Squeaky suspension, rear radius arms?

[paulcornwall]

Hi everyone, the C5 estate has been sounding like a old squeaky mattress when going over bumps lately, I've read its more likely the rear radius arms? I've noticed inside tyre wear on one side also, I'm assuming this is symptomatic of failed rear arms? if not can this be adjusted with a 4 wheel alignment? to add further at 80 the car has a slight shake through the body (very similar to a unbalanced wheel). I dont want to be spending big money on this car, so where should i be spraying lubricant? pics appreciated!

[mds141]

Rear arm bearing wear usually results in a creaking noise when going through ride height changes. Put the car into full low height and check the angle of the rear wheels, if they look like this /\ then the rear arms need doing.

[paulcornwall]

Its silent as a lamb at stand still and going through the ride heights but sounds very much like a old squeaky mattress (not the creaking sound) when going over bumpy roads. Tyres from the rear look slightly |----\

[mds141]

It does sound like the rear arm bearings are on the way out. Rebuild kits are £60 (ish) and a good Citroen specialist will typically charge £160-£200 to do the job.

[paulcornwall]

that's not too bad (£160-200), could this account for slight vehicle vibration around 80?

[Lighty]

Unlikely to cause a vibration at speed to be honest, more likely that your unevenly worn tyres are causing it.Worn arm bearings can cause the car to wander quite a bit due to the rear wheels "steering " the car a bit.

[vibes]

I had those bearings changed last october, both sides. I had bought the car only a month earlier so I don't know how long they have been shot. After I changed from winter tyres to summer ones (I live in Finland, we can use spiked tyres) the car Has been quite wobbly in speeds over 60 km/h. I suspect the summer tyres are worn unevenly.

[Peter.N.]

I did the ones on my C5 a few weeks ago, not to difficult a job if everything comes undone OK - mine didn't

Peter

[addo]

What snagged you? The anti-roll bar bolts, or some other aspect?

[Peter.N.]

Difficulty with the push rod pins but did shift eventually, most annoying problem was the o/s brake pipe fitting, moved in the caliper but 'welded' to the pipe, had to take the caliper off and unscrew it from the pipe, it then fell in half as the fixing bolts hold it together. The bolts were exceedingly tight so I reassembled them that way, shortly afterwards it started leaking fluid and I found the bolts loose I refitted them with locktite, no further problem.

Also had difficulty removing the old bearings or rather getting to them, the whole lot had rusted solid although one bearing was still complete, had great difficulty driving the spacer tube from the bearings, once out a little welding round the inside of the outer bearing and they shrink and come out easily.

Peter