Citroen C5 2.0 HDi 2002 Suspension Sphere advice?

JesseJames_2

Have had a leak around that area recently, and have checked it today to see where the leak is actually coming from.

It is at the join at the suspension sphere. (rear nearside)
I can see where the black seal is bulging out a little and that is where the leak is.

Have looked online to see about replacing the seal only, but cannot find anywhere where you can buy the seal.

Anywone know where I can buy the seal separately, part no, etc?
Or any other related advice?

Flying-High_2

Spheres are Circa £50 a piece... Dealers around £190ish a Piece fitted.

wildincrawley

The spheres themselves are quite cheap, so I guess they don't bother with parts for spheres? On my XM, sphere changes were fine for competent DIY-ers.

How many miles has it done? once past 100,000, they might not be far off all needing to be changed, anyway?

JesseJames_2

Yes, done about 97K miles.

This post describes what is wrong with the suspension.
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=44423#p366895
It's also where the sphere is screwed on that it appears the aluminium is corroded as well, as described by that post.

Overnight the car dumped about 1 litre in total in a tray.
Have not moved the car since.

I'll buy a sphere just now from CarParts4Less.

AdrianC

Before you do go buying a sphere, the problem described in that thread isn't a sphere issue.

It's true that the O-ring is escaping, but not because of a problem with the sphere. The problem is that the strut is breaking up around the seat for the O-ring, allowing it to escape. If you replace the sphere and O-ring, you'll only have exactly the same problem. You're going to need a strut.

BTW, always replace spheres in pairs. They're both spring and damper ("shock absorber"), and you wouldn't replace those unmatched.

There's been some debate in the Citroen Club magazine of late about the life expectancy of C5 spheres. CitUK's line is that they never need replacing. Certainly, the triple-diaphragm spheres on late XMs and Xants lasted far far longer than the older spheres, but "for life"? Hmm. Ambitious, unless you consider "life" to be the average life expectancy of a new car - in which case, this C5 is at death's door. The LDS spheres in C5s are very different to the old LHM ones, both in shape in the type of fluid they have to work with, so how much of the logic carries across is another question.

JesseJames_2

Thanks for that info Adrian, I suspected that too.

Yes will need to look at the strut when I take it off.
Will post later when I do.

Is the strut known by any other name as can't find one online?

AdrianC

Ah, it's a rear, isn't it? Try searching for "cylinder", rather than strut.

JesseJames_2

Nope, still can't find these online, just the cylinder boots that I can see

Piccy here without the sphere attached (not mine)
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu43/NewcastleFalcon/suspension/strut.jpg

Looks like nobody sells them

AdrianC

JesseJames wrote: »

Looks like nobody sells them

Just because google doesn't find 'em, doesn't mean they don't exist...

A dealer will certainly have them, at a price. Or try Pleiades - they mostly advertise their Toyota stuff these days, but afaik they're still very much in the Citroen market.
http://www.motorbase.com/contact/by-id/898567904

JesseJames_2

Thanks for that link Adrian.

Yes, I did see one place that had them soon after, but not easy to find...
http://www.eurocarcare.net/rear-suspension/ecc527270-suspension-cylinder-ram-left.html
That may or not be the exact one, but I'd phone to confirm first.

£120

I'm planning to dismantle it tomorrow.

I'll also phone that link you gave me as well.

and thanks for your help so far.

JesseJames_2

OK, tried to take the old sphere off, but could not - chain strap is about to burst.

So removed all pipes and torx bolts gaiter and push rod, so I am left with the suspension cylinder with the sphere still on, but still in it's mounting.

The cylinder still appears somewhat jammed, but does have a bit movement.
However, I think there is a dilemma here in that the sphere needs to come off so you can push the cylinder back and out of the bracket.

It doesn't appear that you can push out the opposite way as there is a lip on the end of the cylinder.
I think the only way to do this is to grind that lip off, if I can't get that sphere off first.

In any case, I still need to order that cylinder, but at least I can get one, as I phoned one of the numbers above.