Citroen C4 grand picaso suspentson failure

[Pesty]

The air bags on the air leveling suspension have failed.

Its a very expensive repair but for half the price apparently they can ditch the bags and replace with normal springs.

Just wondering if its a matter of a few bolts and buying a set of spring compressors can i do it myself.

Anybody done this?


edit my word I never spelled suspension like that in the title. Can somebody edit that before i get laughed at.

[C. Grimsley]

They are not that expensive and very easy to replace.

Carl

[Steffan]

C. Grimsley said:

They are not that expensive and very easy to replace.

Carl

Good advice IMO. With a relatively new car like a C4 fitting such non standard unapproved parts is a seriously suspect solution. Stick with the manufacturers designs, Better and much safer.

[Pesty]

C. Grimsley said:

They are not that expensive and very easy to replace.

Carl

Problem is it looks like the compressor is also toast because its been working so hard because of the leaks. so we are talking over 1k and thats before we find any other electrical problems and then of course do it all again in a few years or have intermittent relay/wiring or control unit problems.

If it was just the bags I could do that myself in a matter of minutes.

speaking with an independent he said he does it all the time and has given me a quote today which is not far off what I could do it for myself after ive bought some spring compressors.

Steffan said:

Good advice IMO. With a relatively new car like a C4 fitting such non standard unapproved parts is a seriously suspect solution. Stick with the manufacturers designs, Better and much safer.

Its only because its the avantguard model that it has the air bags anyway. the VTR version which is identical in every way apart from mood lighting and a few other niceties has springs at the rear.

Its one bolt slip spring and top cup do bolt up. there is nothing none standard about it. same springs are on all other C4 picassos. the bags just replace the springs on the 'top' version.

Edited by Pesty on Saturday 23 February 23:02

[TheTurbonator]

It's only the top models that have the air suspension, lower models just have springs. So it would be perfectly safe and could even be done with Citroen parts. The downsides will be a noticeable difference in ride comfort and maybe problems if you're planning on selling the car in the future. Potential buyers (if they've done they're research) won't be expecting to see springs on the rear.

[Pesty]

TheTurbonator said:

It's only the top models that have the air suspension, lower models just have springs. So it would be perfectly safe and could even be done with Citroen parts. The downsides will be a noticeable difference in ride comfort and maybe problems if you're planning on selling the car in the future. Potential buyers (if they've done they're research) won't be expecting to see springs on the rear.

Hi, Yes I wouldn't do it if I was selling the car. We plan on keeping this until its demise that is the main reason for doing it so we don't have another bill in a few years when it fails again, and it is when not if. but if we don't full disclosure will be made or the car will be returned to original.

I have a half arsed plan to take the compressor off and see if i can refurb but in reality it will just stay on a shelf in the garage like all my other projects.

If the ride is severely hampered I will probably get it fully repaired and back to standard anyway.

I wouldn't even have needed spring compressors all i would need is the cups for the top of the springs but im getting lasy these days. The fronts are springs anyway but the ride you get from the air is very good.

[TheTurbonator]

I wouldn't say the ride will be terrible but it will be noticeable different. I have a VTR+ model, which has the normal springs and it does tend to "crash" a little more over bumps, than the air suspension models do.

Before committing, I'd try and take a test drive of a lower spec model, so you can see the difference and then you can decide for yourself.

[Pesty]

TheTurbonator said:

I wouldn't say the ride will be terrible but it will be noticeable different. I have a VTR+ model, which has the normal springs and it does tend to "crash" a little more over bumps, than the air suspension models do.

Before committing, I'd try and take a test drive of a lower spec model, so you can see the difference and then you can decide for yourself.

To be honest its her car I hardly ever go in it so i aint that bothered My car is nice and soft.

good idea though

hope she don't read that