Citroen C5 X7 front clunking noise.

[aerodynamica]

We had a knock on a 2015 C4 and it was the shock absorber that had some wear so that the chrome shaft could move sideways a bit. I could not detect the wear on the car but once off it was bad. It was the Citroen parts dept at our dealer that suggested to check it since it was a known problem to Citroen. Whether this can apply to C5 hydraulic suspension I do not know.

Have you checked the front brakes, you could see if it clunks whilst turning but with your foot on the brakes a bit.

Good morning, well I have just had the opportunity to try out the brakes while it's clunking.

I arrive early at work and the industrial estate is very quiet. It's also quite good to test because there are speed bumps and also rough open areas and it clunk's every morning. I took the c5 to an area where I can drive in circles where it is pot holed. It was merrily clunking away. Can feel it at the footwell area. Next I continued with left foot braking and right accelerator (auto) and lo the clunking completely vanishes.

My conclusion is that the brake calipers are moving. They are both new calipers last year but the pads are well down on material and also the disks are wearing thin.

Anyway just sharing these observations as this is now my main line of enquiry (for this topic at least)

[GolfMk1Vr6]

I didn't visited my mechanic yet to test the lower subframe but now im thinking that the clunking noise may come from the left hydraulic shock itself. I never heard about one to clunk or give any noises, i may be the ,,lucky one".

Anybody here heard about a clunking hydraulic shock?

[Kees]

In the past I had this problem a bit different, in the morning the car ride fine over all surfaces, but after 15 minutes he start with sometime a clunk ,then when this starts it became more and more and keeps the rest of the day.
As you know I also regarded all of my spheres with a higher pressure.
The center one was 100 bar.
After a long search it came out, this was the reason, when I lower the pressure to 90 bar the problem was solved.
Greetings,
Kees.

[PaulC5]

An extra thought, clunking when turning can be a worn cv joint, I looked though the previous posts and did not notice any mention of checking cv joints so something that can be done - usually involves driving in circles in opposite directions.

[GolfMk1Vr6]

In the past I had this problem a bit different, in the morning the car ride fine over all surfaces, but after 15 minutes he start with sometime a clunk ,then when this starts it became more and more and keeps the rest of the day.
As you know I also regarded all of my spheres with a higher pressure.
The center one was 100 bar.
After a long search it came out, this was the reason, when I lower the pressure to 90 bar the problem was solved.
Greetings,
Kees.

Thanks for your thought. Have you ever heard about a clunking hydraulic shock or a clunking shock mount?

[Kees]

Yes, that's what I mean with my story.
Each time when the car starts clunking, I try to analyze where it comes from.
One time I ask somebody to ride with me, he said, ohh I feel it onder my feet, it's your lower arm, so I replaced both of them.
With the next testdrive I thought it was solved, but after 15 minutes it's starts again.
Finally after lower the pressure in the center sphere it was over.
A question from my side, is this clunking when you starts riding, or after a while?

[GolfMk1Vr6]

Yes, that's what I mean with my story.
Each time when the car starts clunking, I try to analyze where it comes from.
One time I ask somebody to ride with me, he said, ohh I feel it onder my feet, it's your lower arm, so I replaced both of them.
With the next testdrive I thought it was solved, but after 15 minutes it's starts again.
Finally after lower the pressure in the center sphere it was over.
A question from my side, is this clunking when you starts riding, or after a while?

Now that im thinking i remember that the clunking noise/ feel is more noticeable after some minutes of drive. My front center sphere was also regassed, i don't know the pressure unfortunately.

Do you have an explanation why's that happening with a higher pressure? What is more exactly clunking? The sphere itself?

Thanks!

[Kees]

Yes, it's the strut itself.
I think, its cavitation, this happens when under high pressure liquid Squeezed through a small hole, there are some gas bubbles then, so the result is, that the damping is changed.
I my situation, when I hear the clunking it seems it comes from behind the dashboard.
You also keep in mind, that also the corner spheres was regarded with a higher pressure.
Greetings,
Kees.

[GolfMk1Vr6]

Yes, it's the strut itself.
I think, its cavitation, this happens when under high pressure liquid Squeezed through a small hole, there are some gas bubbles then, so the result is, that the damping is changed.
I my situation, when I hear the clunking it seems it comes from behind the dashboard.
You also keep in mind, that also the corner spheres was regarded with a higher pressure.
Greetings,
Kees.

My corner spheres i think they're regassed with ~ 50 bar or a little bit over this value, the center one probably with 70 bars or over. I feel the clunking noise at my feet level, i will recheck the spheres pressure next month.

Also the car developed a clunking noise when steering left/ right to the max, it has a clunk in the endings when returning the steering wheel to the middle. All the bushings, arms, joints are new, do you know what might be the problem?

[Kees]

In the past when I had work on the lower arm and therefore removed the 3 bolts from the lower joint, even when I strongly tight them, sometimes came loose after a while, then you hear a knack when you turn the steering wheel from one end to the other end.

[GolfMk1Vr6]

In the past when I had work on the lower arm and therefore removed the 3 bolts from the lower joint, even when I strongly tight them, sometimes came loose after a while, then you hear a knack when you turn the steering wheel from one end to the other end.

Thank you, i'll check that with the first ocassion!

[GolfMk1Vr6]

Hi!

I'm still having the front clunking i've mentioned. I've checked all the bolts of the subframe, control arms and most important the 3 bolts of the lower joints. I still feel the clunking noise to especially on the foot area, the steering rack was also refurbished.

Everything is new, only the struts are original (probably replaced in 2014) and spheres were regassed.

[aerodynamica]

Did you look at the brake calipers? I found the clunking on mine seems to go away if I travel over bumps with some braking. I feel mine clunks at low speed over bumps with some steering and no braking. My brake pads soon need to be replaced and I wonder if there is a relation to this.

[GolfMk1Vr6]

Unfortunateley i can still feel the clunk while braking, so i guess the brake calipers are ok