X7 front suspension leak

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Bandit12
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X7 front suspension leak

Post by Bandit12 »

Arrgh! its happened. Front nearside suspension strut is leaking. Noticed it today while changing gearbox oil. I had a look on the forum for tips on changing and found a couple of video tutorials that say I need to remove the wheel hub. then I found this



this video does not.

My question is how difficult is it to depressurise/represurise suspension? Had a few issues with my laptop and lexia so it was not clear.
I have contacted local garage who surprisingly say they are happy to do the job but waiting on a call back with a quote. Found a few struts on internet for about £200, is this a fair price?

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Last edited by myglaren on 23 Oct 2019, 18:57, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: X7 front suspension leak

Post by Stickyfinger »

Price sound about correct for the (made for Citroen ?) struts from the east.
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Re: X7 front suspension leak

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Yes the front struts are about anywhere from £180 up from Poland for a genuine Citroen one. Citroen will fit only if you ask them - but make sure you also purchase 2-3 litres of LDS fluid as they will need it and they will charge you their extortionate prices for it.

The suspension can be depressurised on each axle, if you don't have access to diagbox - otherwise it is in the repair menu and is simple to do.

What you must do is disconnect the battery - or the pump may operate if any of the doors are opened and of course will start trying to pump LDS out everywhere.
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Re: X7 front suspension leak

Post by Bandit12 »

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm confident with following the above video but a bit cautious of disconnecting and reconnecting the hydraulic system incase I either stuff it up or cause high pressure LDS to fly about!! Just to clarify, I must disconnect battery and then can I remove LDS pipe from top of strut which will effectively depressurise it? I seem to remember reading that repressurising involved fitting a schrader valve to LDS filler cap and applying a couple of psi with a foot/bicycle pump.
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Re: X7 front suspension leak

Post by GiveMeABreak »

No - you need to depressurise the axle (front axle for a front strut) before you take off any pipes if you are not using Diagbox to depressurise the whole system for you, or you will have LDS spraying all over the place.

Manual method of depressurising the front axle:
Disconnect the battery.
Raise the vehicle and support on axle stands, wheels free.
Depressurise X7.PNG
  • Place a hose on the pressure release screw (1).
  • Gradually unscrew the pressure release screw (1).
  • Wait for the pressure in the hydraulic circuit to fall fully.
Don't use recovered LDS fluid - it is hygroscopic. Always replace with new fluid and keep the container sealed until needed.

This will cause a fair bit of fluid to come out I suspect.
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Re: X7 front suspension leak

Post by Bandit12 »

Brilliant!
Many thanks. On another note I do find it interesting that the majority of strut failures reported on this site are on the nearside (passenger side) of the car. Do you think its because we drive on the left? I wonder if they have the opposite issue on the continent?
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Re: X7 front suspension leak

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Actually both Elis (EDC5) and myself have only had the front driver side go so far.

I suspect it is down to roads and driving habits, For example, I note with some annoyance and stress that when I'm out with a friend, he always hugs the kerb - so goes over every drain, manhole cover, drain dip and makes no effort to avoid them. Me, on the other hand, make every effort to avoid all of these by driving more over to the right. We are in a rural country area, so have crappy roads and country lanes often with poorly maintained drains that are as deep as potholes.

So as for the failure on the driver side in my case - can't say - maybe more weight on that side as it's mainly myself driving (and I don't mean I'm built like Mr Blobby)!
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Re: X7 front suspension leak

Post by Bandit12 »

Sounds like you have a sensible driving style to me Marc. On another note-Success!! managed to change the suspension strut last weekend and so far so good. Only issue was the bottom drop link stripped its inner holding thread so i had to chop it off with an angle grinder. Had a result with the local citroen dealer, they said that as the car was over 3 years old they have a list of recommended pattern parts so bought a pair of drop links for £28.
i followed the above video and did not need to remove the hub tho I think I am keeping machine mart going single handed as i bought one along with a 1 metre long breaker bar just in case!
I took photos as a guide but struggling to post them using the above link in the toolbar Image.
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Re: X7 front suspension leak

Post by Bandit12 »

Image
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Re: X7 front suspension leak

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Don’t use the image tag, just use the full editor, then at the bottom choose attachments tab, then you can browse images in your device and upload them. Then once they are uploaded, just insert at the cursor position using the ‘place inline’ button next to the uploaded image list.
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Re: X7 front suspension leak

Post by wfdTamar »

Ah, this is good as I'm just about to do this too. For others - if you don't want to waste fluid and you have a Lexia3, to depressurise using Diagbox (v.8.13), it's in the 'Prepare for vehicle delivery' section (not the exact name) - 'Measure suspension fluid level'. Good to hear that the video in the first post works, as I was hoping to follow it too to avoid undoing the main drive shaft nut.

So I believe parts required are:
Shaft (of course) which comes with a new sphere seal
Pipe seal - (on my 2015 X7 C5 this is a green O-ring 11mm outside, 8mm inside)
New nylox nuts are supposed to be used. There's only one big one holding the bottom of the strut and a smaller one for the roll bar drop link.
As you've had a leak you will most likely need some LDS to top up after.

Specialist tools:
Something to get the sphere off. There is a proper tool for it, but I'm hoping an oil filter one will do it (yes chain type oil filter tool did it easily)
Torx drivers (40 for the LDS pipe).

Had a go today and the sodding wheel security bolt head broke loose, so now it just spins. Taking it to the dealer tomorrow to hopefully make yet another warranty claim. Then the car jack broke trying to lift the car!

Better technique is to lower the car down onto a trolley jack on the normal jacking point before you depressurise.
Last edited by wfdTamar on 16 Nov 2019, 06:34, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: X7 front suspension leak

Post by Bandit12 »

Yes that, correct, I used lexia but do remember to remove LDS fluid cap and put a rag around the filler as I had some fluid come out.
strut1.JPG
I used a heavy duty oil fliter type strap wrench with a ratchet on either end. Member EDC5 put a very good post on a couple of years ago and I copied his technique.

Here is the link

viewtopic.php?t=58759&start=15

It was a bit of a sod but using emery paper to help the grip was inspired so thanks for that gem of a tip :-D

So it was out with the old and in with the new
strut2.JPG
Only major issue was I had to cut off the drop link as the bottom nut rounded off
strut3.JPG
Represurising the system was fairly easy as depresurising involved disconnecting the battery. I simply reconnected as per BSI reset sequence and the hydraulic pump started and filled up the strut automatically. I just kept an eye on the level and topped up with fresh LDS. After leaving car to settle on its lowest setting i started the engine and ran it up and down from low to high on suspension. 1 week later and so far so good :-)
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Re: X7 front suspension leak

Post by wfdTamar »

Done. The video Bandit12 posted in the first post is definitely going to be easier than the service manual way.

Note -
1. when you undo the upper long bolt (it's about 150mm long) you only need to undo it a few turns, just enough to allow the joint to move freely.

2. To ease the upward pressure of the anti roll bar on the lower joint of the drop link, use a short bar to pry the anti roll bar down a bit, then put a longer bar in next to the first bar for better leverage. I used the handle of my trolley jack, then a thick pole about crowbar length.

3. In the video the bolts are:
1:00 min - the strut bottom bolt (also holds the anti roll bar drop link upper joint). Torx in the centre to hold it. Pull the brake line out of it's holder to get it out of the way.
1:24 min - the 150mm long bolt at the top of the suspension, you just undo a few turns.
1:50 min - the lower drop link to anti roll bar bolt. Torx in the centre to hold it.
2:30 min - again, the strut bottom bolt.
3:10 min - same bolt being pulled out.
3:30 min - I would actually do this first as it gives more room working at the top.
4:17 min - I would leave this one attached to hold that plate up there. Just undo it a bit.
4:47 min - my strut came out without removing this bolt.
5:15 min - pull the bottom out first, then twist it up to allow the chunky head to come out sideways.
6:20 min - if you bolt it back up in the same spot according to the dust around the bolt heads you may not need a wheel alignment.
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Re: X7 front suspension leak

Post by gustav »

GiveMeABreak wrote: 26 Oct 2019, 17:52 No - you need to depressurise the axle (front axle for a front strut) before you take off any pipes if you are not using Diagbox to depressurise the whole system for you, or you will have LDS spraying all over the place.

Manual method of depressurising the front axle:
Disconnect the battery.
Raise the vehicle and support on axle stands, wheels free.

Image
  • Place a hose on the pressure release screw (1).
  • Gradually unscrew the pressure release screw (1).
  • Wait for the pressure in the hydraulic circuit to fall fully.
Don't use recovered LDS fluid - it is hygroscopic. Always replace with new fluid and keep the container sealed until needed.

This will cause a fair bit of fluid to come out I suspect.
Hello!
I am about to replace a wet front strut on my x7. Do I raise the car in highest or lowest position?
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Re: X7 front suspension leak

Post by GiveMeABreak »

You can't undertake this operation with the suspension system pressurised!

Ideally the vehicle needs to be done where it can be supported and raised on the relevant corner in order to remove everything - but before you can do that the suspension circuit must be de-pressurised in order to remove the suspension sphere.
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