c5 comfort saucers experience

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viorelovidiu
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c5 comfort saucers experience

Post by viorelovidiu »

Hi all!

I`ve already have comfort saucers on front side and for rear side are ordered, should arrive in a week from myparts.org.

Comfort is far so good, well improved, I cant wait to replace on the rear side. I`ve noticed over holes on the road when telescopes reach the maximum travel, a very loud "bang" could be heard, it`s almost scary and I have to slow down.
Also both front telescopes has been replaced with SH ones with 130k miles.
Could this scenario affect suspension in long terms or any other parts?

Is there anyone using those comfort saucers?
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Post by Dommo »

It sounds as though the suspension doesn't have enough damping (resistance to movement) so when the car starts oscillating it 'tops out' and makes that banging sound. Which is bad for it - if that is what's happening.
viorelovidiu
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Post by viorelovidiu »

Yes, your scenario it`s correct. So, its related with the new saucers and/or SH purchased telescopes?
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Post by Dommo »

I'm not sure how C5 spheres work (that's what we call them)

Xantia spheres have a small hole in them that resists the flow of LHM fluid (that's what causes the damping), I assume comfort spheres have a larger hole which makes them more comfortable (by having less damping).

So I would imagine it is the spheres rather than the 'telescopes'.

Edit - but hopefully someone with more C5 knowledge will come along and let us know whether I'm correct.
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Post by viorelovidiu »

yes, comfort spheres has a larger hole.

I prefer more comfort so... i should drive carefully :lol:
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Post by vince »

Hi viorelovidium Ive heard of this on Xantias fitted with softer sprung spheres. I think slowing down will be your only option or a return to factory specified spheres.
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viorelovidiu
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Post by viorelovidiu »

Yes, I will slow down. I cant wait to receive rear spheres to get it fully comfortable.

There is a way to cancel self adjusting by lexia? I mean that every time I get bad roads on my way the car should remain at the same high and to be adjusted by pressing buttons. Self leveling when car is loaded/unloaded should be not altered.

I think about Peugeot 407 which has a similar chassis and it is at the same height as C5 should be ok over "normal" bad roads. :lol:
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Post by Citroenmad »

Ooo i hate comfort spheres :twisted:

I had them on a C5, really was not happy with the way it drove, handled or rode. There was hardly any daming, it was constantly bottoming out or topping out on bumps or undulations. It felt very soft and floaty, though C5s do not have the range of travel to pull this soft suspension off, as its too limited with little movement compared to the older Cits (Xms, Xantias etc)

Infact, when driving briskly on country roads it made me feel sick, i sometimes get car sick if im a passenger, but never when im driving, no matter how much i throw the car around. However this made me feel awful.

So i replaced them.

My front spheres had the normal centre hole, which was standard size, however id had 3 EXTRA holes for fluid to pass through. Ive never seen that before but it certainly didnt work well in my opinion.

The rears were usual comfort spheres, with the centre hole drilled out to a larger diameter.

If your a slow driver, you might get away with it, but for me, it just didnt feel right. C5s ride harder than older Citroens, its just something ive got used to now. Even the new "germanic" C5s or C6s dont ride as well as a good Xm.
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viorelovidiu
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Post by viorelovidiu »

Citroenmad wrote:Ooo i hate comfort spheres :twisted:
your story sounds terrific! :lol:
Your C5 was H3+ or plain H3?
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Post by Citroenmad »

No, its just the standard H3.

If yours is the H3+ then im sure it will be better, as the suspension still has a bit of control with the sports shperes.
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viorelovidiu
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Post by viorelovidiu »

mine is H3 simple as yours! :cry:

Anyway with comfort spheres on front the ride quality is modified about 70% and adding rear spheres for comfort should not induce negative feedback, not too much. Just in case I`ll swap spheres with those I have now to see any difference in ride quality.

I`ll keep this thread informed once i`ll get them.
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viorelovidiu
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Post by viorelovidiu »

Now I have on rear side those comfort sphere. What can I say that my car feels like a whale, on highways over 50-60 mph is floating so sweet :)

I must admit there is a negative feedback in some circumstances over country roads like more lateral side effect on some potholes, also the banging effect (when is extending at maximum too fast but only on front side).

About banging effect i suspect the telescopes wich are second hand ones about 150k miles. Soon, I will fit the standard speres to reproduce this behavior. If still present means that telescopes are faulty - worn bushes maybe:)

Overall, I`m very pleased with this upgrade
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Post by Citroenmad »

Well im glad you like your comfort spheres :)

When i first got the car, with them fitted, i thought it was quite ok and rode ok. I remember following a C6 down a flowing stretch of motorway and my C5 was floating more than the C6.

Though after living with it a while i really wasnt happy. It was actually making me car sick (as the driver!) of country roads. Any undulating roads caused the car to top and bottom on the suspension when pressing on. I think its rear mudflaps are quite a bit shorter now :lol:

We have quite large speed bumps along the top of our road, with the comfort spheres the c5 would bang heavily as the wheels came to the full downward travel. With its normal spheres this is not the case.

Anyway, much happier with its normal spheres back on.
Chris
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