C5 Spheres

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StevieOMG
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C5 Spheres

Post by StevieOMG »

Can anyone recommend somewhere in the bristol or surrounding area to get my spheres changed (an LX) or alternatively a good supplier of spheres and appropriate tool. Would it be worthwhile changing the Fluid at the same time?
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Re: C5 Spheres

Post by Peter.N. »

I got my spheres from ebay, around £80-90 a pair. There is also a chap who makes and sells the removal tools, I have one, does the job fine.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CITROEN-C5-PA ... 254e191612" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CITROEN-XANTI ... 19d8eccc6d" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You need to state that it is for C5 spheres as they are bigger.

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Re: C5 Spheres

Post by Gibbo2286 »

Not exactly in the Bristol area but maybe not too far away, a very good Citroen specialist.


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Re: C5 Spheres

Post by StevieOMG »

Many thanks for the responses. May order the tool and spheres and have a go at doing it myself. Anything special I need to know? Have done Xantias many moons ago but not tried C5 yet. Will leave for a couple of weeks until I get my mgf back on the road for the summer and can then take my time doing them.
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Re: C5 Spheres

Post by Peter.N. »

The only real difference is that you have to completely depressurise the system on the C5. There are a couple of bleed screws one at the front and one at the back, I have only done the fronts so far which was easy, a short piece of tube connected to the nipple can be put in the reservoir to recycle the fluid, at the rear you will have to collect it - unless you have a very long tube!

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Re: C5 Spheres

Post by DHallworth »

The difference in price between the XM/Xantia spheres and C5 spheres seems quite significant too!

Didn't realise they were so pricey!

Are these the ones that have the spike in them that puncture the diaphragm when they get short of gas?

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Re: C5 Spheres

Post by Citroenmad »

DHallworth wrote: Are these the ones that have the spike in them that puncture the diaphragm when they get short of gas?

David.
I have heard this but im not sure if its a rumor of if it is true! Seems like an interesting idea if so, and a little dangerous. Having looked at C5s with very poor spheres they still had suspension movement and so an intact diaphragm.
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Re: C5 Spheres

Post by Clogzz »

The spike is to break the diaphragm in case of overload.
Must be that they've had spheres exploding.
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Re: C5 Spheres

Post by Jeff »

Last saturday afternoon while in the cabin talking to workers at my local council amenity site a police officer turned up at the door asking where to put it, holding in his hand a green sphere remarking "you'll never know the trouble this has caused!" A local supermarket was closed off all morning after finding one....

On finding it the surrounding area was cleared, taking full precautions the police took a picture of the sphere and emailed it the the bomb disposal unit in hereford who after some time said it could be chucked in the local tip but the police officer still did not know what it was.....a brief explanation followed of the beauty of Citroen suspensions....police officer not impressed so told him Bentley's have them too...seemed a bit more interested but I dont think he'd had his lunch... :cry:
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Re: C5 Spheres

Post by Citroenmad »

I have heard of similar stories :lol:
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Re: C5 Spheres

Post by DHallworth »

That must of made you chuckle... Have heard stories like that before too.

How long do C5 spheres last? Are they longer lasting then the older Xantia/XM style?

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Re: C5 Spheres

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

As Comma LHM+ fluid shows for Citroen and Rolls Royce (and Wikipedia state Rolls Royce have been using the Citroen hydro-pnuematic system since the late 60s), I would assume that Rolls Royce also would have spheres.
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Re: C5 Spheres

Post by Citroenmad »

DHallworth wrote:That must of made you chuckle... Have heard stories like that before too.

How long do C5 spheres last? Are they longer lasting then the older Xantia/XM style?

David.
They seem to vary, I've seen high mileage C5s with original spheres and lower mileage but slightly older ones with knackered spheres. Our 05 C5 estate is coming up to 100K and has never had spheres yet still rides nicely. Citroen suggested 125K miles or 5 years I think. I've only ever had to replace a pair of C5 spheres due to one of the economy branded comfort spheres on one C5 going hard. They do seem to last much longer than the older style.
Hell Razor5543 wrote:As Comma LHM+ fluid shows for Citroen and Rolls Royce (and Wikipedia state Rolls Royce have been using the Citroen hydro-pnuematic system since the late 60s), I would assume that Rolls Royce also would have spheres.
Yep, Rolls Royce used to use the spheres on the rear of Shadows and Sprits. Its not exactly the same system as a Citroen, its quite different in fact. A lot of owners don't know their cars have them and I can only asume they think a Rolls must ride very badly. The spheres are hidden in the boot, behind the back wall.
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Re: C5 Spheres

Post by Mandrake »

The multilayer Xantia spheres last a very long time too. They don't seem to have been fitted to many Citroen's in the UK, probably due to the cold climate as the middle non-porous layer becomes brittle in freezing temperatures and can crack in the tall aspect ratio used in a Xantia sphere. (Hence C5 spheres being short and squat to reduce diaphragm flexing allowing the multilayer design to work to colder temperatures)

Both my previous Xantia and my Dad's one (both in NZ) still had original front suspension multilayer spheres at 8 and 10 years old respectively (and around 80,000 miles) and both cars spheres were within 10% of the original charge pressure when tested.

I sold my old Xantia at 12 years old and it still had the same front spheres on, Dad's Xantia is now 18 years old, is still running and still on the original front spheres!
Last edited by Mandrake on 11 Mar 2013, 20:58, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: C5 Spheres

Post by Citroenmad »

We got a 1995 S2 XM with 30K miles three years ago which had sat around for a few years. It had original fit multi layer spheres on the front and when pressure tested they were as near as makes no difference the recommended pressure. The rears were normal spheres and had virtually no pressure at all.
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