Hard Ride on C5

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Hell Razor5543
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Re: Hard Ride on C5

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

I would also check to see how much LDS there is in the reservoir. Drop the suspension to its' lowest setting, turn the engine off, open the bonnet, locate the LDS reservoir cap (sometimes it has a steering wheel symbol on it), open it and have a look. There are, around the 'basket' some vertical slots, of two different heights. The LDS should be between the upper and lower slot heights.
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Re: Hard Ride on C5

Post by Romzi »

I don't think air in system can cause hard ride. Maybe opposite?
Were newly mounted speheres the right ones? Original or maybe IHFS or any other?
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Re: Hard Ride on C5

Post by myglaren »

May not be pertinent but following my burst pipe that emptied the system the fluid was low after repairs, i.e. nothing showing in the reservoir.
I added 2L but there was no problem with the ride, the steering became a little heavy but only a little.
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Re: Hard Ride on C5

Post by white exec »

Romzi wrote: 10 Jul 2019, 13:14 I don't think air in system can cause hard ride. Maybe opposite?
It is a well-documented problem. The system is designed to operate with non-compressible fluid, and if either pockets of air - or aerated fluid - gets into the system, the action of sphere/valve dampers and hydraulic valves can become compromised. Cushioning should be coming from gas in the spheres, and not from air pockets. As well as crashy suspension, steering can also become notchy or under-powered.
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Re: Hard Ride on C5

Post by Milos87 »

Hell Razor5543 wrote: 10 Jul 2019, 13:08 I would also check to see how much LDS there is in the reservoir. Drop the suspension to its' lowest setting, turn the engine off, open the bonnet, locate the LDS reservoir cap (sometimes it has a steering wheel symbol on it), open it and have a look. There are, around the 'basket' some vertical slots, of two different heights. The LDS should be between the upper and lower slot heights.

LDS level is ok
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Re: Hard Ride on C5

Post by Milos87 »

Romzi wrote: 10 Jul 2019, 13:14 I don't think air in system can cause hard ride. Maybe opposite?
Were newly mounted speheres the right ones? Original or maybe IHFS or any other?

Yes, I mounted IFHS comfort spheres, I heard only good experiences about it.
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Re: Hard Ride on C5

Post by Romzi »

Ok, but are these the right ones?
Check this (page 9): https://shate-m.by/static/Catalogs/IFHS ... _11_LR.pdf
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Re: Hard Ride on C5

Post by Milos87 »

Romzi wrote: 11 Jul 2019, 20:33 Ok, but are these the right ones?
Check this (page 9): https://shate-m.by/static/Catalogs/IFHS ... _11_LR.pdf

Yes, it is ok! I bought comfort spheres for H3 system...
My car is very soft when I push it down by hand, but not soft while driving... Do height sensors could make problem, computer...?
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Re: Hard Ride on C5

Post by peter73 »

Milos87 wrote: 11 Jul 2019, 22:26 My car is very soft when I push it down by hand, but not soft while driving... Do height sensors could make problem, computer...?
did you find the cause of the problem? in my C5 the suspension is quite soft after raising and lowering few times, and turning the steering wheel, but after a some time becomes hard again...
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Re: Hard Ride on C5

Post by white exec »

Sounds like air in the fluid. Doing a few ups/downs/full movement of the wheel ('Citrobics') can shift trapped air (it ends up being vented to the reservoir), but if more air gets in*, the problem will return.

One clue on air-in-fluid is if the steering gets heavy or 'notchy' when you turn the wheel. You should also be able to dip a sample of the fluid from the reservoir (with a small clear container) after a drive, and check it for air bubbles.

* Air can get sucked in to the system if there is a leak between reservoir and pump. Other folk here know the C5 plumbing better than I do, and can advise. Checking of fluid level by the correct method is also essential.
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Re: Hard Ride on C5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

These generally are self-bleeding Chris - but need bleeding when the LDS tank has been drained and then refilled.

Generally:
  • Raise suspension to high
  • Lower Suspension to the lowest position
  • Slowly turn the steering wheel, lock to lock several times - again, slowly!
  • Stop the engine
  • Check that the fluid level (always when the vehicle in on lowest suspension setting) is between the 'a' & 'b' marks shown below:
LDD MK III.PNG
Repeat the operation if necessary.
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Re: Hard Ride on C5

Post by white exec »

Any possibility of air ingress between reservoir and pump, or at the pump, Marc?
Realise a much more closely coupled system that previous mechanical pump arrangement.
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Re: Hard Ride on C5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Highly unlikely as the pipes are pretty much protected from the LDS tank to the BHI. If there was a nick in one of the soft pipes from the tank tot he BHI, it would probably result in a leak.
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and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S
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Re: Hard Ride on C5

Post by white exec »

Was thinking about hose clips/joints, as the pipe is presumably under suction - or is it gravity?
If venting (air entry) of the reservoir cap fails, and the pump keeps on sucking, could air get into the fluid through a poor joint?
You know the system much better than I do.
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Re: Hard Ride on C5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

This is the setup on these:
X7 BHI.PNG
"A" Sectional view of the integrated hydroelectronic pump unit: 140 bars, 0,7l/min, at 2300 rpm.
"e" The suspension inlet electrovalve (Rear ).
"f" The suspension exhaust electrovalve (Rear ).
"g" Pressure accumulator.
"h" Pistons (x5).
"j" LDS fluid reservoir.
"k" Rotating plate.
"l" Vacuum valve.
"m" Delivery valve.
"n" overpressure valve (180 bars).

The front suspension inlet and exhaust solenoid valves are not shown in the above diagram.

When it turns, the plate "k" causes the movement of the pistons in their respective cylinders.
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