C5 spheres on Xantia

[aneesh84]

The IFHS spheres replaced 2 years ago have now started to get a little hard. Its not bouncy but not what it used to be.

2 years is a very short time!!!

I was thinking of replacing the spheres with C5 spheres this time to make it last longer. What is your opinion? Anyone tried it before?

[myglaren]

The last production Xantias were fitted with C5 spheres.

[aneesh84]

Both front and rear spheres?

Are the IFHS C5 spheres multilayer ones, and last longer than the IFHS Xantia spheres?

[Peter.N.]

The C5 spheres do last longer but they are also considerably more expensive.

Peter

[sparksie]

I've been wondering about this, too.
When the time comes to replace mine, I thought it might be worthwhile getting ones that aren't going to be part of the routine servicing.
But, are they compatible with LHM?
If not, are the other hydraulics (pump, calipers etc) compatible with the red stuff, whose name escapes me at the moment?
I wouldn't mind them being a bit more expensive if they have a service life comparable to a conventional spring and damper setup! They're hardly cheap to replace...

[Peter.N.]

I had a 150k 2.2 C5 and as far as I know they were original but my 190k 2.0. C5 I have had to replace them on, the 2.2 had hydractive the 2.0. doesn't.

Don't know about the LDS compatibility but if they used C5 spheres on late Xantias I think that probably answers the question.

Peter

[aneesh84]

The C5 spheres do last longer but they are also considerably more expensive.

Peter

The C5 spheres are about double the price of xantia ones. But my Xantia spheres lasted only 2 years. If the C5 ones last 10 years, or even 7-8 years, that is well worth the money (and the savings on labour for the change and lost LHM).

I am not much concerned about LHM compatibility with C5 spheres, for the same reason. But I would like a first hand experience of how the damping and ride comfort is affected.

I have non-hydractive Xantia Estate. So I guess a C5 estate Hydractive 3 spheres should be the closest compatible.

IFHS catalogue states that C5 estate spheres have 57 and 44 bars pressure for the front and the rear respectively. This is quite close to the 55 and 40 bars for xantia estate. Of course the damping hole can make a huge difference. The C5 is slightly heavier.

Any opinions or experiences?

[aneesh84]

One more thing. Has anyone tried a 70 bar (1.9 Diesel) front sphere on a non-hydractive Xantia instead of the 55 bar sphere at the front?

thought it should make it softer and last longer.

[KP]

IIRC there is a guy in france who made up adapters for his Activa to use C5 spheres.

Be aware of the dimensional differences as well as the front strut towers do move and there may not be enough clearance with a C5 Sphere.

IMO it may be better to replace the Rear and Front Accumlators and the rear corner ones only if doing this. They are the ones that are a nightmare to get at due to dirt ingress and so on.

For front replacements look at the ones for a 2.1td as they will be rated for a much heavier engine?