Leak on rear suspension on C5 mk1

[waynedance]

Anyone know what's behind this rubber boot on the rear suspension?



Noticed after mot when car let down on the ramp jacks.

[myglaren]

Use the BBcode Wayne, HTML is disabled by default.

[waynedance]

Cleaned up around the metal clip that holds the boot as there was allot of dirt, not leaking with engine off.

If I lever the clip so loosens a little fluid leaks out, should there be fluid behind the boot?

[myglaren]

I think you must mean the gaiter on the strut.
The struts are designed to leak, the gaiter catches the LDS and returns it to the reservoir.
I had to have a gaiter replaced on the previous C5, was around £13 for the gaiter IIRC.

[myglaren]

Looks as though the gaiter has a pinhole in it. Will need to be fixed for MOT but the leak seems insubstantial. Clean the area and see that dirt can't enter or damage may well occur to the ram cylinder and shaft, causing increased leaks, also the pump may be at risk.

[waynedance]

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Fluid was leaking out the end of the boot. Cleaned the area up and put a cable tie on to make the metal clip tighter. Was worried that fluid should not be in the rubber boot, What do the pipes on the boots do?

Driven 20 miles and no leak noticed.
What is the procedure for checking the levels and topping up if needed?

[KP]

I will bet when it was MOT'd the tester was poking around and has possibly loosened the clip a little bit.

Trust me they are a bugger to get off and back on properly so they don't leak. I would use some engine cleaner around it and an old paintbrush to clean it up but it will only leak when you go from HIGH to LOW so thats the only way to test usually I'mm afraid.

The pipes from the boot allow any excess fluid to leak back to the LDS reservoir so dont disturb them

[citroenxm]

To change the boot the strut needs removing from the arm which involves removing the siezed solid in place R clip

They sieze more on c5 then any other.. apparently you can drive them out but that failed me too..

Start soaking the R clip now with us gas for about two weeks or more before trying to remove it. Or just hope its just a clip needing tightening up as kp says..

[waynedance]

Tester not disturbed as mot was done at garage I work at. The leak occurred when the jacks were lowered a d rear end went right down and sat on the lowered jacks.

Will put the suspension high to low tomorrow and check again. What is the procedure for checking and topping up?

[myglaren]

Fluid was leaking out the end of the boot. Cleaned the area up and put a cable tie on to make the metal clip tighter. Was worried that fluid should not be in the rubber boot, What do the pipes on the boots do?

Driven 20 miles and no leak noticed.
What is the procedure for checking the levels and topping up if needed?

The pipes are:
1: a breather.
2: fluid return to reservoir.

You only need to check the level of LDS under the bonnet and top up if this is required - fairly unlikely.

[KP]

TBH i have never seen one fail that wasn't disturbed.

As paul says, replacing a holed boot is a job best handed to someone else who gives a fixed quote for the job

[dnsey]

If there is a small hole in the boot, degreasing followed by a blob of silicone might sort it, at least for a while.

[myglaren]

Or a cycle puncture repair kit.

[waynedance]

No hole just leaking at the at the very end of the boot. I have cleaned the area with brake clean using a pressure spray gun, there was allot of dirt. Took the pressure of the clip and tried to clean up as best as possible where it was leaking, put on a cable tie to make the metal clip tighter.

Will check again tomorrow at work, get it on the ramp and raise and lower suspension. Need to check my levels as well, does the car warn of low fluid levels?

[myglaren]

As far as I am aware there is no indication of low LDS level in the C5 as there was in previous models. Rubbish really as the reservoir is hidden.