Citroen C5 supsension problems.

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michael maurice
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Citroen C5 supsension problems.

Post by michael maurice »

I recently decided to start using this car again and got it through the MOT but with the following work

Headlamps needed replacing.

New Exhaust system fitted.

Front suspension drop link.

The MOT was carried out before this work was carried and obviously failed.

The work was carried out by the same garage and then retested.

Now the rear of the car is much higher than the front. It does move up and down but whereas the front appears normal the rear is very high.

I've tried disconnecting the battery and reconnecting but the problem remains.

Can anyone point me in the right direction as to whats wrong?

Is it safe to drive it like this?
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Re: Citroen C5 supsension problems.

Post by osx »

Are you able to upload any photos with the car at normal and high position?
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Re: Citroen C5 supsension problems.

Post by Gibbo2286 »

If the garage you took it to is Citroen aware i.e. it knows what it's doing you should take it back to them and ask them to check and adjust the height settings. It can be done diy but it's best done on a four post lift, the basic settings are done by adjustment of the height controller clamps on the anti roll bars and the fine tuning done with a Lexia.
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Re: Citroen C5 supsension problems.

Post by wurlycorner »

Exactly that ^^^^

It's a really easy and quick job, just needs safe access under the car with the engine running (i.e. NOT lying under the car on a drive!)
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Re: Citroen C5 supsension problems.

Post by michael maurice »

The garage is not a Citroen dealer or specialist, but they do servicing, brakes, tyres and exhausts.

I've got some pictures.

With the car in normal engine running

Image

Image

Image


With the car at highest setting

Image

Image

Image


with car at lowest setting

Image

Image

Image
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Re: Citroen C5 supsension problems.

Post by wurlycorner »

Have a look at my C5 profile. There are pics showing the clamp on the ARB that needs to be loosened and tapped round to adjust the suspension height. It is literally a 5 minute job for a garage.

Put the car on a 4 post ramp (2 post is no good for this), suspension in normal height setting.
Leave the engine running, raise the ramp so you can get under the car.
Find the clamp on the ARB (there is one clamp at the back and one at the front).
loosen the bolt on the clamp slightly (don't completely undo it) and then tap the clamp so that it rotates around the ARB, do it gradually.
Watch as the suspension at that end of the car raises or lowers slightly - twist one way for up and the other for down.
Adjust until the correct ride height is reached at that end of the car, then tighten the clamp back up.
Repeat at the other end of the car.

Job done.

Nb: if the back of the car doesnt respond to that, potentially it has some other problem such as seized rear arm bearings, blown spheres or faulty height corrector sensor.
Last edited by wurlycorner on 19 May 2015, 09:05, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Citroen C5 supsension problems.

Post by SwissSPEC »

I'm assuming your old headlights had gone a bit crazed, a much cheaper solution than replacing them is to gently use some compound & clean them, even toothpaste does a semi-decent job if your budget was v-tight.
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Re: Citroen C5 supsension problems.

Post by michael maurice »

I tried cleaning them with a specialist cleaner and although it came up better, it still wouldn't pass an MOT.
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Re: Citroen C5 supsension problems.

Post by Stickyfinger »

Just get a 3M kit.....works great on Mk1 headlamps. Best to take the lamps off to do the job, and get some clear lacquer (for plastics and test it) to replace the UV protective layer you have removed.

Polish alone is not the way, you have to remove the discolored /degraded layer with the reducing grades of abrasive pads, only then polish.
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Re: Citroen C5 supsension problems.

Post by wurlycorner »

Yep, not had to do it myself, but it's common on JDM version of Preludes that I own and what Sticky has said is the very well versed and used method of recovering them!
It seems completely unnatural taking a rough sandpaper to a headlight, but it is the correct way!
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Re: Citroen C5 supsension problems.

Post by michael maurice »

I got the car on a 4 wheel ramp and adjusted the rear though I think I made it too low.

This begs the question:

That sensor hadn't moved. it was probably in the same position as when the car was new, so why did it suddenly require adjustment? I presume one can also do it electronically if you have the right tool.

What is the correct height is it the height between the edge of the tyre and the arch, both front and back?
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Re: Citroen C5 supsension problems.

Post by wurlycorner »

Ah. now that's an interesting question... (What is the correct height).

On something like CX or Xantia, the method of measuring the height is very simple - it tells you to measure between a particular point on the chassis and the floor.

On a C5, for some reason, the proper Citroen procedure for measuring the height is much more complicated :roll:

From http://www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk/ci ... asurement/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This is from the Citroen manuals for checking the front height -

2. Preliminary operations
Check the LDS fluid level (see the relevant operation).
Verify the tyre pressure.
Place the vehicle on a 4 -post lift.
Put the vehicle in the normal position.
Release the parking brake.
Start the engine.
3. Checking each axle in turn
Push up the vehicle.
Let go when the weight becomes too important.
The vehicle will drop, then rise and settle.
Measure the height.
Push the vehicle down.
Retain the vehicle in this position ; let go when it rises.
The vehicle will rise, then drop and settle.
Measure the height.
Take the average of the 2 measurements.



Dimension " L1" for checking the front height is measured between the flat section "b" on the underside of the front subframe and the centre line "a" of the road wheel.
This method does away with all the variations of measurement arising from the following factors :
Types of wheels fitted
Vehicle load
Wear or incorrect inflation of the tyres
H1 = R1 - L1.
H1 = Front height (± 6 mm).
R1 = Wheel radius ( mm). From the wheel centre to the ground.
L1 = Theoretical dimension between the flat section of the front subframe and the centre line of the road wheel.
L1 = 140 mm. (the underside of the subframe should be 140 mm below the wheel centre)
The measurement of the front dimension " H1" is between the ground and the measuring zone on the underside of the front subframe (at the rear of the front suspension arm fixing yokes).

If the height is more than 10mm out, the height adjuster is moved, if less a Lexia is used .

-----------------------------------------------------------
Additional info for checking the rear height 25/7/2014.

The rear height H2M is measured between the ground and the zone "a" on the crossmember (behind the rear sphere).
4.5. Calculating the rear height H2C
H2C = R2 + 73 mm .
R2 = Rear wheel radius ( mm).
Compare :
The value measured H2M
The value calculated H2C
Adjust the rear height if necessary.
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Re: Citroen C5 supsension problems.

Post by Mandrake »

That procedure for measuring and adjusting the height is identical to a Xantia, aside from Lexia use.

To get accurate and repeatable measurements you need to measure the height after an upwards correction and again after a downwards correction and take the half way point between the two as your measurement, otherwise you can be out by as much as 10-15mm due to the hysteresis in height corrector action. I've always measured the height this way.

The method of measuring from the ground to the chassis and adding or subtracting a figure is also the same on a Xantia - it compensates for differences in tyre profile, brand and inflation, and different rim sizes.
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