c5 x7 front lower control arm bushes

ARCHRIVAL

ARCHRIVAL

Well-known member
Fellow Frogger
Joined
Oct 19, 2004
Messages
1,188
Location
NORTH PERTH W.A.
which ones normally need replacing .
is it 8 and 32 I think
 

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That's them. But it is much easier to buy a complete arm with the bushes fitted.
 
#8 does wear out eventually, but the two most common failures are the round bush in the bottom of the upright (near #32) and the bush at the back of the control arm, which doesn't have a number on that diagram. You need to know if it has a steel or aluminium subframe because he bush at the back of the control arm is different. Try EAI as Citroen does not sell these separately and expects you to buy new control arms and front uprights.
 
Just about to get mine done. The Cit specialist here (Bauke) is replacing the bushes for me. He also recommends doing the bushed at the wheel end of the arms as well as the swivel bearings whilst doing the other work.
Got back from Perth today. It's a little bit far for you I suppose.
 
seasink said:
That's them. But it is much easier to buy a complete arm with the bushes fitted.
Click to expand...
seasink would the complete arm encompass all the bushes or would eai be able to supply a full kit do you think .
just doing the cars midlife crisis major refit
thanks
 
David S said:
#8 does wear out eventually, but the two most common failures are the round bush in the bottom of the upright (near #32) and the bush at the back of the control arm, which doesn't have a number on that diagram. You need to know if it has a steel or aluminium subframe because he bush at the back of the control arm is different. Try EAI as Citroen does not sell these separately and expects you to buy new control arms and front uprights.
Click to expand...
David do you think EAI would be able to put a complete kit together for the front end if I provide them with the vin then it should be right for another 150k
thanks
 
Another member with a c5 x7 (i'm assuming yours is an x7) used aftermarket control arms (from ebay, iirc) and had dramas with the height corrector locations not being in the correct position. Some damage occurred as a result.

Apperantly the arms need to be ordered by VIN to get the correct items.

It is possible to press out the old bushes and install new ones. A good mechanic with a some old school skills to make sure the interference fit works and experience with modern euro cars is needed.

I'd be tempted just to put the new, correct arms on to avoid any possible dramas and breathe easy for another 150kkm.
 
I think EAI can sort you out., Buying the arm complete with its bushes fitted costs more but avoids a difficult pressing job for the DIY person. The other bushes are in the ring that sits in the fork at the end of the arm. EAI would probably have them. Don't forget to have the car weight on the suspension, ie bushes in neutral position, before tightening up.
bushes.png
 
You have to get the correct arms if replacing and they are not all drilled correctly or with the correct rear extrusion to just bolt in. Genuine Citroen control arms will be of the order of $1K each plus labour and the uprights are a similar cost. Hence the attraction of replacing the bushes only if you need to do the set.
The bush #8 is available from Citroen, so that is likely the best option if it needs replacing.
The bush most likely to fail in the next 150K is the one at the back of the LCA. For some versions, you can fit a polyurethane bush (Powerflex purple) here instead for longevity, but there will be a change in the feel of the suspension as is always the case with urethane parts. If you want rubber, try to find Meyle or Lemforder. Firstline or Sasic would be OK. Some of the cheaper options may not last so well.
The Sasic bush for the bottom of the upright seems to work well. This is more of a rubber balljoint than a typical bush. They fail by eventually extruding the rubber. I would compare the Sasic alternative to the one pictured in Seasink's image above - the Sasic bush is the correct shape.
For longevity, also check the condition of the bearing at the bottom of the knuckle. Is it gritty and binding?
 
The bush on the back of the control arm needs to be pressed on at the correct angle so that when installed, the arm will sitting at the angle it will be at when the car is at normal road height. The bush in the lower end of the suspension strut needs also to be tightened when the suspension is sitting at the normal road height preferably without any weight on the suspension. This is so that the bushes are evenly twisted in each direction during suspension excursions so as to ease the stress on the rubber and provide maximum life.

The 3 E bolts that hold the swivel onto the bottom of the strut are supposed to be replaced rather than re-used and at least should have loctite applied to the threads before insertion as I have known several instances of multiple bolts falling out after repair with the expected consequences (One event on my car).

If your steering, evenness of tyre wear and front ball joint on the arm are perfect through all suspension excursions, then you can replace the rear bushes on the arm if you can get ones that fit correctly. Otherwise I would replace the whole arm.

Cheers, Ken
 
I decided that I would rather keep my cars arms due to the possibility of the wrong arm being sent. Plus Bauke had the bushes on hand also the equipment to press the bushes into place.
 
from EAI bushes $120 per side complete arm $209 per side seems like a no brainer .
they should be quality from these guys
 
Hi hoping for some advice.

When replacing the control arms on my 2009 C5 do I have to have the suspension set to max height??
 
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