Repair of a car's chassis can be carried out without the involvement of professional technicians. Replacing VAZ 2114 struts carried out in a garage will not differ in quality from the work carried out at official service stations, provided that all the nuances relating to the implementation of such an operation are taken into account. This article will discuss the basic rules for replacing the rear shock absorbers of a VAZ 2114 car, as well as provide detailed information about the parts that can be used when performing this work.
Factory racks VAZ 2114: characteristics and articles
The VAZ 2114 belongs to the category of passenger cars, so the rear pillars are not equipped with springs or air springs.
Depending on operating conditions, shock absorbers have the following characteristics:
- Highway – this suspension is ideal for car use in the city and on the highway.
- Standard is a universal pair of shock absorbers, which are selected strictly according to identical parameters.
- Comfort Optima is also a universal suspension option. Can be used in almost any conditions and temperature conditions.
- Sport – the suspension is designed exclusively for aggressive driving.
Attention! If this part is selected by article number, then you should look for products with the alphanumeric designation 087407СВ2.
The best manufacturers
When deciding on manufacturers of racks for the VAZ 2114, it is better to pay attention to time-tested, high-level devices. Cooperate only with official dealers or sellers in whose integrity and honesty you are 100% confident.
So, there are front and rear struts; it is advisable to fix shock absorbers on both sides of a car of the same type and from the same manufacturer. The most popular today are:
- “Kayab” (KUV) is a gas-oil product. According to reviews from those who have already used the device, the car becomes moderately rigid, and bumps on the road are not audible at all. The car handles a variety of turns very well. This type of rack lasts for approximately 1 year, after which the product becomes decrepit and must be replaced.
- Bilstein B4 is a mixture of gas and oil. They hold the road remarkably well, but much tougher than the previous manufacturer. It will faithfully serve as long as its predecessor. Experienced drivers do not recommend using a VAZ 2114 equipped with Bilstein B4 struts for everyday driving, because driving comfort will be too little. But for active trips into nature and extreme driving, this option is what you need.
- ALKO – oil. Soft, smooth shock absorbers, lack of elasticity in the control of the VAZ 2114. Even after a year, motorists note the good condition of the devices of this vehicle. On forums, drivers often joke about these struts, calling them not suspensions, but a wooden stick. The products are very rough and make extraneous unpleasant sounds when turning. This is because the racks are designed for installation in sports car models. It is better to refrain from installing it on a VAZ 2114.
- Bilstein B2 – oil. They are similar in quality and functional properties to the above-described “Kayab”, although they have a slightly higher degree of rigidity.
Which manufacturer is better is up to you to judge; we have only suggested some of the nuances of using different devices, tested empirically.
If we talk about cost, there are many variations here, prices change at the speed of light and vary in different stores, so indicating specific price ranges in this case is unethical, the information is inaccurate.
To give you a little idea of how much money you will need to buy the right type of suspension, we draw your attention to the fact that the front products are more expensive than the rear counterparts. On average, the price for the former varies from 1000 to 1400 rubles. A direct supplier of European-level structures will require 3000-3500 rubles with delivery directly to you.
Rear installations in the standard version produced by a domestic plant will cost no more than 800-900 rubles. 2000-2500 rubles will have to be sacrificed to purchase elite pendants.
Analogues of standard racks
If you cannot purchase an original spare part for one reason or another, you can use products that are identical in all technical characteristics and dimensions to the standard model.
Front
The front shock absorbers of the VAZ 2114 can also be replaced with analogues. The highest quality products in this category are:
- Trialli AH 01159
- Pilenga SH-P 2771–O
Both types of shock absorbers are more rigid, so the car’s ground clearance will increase slightly after installing “non-original” struts.
Rear
The rear pillar of the VAZ 2114 can also be used of a non-original type. If the machine will not be used in harsh conditions, then you can replace the standard racks with similar products from Trialli.
When operating a car in a sporty style, it is better to install special shock absorbers. The highest quality products in this category are shock absorbers from the company SS-20. Sports products from this manufacturer are represented by gas-filled models, and semi-sports products are represented by gas-oil models.
Assembly procedure:
- The rack must be checked before assembly. To do this, pump the shock absorber rod by hand. When moving, the rod should move smoothly without dips, jerks or sounds.
- We also check all the elements of the rack. We check the strut protective cover for cracks and the compression stroke bumper for damage. You also need to check the spring: a sagging or cracked spring cannot be installed on the machine.
- The stiffness of springs is marked by class: Class “a” - yellow color marking, Class “B” - green color. The front suspension of the car must be equipped with springs of the same class.
- Reassemble the stand in reverse order.
Which racks are better to put on a VAZ 2114
Owners of domestic cars, as a rule, are well versed in the structure of the car and are able to carry out repairs of any complexity with their own hands. Due to the large number of varieties of spare parts of this type, it can be difficult to figure out which racks are best to install.
Choosing a shock absorber type
The racks installed on the VAZ 2114 can differ significantly in technical characteristics, which, first of all, depend on the substance filling the internal chamber of the product. According to this principle, shock absorbers are divided into gas, oil, and gas-oil.
Oily
Oil shock absorbers are very soft, making them ideal for normal driving. In addition, such products are inexpensive and have a significant service life. Among the shortcomings of the products, one can note only a decrease in oil viscosity at low temperatures, which negatively affects the efficiency of vibration damping.
Gas-oil
It is worth installing gas-oil shock absorbers when the car owner wants to save money, but at the same time significantly improve the comfort of driving the car. This type of VAZ 2114 rear struts is only slightly more expensive than oil-based models, but after installing gas-oil products, the car will become more controllable when cornering and at high speeds.
Gas
Gas shock absorbers are the most expensive, but you cannot do without them if the car is planned to be used in racing or at low air temperatures. In addition, installing racks of this type will significantly increase the vehicle's controllability on a wet road.
Manufacturer's choice
The choice of rear strut manufacturer should be taken very seriously. Often, the service life of almost identical products from different companies can differ tens of times, so even a relatively small cost of the product will not be able to compensate for further costs of replacing shock absorbers.
Kayaba
If there is a need to change the rear struts of a VAZ 2114, then you can hardly find a better product than Kayaba shock absorbers. Despite the higher cost, spare parts from the world-famous Japanese brand are in great demand among Russian motorists. Such products fully comply with the technical requirements of this car model, and can also be used with virtually no restrictions in the winter.
SS-20
SS 20 shock absorbers are domestically produced, but in terms of build quality such products are not inferior to the best foreign models. Products should be changed taking into account the intensity of use. For these purposes, the model line includes the following categories: “Standard”, “Comfort Optima”, “Highway”, “Sport”.
Plaza
Rear shock absorbers for the VAZ 2114 from Plaza are excellent for a sporty driving style. It is also recommended to install such products if the car is frequently used on roads with broken surfaces. According to the main technical characteristics, the Plaza rear struts are more than 2 times higher than the requirements of the vehicle manufacturer; therefore, even under very harsh conditions of use, they will last longer than the original shock absorbers.
Other good options
In addition to the listed companies and models, rear shock absorbers can be replaced with products from other manufacturers. Good reviews can be found for the Belarusian concern Fenox, which produces spare parts for Russian cars. The products of the British company Delphi Corporation have also proven themselves well. Products from this company are ideal for installation on cars operated primarily in a sporty style.
What's included in the front suspension?
The front suspension of the VAZ-2114 consists of many elements, but many motorists have encountered repairing them individually, and not as a whole system. The front suspension assembly is replaced if the car is involved in a traffic accident and almost all of its elements are destroyed.
So, it’s worth considering what the car’s front suspension consists of, to see what elements are included.
Vehicle suspension device
Design and decoding of VAZ-2114 suspension elements:
1 – upper support of the telescopic stand; 2 – upper support cup; 3 – compression stroke buffer with protective casing; 4 – compression buffer support; 5 – suspension spring; 6 – lower spring support cup; 7 – steering rod ball joint; 8 – steering knuckle; 9 – telescopic stand; 10 – eccentric washer; 11 – adjusting bolt; 12 – rack bracket; 13 – steering knuckle; 14 – front brake protective cover; 15 – brake disc; 16 – retaining ring; 17 – wheel hub nut; 18 – splined shank of the wheel drive hinge housing; 19 – guide pin; 20 – wheel hub bearing; 21 – ball joint; 22 – suspension arm; 23 – adjusting washers; 24 – stabilizer strut; 25 – stabilizer bar; 26 – stabilizer bar cushion; 27 – stabilizer bar mounting bracket; 28 – body bracket for mounting the suspension arm; 29 – suspension arm extension; 30 – bracket for fastening the extension; 31 – protective cover of the ball pin; 32 – ball pin bearing; 33 – ball pin; 34 – ball pin body; 35 – suspension strut rod; 36 – outer body of the upper support; 37 – inner body of the upper support; 38 – upper support bearing; 39 – rubber element of the upper support; 40 – travel limiter of the upper support; 41 – protective cap of the upper support; B - zone for monitoring the suspension joint.
Individual elements of the front suspension
Front suspension elements
Front suspension view from below
As can be seen from the figure above, the suspension is quite simple, but all elements are interconnected and for repair and replacement, it is often necessary to disconnect other parts. Therefore, we will consider the main elements of the front suspension separately, and also indicate the main purpose of the part.
Front shock absorber strut
Front shock absorbers
The front shock absorber or front suspension strut is one of the main elements. This part provides shock absorption and absorption of uneven road surfaces. Also, it bears all the force that is in the car, including the load.
Usually, if this element is frequently loaded or incorrectly replaced, it has an increased degree of wear. Therefore, all motorists need to know the structure and operating rules of the shock absorber strut.
Let's look at how the shock absorber strut is designed, as well as all the structural elements:
Diagram of the shock absorber strut structure
1 – compression valve body; 2 – compression valve discs; 3 – throttle disk of the compression valve; 4 – compression valve plate; 5 – compression valve spring; 6 – compression valve cage; 7 – recoil valve nut; 8 – recoil valve spring; 9 – recoil valve plate; 10 – recoil valve disc; 11 – throttle disk of the recoil valve; 12 – piston; 13 – bypass valve plate; 14 – bypass valve spring; 15 – plunger; 16 – plunger spring; 17 – rod guide bushing with a fluoroplastic layer; 18 – guide bushing cage; 19 – sealing ring of the rack housing; 20 – rod seal; 21 – oil seal cage; 22 – gasket of the rod protective ring; 23 – rod protective ring; 24 – nut of the strut body; 25 – compression buffer support; 26 – rod; 27 – spring cup; 28 – rotary lever; 29 – rod limit sleeve; 30 – rack body; 31 – cylinder; 32 – drain tube.
Front stabilizer
A stabilizer is a suspension element that provides lateral stability while driving, especially when turning . This part is the least likely to fail.
It is fixed on special silicone or polyurethane bushings, which, as a rule, are consumables .
Front stabilizer installed on a car
The stabilizer is attached to the body, or more precisely to the front side members, with the central part, and the side elements are included in the stabilizer strut, which is attached to the lever.
It has a small stroke, which contributes to the car having lateral stability.
Lever arm
The suspension arm is a suspension element that provides transmission and partial absorption of the impact of uneven road surfaces . It is made of high-strength metal, usually XK-40 or XK-60 steel. Having high strength, this part can easily withstand high loads. The product is attached at one end to a bracket, which is welded to the body, and at the other end to a ball joint.
Brake disk
The brake disc is the only element that is immediately part of two structural systems: the suspension and the brake part. It is connected to the suspension because the steering knuckle and wheel are attached to it.
In the braking system, the brake pads rub against it, which in turn stops the movement of the wheels and the car itself. Also, the brake disc is dismantled for repair and replacement of other suspension elements.
Brake disc on a car
Spherical bearing
The ball joint is one of the most basic elements of the entire car structure. It acts as a balancer and also supports the entire load of the body, as well as the cargo . Therefore, it is worth constantly monitoring the condition of the part, because if the hinge falls out, this can lead not only to falling out of the lever, but also to damage to the body and other suspension elements.
Ball joint on a car
The ball joint is made of high-strength material that can withstand a total load of up to 2 tons.
But, the pressure of the entire body is distributed between the ball joints. Another function of this element is that it provides the angle of rotation and tilt of the wheels when the position of the steering wheel changes. It is at this moment that the load is greatest, since when turning, all the mass and pressure from the balance of all supports transfers to one.
Rounded fist
General view of the steering knuckle
The steering knuckle is the only element that is less susceptible than others to external factors and wear . Therefore, its replacement is carried out quite rarely and mainly in case of physical damage, due to an accident or wear of the wheel bearing seat.
Malfunctions requiring replacement of shock absorbers
Some breakdowns of shock absorber struts make it impossible to further operate the vehicle. Even if outwardly the car looks completely in good working order, while driving the car will constantly pull to the side or skid on sharp turns. In such situations, it is better not to take risks and replace the faulty product with a new one. Malfunctions for which such a procedure is mandatory include:
- Depressurization of the housing.
- Shock absorber deformation.
- Jamming of the moving part.
If there are serious problems in the operation of this part, you should not delay repairs. In addition to reducing safety, such a breakdown can lead to other undesirable consequences, for example, increased tire wear.
Troubleshooting
The most obvious sign of suspension problems is, of course, constant skidding. The car stays heavily in the rut, the amplitude increases when turning, and it seems to become harder for you to control it.
The appearance of extraneous sounds is another sign of problems with the suspension. Various creaks and knocks can appear on both sides or only on one. When braking from a standstill or while driving, the wheels begin to squeak.
If you see oil leaks under the car, to the point where a puddle forms, it means that something is clearly wrong with the mechanism. Either the rack broke or there were other problems with it. However, this can be fixed.
Every car owner knows that repairing a shock absorber strut is useless. The reason is that the cost of repairing a spare part will be several times higher than the price of a new part. By the way, factory struts from SAAZ last no more than thirty thousand kilometers, then they begin to leak heavily and have to be replaced.
Required parts and tools
To avoid distractions during repairs, you should prepare all the necessary spare parts and tools in advance. To carry out work on replacing the rack, you cannot do without the following devices and parts:
- Jack.
- A set of wrenches.
- Wheel chocks.
- Shock absorbers.
- Springs.
- Support bearing.
- Buffers.
- Bushings.
- Cups.
- Rings.
If you don’t want to disassemble the rear pillar, you can purchase the product assembled, which will significantly speed up the repair process.
When replacement is required
If your car is still running on factory struts, you can hardly expect that over the course of many years they will not begin to act up and require replacement.
There are several characteristic signs that indicate that the old rear struts have become unusable and the car needs urgent repairs.
- When hitting holes, potholes, bumps inside the cabin, you feel a dull and strong blow in the area of the rear wheels.
- Even when passing small bumps on the road, the car bounces and so do you. This suggests that the current elements are not working properly, and the level of comfort is significantly reduced.
- After bouncing, the car with working rear struts immediately returns to its initial position. If they fail, the machine will oscillate for a long time.
- In the area of the rear pillars there are traces of lubricating fluids, which under normal conditions should not be present with a working unit.
Replacing the rear struts of a VAZ 2114 with your own hands
All work on replacing the rear pillars of a VAZ 2114 car can be performed in a garage. To avoid having to redo the work, it is recommended to carry out the work step by step, constantly monitoring the result of each action.
How to remove the stand
Removing the rear pillar must comply with safety regulations. First of all, you should place wheel chocks under the front wheels, and after lifting the car on a jack, place any solid objects (cement blocks, logs, etc.) under the body.
It is recommended to remove the rack in the following order:
- Loosen the wheel nuts.
- Raise the rear of the car with a jack.
- Remove the wheels.
- Open the trunk.
- Remove the rubber plug from the shock absorber.
- Unscrew the stem nut.
- Remove the support washer.
- Unscrew the bolt securing the strut to the vehicle beam.
- Remove the shock absorber strut.
Attention ! At the last stage of work, be sure to hold the stand with your hand, otherwise the part may fall.
Build process
The assembly process of this suspension element is carried out in the following sequence:
- The shock absorber is installed in its original place.
- The rack mounting bolt is screwed on.
- The support washer is installed.
- The rod nut is tightened.
- Wheels are being installed.
Attention! It is recommended to bleed new shock absorbers before installation.
conclusions
The installation and repair of the front suspension of the VAZ-2114 is quite difficult and not every motorist can do it. This article examined the design and repair of the front suspension.
As you can see, there is a main group of parts that change when worn out and broken, and there are also a number of parts that are considered consumables and are replaced when the main components are repaired.
It is worth noting that suspension repair has a significant degree of danger, because the fall of one of the elements can lead to injury and even death. Therefore, when performing repair operations you must be extremely careful. Also, many suspension elements are quite heavy, so you need to have an assistant on hand.
Source
How to change front struts
Replacing the front struts is no more difficult than installing new shock absorbers in the rear suspension. For this purpose, you will also need to place the car motionless on a flat surface, lift it from the front and remove the wheels. Then you need to remove all fasteners holding the posts and remove the assembled parts. A peculiarity of replacing the front parts is the violation of the wheel alignment, therefore, immediately after installing the front struts, it is necessary to adjust the tilt and rotation angles according to the technical data of the car of this model.
Is there a difference between struts and shock absorbers
Some people, even those who work with cars, confuse struts and shock absorbers. You need to understand that these are separate mechanisms that, although they are part of the same system, perform different functions. Thus, shock absorbers are designed to smooth out vehicle vibrations when driving and give it a “soft” ride. Racks are needed to secure the wheels to the body and support the entire weight of the car. With broken shock absorbers, the car is quite functional, although handling suffers greatly from this. If the racks fail, further movement is not possible.
It is also worth considering the load to which these parts are subject. Shock absorbers are loaded along their axis within their plane, while the struts are loaded along their entire circumference. In ninety-nine percent of cases, the breakdown of the racks indicates their complete failure; therefore, they are not subject to repair.
Thus, under no circumstances should shock absorbers and struts, which are different parts of the car, be confused. Confusion can arise due to the fact that a car's shock-absorbing system is sometimes sold assembled, and both struts and shock absorbers with a damper and spring are contained in one box. However, it is impossible to equate these mechanisms. Moreover, it is impossible to divide the struts into “gas” and “oil” ones, since this classification concerns shock absorbers as a whole, and not individual struts.
