C5 X7 Rear suspension strut pipe connection 'O' ring

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Paul-R
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C5 X7 Rear suspension strut pipe connection 'O' ring

Unread post by Paul-R »

My X7 is down on its uppers (has been for some time but that's another story) with an oil leak that seemed to drip off the edge of the LH sphere but, looking closer, I could see that it was coming from the top of the strut. That's where the oil pipe goes in so I'm hoping that it's the 'O' ring that's failed. Maybe the pipe itself has sprung a leak so I'll check that as a second 'best'.

Anyway, the 'O' ring doesn't have a part number that I can find so I'm looking for information about its dimensions and material (Viton?). I'll probably take the pipe off to look for splits in the metal and I can see there's also a seal at the other end which I'd like to look at and possibly replace when it's off the car. I think they're both circular in cross section.
C5 X7 Rear suspension strut pipe connection - a.jpg
C5 X7 Rear suspension strut pipe connection - b.jpg
Annoyingly, the removal and refitting instructions for the rear suspension cylinder even instruct you to fit a new seal without giving a part number or dimensions or material!
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mickthemaverick
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Re: C5 X7 Rear suspension strut pipe connection 'O' ring

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

Assuming this is for your 2013 Tourer Paul, have you asked Chevronics or Pleides about these seals? :)
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Paul-R
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Re: C5 X7 Rear suspension strut pipe connection 'O' ring

Unread post by Paul-R »

No, not yet. I only started working on it yesterday. But there's a company specialising in seals of all sorts near to me.
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

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cit-rotti
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Re: C5 X7 Rear suspension strut pipe connection 'O' ring

Unread post by cit-rotti »

I hope this page is helpful.

Listed in the current Service Hotline and also in DocBackUP 2013 under ‘Suspension’ // ‘Pipe Brackets’

01 5280 P9 01 SEAL, DIAM 10

02 5280 Y2 01 O-RING SEAL FOR SPRING CYLINDER, DIAM 10 MM

03 5280 Q0 5280 Q0 01 O-RING SEAL FOR SPRING CYLINDER DIAM 3.4 TOR 1.9

04 5280 V9 01 O-RING SEAL FOR SPRING CYLINDER
DIAM 4.75 MM
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Paul-R
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Re: C5 X7 Rear suspension strut pipe connection 'O' ring

Unread post by Paul-R »

Thank you.
cit-rotti wrote: 03 Nov 2026, 22:01Listed in the current Service Hotline and also in DocBackUP 2013 under ‘Suspension’ // ‘Pipe Brackets’
But I repeat myself from another post. How unbelievably stupid to put it there.
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

"Trying is the first step towards failure" ~ Homer J Simpson
cit-rotti
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Re: C5 X7 Rear suspension strut pipe connection 'O' ring

Unread post by cit-rotti »

It’s already in the Bible:
Seek, and you shall find
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Stickyfinger
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Re: C5 X7 Rear suspension strut pipe connection 'O' ring

Unread post by Stickyfinger »

cit-rotti wrote: 05 Nov 2026, 10:31 It’s already in the Bible:
Seek, FOR AGES and you shall find

fixed that for you :)
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Paul-R
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Re: C5 X7 Rear suspension strut pipe connection 'O' ring

Unread post by Paul-R »

Even what is there is less than helpful as the diagrams don't show which O-ring goes where.

I'm actually thinking of getting someone with a 4 post lift to do the job. I can barely see, let alone access, the top mounting bolt lying on my back with the rear end on axle stands. This brings up another problem, getting the car to a garage given it's down on the bump stops. I can see that it might be possible to jam a lump of wood in where the rear bump stops are but I'm not so sure about the front.

The other option is cut my losses and scrap the car.
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

"Trying is the first step towards failure" ~ Homer J Simpson
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Stickyfinger
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Re: C5 X7 Rear suspension strut pipe connection 'O' ring

Unread post by Stickyfinger »

Join the AA/RAC etc, wait a few days, drive it a mile on it bum, call them and have it recovered to the garage.....cancel AA/RAC
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Lenny
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Re: C5 X7 Rear suspension strut pipe connection 'O' ring

Unread post by Lenny »

I can barely see, let alone access, the top mounting bolt lying on my back with the rear end on axle stands.
It's not actually as bad as it looks.
I had the same reaction as you when I looked at changing this pipe, but it wasn't a bad job in the end (on my back, under the car on axle stands).
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Paul-R
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Re: C5 X7 Rear suspension strut pipe connection 'O' ring

Unread post by Paul-R »

Lenny wrote: 05 Nov 2026, 20:46
I can barely see, let alone access, the top mounting bolt lying on my back with the rear end on axle stands.
It's not actually as bad as it looks.
Can I pay for your train fare to Wirral?
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

"Trying is the first step towards failure" ~ Homer J Simpson