C5 X7 suspension strut fluid leak - Replacement mini guide page 2

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
User avatar
EDC5
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 1216
Joined: 01 Jul 2017, 21:48
Location: N. Wales
My Cars: Citroen C5 RHR AM6
x 120

C5 X7 suspension strut fluid leak - Replacement mini guide page 2

Post by EDC5 »

So after finding an ominous oil patch under my drivers side front wheel, I found a oil soaked front strut:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image


As can be seen, the strut is wet from top to bottom, so maybe the seal has gone at the top?

Here is a vid that may be more useful:



In the worst case I'm guessing I need a new strut. What is the part number for the drivers side front strut?

L5 or L6 ? im not sure on the right/left convention of Citroen?

Image

It seems to be a slow leak at the moment, a few drips per hour. Am I OK driving it as long as I keep an eye on the LDS level?
Last edited by EDC5 on 22 Oct 2017, 21:55, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 37005
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5646

Re: C5 X7 suspension strut fluid leak.

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Have you checked the clip is secured at the top of the boot Elis:
Boot Clip.PNG
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
EDC5
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 1216
Joined: 01 Jul 2017, 21:48
Location: N. Wales
My Cars: Citroen C5 RHR AM6
x 120

Re: C5 X7 suspension strut fluid leak.

Post by EDC5 »

What exactly am I looking for? should the clip be at the top all around?
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 37005
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5646

Re: C5 X7 suspension strut fluid leak.

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I might be wrong but although these are bonded as far as I can tell, it just seems from your pic that there might be a securing clip that you might be able to tighten??
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 37005
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5646

Re: C5 X7 suspension strut fluid leak.

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I'm wondering if this is the clip or not - number 70?
Clip.PNG
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
EDC5
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 1216
Joined: 01 Jul 2017, 21:48
Location: N. Wales
My Cars: Citroen C5 RHR AM6
x 120

Re: C5 X7 suspension strut fluid leak.

Post by EDC5 »

It does look from your zoomed in pic that oil is leaking up and over the top of the boot. I'll check the clip.
User avatar
EDC5
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 1216
Joined: 01 Jul 2017, 21:48
Location: N. Wales
My Cars: Citroen C5 RHR AM6
x 120

Re: C5 X7 suspension strut fluid leak.

Post by EDC5 »

Just been out to check now, there is in fact no clip at the top at all, I can retract the corrugated boot downwards with little effort.
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 37005
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5646

Re: C5 X7 suspension strut fluid leak.

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I've also had a look at the general clips and fixings on Citroen Service and they show this - which looks very similar to the one in the picture - I may be wrong:
Listed as part 6981 H1, 'HOSE CLIP', 60,8-9

Click to zoom
Hose Clip Possibility.PNG
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
EDC5
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 1216
Joined: 01 Jul 2017, 21:48
Location: N. Wales
My Cars: Citroen C5 RHR AM6
x 120

Re: C5 X7 suspension strut fluid leak.

Post by EDC5 »

Just to clarify, there is no clip in the pic, it just looks like it... maybe it's come off but the plastic was deformed into the shape of the clip?

User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 37005
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5646

Re: C5 X7 suspension strut fluid leak.

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Elis - can you check the other side as that doesn't look right - is there a clip on the passenger side - really helpful video though - makes it easier to see.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
EDC5
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 1216
Joined: 01 Jul 2017, 21:48
Location: N. Wales
My Cars: Citroen C5 RHR AM6
x 120

Re: C5 X7 suspension strut fluid leak.

Post by EDC5 »

Just checked the other side ( should have done that immediately) it doesn't have a clip either, but the boot is bone dry. I'm thinking the piston is leaking and the oil is filling the boot up and being forced out of the top?
User avatar
xantia_v6
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 9053
Joined: 09 Nov 2005, 22:03
Location: France or NewZealand
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: -
1997 Citroen Xantia V6 (France)
1999 Citroen XM V6 ES9 (France)
2011 Peugeot 308 CC THP 155 (NZ)
1975 Jaguar XJ-S pre-HE (NZ)
x 825

Re: C5 X7 suspension strut fluid leak.

Post by xantia_v6 »

There should be no oil in the boot, the boot needs to be able to compress when going over a bump.

The oli could however be coming from above, or below, which would change the nature of the failure.
User avatar
EDC5
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 1216
Joined: 01 Jul 2017, 21:48
Location: N. Wales
My Cars: Citroen C5 RHR AM6
x 120

Re: C5 X7 suspension strut fluid leak.

Post by EDC5 »

I guess I'll have to replace the strut then, can I get a conformation on the part number for the drivers side front strut?

I think it's 5271L5 (Front Left) Looking at the bonnet?

Is it a big / difficult job to do?
User avatar
bobins
Donor 2023
Posts: 5697
Joined: 05 Jul 2012, 18:07
Location: Midhurst, West Sussex
My Cars: Kia Sportage
Mazda BT-50
Land Rover SIII SWB
V-F-R800
SL320
MX5
x 2871

Re: C5 X7 suspension strut fluid leak.

Post by bobins »

Book time is a gnats under 2 hours.
PM sent with instructions :)
Sadly no longer a C5 owner :(
User avatar
EDC5
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 1216
Joined: 01 Jul 2017, 21:48
Location: N. Wales
My Cars: Citroen C5 RHR AM6
x 120

Re: C5 X7 suspension strut fluid leak.

Post by EDC5 »

Thats great, thanks! :-D

It doesn't look impossible, just a tad more tricky due to the hydraulic element.

Probably time to order a new strut then.
Post Reply