2005 C5 Front Calliper continual failure

[Gregg1100]

Hi,
My son's 2005 C5 -136 bhp model, seems to go through handbrake cables and callipers quicker than ice cream melting on a hot day.
He had both handbrake cables and tubes, plus front callipers and front discs replaced last year- about June.
Now the cable has seized again, and the calliper on N/S/F. That's two sets each side.
In the 30+ cars fitted with front disk brakes I have had, I have never had to change a calliper.. So any idea as to why this car is eating the brakes would be helpful. I have not seen anything about calliper troubles in this forum to do with this model.
Thank you
Greg
PS Not been here for a while. I was looking at a C5 until I realised it had a DMF flywheel. Soon walked away from that.

[Peter.N.]

He doesn't drive it through salt water anywhere does he? Sounds like rapid corrosion. I had a cable seize on mine because the plastic was cracked and let water in, I gave it a good dousing of oil through the cracked part and never had any more trouble.

Peter

[GiveMeABreak]

I was looking at a C5 until I realised it had a DMF flywheel. Soon walked away from that.

You’ll find most diesels with similar powered engines from other manufacturers also have DMFs to dampen the vibration and protect the components. Nothing unique to the C5.

[MikeT]

Mine's the same. At 69000miles, it had already had at least one caliper replaced and on inspection they both need refurbishing due to torn dust seals.
The handbrake tubes seem too rigid/inflexible and split where they exit from under the car at the wheel arch.

[jgra1]

That is nuts Gregg

Cable and guides should last a few years.. caliper longer .. no idea those are failing at that rate !

I remember doing mine and jamming some hd grease into the tubes .. that doesn't explain the Cally though

[Gregg1100]

It seems the parts are from a motor factor, so perhaps that is the trouble. I tried to use GSF stuff when I had my Citroens.
I have a new BX handbrake cable in my shed. Looking at it, it seems identical to Xantia one. Not having seen a C5 cable, I wondered if there was any interchangeability between the cables. That way, there would be no dozy tubes to seize up cable and worry about. All the Bx's, Xantias that myself and my son has had over the years, never did we have any handbrake or calliper woes. On this C5, I even put Kawasaki GT 750 mainstand springs on the ends of the cable on calliper to help return the handbrake lever on calliper to fully off position..
I will go into the Citroen parts site tomorrow- if still available- to see if any cables are interchangeable in any way.
Thanks for responses so far
Greg
PS. Regarding DMF stuff, I would walk away because of the diabolical cost. Diesel cars have done hundreds of thousand miles without all this dmf crud.
Not needed on the Xantia, Xm or Bx- only the stupid plastic cable clip was a weak point- modifiable to a metal jobbie.