replacing discs and pads on 2003 c5 hdi.

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numnuts
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replacing discs and pads on 2003 c5 hdi.

Post by numnuts »

Hi guys. I think it's time to replace the discs and pads on my 2003 c5 hdi. I reckon both front and rear need doing. I have done the front ones on my old Xantia but never attempted them on a C5. I just wanted to get a general opinion as to whether this is a doable job for a common sense amateur? Cheers.
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Re: replacing discs and pads on 2003 c5 hdi.

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

Hope someone with C5 experience comes along and gives you the heads up. I keep reading the extra care needed whenever jacking up a c5, which is in addition to the normal best practice for renewing discs and pads especially around rewinding the piston in the caliper, master cylinder cap off, and lubing the slider pins.

I have found videos from Autodoc on their youtube channel pretty good, but I hesitate to put up the one on changing the front brakes on a C5 because it got such a slating for not covering some of the key points, albeit it does give a clear idea of the scope of the job, tools needed etc.

The Youtube video is probably my first point of call to see whats involved in a job, but just like the printed Haynes manuals we all grew up with, they are by no means infallable!

Of course any standard disc and pads job can turn into a nightmare, discs which are rusted solid to the hub, bleed nipples shearing off etc but I do believe the C5 of your vintage could throw in the dreaded rear caliper corrosion, as bodgit and leggit found in their little video!
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Re: replacing discs and pads on 2003 c5 hdi.

Post by lexi »

If you can work on the Xantia, you can do the C5. They are an easier car to work on in every way. Just put suspension on high before you jack up. You can take the cap off the fluid reservoir after you have done this JUST TO BE SURE. Caveats will be the rear caliper bolts, but you could easily be fortunate and get them off no problem. One of mine was the worst possible.Do a few searches on the forum. Get half decent calipers like Brake Engineering or similar. Fronts are easy. As long as brake hoses disconnect from calipers. Plug the brake line or clamp it to avoid losing too much fluid which will make bleeding easier. You can make a tool to wind the pistons in. I forget half of it, but it will come back to me lol.
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Re: replacing discs and pads on 2003 c5 hdi.

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I don't think he's planning to change the calipers - just the discs and pads - in which case no need to faff with brake hoses surely - unless replacing the calipers.

I can put up the procedures for front and rear pads and discs - I'm assuming a 110 HDi?
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Re: replacing discs and pads on 2003 c5 hdi.

Post by numnuts »

Hi Marc. Yes please, that would be great. It is just discs and pads, not calipers. Thanks.
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Re: replacing discs and pads on 2003 c5 hdi.

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

numnuts wrote: 06 Apr 2019, 06:33 Hi Marc. Yes please, that would be great. It is just discs and pads, not calipers. Thanks.


As Lexi said "Caveats will be the rear caliper bolts, but you could easily be fortunate and get them off no problem."

Even if you are not intending to replace the rear calipers, you obviously have to get them off to replace the discs, and corroded in bolts can be fragile and a nightmare if they snap off!

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Re: replacing discs and pads on 2003 c5 hdi.

Post by myglaren »

Calipers could be corroded on the back and out of line.
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Re: replacing discs and pads on 2003 c5 hdi.

Post by GiveMeABreak »

numnuts wrote: 06 Apr 2019, 06:33 Hi Marc. Yes please, that would be great. It is just discs and pads, not calipers. Thanks.
Ok so give me an hour as there are 4 procedures to type up with images.

I've never yet had the callipers freeze an any of my Xantia / C5s, but that's not to say they won't - so as others have commented - be prepared for this possibility.
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Re: replacing discs and pads on 2003 c5 hdi.

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Here you go, and Hopefully you won't need the Caliper replacement guide!

Citroen C5 HDi 110 Front & Rear Pads, Front & Rear Disc Replacement Guide

Front Brake Pads
C5 Front Pads A.PNG
C5 Front Pads B.PNG
[1a] Tool for retracting front brake pistons 8603 T.D ( right hand side).
[1b] Tool for retracting front brake pistons 8603 T.G (left side).
Remove
Raise the vehicle and support on axle stands, wheels free.
Remove the front wheels.
Disconnect the wear warning wires (1).
Uncouple the parking brake cable (2) from the caliper.
C5 Front Pads C.PNG
C5 Front Pads D.PNG
Remove bolts (3).
Open the clip (4).
Remove the brake pads.

Cleaning
Clean the disc and the brake caliper using a recommended brake cleaning product.
Allow to dry and to drain.
Wipe with a paper towel.
The arrow "a" indicates the direction of rotation of the brake piston.
CAUTION: To push back the front brake caliper pistons, the directions of rotation on the right-hand side and left-hand side are different.
  • Turn the right hand brake caliper piston anti-clockwise using tool [1a].
  • Turn the left hand brake caliper piston clockwise using tool [1b].
  • Push back the piston using tool [1a] or [1b].
Refitting
Fit the brake pads.
Push back the caliper (4).

CAUTION: Make sure that the locating lug engages into the notch of the piston.

Refit bolt (3).
Tighten the screw (3), after coating it with LOCTITE FRENETANCH, to 3,1 ± 0,1 m.daN.
  • Connect the pad wear warning wires (1).
  • Couple up the parking brake cable with the caliper.
  • Depress the brake pedal several times with the engine running.
  • Check the operation of the parking brake.
  • Check the operation of the brakes.
  • Fit the wheel.
Tighten the Wheelbolts

Front Brake Discs

Removing
Lift and support the vehicle with front wheels suspended.
Disconnect the cable from the battery negative terminal.
Remove:
  • The front wheels
  • The brake pads (see previous procedure)
C5 Front Discs A.PNG
C5 Front Discs B.PNG
Remove the bolts (1).
Push the calliper aside.
Remove:
  • The 2 bolts (2)
  • The brake disc
Cleaning
(Never use Compressed Air)
Clean the disc and the brake caliper using a recommended brake cleaning product.
Allow to dry and to drain.
Wipe with a paper towel.

Refitting
Refit:
  • The brake disc
  • The bolts (2)
Tighten the bolts (2) to 1 m.daN .
Fit the caliper.
Tighten the bolts (1) to 12 m.daN .

Refit:
  • The brake pads (see the relevant operation)
  • The front wheels
Return the vehicle to its wheels.
Tighten the wheel bolts.
Connect the battery negative cable.

Rear Brake Pads

Removing
Raise and support the vehicle, with the rear wheels hanging free.
Remove the rear wheels
C5 Rear Pads A.PNG
C5 Rear Pads B.PNG
Remove:
  • The nut (1)
  • Protection plate (2)
Remove:
  • The shaft (3)
  • The spring (4)
  • The brake pads
  • The sound-deadening pads
Cleaning (Do not use Compressed Air)

Clean the disc and the brake caliper using a recommended brake cleaning product.
Allow to dry and to drain.
Wipe with a paper towel.

Refitting
Remove a few drops of brake fluid from the pistons of the brake caliper.
Fit:
  • The former brake pads
  • The shaft (3)
Press at "a" to push the brake caliper pistons back down into position.

Remove:
  • The shaft (3)
  • The brake pads
Clean the brake pad housings.
C5 Rear Pads C.PNG
C5 Rear Pads D.PNG
Coat the following zones with copper grease:
  • The backs of the new brake pads at "b"
  • The contact faces of the two brake caliper pistons
N.B.: Copper grease LOCTITE Anti Seize AS 12 (2 to 5 grammes per brake caliper).

ESSENTIAL: No trace of grease, oil or lubricant can be tolerated on the brake pads.

Fit:
  • The sound-deadening pads
  • The brake pads
  • The spring (4) (*)
Fit:
  • The shaft (3) (*)
  • The nut (1)
CAUTION: (*) Follow the direction of fitting.
Fit the protection plate (2), with the scoop "c" pointing downwards.
Tighten the nut (1) to 0,35 m.daN.
Start the engine.
Depress the brake pedal several times.
Check that the brakes operate correctly.
Refit the rear wheels.
Return the vehicle to its wheels.
Tighten the wheel bolts
Rear Brake Discs

Removing
Raise and support the vehicle, with the rear wheels hanging free.

Remove:
  • The rear wheels
  • The brake pads (see the previous procedure)
C5 Rear Discs A.PNG
C5 Rear Discs B.PNG
Fit the shaft (3).
Tighten nut (4) in order to keep the two half calipers pressed.
Remove:
  • The bolts (2)
  • The brake caliper
  • The bolts (1)
N.B.: Slightly disengage the caliper to be able to remove the brake disc.
Hold the caliper in position with the aid of a screw (2).
Cleaning (Never Use Compressed Air)
Clean the disc and the brake caliper using a recommended brake cleaning product.
Allow to dry and to drain.
Wipe with a paper towel.

Refitting
Remove the bolt (2).

Fit:
  • The brake disc
  • The bolts (1)
  • The brake caliper
  • The bolts (2)
Tighten the bolts (2) to 7 m.daN .
Lubricate the faces and threads.
Remove the shaft (3).

Refit:
  • The brake pads (see the relevant operation)
  • The rear wheels
  • Return the vehicle to its wheels.
  • Tighten the wheel bolts
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Re: replacing discs and pads on 2003 c5 hdi.

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

On my previous C5 the rear callipers were so badly corroded they had to be replaced. I bought some gasket paper, and I asked the Citroen specialist to cut out and add a gasket each side between the trailing arm and the replacement calliper (which he did). Unfortunately we never got to see how much of a difference this made, as less than 2 years later somebody went into the back of her and wrote her off. However, saying that, I feel it should be a good idea to fit such a gasket to protect the rear callipers.
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Re: replacing discs and pads on 2003 c5 hdi.

Post by numnuts »

Het Marc, thank you so much for your posts. Very helpful. Not done it yet but will report back when finished. Cheers. Tony.
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Re: replacing discs and pads on 2003 c5 hdi.

Post by fastjet »

Thanks for the post Marc, very useful.
I assume when it talks about left and right it means n/s and o/s?
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Re: replacing discs and pads on 2003 c5 hdi.

Post by Paul-R »

Left and right are viewed as if standing at the rear of a vehicle so, for RHD cars, yes left is nearside, etc.
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