Trying to find suspension parts

[TomC5]

Hi All,

My C5 (2003, 2.0 HDI, 109hp) has snapped a pushrod in the n/s rear suspension, I'm trying to track down a replacement without buying a whole strut assembly (£125+VAT from Citroen) but nowhere seems to sell them. I've tried GSF, Eurocarparts, TMS and a couple of Citroen garages, as well as ebay.
Does anyone know where I can find one of these parts, new or used?

The pushrod itself (I think that's its proper name) is located between the hydraulic cylinder and the trailing arm, inside a rubber boot. It fits into the trailing arm and is secured by a pin, which is infamous for seizing in. The other end fits into the suspension strut (the bit the sphere fixes on to).

It appears the pushrod has a flexible joint in it and mine has disintegrated at this point. One of the hydraulic hoses, the return pipe also disconnected at the same time. Is this common? I'm hoping a new boot will stop it happening again. I can't tell the exact length of the rod but does anyone know if these are interchangeable between the other Citroens? It's been an almost identical design since the DS!

Any help would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks,
Tom

[citronut]

hi and welcome

if you had push rod failure the piston would pop out of the cylinder and it would dump all the LDS ( suspension fluid )on the ground

it sounds to me as thought the main pressure seals in the cylinder have failed, so allowing to much fluid into the boot/gaiter,

the push rod is two piece which is a solid rod and the cup, the rod just locates into a nylon seat up inside the piston. and the trailuing arm end into the cup, the cup allows the end of the push rod to pivot as the arm moves up and down,

you might find your cylinder just requires new seals which are available from Citroen and here is price and part No.'s

these might not be for your specific C5 model

Part Number Description Quantity Price excl. VAT Price incl. VAT Total incl. VAT Selection
0000527228 RING-SEAL 1.13 GBP 1.36 GBP 1.36 GBP

0000527230 SLIDING SEAL 2.69 GBP 3.23 GBP 3.23 GBP

0000527232 WEATHERSTRIP 1.58 GBP 1.90 GBP 1.90 GBP

were are you located,

if you dont have the OE part No. for the complete cylinder with push rod, and you send me the last 8 digits of your chassis/VIN No. i will get you this part No.,
then you can do a goooogly search to see if anyone has NOS = new old stock,

also you could try the links below

this guy comes to CCC ( citroen car club ralleys ) and is very knowledgeable on citroens and helpful
http://mlockwood.org.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

this company are cit/pug specialist dismantlers
http://www.pcr767676.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[citroenxm]

Beleve it or not the push rod is the same as XM LHM ones!! I know this from a C5 Rear Arm bearing job I did. I had to use a push rod and had one from an XM subframe, and it fitted.

The XM subframe was around a 1995, the C5 was a mark one 51 plate car...

[TomC5]

Thanks for the advice both.

Could worn cylinder seals have caused the return pipe to pop out then Malcolm? The car is 170,000 miles old so seems likely they're knackered. Must be worth replacing them while I'm down there. If this is the case then it seems likely that the already well worn rod finally gave up as a result of me crawling the 2 miles home almost on the bump stops.

I thought it likely the C5 and XM / Xantia would be the same but was interested to find out for sure. I wonder if the BX rod is the same too?

I'm in Cumbria btw.

[citronut]

is the push rod defiantly damaged/broken ???????

as i said earlier push rod failure allows the piston to pop out of the cylinder, so it dumps all its hydraulic fluid on the ground,

piston seal failure will cause the boot to fill with pressurised fluid and will pop the seepage return pipe out of the boot/gaiter,

can you add picy's

one issue with using a rod from the likes of the XM or BX is the hole through the cup that the R clip goes through might be larger, it certainly is on the BX,
if this is the case there will be movement between the cup and arm,

[c.morewood]

Not knowing the setup on the C5...I'm presuming its the rod with the pin going through the end, connecting it to the chassis.... I have a late Xantia pushrod you can have, if it will fit.