Which spheres best for a C5

[jacko47]

hi ive got 2.0 hdi 8 valve 2002 hatchback i want to replace the rear spheres i also want a softer ride. the spheres on my rears are 25 bar pressure would i be better putting 31 bar on or even 44 bar also am i right in thinking the higher the bar pressure the softer the ride i have been offered the 31 bar spheres at a good price cheers chris

[Citroenmad]

If your spheres are original you might have a harder or more bouncy ride than you should anyway.

You have to be careful making a C5 very soft as it does not have the amount of suspension travel to cope with the soft spheres. Where as an XM or Xantia has more travel it can handle a softer ride.

Yes, generally the higher the pressure the softer the ride, though you can go too far and have a firmer ride. Comfort spheres are standard spheres with a larger damper hole, effectively reducing the damping rate, not what you want.

Im pretty sure your 2.0HDi should have 31 bar in the rears, not 25. 25bar is for the models with H3+ and the sport suspension setting. 44bar is from the estate, which may make it a little softer at the rear, perhaps.

The first C5 I bought had been fitted with comfort spheres, it was too underdamped and wollowy for my liking. One of the front ones went hard and so I swapped those for a new pair of gen Citroen ones. I then removed the rear ones and peaned the holes slightly to reduce the damper hole very slightly. Which improved damping to a much more acceptable control. After that the ride is excellent, the best riding C5 ive been in. I did buy a new pair of Citroen rears too, but they are still in my garage stock as it rides well as it is now.

[jacko47]

my main problem is rather a harsh ride compared to xantias etc also got that famous rattle on rear suspension over uneven roads car has only done 36000 miles checked everything on rear all nice and tight no excessive movement anywhere replaced rear brake anti rattle shims and springs noise still there dont rattle all the time but very annoying think i will go with new 31 bar spheres or any other sugestions ps rear trailing arm bearings fine

[Citroenmad]

There was a mod/recall for early C5s to have weights and extra sound deadening fitted to the rear subframe to stock the rattle. Has yours had this?

Ive also had rattles and clanking caused by the spare wheel not being tied down, it has to be very tight in the strap.

I also cured rattling on our estate C5 by fitting mudflaps to it, the bumper and wheel arch liner must have been arguing. Odd one that and not had it on any others.

radius arm bearings usually cause a much heavier crack, rattle or thudding when going over bumps and should be quite noticeable if it is that.

I went to drive a 50K mile 2002 C5 not that long ago, despite its lowish mileage the rear spheres were really on the way out, very bouncy and firm, so they could easily be due for replacing.

[jacko47]

not sure about the modification but surely that sounds to me like a bodge not a cure like women who turn radio up when big ends are coming out of block lol checked all round spare wheel boot lid bumper rear doors etc nothing untowards thanks for info chris you sure seem to know your stuff

[Citroenmad]

Quite possibly a quick fix but it did seem to work and it remained on all C5s until the end of production.

No problem

[jacko47]

hi chris how can you tell if mod has been done regards chris

[aneesh84]

hi ive got 2.0 hdi 8 valve 2002 hatchback i want to replace the rear spheres i also want a softer ride. the spheres on my rears are 25 bar pressure would i be better putting 31 bar on or even 44 bar also am i right in thinking the higher the bar pressure the softer the ride i have been offered the 31 bar spheres at a good price cheers chris

I know its an old thread but did you try fitting the 44 bar estate sphere on the C5 sedan non-hydractive. I am in a similar dilemma so any experiences please let me know.

[white exec]

Let's do this in your other thread "C5 ride", so we don't get all confused and duplicated!
? ? ? viewtopic.php?p=690670#p690670