Front Suspension Fluid Leak

[Guest Scotcent]

My 2001 C5 has failed it's MOT inter alia because of fluid leak at front suspension. When I investigated I found the slightest trace of fluid at the top of the strut on each side. Not much can have leaked because the reservoir is virtually full, and I've never topped it up in the 18 months I've had the car. Peering at it, without dismantling, I can't see any leak, though there were traces of fluid under the dust cover at the top of the strut; and I can find no way of establishing whether any leak is up from the strut, or down from the suspension unit. Since the new cost of a strut seems to be £350+, and of the suspension unit £150+ I don't want to replace things unless I have to.

 

One idea which has occurred to me is to replace the seals in the suspension units, assuming they can be got; still involves a lot of dismantling, though.

 

Would any expert have any bright ideas?

 

Allan

[coastline taxis]

Really there not suspension struts there hydraulic rams and as such will have a fine coating of fluid round the top. Ive seen quite a few like this and theres nothing wrong with it at all and certanley dosnt need changing. So youve now got 2 opyions

 

option 1

try to explain to the tester about them being hydraulic rams. But unless he knows citroens it will be hard as a lot of people make this mistake.

 

Option 2

Get a tin of brake/clutch cleaner and clean them of then take it back and itl pass. If he asks why there not new one tell him there from a scrappy

[Guest Scotcent]

Really there not suspension struts there hydraulic rams and as such will have a fine coating of fluid round the top. Ive seen quite a few like this and theres nothing wrong with it at all and certanley dosnt need changing. So youve now got 2 opyions

 

option 1

try to explain to the tester about them being hydraulic rams. But unless he knows citroens it will be hard as a lot of people make this mistake.

 

Option 2

Get a tin of brake/clutch cleaner and clean them of then take it back and itl pass. If he asks why there not new one tell him there from a scrappy

 

 

Thank you. I know the tester well, and will have a chat with him as advised.

[Guest Peter07]

Thank you. I know the tester well, and will have a chat with him as advised.

The advice from Coastline is spot on. I followed the same advice a couple of weeks ago, took it back for a free re-test and it passed................and I didn't know the tester!! There does seem to be a lot of ignorance about these systems but I was suprised a Tester didn't seem to understand.

Let us know how you get on with your re-test.

Pete

[Johndouglas]

There does seem to be a lot of ignorance about these systems but I was suprised a Tester didn't seem to understand.

 

It's even funnier when they put the rear wheels on the rollers to test the handbrake. :blink:

[Guest Scotcent]

I had a chat with the tester and explained my views. His response was that if he saw no sign of leakage it would pass, so it did! I'll remember to give it a wipe next year. Incidentally another fail point was the brakes -- only 48% effective. I didn't touch the brakes, but on retest they managed 76%...

 

Thanks for the advice.

 

Allan