Citroen C5 X7 mk3 hydractive suspension (updated after fitting new spheres)

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Y Cymro
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Citroen C5 X7 mk3 hydractive suspension (updated after fitting new spheres)

Post by Y Cymro »

I’ve had my C5 Tourer Exclusive for 2 years and 20,000, I thinks it’s a fantastic car and thoroughly enjoy its smooth ride and serene progress.
The suspension is quite harsh over transverse ridges and I’m racking my brain to remember whether it’s always been the case (it has to some extent), whether I’m becoming complacent to the excellent ride and expect it to be like a magic carpet over all surfaces, or whether the ride is becoming harsher now the car has travelled 75,000 miles. It’s not pogo stick harsh like some old Xantias became, I just ‘feel’ it used to be smoother.
The suspension functionality is fine and the car raises, lowers and self levels as expected. It’s generally very smooth though is caught out by transverse ridges and some speed cushions.
Are replacement spheres required at this sort of mileage (or ever) on this model?
Thanks.
Last edited by Y Cymro on 06 Apr 2021, 00:38, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 hydractive suspension

Post by myglaren »

Try it with a full load. The suspension seems to be optimised for that.
Although an older model I found that my estate rode far better when it was seriously overloaded with MDF sheets and continued to be better for several days afterward.

I usually chuck loads of heavy tool boxes in the boot of my current C5, makes an appreciable difference.
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Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 hydractive suspension

Post by white exec »

The one weakness with Hydractive is its ability to deal with sudden transverse ridges, or changes in surface level. Undulations, no problem (even large ones), but a sudden cross-wise step or ridge (or pothole) is always less good.

Assuming nothing is actually wrong with the system - eg spheres down on gas pressure - one thing to beware of is over-inflating the tyres, even by a couple of psi. Ride on Michelin Energy Savers is probably as good as you'll get - they have very supple tyre walls - but do not over-inflate, especially at the rear. On Hydractive, the tyres are the first line of absorption.

As time went on, Citroen hydropneumatic suspension became tauter and firmer. Go back to CX and BX, and ride (for the non-sporty versions) was positively wafty. With Hydractive (XM, Xantia, C5, C6) came a more controlled ride, and with the benefit of Sport/Firm rapidly cutting in automatically when needed. After XM, the ride firmed up further.

On Hydractive cars, the four corner spheres provide the Firm ride, and the centre spheres switch in to provide Softness. It's not uncommon for owners/some garages to replace the corner spheres if the ride deteriorates, but to overlook the centre ones, which are solely responsible for the Soft ride.

The newer "saucer" spheres have a very long life (i.e. are slow to leak their gas), but may not last for ever. Others here know the C5 III more fully, and will be able to advise.
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Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 hydractive suspension

Post by EDC5 »

I suspect that your C5 might be riding a touch high, possibly due to a height corrector fault.

Even a cm or two too high and the C5 in such a harsh ride! I'm in the process of replacing my front height corrector as the front of my car is riding too high; leading to a rough ride and poor motorway fuel economy.
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Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 hydractive suspension

Post by Y Cymro »

Thanks for your replies.
Coincidently, I’ve replaced my Falken FK-510 front tyres with a pair of the latest Goodyear F1 Assymetric 5. The ride is noticeably smoother with the new tyres. They were about £20 each more than the Falken or other mid-range tyre (a cost increase of about 20%) , but according to a report on tyre reviews.co.uk they should last 40% longer than the cheaper tyre.
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/20 ... e-Test.htm

My Falkens wore more at the centre than the outside edges so I’ve dropped the pressures on the Goodyears from 2.4bar to 2.2 to even the wear across the tread, and this has made the ride even better. It’s now very smooth indeed and I’ll be replacing the rears with Goodyears when the time comes.
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Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 hydractive suspension (updated due to fitting new tyres)

Post by Y Cymro »

To pick up again on this thread about a harder than remembered ride quality on my 85,000 miles 2013 X7 Tdh Exclusive Tourer with Hydractive 3+ suspension.

After 2 years of ownership this thread was posted due to my car’s ride quality becoming a little harsher over potholes and the generally degrading road surface quality we suffer in the UK.

After another year on, when driving along straight roads the ride quality in normal mode is softer than on the sport setting - though not as much difference as I remember when I first bought the car. It seems that the normal setting is getting harsher.

Thought it best to start by checking the fluid level, and after removing the tank cap I couldn’t see any fluid - other threads on here state that with the suspension set to low, the fluid level should be about half way up the pouring spout. Today I’ve added a litre of LDS, done the prescribed Citroenbatics by lifting and lowering the height, and moved the steering from lock to lock as described in Citroen’s process but still no fluid can be seen in the tank. There are no obvious leaks either on the struts or the floor under the car.

So before I buy another litre of Total’s finest LDS I’m wondering is it normal to need topping up a few litres at 80-90k miles, and is insufficient fluid likely to affect the ride?
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Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 hydractive suspension (updated due to fitting new tyres)

Post by GiveMeABreak »

It's not normal to keep topping up Steve. The system is pretty much sealed. Levels should be between the marks, checked on the lowest setting on flat ground of course. Normally the system (at a dealership) would be checked after is it fully depressurised, so that the car is resting on it's stops, but also to enable as much of the fluid to return to the tank. As the owner is not expected to be topping this up as a rule, you are not expected to depressurise the car to do it yourself.

So it is better to have it a little under if anything rather than over filling it, otherwise there is more of a danger of blow-back / tank bursting if the car is raised and lowered with wheels hanging freely by an unknowing garage without following the procedure written about here:

viewtopic.php?t=62058
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Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 hydractive suspension (updated due to fitting new tyres)

Post by Y Cymro »

Hi Mark
Thanks for your very quick response. Yes, I checked the level using the information you posted previously on another thread. I’ll use a powerful torch to see if I can see the actual fluid level - or perhaps use a dip stick if the filter can be removed.
Thanks again,
Steve
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Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 hydractive suspension (updated due to fitting new tyres)

Post by myglaren »

If your tank is a translucent one you may be able to judge the level on the upper slope. Not precise but will give an approximate indication.

Can't post a picture as my car isn't here - haven't seen it for a month.
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Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 hydractive suspension (updated due to fitting new tyres)

Post by Peter.N. »

I find that the steel springed models actually ride better over small sharp bumps than the hydropnumatic. Tyres make the world of difference though, I have two and the difference in ride and noise between the two is quite noticeable. The tyres on the best riding one are no longer available so I have been busy researching tyre performance.

Generally the quieter the tyre the better the ride also, you need something with a 68-69db noise level although my quiet ones are 70db. A good tyre specialist should be able to tell you the softest/quietest tyres. Generally the roadholding is not quite so good but that doesn't matter to me as I don't drive very fast.

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Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 hydractive suspension (updated due to fitting new tyres)

Post by CC1701 »

Hi all,
a quick question about tyres and tyre noise.
Here in the "land gone under" (previously referred to as Australia) we have a mix of road surfaces. Some lovely smooth ones where the C5 is wonderfully quiet inside the cabin then we have the awful chipped surface roads, especially on highways, that cause a huge amount of road roar.

Have tried a few different tyre types but the noise on rough surfaces is always there and its difficult to hear conversations inside the cabin.

Am currently just about to replace Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres with something else. They are only 10k kilometres old, but i can't stand the noise. They were noisy when new and are getting progressively worse.

i see in this post that 'Y Cymro' has had both Falken FK510 and Goodyear F1 Assymetric 5. Both of which are on my shopping list (and about the only things). Which is the quieter?

Would appreciate any comments on tyre selection for low noise.
Being the 3.0 tt diesel, we need all the traction we can get, wet, dry, for safety (i don't drive mad too often). Wear isn't an issue for us, we don't do many miles a year.

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Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 hydractive suspension (updated due to fitting new tyres)

Post by bobins »

It'd depend on which spec Goodyear you were looking at, but comparing like-for-like, the Falken is quieter.
Falken Tyre - Tyrereviews.co.uk
Falken Tyre - Tyrereviews.co.uk
https://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Falk ... -FK510.htm
Goodyear tyre - Tyrereviews.co.uk
Goodyear tyre - Tyrereviews.co.uk
https://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Good ... tric-5.htm
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Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 hydractive suspension (updated due to fitting new tyres)

Post by white exec »

CC1701 wrote: 08 May 2020, 09:08 . . . then we have the awful chipped surface roads, especially on highways, that cause a huge amount of road roar.
Have tried a few different tyre types but the noise on rough surfaces is always there and its difficult to hear conversations inside the cabin.
You need one of these, Robert...
Xmhover_Bertone 1.jpg
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Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 hydractive suspension (updated due to fitting new tyres)

Post by myglaren »

Where's the flux capacitor?
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Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 hydractive suspension (updated due to fitting new tyres)

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

myglaren wrote: 08 May 2020, 12:25 Where's the flux capacitor?
Next to the hyperdrive impellor and the lightsabre charger.
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