citroen c5 hovercraft

[darbuck]

hi lads my 2003 c5 estate has major issues with wind she feels like she'll either turnover or just blow off the road could this be down to spheres or is it more likely height is wrong its like driving a hovercraft

[Peter.N.]

The spheres will only affect the ride, could be the suspension is high but you should be able to see that by looking at it, the front and rear suspension arms should be about parallel with the road. The only other things I can think of that would make it unstable is if the tyres are over inflated or the tracking is a long way out - or may be its low blood sugar.

Peter

[Ford Prefect]

Have you own it a long time?

- Meaning that either you are not familiar to that C5 perhaps is a bit wind sensitive because I also had that feeling driving our C5.

- Or do you mean that it have been worse over time?

Nuvarande bilar: C4 Picasso '14, XM pick-up '95.
Tidigare bilar: SAAB 99, Audi 80, SAAB 900, Citroën Xantia, Citroën C5, Citroën BX, Citroën Xantia Activa, Citroën CX

[darbuck]

Its getting worse over time its definitely not blood sugar I'll start with getting tracking set again

[Stickyfinger]

My Mk1 was also very sensitive to gusts of crosswind, it would twitch.................if it is getting worse, check your lower ball joints and tie rods/
(and the obvious one, tyre pressures)

[Clogzz]

The C5 is fairly sensitive to crosswind.
Try the suspension on the sport setting, that will mostly sort it.

[Stickyfinger]

IF the car has it....

Anyway, if a "symptom" is "increasing", needs to be investigated is my way of thinking on this. Tyres, suspension bushes/tie rods/ball joints and the lower pivot are the first ports of call for that type of increasing problem.
I changed tyres on my Mk1 and that greatly reduced the effect (I needed new tyres) even if unplanned...a nice surprise you could say.
I wonder if it is to do with the directional tread type patterns (they can run ridges badly) not getting on with the flexible Citroen setup/old bushes...

[Peter.N.]

You haven't got low profile tyres have you?

[qprdude]

My Mk 1 was also a bit like a boat in high winds. Not exactly the most aerodynamic shape, especially the slab side profile . The X7 is much more stable IMHO.

[Stickyfinger]

this about the X7

[darbuck]

I'll have to look at bushes at the weekend as its a mark1 I presume from the experienced voices here its part of the problem the tyres have about 8-10000 miles on them the ball joints etc were changed about 3 months ago as where drop links and tie rod ends however actual tie rods were never done in the 9 months I have it I have 205\60\16's on her sorry lads I keep forgetting to say that its a 2003 hdi estate with no sport button. By the way sticky finger do you mean the wishbone when you say lower pivot and if so is it much hassle to repair as in can you replace all the bushings or do you have to replace the arm

[Stickyfinger]

The only way to really check the suspension is with large pry bars etc, the car needs raising ect.....as you say the car "wanders" then the tracking/direction control links should be checked not so much the up/down joints. So check the lower swivel joint and the steering connections ect....... but I wonder because of no other symptoms....but you say it gets worse, so needs to be looked at. Its a 5 min job at a garage and they have the kit.

Tyres are my bet as well however as said

[darbuck]

Fair enough I may get it checked

[darbuck]

How are you doing lads the bushings are fine however the front suspension is riding high can anyone tell me rough height to wheel arches with 16 inch wheels

[Peter.N.]

An approximate setting would be with the drive shafts parallel to the road.