C5 X7 Pivot Support damage

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Scorchy
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C5 X7 Pivot Support damage

Post by Scorchy »

Dear all, could someone offer me some advice? I've been having a recurring 'knocking' problem on my front suspension - C5 X7 2009 Exclusive Tourer.

In November 2019 the car went into my local Citroën specialist to have a number of parts replaced including both lower balljoints, and a failed n/s hub bush. On collecting the car the worst of the knocking had been cured but there was still an occasional muted clunk during certain manoeuvres. Gradually the sound (and the feeling through the floor) became more pronounced and in February I took it back to the garage and asked them to investigate. They said that they had tightened one of the balljoints up and cleaned around the anti-rollbar links - this temporarily improved things and the noise was still there.

COVID then hit so the car was little used for 3 months but the problem persisted and worsened. I took to back to them in June and (although they never seemed to think there was a problem with it) they re-tightened things again. The car was MOT'd at this point.
In the subsequent weeks (I'm still furloughed from work so the miles being travelled are very small) the noise got progressively worse so I dropped it into a local garage who immediately pointed out that there was a problem with the point where the balljoint is attached to the pivot support/strut support (not sure of the correct term?). The bolts have been moving in the holes and elongated them and now it's impossible to tighten them enough to stop the movement, the wheel can be waggled by hand when jacked up, and my local garage were amazed that it recently passed its MOT. It now looks like the whole support needs replacing.
The bolts/locations in question are highlighted by red arrows (not THE Red Arrows I hasted to add) on the attached pictures.

Has anyone had a similar problem?
Can anyone advise me of the correct part name and number of the support part, and/or offer any advice on how best to proceed? I have access to Servicebox but of course now I can't access the diagrams - the attached are ones I found online).
I think I should complain to the original garage as I believe that they haven't done an acceptable job and now the problem has escalated.

Any wisdom would be gratefully received.

Many thanks
Scott
susp.jpg
Screenshot 2020-07-10 at 16.33.32.png
Hell Razor5543
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Re: C5 X7 Pivot Support damage

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

Looking at the diagram (both here and in my local copy of DocBackup) I think you are looking at item B. I am trying to find an official name for this part, but no luck so far.
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Re: C5 X7 Pivot Support damage

Post by GiveMeABreak »

See my post here:

viewtopic.php?p=644727#p644727

If the lower pivot occasionally clunks when braking or when taking off on occasion or sometimes going over a bump then it's likely to be the same issue.

If you look at the diagram on my post I have highlighted in yellow the horizontal movement of the bush indicated by the red arrows above when it is fitted in place. When the bush wears, the momentum of braking and starting move the lower pivot support (B) in the wishbone highlighted in yellow and this makes the occasional clunk.

Citroen don't sell the bush alone of course, but it can be bought easily on the aftermarket and fitted by your local mechanic.
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Marc
Scorchy
Posts: 10
Joined: 02 Sep 2018, 14:54
Location: South Devon
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Re: C5 X7 Pivot Support damage

Post by Scorchy »

Hell Razor5543 wrote: 12 Jul 2020, 11:16 Looking at the diagram (both here and in my local copy of DocBackup) I think you are looking at item B. I am trying to find an official name for this part, but no luck so far.
Yes it is part B. Images of it come up when I search for Strut Support or Support Pivot but I don't know the official name for it.
Thanks
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Re: C5 X7 Pivot Support damage

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR

C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
Scorchy
Posts: 10
Joined: 02 Sep 2018, 14:54
Location: South Devon
My Cars: CX20 1983
Past glories:
Ami 8 Estate
2009 C5 Exclusive Tourer
C5 2008 Exclusive Saloon
C4 VTS coupé / C3 XTR
3 x XMs, 2 CXs
Visa 1.7 RD

Re: C5 X7 Pivot Support damage

Post by Scorchy »

GiveMeABreak wrote: 12 Jul 2020, 11:24 See my post here:

viewtopic.php?p=644727#p644727

If the lower pivot occasionally clunks when braking or when taking off on occasion or sometimes going over a bump then it's likely to be the same issue.

If you look at the diagram on my post I have highlighted in yellow the horizontal movement of the bush indicated by the red arrows above when it is fitted in place. When the bush wears, the momentum of braking and starting move the lower pivot support (B) in the wishbone highlighted in yellow and this makes the occasional clunk.

Citroen don't sell the bush alone of course, but it can be bought easily on the aftermarket and fitted by your local mechanic.
Yes it does happen under those stresses but it's definitely play in one or more of the three holes in the lower part of that large vertical component. I saw the front bolt moving in the socket when the mechanic waggled the wheel. While driving the wheel makes a twittering sound which is the bolt rattling around in the hole.
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GiveMeABreak
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C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5646

Re: C5 X7 Pivot Support damage

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Scorchy wrote: 12 Jul 2020, 11:32
Hell Razor5543 wrote: 12 Jul 2020, 11:16 Looking at the diagram (both here and in my local copy of DocBackup) I think you are looking at item B. I am trying to find an official name for this part, but no luck so far.
Yes it is part B. Images of it come up when I search for Strut Support or Support Pivot but I don't know the official name for it.
Thanks
It's called the Front Pivot Support and it's the lower bush you want, unless you are looking to replace the whole support. See my link in the other thread for a link to a supplier of the heavy duty replacement bushes.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
Scorchy
Posts: 10
Joined: 02 Sep 2018, 14:54
Location: South Devon
My Cars: CX20 1983
Past glories:
Ami 8 Estate
2009 C5 Exclusive Tourer
C5 2008 Exclusive Saloon
C4 VTS coupé / C3 XTR
3 x XMs, 2 CXs
Visa 1.7 RD

Re: C5 X7 Pivot Support damage

Post by Scorchy »

Hell Razor5543 wrote: 12 Jul 2020, 11:34 So something like this;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Support-Arm- ... Swbl9eAG8Q
Ah yes that looks like it. I found n/s ones but this is the first o/s. I'd be concerned that the part could be worn in the same way but I guess at that price it'd be worth a gamble.
Thanks
Hell Razor5543
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Re: C5 X7 Pivot Support damage

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

GiveMeABreak wrote: 12 Jul 2020, 11:40
Scorchy wrote: 12 Jul 2020, 11:32
Hell Razor5543 wrote: 12 Jul 2020, 11:16 Looking at the diagram (both here and in my local copy of DocBackup) I think you are looking at item B. I am trying to find an official name for this part, but no luck so far.
Yes it is part B. Images of it come up when I search for Strut Support or Support Pivot but I don't know the official name for it.
Thanks
It's called the Front Pivot Support and it's the lower bush you want, unless you are looking to replace the whole support. See my link in the other thread for a link to a supplier of the heavy duty replacement bushes.
Based on what the OP has said I think the holes in the lower part of the support (item B) have been worn so that they are no longer round, and parts that are secured through these holes can now move in ways they were not designed to. It seems likely to me that the whole support will need to be replaced (with something like the ebay item I posted up).

Scorchy, to make sure of getting the right part number could you please post up the vehicle VIN here if you have not already done so (it will, for security reasons, be obscured from normal view), so that Marc (or other forum staff) can look up the right details. Because the PSA group now charges for that access you may need to pay a donation for the information, but that will then cover you for a year or so of further searches.
Last edited by Hell Razor5543 on 12 Jul 2020, 11:52, edited 1 time in total.
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR

C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
Hell Razor5543
Donor 2023
Posts: 13727
Joined: 01 Apr 2012, 09:47
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x 2993

Re: C5 X7 Pivot Support damage

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

Scorchy wrote: 12 Jul 2020, 11:46
Hell Razor5543 wrote: 12 Jul 2020, 11:34 So something like this;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Support-Arm- ... Swbl9eAG8Q
Ah yes that looks like it. I found n/s ones but this is the first o/s. I'd be concerned that the part could be worn in the same way but I guess at that price it'd be worth a gamble.
Thanks
Don't order it yet until you have read my subsequent post. It is possible that there are more than one design of support arm for the C5 X7 series, and if there are you need to get the right one for YOUR car.
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR

C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 37005
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5646

Re: C5 X7 Pivot Support damage

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Be aware there are different part numbers for these depending on left and right as you have said, but also for vehicles with and without Hydractive suspension.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
Scorchy
Posts: 10
Joined: 02 Sep 2018, 14:54
Location: South Devon
My Cars: CX20 1983
Past glories:
Ami 8 Estate
2009 C5 Exclusive Tourer
C5 2008 Exclusive Saloon
C4 VTS coupé / C3 XTR
3 x XMs, 2 CXs
Visa 1.7 RD

Re: C5 X7 Pivot Support damage

Post by Scorchy »

Hell Razor5543 wrote: 12 Jul 2020, 11:50
GiveMeABreak wrote: 12 Jul 2020, 11:40
Scorchy wrote: 12 Jul 2020, 11:32

Yes it is part B. Images of it come up when I search for Strut Support or Support Pivot but I don't know the official name for it.
Thanks
It's called the Front Pivot Support and it's the lower bush you want, unless you are looking to replace the whole support. See my link in the other thread for a link to a supplier of the heavy duty replacement bushes.
Based on what the OP has said I think the holes in the lower part of the support (item B) have been worn so that they are no longer round, and parts that are secured through these holes can now move in ways they were not designed to. It seems likely to me that the whole support will need to be replaced (with something like the ebay item I posted up).

Scorchy, to make sure of getting the right part number could you please post up the vehicle VIN here if you have not already done so (it will, for security reasons, be obscured from normal view), so that Marc (or other forum staff) can look up the right details. Because the PSA group now charges for that access you may need to pay a donation for the information, but that will then cover you for a year or so of further searches.
I'm not rushing to buy that part! I was concerned about it not being exactly right.
VIN is VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]
o/s is the problem

Thanks for your help. My appreciated
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