Strut tops

[robert_e_smart]

You awake still Dean!!

[Dean]

yeah ive been awak all week....................it shows right?

D

[Dieselman]

*some unprintable words came out from my mouth* It is NOT an old XM! WHY?

Ha ha. LOL. Same here.

[steelcityuk]

How about Citroen go back to CX type front suspension and get rid of the McPhailing struts?

Steve.

[Dean]

probably because it take up too much space and in modern cars thats at a premium, cost would also be a factor, platform sharing would become impossible.

D

[citroenmad]

So another reason not to buy a C6 then!

Ive still not seen a C5 strut top fail ... no doubt this is when someone posts up a picture of one with a distorted bonnet

[xmexclusive]

Hi Citroenmad

I recovered a set of C5 struts and strut heads as part of my study into options for replacing XM ones.
They came from an 02 diesel 250k plus taxi (blown HDi engine and a bit of body rust).
The strut head design and manufacture was sufficiently different and better for me to look at fitting to an XM.
It was only the angular position of the spheres that prevented a practical trial.
All the Citroen strut heads I have examined have different lateral to longitudinal restraint.
So rotating them to make the position of the sphere fit is not on.
I think you are right about the C5 ones not failing.
The design is the first Citroen one with pop through protection built in (late XM ones go just like the early ones).
The C5 strut head life in service is much better as well with virtually no degradation showing at near 300k.
There is no top rubber flap to fail and start rusting as with XM and Xantia heads.
Even more important there is no bottom rubber as on the Xantia that starts peeling and rusting within 5 years.
Citroen also pretreated the C5 strut head metal baseplate before rubber bonding.
Far better manufacturing than the bare untreated steel of the XM and Xantia ones.
Would be interested to hear from anyone who has needed to replace a C5 strut head or seen a C5 popped bonnet.

John

[turbo_imp]

Been a while since this was was looked at, so I have dragged it up from the depths.

C5 strut tops are around £15 and readily available, it would appear the the sphere position is the issue.

What would the problems be with creating an extension to the sphere mounting point, if the internal diameter of the orofice was kept constant, and the flow un-impeded?

Possibly a flexible stainless hydraulic line to remote mount the sphere?

[White Exec]

John,
. . . . C5 units . . . different angular position of spheres . . .
Could you post any pics of differences?
Chris

[White Exec]

And, agree with several comments about the "death" of hydropneumatic systems, including
- Platform sharing difficulties (space)
- Platform sharing = "compromises" of design
- PSA's likely impatience with Citroen over design mistakes and additional manufacturing costs
- For ?most of PSA's market, buyers just don't care, and Citroen will not be allowed to pursue niche market demand
- Technical excellence (alone) is no longer tolerated in today's market

Yep - the long-travel BX units never failed, and tolerated appalling terrain really well.

Hey ho.

Chris