Last question for a while hopefully!

[Mdon]

Hi, apologies for all the questions, I'm just settling in to the c5 and hopefully this'll be the last issue, I've notice the rear suspension squeaks quite a lot going over bumps etc, I looked at the rear wheel and thought the clearance between the inside edge of the tyre and the inner wing on the rear drivers side was very close so at first, I thought rear arm bearing had gone and it's the rubber rubbing against the plastic, however when I've jacked the wheel up there is no play whatsoever that I can feel, I did note though that the drivers rear bump stop it quite perished and the rear passenger one is missing completely. Could this cause the squeak? When I put the suspension on the higher suspension setting, the squeak stops? It's got me a little confused. I'm ordering a new pair of bump stops but I'm just wondering if this is the issue or if there's something more serious? The car won't be able to be looked at until next weekend as I'm on shifts until then.

[RichardW]

It'll be the rear arm bearings....

[Peter.N.]

Afraid so. Mine had practically seized solid as I found when I fitted new spheres and the suspension still didn't move.

Peter

[Mdon]

My suspension moves up and down as it should with no noises etc. It only squeaks when driving along the road with the bumps, would the arm bearings not squeak when it the intermediate height setting too? I'll have them checked out but it'll be a week on Monday before I can have them checked/replaced.

[daviemck2006]

Mine squeaked when driving on normal height, but at no other time. The wheels did not look particularly squint as some are, and I couldn't find any play, but replaced the bearings when it failed the mot for it.

[Mdon]

Mine squeaked when driving on normal height, but at no other time. The wheels did not look particularly squint as some are, and I couldn't find any play, but replaced the bearings when it failed the mot for it.

Cheers for that, I'll get it booked in then. Out of interest, roughly how much does it cost for new rear bearings fitted?

[daviemck2006]

I can't remember now to be honest. I bought the bearing kit myself off eBay as the garage screwed up, and the labour on the bill included other stuff, so couldn't work it out really. I think the bearing kit was about £50 for one side, probably about 2 hrs labour. That's an educated guess though. Someone else may have a better idea.

[myglaren]

Malcolm's info on bearing kits.
Prices may not be exactly the same as the thread is a year or so old.
IIRC dealer price is £350 per side.

[Mdon]

Thanks for the reply, I won't be paying £350 that's for sure! I'll take the car back to peterbourgh and demand my money back. I've looked on eBay and Google and it looks like around £50 tops for the kit. It's going to a decent local garage on Monday for them to have a look at. I don't understand how dealers can get away with charging such ridiculous amounts!

[Gibbo2286]

Thanks for the reply, I won't be paying £350 that's for sure! I'll take the car back to peterbourgh and demand my money back. I've looked on eBay and Google and it looks like around £50 tops for the kit. It's going to a decent local garage on Monday for them to have a look at. I don't understand how dealers can get away with charging such ridiculous amounts!

They charge the going rate, they pay their mechanics the proper rate, they are required to hold a hundred grands worth of parts and the full range of cars from the manufacturer for the privilege of being a dealer, they have to buy and use all the special tools and if they don't sell their quota of cars they get unceremonially dumped.

'tis not all that rosy owning a dealership

[Hell Razor5543]

I recall asking Malcolm (of Savoy, a recommended garage on this forum) about doing the rear arm bearings on my 2004 C5 estate, and he said it is normally between £400 to £500 for both sides.

[daviemck2006]

This is one of the reasons c5's are so cheap to buy now. You would nearly have to factor in the cost of doing these bearings while buying one, unless there is proof of them already having been done.

[Mdon]

Well the local independent looked at it this morning and gave it a good going over for an hour, there's no play whatsoever in the rear arm bearings, however the rear brakes aren't wearing well so needs new discs and pads, the reason for the less clearance on the rear wheel is down to a mis-shaped tyre. However it does require a track rod end and a steering rack end due to play but they aren't desperate. I'll order the discs/pads and fit them myself on Saturday along with two new tyres(I can't fit them though!) Turns out the squeak was from the dust cover on the rear of the brake disc which has been moved and the squeak seems to have gone.

The grand total for an hours labour was zero, it'll still cost a few hundred though for the breaks pads and tyres. Thanks for all your help, it's much appreciated.

[Hell Razor5543]

Be VERY careful doing the rear brakes. Citroen have a tendency to use threadlock the full length of the calliper mounting bolts, so a blowtorch and a lot of care is needed, as well as a long breaker bar (making sure to apply pressure slowly and evenly, as the bolts have been known to fail, increasing the problems a LOT!).

[Mdon]

Thanks for the heads up, why would they do something as stupid as that!? After quickly checking the service history only 2 out of 6 services have been carried out by a Citroen dealer so hopefully they didn't touch it last time!