C5 questionable steering?

[Haych]

is it normal for an x7 estate to handle like a jelly. i do like the comfy ride with hydra.. suspension . but really likes to keep going into the corner even when i have straightened up. Also feels like i am steering on a pivot , any slight movement left or right sets up a jelly wobbly feeling (snaking sensation the length of the car) . Hope this makes sense? recent mot so joint s have been checked.

[GiveMeABreak]

Stick it in sports mode and that will cut the side to side out.

[Haych]

it is in sports mode? so they're really are that bad..

[Hell Razor5543]

Does the X7 estate HAVE sports mode?

[Haych]

sure does

[xantia_v6]

It will lack stability if someone has previously fitted the wrong specification suspension spheres. Some owners do it deliberately to get a softer ride. The only way to diagnose is to check the part numbers of the spheres, or fit a new set of correct spheres.

[GiveMeABreak]

Does the X7 estate HAVE sports mode?

Hydractive 3+ is standard on all X7s that are equipped with hydraulic suspension unlike earlier MK I and MK II C5 models.

[GiveMeABreak]

It will lack stability if someone has previously fitted the wrong specification suspension spheres. Some owners do it deliberately to get a softer ride. The only way to diagnose is to check the part numbers of the spheres, or fit a new set of correct spheres.

Ditto this - it's even possible that some previous owner has attempted to fit 'comfort' spheres that are not designed for the X7 (and never should be fitted TBH). They will effectively knock out any effect of the Sports mode and you will end up driving a jelly. So worth a check if you don't know the history of the car.

[Peter.N.]

My steel sprung one steers fine although the suspension is nice and soft. Could possibly be the tyres, try swapping them with the rear ones.

Peter

[GiveMeABreak]

It won't be the tyres Peter unless they are well under inflated all round and that won't be the case as the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (which the OP has) will have alerted him to that issue.

That type of lateral swaying is very likely the anti roll bar drop links shot - that can really feel like the car is falling on a corner as it tucks in under itself, or the spheres are the wrong pressure / type fitted.

It won't be that the centre spheres are shot either, as that would result in a firmer ride anyway as it's what happens when these are cut out of the circuit in Sports mode.

I'd also check to see if you have any oil leaking from any of the suspension struts....

[Peter.N.]

I did have problems with front tyres on an XM. It had two new Goodyears fitted when I bought it but always pulled to the right, it wasn't until they were worn out and I replaced them that the car steered perfectly, never suspected them as they were good quality tyres, so just wondered.

I like soggy suspension, I think the steel sprung C5 is probably the best compromise you can get, although I did see someone complaining about the 'wallowy' suspension on that, best I've driven since the CX. I don't want to corner at 60 mph.

Peter

[Stickyfinger]

until you need to quickly.....

[Peter.N.]

Don't think I ever have so far and I've been driving for 63 years.

Peter

[jgra1]

mine seems the same, Haych

I haven't really figured out if it's normal or not and kinda given up on it for now.. the car wallows and pitches and cornering is a drag really

I do have the large wheels, which look good but wont help (they were on car when I bought it)

sport mode helps fractionally, but I notice the comfort drop..

on mine, with diagnostics connected, it seems to say 'poor road surface' on a billiard table road at 70mph .. whether the car is always in this mode is something I haven't looked at much

I dont want to carry a load of weight in, to make it handle more predictably really..

[Haych]

i am not in a position to do any checking at the moment but jan i will start to make this my hobby till i get up to speed a bit.

so its spheres and drop link check first