C5 REAR SUSPENSION

[kayjas]

Apologies if this has been asked before but...

I have a C5 Estate 53 plate (2003/04) and over the last 18 month the rear has become very bouncy and I can feel every bump clonk in the road.
There are no leaks on the rear spheres and I had a mechanic look underneath and nothing obvious.
The hydro suspension works beautifully and there is no sinkage over night.
I can see where the spheres screw in there is a suspension strut.
Now for the question....What part of the system does the DAMPING ? Is it the sphere or the strut ?
The cost of replacing both is more then the cars worth so I'm hoping it is just the spheres.
Any help here would be very much appreciated.

[Stickyfinger]

Welcome to the forum

Spheres are gone, 40£ each maybe.....Drive round to BL Auto in Welwyn Garden city and have them changed in about 15 mins. They will have the tools and will not damage anything with a BIG HAMMER.

Spheres are cheep and they will have them in stock and do it while you wait or go shopping

And google Citroen Suspension, a little learning about your car will help a lot.

[myglaren]

Bouncy is generally an indication that the spheres are flat and need replacing or re-gassing. If the ride height is incorrect it can have the same effect. Does your C5 level itself correctly?
Damping is achieved by valves fitted in the sphere throat.

C5 spheres are expected to last around five years - god knows how old mine are but way in excess of that and they still work fine.

[myglaren]

BL Autos will certainly be able to tell you what the problem is and fix it - none better.

And here is one of the most definitive explanations of the Citroen Hydropneumatic sispension.

Citroenet

[kayjas]

Bouncy is generally an indication that the spheres are flat and need replacing or re-gassing. If the ride height is incorrect it can have the same effect. Does your C5 level itself correctly?
Damping is achieved by valves fitted in the sphere throat.

C5 spheres are expected to last around five years - god knows how old mine are but way in excess of that and they still work fine.

My sphere are as old as the car, the levelling seems fine, and it goes up and down no problem. I notice it more when I turn left or right at a junction and the back end is like a boat swishing around till it settles.

[kayjas]

Looking here there seems to be a few options for rear spheres http://www.mister-auto.co.uk/en/suspens ... g1718.html
The difference is the pressure - how do I know which one to order ?
Thanks again for aqll your help - great forum

[Stickyfinger]

Post you vin number.....

really however, a short trip round the M25 would be a better bet as they have the tools (the spheres can be tight) and the experience not to damage pipe work/know how to de-pressurise/check the rest/see if there are other issues etc.

NEVER go under an un-surported (not a jack) Citroen BTW...it CAN kill you if it drops

[kayjas]

Found this...
Hydractive III and III+ — The new Hydractive systems of the C5
How do I know if I have the III or III+

[Stickyfinger]

Post the Vin number:

[kayjas]

Post the Vin number:

VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]

[Paul-R]

What engine is fitted? 2.0HDi diesel is H3, the 2.2HDi is H3+.

Petrol engines I don't know.

[Hell Razor5543]

The C5s with the H3+ will have a sport button between the 2 height control buttons. H3 does not have that sport button.

[kayjas]

I have the 2.0HDi diesel - Automatic I have a sport button and a ice button on the auto gear bezel
So no sport button between up down controls - So must be H3

[kayjas]

It looks like I have 2 options...
1, Pressure 44 SP8107
2, Pressure 51 (comfort) SP8124

What do you suggest ?

http://www.mister-auto.co.uk/en/suspens ... g1718.html

[kayjas]

What does the suspension cylinder do ? this is the strut where the sphere screws into.
Does this do anything towards damping ?