C5 Mk3 58 plate Exclusive Hydractive Suspension height

[vborovic]

@ steve - the previous C5s definitely have more "space" around you, but as a driver/passenger I feel somewhat more exposed than in the X7 ... in my car I feel like in a tank ... without the live ammo of course ...

[Stickyfinger]

Owned Xantia 2ltrTD Estate, saloon,Activa, C5-1-2-x7

Out of all of them the x7 is the one I would not be without. It is 100% built for a modern world, the others are compromised in some way or other.

[vborovic]

In my case, dad had a Xantia, C5 2002, C5 2005 (still with us), and I had a Xsara ... definitely the X7 is the best considering the time and place ... although I wouldn't mind having an extra C6 3.0 HDi as a weekend long-distance cruiser ...

[jgra1]

Hi steve.. no not been in a c6..

Was just sitting on the boot lip on the x7.. it was switched off and went softly down like normal. Stood up and noticed almost no damping at the back? If you bounce it there are 2 or 3 more bounces after you leave it.. seems odd chaps?

Wonder if that's normal..
John

[myglaren]

X7 may be different but mine will maintain the car level as long as the doors are unlocked.
You can hear & see this happening when filling up.

[Stickyfinger]

Easy way to fully check

Open a rear door and the boot, sit on the boot lip and get another person to close the door...wait 3 secs and it should rise

[jgra1]

yes agree Steve.. have seen c5s rise with fuel

nothing wrong with the height correction with my car, was just wondering why my X7 back end seemed so under damped..

Sorry have dragged this off topic from the original poster, regarding suspension heights..

[Hell Razor5543]

I recently had the radius arm bearings done on my C5 estate, and now the back end is far more responsive. Before, I could stand on the back with not much movement, now it drops somewhat, and then compensates.

[superloopy]

FWIW Blizzard ... i agree, the front end looks a tad high to me. Do as Sticky says and get it across to BL Autos, they'll sort it for you as 'good guys' known to us here on the forum.

[blizzard]

Easy way to fully check

Open a rear door and the boot, sit on the boot lip and get another person to close the door...wait 3 secs and it should rise

Hello again; done that test ... it works. Funny enough, I managed to park up the car today next to another C5 exclusive ... definitely mine is like this: front a little bit higher and rear a little bit lower, that's for sure. I have the feeling that the sensors are not quite right or not properly working. Need opinions ... thanx to all of you.

[Stickyfinger]

If its a little then Lexia can adjust it.....off to Plyd's or BL with you as it is really worth getting it checked over for its long term health and your peace of mind.

A well looked after system is trouble free and full of benefits.

Other than sticking, they normally do not really "partly fail", maybe someone has played with it from the roll bars and did a "just about right" visual job.

Its a fun suspension system egh

[gambler072]

Hello guys,
could someone reupload pdf documents for car height&geometry? I think that the front of my car is a bit higher than it should be, it looks almost similar to blizzard's car height. The car in question is c5 x7 2.2 hdi.
Thanks in advance

[GiveMeABreak]

Note: This is for the 4 Cylinder engine C5 X7s, not the V6 Engines

Procedure: As always, never get under the car when undertaking any work on the suspension system unless it is fully supported - especially so when adjusting height correctors (danger of crushing).

1 Tools

A Diagnostic Tool (Diagbox)

CAUTION: Do not switch off the ignition during the checking and adjusting operations.

2 Preliminary operations

• Verify the tyre pressure.
• Place the vehicle on a 4-post lift.
• Slacken the parking brake .
• Position the body height at the high position.
• Position the body height at the normal position (driving height).
• Switch on the ignition.
• Raise the vehicle.

Identification: Measuring zones - Vehicle heights at setting height

Wheel radiuses R:

• R1: Front wheel radius (L.H. side)
• R1': Front wheel radius (right)
• R2: Rear wheel radius (L.H. side)
• R2: Rear wheel radius (right)

Heights H:

• H1: Height between the measuring zone under the front LH subframe and the ground
• H1': Height between the measuring zone under the front RH subframe and the ground
• H2: Height between the measuring zone under the rear LH axle crossmember and the ground
• H2: Height between the measuring zone under the rear RH axle crossmember and the ground

Heights K:

• K1: Height between the wheel centre line and the measuring zone under the subframe (left hand front)
• K1': Height between the wheel centre line and the measuring zone under the subframe (Front RH)
• K2: Height between the wheel centre line and the measuring zone under the axle crossmember (rear left hand side)
• K2': Height between the wheel centre line and the measuring zone under the axle crossmember (Rear right hand side)

"Z1" : Measuring zone under the front subframe.
"Z2" : Measuring zone under the rear axle crossmember.

3.1 Check: Front height
Measure:

• The wheel radiuses R1 and R1 ; Using the tools [U701-0], [9801-T]
• The heights H1 and H1’ ; Using tool [U701-0]

Calculate:

• The height K = R1 - H1
• The height K1' = R1' - H1'

Calculate the average of the heights K1 and K1' : (K1 + K1') / 2.
Compare this calculated height with the reference height.

N.B.: Reference height (front) : 160 ± 6 mm.
Pre-adjust the front height if (K1 + K1')/2 is greater than 190 mm or less than 130 mm (Section 4).

3.2 Check: Rear height

Measure:

• The radiuses R2 and R2’ ; Using the tools [U701-0], [9801-T]
• The heights H2 and H2’ ; Using tool [U701-0]

Calculate:

• The height K2 = R2 - H2
• The height K2' = R2' - H2'

Calculate the average of the heights K2 and K2' : (K2 + K2') / 2.
Compare this calculated height with the reference height.
N.B. : Reference height (rear) : 106 ± 6 mm.
Pre-adjust the rear height if (K2 + K2')/2 is greater than 140 mm or less than 80 mm (Section 4)

4 Pre-setting the heights
4.1. Pre-adjusting the front height

Slacken the fixing bolt (2).
Slightly rotate the collar (1) on the anti-roll bar.
Wait for the correction of the vehicle’s height.
Re-tighten : The securing bolt (2) ; Tighten to 0,6 daN.m.
Do a new check of the front height :

• If (K1 + K1')/2 is greater than 190 mm
• If (K1 + K1')/2 is less than 130 mm

4.2. Pre-adjusting the rear height

Slacken the fixing bolt (4).
Slightly rotate the collar (3) on the anti-roll bar.
Wait for the correction of the vehicle’s height.
Re-tighten: The securing bolt (4) ; Tighten to 0,6 daN.m.
Do a new check of the rear height:

• If (K2 + K2')/2 is greater than 140 mm
• If (K2 + K2')/ 2 is less than 80 mm

5. Adjusting the heights; Using the diagnostic equipment
Connect the diagnostic equipment to the vehicle’s diagnostic socket.
Carry out an global test.
Select the corresponding "suspension" menu.
Select: "SUSPENSION".
Select: "Adjustment of the vehicle reference heights".
Follow the instructions on the screen.
Calculate:

• 320 - (K1 + K1')/2 (for the front)
• 212 - (K2 + K2')/2 (for the rear)

Enter these values into the diagnostic tool.
Wait for the correction of the vehicle’s height.
Check the reference heights.

[wurlycorner]

I would also suggest that you arrange a visit over to BL Autos in Welwyn Garden City or Pleiades in Sawtry and book it in for a check up.......VERY well recommended for the good long term health of the car and to ensure you have 100% set up.

As a "General" rule of thumb....AVOID main dealers as "most" do not have the skills/staff/care needed anymore and will also cost more by quite a margin.

Thanx for info ... You're right ... I think I'm gonna pay them a visit soon.

Since you're in Norwich, a bit closer to home is Wolsely House Motors in Diss...
http://www.whm.hexpek.co.uk/

[wurlycorner]

Just read that height setting procedure for the x7... ****ing hell, what a pallava!
Is there anywhere you can get those special tools (other than Citroen, who no doubt now list them as NFP?!)