Citaerobics with the cap off? C5

[Jabo]

Should citaerobics be done with the cap on or off the reservoir?

[myglaren]

On.

[Jabo]

Hmph I've done quite a lot of it and even topped up with fluid recently, my ride is still a bit rough.
I had to replace the reservoir a few months ago so there's a chance that either there's still not enough fluid in it or it's got air trapped that won't move.
Any suggestions of any other potential problems?
I'm getting a bit of a rough ride and sometimes when first planting an arse on the seat there's a clanking noise that sounds like it's coming from the suspension.

[addo]

Air is more compressible than "Extrait du Mormon" so you should feel a softer ride with trapped air. Can you get the spheres pressure tested?

[citronut]

sound like you rear suspension arm bearings have/are colapsing/breaking up,

regards malcolm

[cachaciero]

I have written before on this, I don't believe that Citrobics will get all of the air out of the system on a C5 due to the long pipe runs between the cylinders and the valves in the BHI and the fact that low as selected on the switch is a long way from low as far as the cylinders are concerned, i.e unlike their green cousins, the cylinders do not compress to the mechanical limit on a C5, unless the system is depressurized using a Lexia.
I am not even convinced that the Citroen recommended way using a Lexia will do it 100%, believe that the only sure way of bleeding the system is to bleed through the bleed screws provided for that purpose. The technique that I use from time to time is to fit a brake bleeding cap on the reservoir and apply a gentle vacuum using a vacuum pump that seems to cause the air to "fizz" out quite nicely.

cachaciero

[Jabo]

sound like you rear suspension arm bearings have/are colapsing/breaking up,

regards malcolm

You could very well be right malcolm. I understand that failing bearings can results in negative camber at the rear and the arms hitting the rear subframe. This does sound like my car.

[citronut]

i dont know about the arms hiting the sub frame, what i was thinking the noise to be was creaking arm bearings as they break up, the the rollers from the bearings cause a lot of noise,

put the car fully up on its highest suspension setting, stand back from the rear end and see if the rear wheels are like this / \,

it also can stop the suspension moveing through its travle freely,

regards malcolm

[Jabo]

Aye, looks like slight negative camber on the rear when the suspension is raised. Where can I buy a couple of bearings from? Can only think to phone GSF...

[citronut]

have a look at this thread

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=38765" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


regards malcolm

[Jabo]

Nice one, will this do? http://www.aepdirect.com/rear-arm-beari ... ory_id=754" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Or should I pick up a new C5 bolt and spacer?

[citronut]

whooops by the time we got this fare down your thread i had forgoton were talking C5 here ,

but if you ask Steve (myglaren) nicely he might point you in the direction of a C5 rear arm thread we have on here somewere abouts,
that i posted the cheapest source of the C5 rear arm bits,
im sure i put part No.'s and price's there

i think i bought the bearings and i belive the sealsfrom GSF (even though they might say they dont sell seperatly),
then the spacers, the pivot tube and the shim's from citroen,

regards malcolm

[Jabo]

I found your thread but I'm still not 100% to knowing what I need yet.

Do I buy 1 of each of these?
512PC0080 (old p/n N42350) REAR ARM BEARING................8.25
512PC0100 (old p/n N42362) REAR ARM BEARING SEAL.......1.25

then the other bits from Citroen?
I've attached a pdf from the Citroen Service site. Can you tell me the numbers of the parts that I need? I'm thinking I need 12 and 6?

[citronut]

those part No.'s are 9 and 7 on your pdf

10 and 12 from citroen as they are diferent to those items in the APD kit,

also No. 8 is the shim which is from citroen but i think they only sell them in an asorted pack,

regards malcolm

[Citroenmad]

If you have quite a bit of air in your C5s suspension system you will find the pump noisier than it should be and also it takes longer to lift the car. When one of my C5s had air in that was its results but the ride seemed unaffected.

Given the age of your C5 (how many miles has it done?) It could well be due for a set of spheres.

If the ride is mainly harsh at the back then the arm bearings might be an explaination, however if not I would think spheres. You can get them pressure tested or just replace them.

Failing radius arm bearings can have different symptoms, ive known ones make cracking noises over large bumps, others which give a grinding noise - only really heard if your adding or taking weight from the parked car. Then the more common one seems a more noisey and thudding rear suspension when going over sharp bumps.