Age of a new C5 sphere

[martinwiseman2000]

Hi,

I've just bought two new spheres for my C5 from AEP and was a little disappointed. to find that one has a date code of 22-12-10 and the other has a date code of 05-07-06.

I know C5 spheres are supposed to have a long life time and that spheres generally last a lot longer when not under hydraulic pressure and at room temperature, but how do people feel about fitting a sphere that is a year older than the vehicle it is going on?

Thanks,
Martin.

[Peter.N.]

Hi Martin

You could query it with them but as you say they do last well, I think the ones on my C5 are original and that's a '51 plate and the suspension is still quite supple.

Peter

[kenhall1202]

The only way to be sure is to get the spheres pressure tested and reject them if they are out of spec. Having said that however, modern saucer spheres with multicouche diaphragms lose pressure extremely slowly and the age of the spheres you have been sold probably reflects the fact that AEP's sales /turnover of these is very low (or their stock rotation procedures are poor!)

[DickieG]

Sphere's retain specified pressure for many years if they are left on the shelf, saucer sphere's being a couple of years old won't have any problems I'm sure, if they were 10 years old I'd test them but I can all but guarantee that even then they'd only be 1 or 2 bar down on pressure.

[Citroenmad]

As Richard says, they have a very long shelf life. I might be inclined to get them pressure tested if you are worried. I doubt the ones from 2006 vary from the 2010 ones in any other way.