Bomping, Banging, Creaking, Springing Noise

This morning I went to pull away and noticed a a strange noise, which varied between a bomping, banging, creaking, or springing noise coming from the front offside wheel arch. I thought it might be the suspension, but it only seems to make the noise when I turn the steering wheel. If I bounce the car on that corner it doesnt make a noise and steering feels normal otherwise. Although, once I heard it I returned home so only did about 800 yards.

I really cant work out where its coming from. I've looked underneath, and the only thing that looks suspicous to me is front spring. If you look at the picture, there appears to be a bit of metal (spring?) hanging down inside the spring. This doesnt appear on the other side. Or if its meant to be there then I cant see it.

Any ideas what it could be and what I should check? Funnily enough, when I logged into the forum to look for advice I notice this from the other day.

citroen-c3-questions/broken-front-spring-t1925.html

Problem I have is that I cant get decent access under car myself, so would probably need a garage to fix it. But if I have some ideas what it could be upfront, at least I'll get a feel if they are on the same track.

Thanks for any help or advice.

MrX wrote:Any ideas what it could be and what I should check? Funnily enough, when I logged into the forum to look for advice I notice this from the other day.

Its a broken front spring. DO NOT DRIVE as the broken spring can damage the tyre.

MrX wrote:so would probably need a garage to fix it.

I would advise you to get someone else to do the springs (you have to do both even if only one is broken) as its a dangerous job without the right tools.

You would consider new dampers at the same time, if they have done the miles and are due to be changed any time soon because they have to come off anyway. You can price up the parts, get them cheap at Euro Car Parts (click here) and use our discount code C3OWNER This way gets you the parts cheap and you only need to find someone to fit them.





Its a broken road spring on a Citroen C3.

and there is a topic for them here too Broken front suspension springs on C3 (recall)

and some picture in the tips section Jangling sound from the front while driving - broken C3 spring

Many thanks for the useful advice Arfur, and thanks too for the links.

I checked the parts on Euro Car Parts but I think I will need to look elsewhere. Boths sets listed for my reg say "non panorama roof" I'm assuming this means I cant use on mine as I have what I would call, full sun roof (all glass but only front half opens).

Will look and ring around tomorrow. Will post back when I know what the damage is in case useful for others.

MrX wrote:I checked the parts on Euro Car Parts but I think I will need to look elsewhere. Boths sets listed for my reg say "non panorama roof" I'm assuming this means I cant use on mine as I have what I would call, full sun roof (all glass but only front half opens).

The wording is 'Not for Panorama, Not For Panorama Roof' which means its not for the Pluriel which is the only C3 with a panoramic roof on a 2007.

The springs listed for a 1.4 petrol 2007 C3 are documented as

Marking- 1 Yellow, 2 Green, Not for Panorama, Not For Panorama Roof, Standard Suspension, Vehicles With/Without Air Conditioning

If yours is a standard C3 and not XTR or VTR then they are listed as fitting your C3


This is the Pluriel

Just went out to check as I thought I saw some colour markings on the spring.

Mine is 1 Green and 2 Yellow. Doesnt look like Euro Car Parts have those listed.

Looks like I have a choice of these as the only ones I can find.

https://www.buycarparts.co.uk/trw/2196983
https://www.buycarparts.co.uk/spidan/7445029
https://www.buycarparts.co.uk/sachs/1233894

MrX wrote:Just went out to check as I thought I saw some colour markings on the spring.

Mine is 1 Green and 2 Yellow. Doesnt look like Euro Car Parts have those listed.

I don't see any 1 Green and 2 Yellow fitted to any Citroen C3 of your year model shown on the Citroen database.

You are welcome to PM me your VIN and I can check, but 1G 2Y is not a 2007 C3 front spring marking for any options that are listed on the Citroen database.

MrX wrote:https://www.buycarparts.co.uk/trw/2196983

I didn't see this as showing any colour markings.

Your VIN comes back as

C3 II 5 DOOR SALOON 1.4 i 75 (TU3A) Manual gearbox 5

and the springs are listed on the Citroen parts site as

FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING
REFERENCE 1 GREEN + 2 WHITE
5002LJ

5002.LJ is the Citroen part number


Maybe the white has faded to a yellow over time giving you a 1G and 2Y, which is actually 1G and 2W ?

I know that not all springs have the coloured markings, it only seems to be the ones fitted at the factory have paint on them.

The new style light-weight side-load springs going bang are a common problem, and not just on the C3 or even Citroen. I know of some early cars came from the factory with the wrong springs, but I would have thought by 2007 they had got it right?

The Citroen part 5002LJ is used on several models of C3 and you can find the springs listed as 5002LJ in this ebay list (here)

So it seems to be a lot more complicated than it first looked.

Thanks for taking the time to check and explain C3CAR. Much appreciated.

I've now had the front two replaced at a cost of £160 by a local garage.

Hopefully these ones will prove better than the last!