C5 X7 suspension problem

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
Ceenine
Donor 2023
Posts: 174
Joined: 17 Nov 2014, 20:21
Location: Devonport, Tasmania, Australia
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: DS4 Crossback 2.0l
C5 X7 HDI Exclusive 2.2l sedan
C4 1.6l HDI EGS
Peugeot 405 Mi16
x 8

C5 X7 suspension problem

Post by Ceenine »

My friend's car has this weird rear end shift whenever the car hits undulations. It is not just annoying, but slightly dangerous as you need to correct all the time. Suggestion here in Aussie is that it needs a rear wheel alignment. Any suggestions from "May land". It is an Exclusive petrol, not that this specification is relevant (probably).

Thanks in advance.
Don
Hell Razor5543
Donor 2023
Posts: 13727
Joined: 01 Apr 2012, 09:47
Location: Reading
My Cars: C5 Mk2 VTX+ estate.
x 2993

Re: C5 X7 suspension problem

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

That would suggest it has the Hydractive suspension (as opposed to steel springs). I wonder if the suspension is at the correct height.
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR

C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 37014
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5648

Re: C5 X7 suspension problem

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Can you be a bit more specific - is it lifting off the gound, is the rear suspension stiff and not absorbing bumps, can you push down on the rear and does it lower and return, does the system raise and lower when commanded? What is it you are correcting all the time?

There are many possibilities, you may be riding on the centre spheres only if the 2 rear ones are shot , or the rear hight corrector may need some lubricant (don't take it off the bracket though) as these can seize up.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 25368
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
Location: Washington
My Cars: Mazda 6
Ooops.
Previously:
2009 Honda Civic :(
C5, C5, Xantia, BX, GS, Visa.
R4, R11TXE, R14, R30TX
x 4889

Re: C5 X7 suspension problem

Post by myglaren »

Didn't John (JGRA1) have a similar rear end shimmy in his C5?
jgra1
(Donor 2021)
Posts: 4625
Joined: 27 Nov 2005, 19:07
Location: Kent / Susssex
My Cars: 2010 C5 X7 2.0 hdi 160 exc auto
MG TF 135
Boxer II 2.2 camper conversion
BMW R1200RT
BMW K1300 R
Honda V F R 800 5thG / MT500 Armstrong
x 39

Re: C5 X7 suspension problem

Post by jgra1 »

I did lads.. I did nothing about it and the car sits unused outside at moment (not because of suspension though)
ekjdm14
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 1810
Joined: 19 Jan 2015, 17:42
Location: Congleton
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: '95 Xantia 1.9D automatic - 109k one of two remaining
'03 206 GTi180 - 97k in pieces being brought back up to snuff
'03 206 1.9TD - home-built veg-fuelled B-road bruiser
'99 306 SE 2.0i cabriolet - 92k awaiting service work ready for next summer
'97 306 XS 1.6i 3 door, Bianca White, from dead 12 years & seized solid to road legal in 7 days
x 212

Re: C5 X7 suspension problem

Post by ekjdm14 »

If it's steel sprung this sounds very similar to the symptoms of a duff rear shock absorber.
'95 Xantia LX 1.9D-auto, Black, 109k
'03 206 GTi180 94k in surgery
'03 206 1.1S XUD9TE/veg project :mrgreen:
'99 306 2.0SE cabriolet 95k summer toy
'97 306 XS 1.6i 99k sat 12 years, fixed in 7 days, 150mile maiden voyage :rofl2:
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 25368
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
Location: Washington
My Cars: Mazda 6
Ooops.
Previously:
2009 Honda Civic :(
C5, C5, Xantia, BX, GS, Visa.
R4, R11TXE, R14, R30TX
x 4889

Re: C5 X7 suspension problem

Post by myglaren »

That was a quick answer John - I have been trawling your blog trying to find a reference. \No joy so far :(
User avatar
Stickyfinger
(Donor 2016)
Posts: 10411
Joined: 28 Mar 2013, 21:05
Location: Somset my lovleee
My Cars: Xantia V6 ACTIVA 3ltr 24v Manual p1
Xm 2.1TD Ph2 Exclusive
AX, little Daffodil
SAXO White Mk1. Sally
x 1280
Contact:

Re: C5 X7 suspension problem

Post by Stickyfinger »

Wheel Alignment is not possible on an X7 c5 rear suspension, it is not an adjustable setup.

More information is needed describing the problem....
Alasdair
Activa, the Moose Rider
3x C5x7 Steering racks and counting
jgra1
(Donor 2021)
Posts: 4625
Joined: 27 Nov 2005, 19:07
Location: Kent / Susssex
My Cars: 2010 C5 X7 2.0 hdi 160 exc auto
MG TF 135
Boxer II 2.2 camper conversion
BMW R1200RT
BMW K1300 R
Honda V F R 800 5thG / MT500 Armstrong
x 39

Re: C5 X7 suspension problem

Post by jgra1 »

User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 25368
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
Location: Washington
My Cars: Mazda 6
Ooops.
Previously:
2009 Honda Civic :(
C5, C5, Xantia, BX, GS, Visa.
R4, R11TXE, R14, R30TX
x 4889

Re: C5 X7 suspension problem

Post by myglaren »

Yep - wasn't in the blog at all was it?

Sneaky!
jgra1
(Donor 2021)
Posts: 4625
Joined: 27 Nov 2005, 19:07
Location: Kent / Susssex
My Cars: 2010 C5 X7 2.0 hdi 160 exc auto
MG TF 135
Boxer II 2.2 camper conversion
BMW R1200RT
BMW K1300 R
Honda V F R 800 5thG / MT500 Armstrong
x 39

Re: C5 X7 suspension problem

Post by jgra1 »

lol

looking at my last post there.. if my car never engages (or rarely) normal road as against poor, it will never achieve sport mode.?

don, could be wroth hooking a lexia to car while driving.. ?
User avatar
Paul-R
Donor 2023
Posts: 6916
Joined: 07 May 2009, 16:24
Location: Wirral, NW England; Vaucluse 84, France
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: 2015 1.6 Blue HDi 120 Peugeot 308 Active SW
2013 2.0 HDi 163 C5 Exclusive Tourer
2003 2.0 HDi 110 C5 Exclusive Estate (Gone)
2001 2.0 HDi 90 Xsara Estate (Gone)
x 1369

Re: C5 X7 suspension problem

Post by Paul-R »

Do we know whether the car is wet or dry suspension yet? That information is surely needed first of all.
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

"Trying is the first step towards failure" ~ Homer J Simpson​
Ceenine
Donor 2023
Posts: 174
Joined: 17 Nov 2014, 20:21
Location: Devonport, Tasmania, Australia
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: DS4 Crossback 2.0l
C5 X7 HDI Exclusive 2.2l sedan
C4 1.6l HDI EGS
Peugeot 405 Mi16
x 8

Re: C5 X7 suspension problem

Post by Ceenine »

It is hydraulic not steel springs
Ceenine
Donor 2023
Posts: 174
Joined: 17 Nov 2014, 20:21
Location: Devonport, Tasmania, Australia
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: DS4 Crossback 2.0l
C5 X7 HDI Exclusive 2.2l sedan
C4 1.6l HDI EGS
Peugeot 405 Mi16
x 8

Re: C5 X7 suspension problem

Post by Ceenine »

More information:
Today I made contact with a lady with a C5 parked outside my office. The car was a 2011 C5 X7 Exclusive petrol. So I asked her how she liked the car. "Great except for the side movement of the car through road surface irregularities". So I offered to take the car (with her in the passenger seat) for a test run. So off we went and soon entered the Bass Highway on the outskirts of Devonport. Within 100 metres down the road the problem was very apparent. The backside of the car makes a left hand shift whenever the car travels over undulations. At say 100 km/hr the problem is very apparent. It is quite an unsettling movement not just an irritation.

The car has travelled merely 28.000 km and like brand new except for this problem. So I guess her solution for rectification is to take it back to the used car seller in Hobart and ask them to follow up under their guarantee as a used car trader or to follow up individually using the assistance of this forum.

Any suggestions as to the rectification would be appreciated. By the way, I own a 2011 C5 X7 Tourer diesel, so I have the experience of how well these vehicles travel. My friend has had a 2010 C5 X7 and a C5 mark l before her latest vehicle, so she knows what to expect.
Ceenine
Donor 2023
Posts: 174
Joined: 17 Nov 2014, 20:21
Location: Devonport, Tasmania, Australia
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: DS4 Crossback 2.0l
C5 X7 HDI Exclusive 2.2l sedan
C4 1.6l HDI EGS
Peugeot 405 Mi16
x 8

Re: C5 X7 suspension problem

Post by Ceenine »

I have been informed that there is adjustment for the wheel alignment at the rear. I need to get under the car and have a look.

My first reaction was that it was one sphere being stuffed. If it was the height corrector then there wouldn't be a jiggle to one side but a total lack of undulation absorption.Worth a look as the car was sitting in a sales yard for a while.
Post Reply