to say that I still reckon a well sorted BX was the most comfortable, but then as I said b4, the wide range of sphere types available allowed the keen owner to tailor their car, as indeed could a Xantia driver.

I'm not aware that there are such options with the C5, apart from the 1.8 petrol front sphere having a damping hole of 1.9 mm rather than 1.75mm on the HDI on H3 cars

 

The difference in Sphere specs between the H3 and H3+ is much more striking.

 

On H3 cars:

Front (apart from 1.8 petrol): 385cc volume / 57bar pressure / 1.75/1.3mm damping hole.

Rear:385cc vol / 25bar / 0.7/0.48 damping hole.

 

On the H3+ cars:

Front: 385cc vol / 44bar petrol cars, 52bar diesel cars / 0.9/0.48 hole.

Rear: 385cc vol / 30bar / 1.4/0.94 hole

Front centre sphere 385cc vol / 62bar / damping hole not specified

Rear centre sphere 385cc vol / 45bar / "" " " "

 

Phew!

What one makes of all that ...................???

 

Cheers!

richjenn13