Sphere Gas in LDS Fluid

JT · Unread post by JT » 12 Jun 2009, 15:05

My learned friends I have a problem.
I had a pair of new front spheres for my C5 2 litre diesel HDI sitting on my garage shelf for the last three years and last week I decided to put them in. Can't remember why I didn't put them in before now. Anyway, after putting them in, the front suspension was rock solid on the road. ( Bone Shuddering) It was dreadful I could feel every little bump on the road. (and there are lots of bumps on Ireland's roads!)So I decided to buy another new pair from GSF. When I went to depressurise the system to put them in the fluid that came out of the bleed nipple was frothy like a high gas beer. It eventually settled to look like normal LDS fluid. So, Questions; Is this caused by leaking gas from the first set of spheres?Will it do any damage? or will it bleed out of the system by Citaerobics or do I have to change the hydraulic fluid?
I would appreciate any advice.
Thanks. JT.

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 12 Jun 2009, 17:26

Sounds like normal pressurised fluid... If you release the pressure in the LHM Xantias, theres always a rush of Fizzy looking fluid that clears...
Im not an expert on the C5's yet.. but Im sure its a similar system. I could be wrong though..

Yur the first person Ive heard of needing to change C5 spheres..

Paul

cachaciero · Unread post by **cachaciero** » 13 Jun 2009, 22:34

citroenxm wrote:Sounds like normal pressurised fluid... If you release the pressure in the LHM Xantias, theres always a rush of Fizzy looking fluid that clears...
Im not an expert on the C5's yet.. but Im sure its a similar system. I could be wrong though..

Yur the first person Ive heard of needing to change C5 spheres..

Paul

In theory there should be no fizzy fluid, fizzy implies gas in the oil, gas in the oil will screw the suspension characteristics.

I purchased a set of spheres for the front, but didn't fit after finding that bleeding the system seemed to improve the suspension. However last week decided to change them to see if their would be an improvement 'cause I still ain't impressed, broke the chain wrench trying to unscrew the old ones, still thinking about it

.

cachaciero

jmd · Unread post by **jmd** » 14 Jun 2009, 01:34

Like Paul I have not heard of anyone needing to renew the spheres on the C5. I can say however that if you have Xantia spheres on a shelf for 3 years, they will definately need to be re-gassed. Am I correct in saying that the C5 spheres, cannot be regassed. If JT emails me direct I can put him on to somebody an Independent Citroen specialist (in Kildare) who will definately be able to help him ( I don't think that I am allowed to mention names here) I agree JT about the pot holes here in Ireland.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 14 Jun 2009, 12:23

jmd wrote:Like Paul I have not heard of anyone needing to renew the spheres on the C5. I can say however that if you have Xantia spheres on a shelf for 3 years, they will definately need to be re-gassed. Am I correct in saying that the C5 spheres, cannot be regassed. If JT emails me direct I can put him on to somebody an Independent Citroen specialist (in Kildare) who will definately be able to help him ( I don't think that I am allowed to mention names here) I agree JT about the pot holes here in Ireland.

If it is a business that you personally have used and been satisfied with it can go in the Recommended Garages And Services forum here.

Not that a mod has to move the thread into that forum once approved.

JT · Unread post by JT » 15 Jun 2009, 10:15

Thanks for all the info folks.My C5 had a problem with the rear spheres which ( according to a main dealer ) was the cause of a knocking noise from the rear suspension.
So I replaced the rear spheres at 60,000 miles.
This solved the problem of the knocking noise and greatly improved the suspension.
At the time I thought it might be a good idea to replace the front spheres as well. Unfortunately I bought them, left them on a shelf and forgot all about them!!!
At the moment the suspension seems to be operating normally but feels a little on the hard side!

steelcityuk · Unread post by **steelcityuk** » 15 Jun 2009, 13:15

If the ride height had changed that could account for the change in the ride. This can be adjusted with a Lexia.

Another thought is that the GSF spheres maybe aren't multilayer like the genuine ones and so the gas pressure could be lower due to osmosis. Just a thought that's all.

Steve.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 18 Jun 2009, 07:04

Garage recommendation split off into "Recommended Garages & Services"

Here.