C5 rear spheres

[john alexander]

Hi , It's time to change the rear spheres on my 06 plate C5 estate . I've done this on the Xantias but what is the procedure on the C5 .
Can the struts be removed with the spheres still attached . Do you have to crack the seal with the suspension on high .
Can someone enlighten me. john.

[KP]

Struts cant be removed with spheres attached.

Getting the spheres off will be a mission IME as the differing metals react and weld themselves together almost.

A very very thin blade cutting into the surface between the metals could help but destroys the strut as well.

Crack it on high then use the lexia to de-pressurise the system.

I got a second hand set from a breakers yard and they ended cutting them out from the strut holder.

[wheeler]

Crack it on high then use the lexia to de-pressurise the system.

If you don't have lexia just open the bleed nipple on the T piece by the rear height sensor, it's far easier & quicker to do it this way if you are already under there anyway. Personally if it's just a sphere change I find just dropping it into low setting alone is just fine, very minimal LDS loss.

[Peter.N.]

There is a chap on ebay makes an excellent wrench for removing them, didn't have any problem at all with mine from my 2001 estate, as the tool has such a good grip on the sphere a sharp blow with a hammer will release it. Make sure you specify the C5 type as the older one is to small.

I would go with wheeler on bleeding, if you use a length of tube and a clean container you can recycle the LDS fluid.

Peter