Login   
C6owners :: Forums :: C6 Support :: The Garage

front suspension failure

Home   Forum Rules    Forum Help  Conversion Tools
   
Please Register to enjoy additional Member Benefits
Author Post
citroenroen1   
Fri Apr 04 2025, 02:01am
Joined: Apr 18 2024
Member No: #5495
Location: Los Angeles
Why has my front suspension foam cushion deteriorated and disappeared ?

C6Dave   
Fri Apr 04 2025, 07:25am


Joined: Oct 01 2009
Member No: #1
Location: Northumberland
citroenroen1 wrote ...

Why has my front suspension foam cushion deteriorated and disappeared ?

Basically due to age. All foam / plastics degenerate over time, and you are in a hot environment and no, I'm afraid that you are unlikely to find a replacement for it.

There are other threads on finding suspension parts.
Website
AndreSMCXXMC6   
Sat Apr 05 2025, 12:03pm

Joined: Sep 09 2011
Member No: #615
Location: Groesbeek
Bart Ebben in the Netherlands sells also new parts
sandiego77   
Sat May 10 2025, 09:12am
Joined: Jan 27 2022
Member No: #4944
Location: Klaipeda
How do they become bad? Do they make noises? Does a shock absorber become bad when it starts leaking fluid? Does a bad sphere make sounds?
Tjensen   
Sat May 10 2025, 01:09pm

Joined: Jul 17 2012
Member No: #954
Location: Bergen
Not shock absorber, it is a suspension cylinder. Old Citroen technology (DS-->XM) was made in-house and lasted "forever", probably because of LHM oil circulating with return pipes. New system (C5-6) cylinders are not lubricated with oil return system. Sourced from Japan (?) and made with "shock absorber" technology with limited lifespan.

Usually the first problem is leakage of LDS (I am on my 3d set cylinders). Foam support problems also reported, like your problem. Designed to be changed as a unit and still delivered from PSA/Citroen. The real shock absorber is not a source of wear and problems, it is an electronically guided block of valves.

(These are my "theories" based on experience as Citroeninst for 45 years, have I understood it right ?)
sandiego77   
Sat May 10 2025, 01:53pm
Joined: Jan 27 2022
Member No: #4944
Location: Klaipeda
Thank you for your insight. I left my 3,0 Hdi at a local garage cause I occasinually heard bump sounds from a front left side. A technician told it's a stabiliser bushing. I told him I changed it by myselt two years ago. He replied that maybe I mounted it incorrectly and I need to give him time. That's ok. Later I spoke with him again and he told he is not sure what's making the sound and he want's to replace a cylinder. I have't done much reading about cylinder noises, but I haven't heard that bad cylinder makes sounds.
cruiserphil   
Mon May 12 2025, 10:16am


Joined: Jan 24 2010
Member No: #38
Location: Celbridge
Hello Sandiego77,

Could it be a rear wishbone bush? Do you hear the sound if you brake on and off sharply? It's difficult to see if the bush has collapsed when the car is stationary. Best place is watching from below in a pit while the car is driven slowly and the brake pressed sharply on/off.

Best regards,

Phil C.
sandiego77   
Mon May 12 2025, 02:40pm
Joined: Jan 27 2022
Member No: #4944
Location: Klaipeda
I will try it later cause now I'm angry. I got my car back with suspension sport mode on. The problem is I can't turn it off. I tried to disconnect a battery that didn't help. I tried to check faults, nothing related to suspension softness.

I didn't find an actuator test in diagbox that could rule out a bad button. Up and down buttons work, car goes up and down. Any idea of this one? I will look for a manual, maybe it's just oxidation.

Update: An issue is fixed by restoring a plate of button in it's location. I have no idea how it happened.

Good Gap:



Bad Gap:


sandiego77   
Wed May 14 2025, 05:22pm
Joined: Jan 27 2022
Member No: #4944
Location: Klaipeda
cruiserphil wrote ...

Hello Sandiego77,

Could it be a rear wishbone bush? Do you hear the sound if you brake on and off sharply? It's difficult to see if the bush has collapsed when the car is stationary. Best place is watching from below in a pit while the car is driven slowly and the brake pressed sharply on/off.

Best regards,

Phil C.

I did a brake test with and without an open window but I didn't heard anything suspicious. After that I tried ride slowly over speed bumps, that was without annoying sounds. The car at 40 km/h makes annoying sounds over speed bumps. I think I want too much. But maybe I will check mounts and exchange left and right spheres. Also I want to say that the technical was right for worn sway bar bushings. They where chewed from inside. No more clunky felling below foots.

I did a 300 km journey and everything was fine except I found out that cruise doesn't work. That's what I want to fix it now.
C6Dave   
Wed May 14 2025, 06:06pm


Joined: Oct 01 2009
Member No: #1
Location: Northumberland
sandiego77 wrote ...

I did a 300 km journey and everything was fine except I found out that cruise doesn't work. That's what I want to fix it now.

Have a look at this thread on the cruise control issue: - Click Here -
Website
sandiego77   
Thu May 15 2025, 08:43pm
Joined: Jan 27 2022
Member No: #4944
Location: Klaipeda
C6Dave wrote ...

sandiego77 wrote ...

I did a 300 km journey and everything was fine except I found out that cruise doesn't work. That's what I want to fix it now.

Have a look at this thread on the cruise control issue: - Click Here -

It's fixed by "trying" to remove a plastic cover of a steering wheel column. When the cover stuck behinde a steering wheel I put it back in a place because I didn't wanted to remove a steering wheel, it was raining outside. And it started to work. This problem is as stupid as one above.

Diagbox shows what signal is sent when a button of cruise control is pressed. When the problem was present the button of cruise activation was sending a cancel signal.

Thank you.
C6Dave   
Fri May 16 2025, 09:04am


Joined: Oct 01 2009
Member No: #1
Location: Northumberland
sandiego77 wrote ...


It's fixed by "trying" to remove a plastic cover of a steering wheel column. When the cover stuck behind a steering wheel I put it back in a place because I didn't want to remove a steering wheel, it was raining outside. And it started to work. This problem is as stupid as the one above.

Diagbox shows what signal is sent when a button of cruise control is pressed. When the problem was present, the button of cruise activation was sending a cancel signal.

Thank you.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Citroën and 'quality' parts

I have no doubt you will get other 'really stupid' problems.
Website
Tjensen   
Fri May 16 2025, 01:15pm

Joined: Jul 17 2012
Member No: #954
Location: Bergen
You have to admit it was a simple and not expensive repair !!! (the cable cluster is a little short and very often problems with the speed-holding system is fixed with a claps with the fist or loosen-fasten something)
 

Jump:     Back to top

User Colour Key:
Head Administrator, Administrator, Technical Expert, C6 Premier Discount Club