Rear Brake? Please Just Be the Rear Brake!

[Rawce]

Hello,

Our C5 52 plate C5 110 diesel is getting on a bit (113k). This Chrismas has cost me a fair bit of money redoing the rear tyres, grief replacing the undertray to stop the bobble bobble noise going over bumps and I've finally got a replacement interior OSR door handle off eBay to fit so I don't have to wind down the window to get out.

Over the last few days I've noticed that reversing hasn't been smooth, almost like it's skipping or hindered somehow, like a very slow judder. Today it got worse. It doesn't do it when cold, only once it's been run a bit. And only in reverse. It feels like it's the NSR wheel, but I may be wrong.

I was initially thinking drivetrain, especially clutch, but it's fine going forward. Plus, when I got home tonight, I pulled in to the drive, it's on a steep slope, so I let it roll back out of gear and it didn't move plus the handbrake wouldn't go up as high as normal. I can't hear any metal on metal graunching, but I'm kinda drawn to it being the NSR brake gripping when it heats up.

Does this sound about right? I'm hoping this is all it is as the car's probably not worth a refurbed gearbox or clutch replacement.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Cheers,

Ross.

[Stickyfinger]

1st off, you know the hand brake is on the front wheels ? yes ?

Is the Juddering coming from the front or the back, I am unsure as you say you think is the rear brakes then you say it feels like a clutch/box problem ?

CHOCK the rears..BE SURE it is SAFE and cannot roll either way, NO Handbrake.....Jack up the front, spin the wheel, does it spin free ? if yes do other side (more often inside wheel)
The reason: It is a common problem to have a seized front caliper.

Rear brakes can also drag if not correctly maintained, not normally worse than new pads and disks.

If you are unsure, go into a QuickFit and get a brake check..

[Rawce]

The front? News to me! Every car I've ever owned was rears, so it was just an assumption. I've got a trolley jack, the garage is on the flat plus I've got chocks so I'll try it tomorrow. Maybe cold and after I've put some heat through them. Good suggestion, thanks.

I thought it was a clutch problem, but I'd expect it to slip both going forwards in 1st and in reverse.

[Northern_Mike]

Could be the rear arm bearings beginning to play up as well if it only does it when going backwards. I know they are beginning to go in mine, same year, 50k miles more, and that does some odd jumping sometimes when going backwards. Not all the time.

I believe all Hydraulic Citroens have the handbrake on the front wheels (Does the C5 X7 and above? I don't know..)

[Rawce]

Would there be play in the wheel if that were the case? I'll check anyway.

[Northern_Mike]

Would there be play in the wheel if that were the case? I'll check anyway.

If it's just starting, I don't believe so. Mine must be ok, as it passed the MOT like this. It clonks and cracks occasionally going forwards over big undulations in the road, or speed humps that the C5 doesn't need to slow down for, but sometimes "hops" when reversing as though the rear brakes are momentarily stuck then releasing. It's not the brakes though..

[Rawce]

I'm not getting any clonks or clicks, but it sounds similar symptoms. I'll give it a try today.

[vborovic]

I believe all Hydraulic Citroëns have the handbrake on the front wheels (Does the C5 X7 and above? I don't know..)

Rear wheels on the X7

[myglaren]

I believe all Hydraulic Citroëns have the handbrake on the front wheels (Does the C5 X7 and above? I don't know..)

Rear wheels on the X7

Is that all models or just the non-hydraulic ones?

[vborovic]

All X7s have handbrakes linked to the rear wheels

[myglaren]

Presumably as they don't sink it isn't a requirement any longer.

[RichardW]

I think it's more that the suspension isn't trailing arm, and therefore there isn't the problem associated with wind up (or down) of the rear suspension against the handbrake which can result in some odd results when the handbrake is released

[myglaren]

Good point - I presume they have reverted to the double wishbone then Richard?

[Stickyfinger]

and some are even made with electrons, cables and some science

[Rawce]

Same as yesterday, fine reversing in the cold, when I got to work there was resistance which wasn't linear more "some, more, some, more" as it rolled back. I also noticed today for the first time a slight whine going round sharp corners (Chevrons at 3 o'clock position on the steering wheel) but couldn't tell if it was front or rear. I'll chock it today and check the spin to see what I can find out.