What can rattle in the Lada X-Ray suspension

The products of the AvtoVAZ concern, which have long been a reason for ridicule among car enthusiasts, have reached a fundamentally new level after the start of sales of the new Lada Vesta sedan.

After the resounding success, the designers promised to bring to life the concept conceived even before the appearance of Vesta, which at that time was already called Lada Xray. The average consumer expected that a full-fledged crossover would appear on Russian roads, but the new product was “planted” on the B0 platform (we will talk about it later), so it is positioned as a tall hatchback SUV. From the first tests, it became clear that the Xray is a city car with increased ground clearance and, at the same time, good handling. But in the near future, the plant plans to produce all-wheel drive versions of the Lada Xray Cross, filling almost the entire niche of passenger cars with competitive representatives.

Diagnostics of faults in the front suspension of Lada XRAY

During operation of the Lada XRAY, extraneous sounds may appear in the front suspension (something rattles, knocking, creaking or grinding noises are heard).
Let's look at how to determine the source of problems and identify faults in the front suspension of a crossover with your own hands. Checking the car suspension while driving. We evaluate the technical condition of the suspension while driving at low speed on an uneven road. The suspension should work without knocks, squeaks, and other extraneous noise.

How to check shock absorbers. The shock absorber struts should be checked immediately after a long trip, until the working fluid in the shock absorbers has cooled down. We rock the front part of the body in a vertical direction several times. If the body, due to inertia, makes more than two oscillations, then one or both shock absorbers are faulty. The effectiveness of vibration damping is tested on a bench. We check the rear suspension shock absorbers in the same way.

Rock the top of the wheel in the transverse direction.

If you feel play, even barely noticeable, or hear clicks or knocks, you need to more carefully check the condition of the front suspension and hub. We hang the wheels and rock the wheel in the vertical and horizontal plane:

If play is felt only with the brake pedal released (there is no play when the brake pedal is pressed), then the wheel bearing is most likely worn out.
If there is play in both cases (with and without the brake pressed), then there is a malfunction in the Vesta suspension.
If play is felt in the vertical plane, the ball joint is worn out or the strut mount is weak.
If there is play only in the horizontal plane, the tie rod end is faulty (for the front suspension).

Checking shock absorbers. First, we inspect the shock absorber struts and mounting points for mechanical damage and fluid leaks. Then we apply force with a crowbar to the anti-roll bar and make sure that there is no play in the strut. If there is play, the struts must be replaced.

Checking the stabilizer strut cushions (No. 1). We check for any bulging or cracking of the rubber. Replace faulty cushions.

Similarly, we check the condition of the anti-roll bar cushion.

Checking the front silent block of the lever. We shake the front eye of the lower arm with a crowbar. There should be no play, otherwise we change the lever.

Checking the ball joint. First, visually inspect the protective cover; it should be without damage. Then, using a crowbar as a lever, we check that there is no play in the ball joint. If the boot is torn or there is play, replace the lever assembly.

Let us remind you that we described the design and reviews of the front suspension of the new AVTOVAZ model earlier.

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Driving sensations

Of course, taking into account all the changes mentioned in the suspension of the Lada X Ray Cross, it drives completely differently.

The car began to hold a straight line on the highway much better, and in the rut it behaves much more obediently. There is a clear “zero” on the steering wheel, and in order to “move” the steering wheel you need to apply a noticeable force, while returning back to “zero” even seems excessive to some. Naturally, there are rolls, given the ground clearance of 215 mm, but they are small and do not interfere with taxiing.

Fans of AvtoVAZ models have always appreciated the energy intensity of the chassis of domestic models. And here the suspension of the Lada X Ray Cross is beyond praise! On a flat surface the car shakes a little. But everything changes on the broken road. Even before serious bumps and swells, you don’t have to slow down!

However, it is worth remembering that the engine protection here is plastic. In fact, it only protects from dirt, small stones and grass. Therefore, if you intend to drive off asphalt at least periodically, it is strongly recommended to install metal protection.

What can rattle in the Lada X-Ray suspension

What I mean is that lubricant is added to the steering tip once for its entire life at the manufacturer's factory. And basically nothing comes there.

There are options with injecting through a tavodnitsa. But with my hands

Thanks to a forum participant, I found out what exactly they changed for me. Thank him very much for this!!

"Hello. Replaced the tie rod end. Text: “During diagnostics, a knock was detected in the right steering tip. It is necessary to replace the tip and adjust the wheel alignment angles.”

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Project of the Official Lada Club

Our forum is dedicated to the new LADA Xray and Lada Xray Cross. Anyone can communicate with like-minded people; to do this, spend less than a minute and register. We discuss Lada Xray, X-ray photos, videos and prices of LADA Xray Cross.

The LADA Xray forum was created for fans and those interested in the new Lada Xray and LADA Xray Cross. Read reviews from X Ray owners and independent test drives of the Lada Xray.

Price Lada Xray - from 430,000 rubles. Price LADA Xray Cross - from 500,000 rubles.

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Comfort

The car doors open quite wide, which ensures comfortable entry into the cabin.
The second row is a bit cramped, but the rear sofa itself is very comfortable. The front is more spacious, the first row seats borrowed from Renault are distinguished by high-quality finishing, a short seat and the presence of a heating function. The driver's seat is, for the most part, well organized, but the driver's door glass does not have automatic opening in any of the trim levels. The interior is completely finished with high-quality plastic and decorated in dark and light colors. The steering wheel is also made of plastic, and the front panel with stylish air duct deflectors is made using seamless technology. The Xray's door handles have more expensive handles than those of the Renault Sandero, and the inside of the door carries a continuation of the X theme, as do the seats. The new shift lever of the robotic gearbox pleases the eye with a chrome finish (for modifications with a five-speed AMT robot). The Xray dashboard has the same wells as the Sandero, and the graphics and fonts are VAZ. The multimedia complex with a touch screen and rear video view is glare-free and guarantees excellent image quality - at the level of Volkswagen and Nissan. It is noteworthy that the sound of this “multimedia” is an order of magnitude better than that of Vesta. The entry-level configuration includes a regular air conditioner, while the top-end configuration includes automatic climate control, which is more efficient than the Vesta climate control system. In addition, the cabin has a cooled glove box, narrow cup holders, an eyeglass case and an Era-Glonass emergency notification button on the ceiling.

In the basic version, only two airbags are expected - driver and front passenger with a shutdown function, as well as two rear headrests (expensive versions have three) and a set of electronic assistants, including:

The basic Xray is equipped with a 2DIN audio system with radio (FM/AM with RDS function), CD player, four speakers, AUX and USB input for connecting mobile devices, Bluetooth and Handsfree. But the top versions have a multimedia complex with a seven-inch color touchscreen, six speakers and navigation. Thanks to this complex, you can view the image from the rear view camera, listen to your favorite music and talk on the phone without being distracted from driving. Overall, this is a completely modern infotainment system with an intuitive interface and quite nice graphics.

Diagnostics of faults in the front suspension of Lada XRAY

During operation of the Lada XRAY, extraneous sounds may appear in the front suspension (something rattles, knocking, creaking or grinding noises are heard). Let's look at how to determine the source of problems and identify faults in the front suspension of a crossover with your own hands.

Checking the car suspension while driving. We evaluate the technical condition of the suspension while driving at low speed on an uneven road. The suspension should work without knocks, squeaks, and other extraneous noise.

How to check Lada XRAY shock absorbers

The shock absorber struts should be checked immediately after a long trip, until the working fluid in the shock absorbers has cooled down. We rock the front part of the body in a vertical direction several times. If the body, due to inertia, makes more than two oscillations, then one or both shock absorbers are faulty. The effectiveness of vibration damping is tested on a bench. We check the rear suspension shock absorbers in the same way.

We rock the upper part of the Lada XRAY wheel in the transverse direction.

If you feel play, even barely noticeable, or hear clicks or knocks, you need to more carefully check the condition of the front suspension and hub. We hang the wheels and rock the wheel in the vertical and horizontal plane:

If play is felt only with the brake pedal released (there is no play when the brake pedal is pressed), then the wheel bearing is most likely worn out.
If there is play in both cases (with and without the brake pressed), then there is a malfunction in the Vesta suspension.
If play is felt in the vertical plane, the ball joint is worn out or the strut mount is weak.
If there is play only in the horizontal plane, the tie rod end is faulty (for the front suspension).

THAT. What and when to do

The list of maintenance work for the Lada X-Ray is quite extensive. But most of this work can be described as “tug, listen, check.” That is, such routine work includes such items as checking the level of technical fluids, diagnosing the suspension, checking play, tire pressure, lubrication of hinges and locks, etc. In general, everything that an experienced car owner does on his own during operation, and not waiting until the odometer shows 15 thousand km.

But in the first maintenance there is also work related to the replacement of some working fluids and consumables. So, during this service the following are subject to replacement:

Oil and filter element;
Air filter element of the power plant;
Cabin filter;

It is also necessary to check the level of other technical fluids (and replenish them if necessary) and the condition of the brake pads.

During TO-2, which is done after 30 thousand km, the service center performs the entire list of TO-1 work, and also replaces the spark plugs. According to the list of works, TO-3 fully corresponds to TO-1, but in addition the brake fluid is replaced.

Knock from behind

Various components and parts can knock in the rear of the car, so it is important to be attentive to such manifestations:

Bolts. To cause annoying knocking noises to appear, simply loosen the wheel fasteners slightly. In addition, under such circumstances, vibration may occur in the rear of the vehicle while driving at speed.
Wheel disks. Many people believe that installing disks of larger diameter and width is quite justified. This has a positive effect on handling, cross-country ability, and directional stability. On the other hand, too much width and mismatched offset lead to friction against the wheel arch and the appearance of unpleasant beating sounds.
Plastic rear fenders. Many car owners install such protection on wheel arches. Some of them make mistakes during installation. As a result, the part may simply move away from the fastening. As a result, the plastic may begin to rub against the tire.
Wheel bearings. Such worn parts begin to hum and knock more and more. In an unfavorable scenario, the hub race may break, jamming the wheel while the car is moving. If the wheel wobbles, then this clearly indicates a problem.
Shock absorbers. A worn element can be identified by oil leaks on the body. The service life of shock absorbers is on average 60,000 kilometers, after which they need to be replaced with new ones.
Silent blocks. These elements in the rear suspension wear out over time. This leads to backlash, which causes knocking noises when moving. At the same time, when driving on uneven roads they will only intensify.
Springs. Due to a broken shock absorber bushing and destruction of the rubber gaskets, very strong knocking sounds appear along the edges of the spring. This is especially true when driving over bumps. In addition, the machine may tilt to one side.
Brake system. The beating of the brake pads on the disc is also accompanied by loud knocking noises. In drum structures, such manifestations arise due to deformation of the drum cover, which begins to come into contact with the brake pads.

Type diversity

Any of the car suspensions must provide the necessary smoothness, have kinematic characteristics that meet the requirements for stability and controllability of the car.

In a car with a dependent suspension, a rigid connection of opposite wheels is implied, the movement of one of which in the transverse plane facilitates the movement of the second. Cars with independent suspension are characterized by a more complex design in which the wheel displacement does not depend on each other. This type of independent car suspensions are divided into lever and spark plug. The most common types are:

with swinging axle shafts;
on trailing arms (spring, torsion bar);
with oblique levers;
with longitudinal and transverse arms;
with double longitudinal and transverse arms (spring, torsion, spring);
torsion-lever;
"MacPherson";
hydropneumatic and pneumatic suspensions;
adaptive.

Dependent type

On a car of this type of suspension, a rigid connection between the wheels is implied. Dependent type units are among the first inventions of mankind, which did not go very far from the design of carts, when two wheels were connected to each other by an axle.

Modern analogues are divided into spring and spring. The first option provides a spring as an elastic element, the fastening of which is carried out to the bridge beam, with its ends to the frame or body of the car. The second suspension option involves the use of a spring.

Dependent suspension

Although this type is considered obsolete due to the age of its invention, it is still widely used among trucks and SUVs. Disadvantages that are indifferent on a bad road become obvious on the highway:

handling remains much to be desired due to the decent sprung masses when driving at high speed;
poor directional stability;
The level of comfort for passenger cars is very low.

Independent type

This version of car suspensions is completely different and has nothing in common with the one discussed earlier. This design does not have a rigid connection between the wheels. In practice, such a suspension implies autonomous fastening of each wheel to the car body, and when one of them oscillates, these changes are not transmitted to the others. Thanks to this factor, body roll is reduced, resulting in increased stability. The practical implementation of independent car suspensions is varied, which is divided into two main types: lever and spark plug. Types of the first: double-lever, transverse-lever, oblique-lever and longitudinal-lever. The latter include MacPherson suspension.

Among passenger cars, MacPherson and wishbone suspensions are widespread. The reasons that give a car a number of advantages explain the popularity factor of suspensions, among them:

decent level of comfort;
high degree of controllability;
good feedback when steering;
rolls are minimal;
high speed.

Independent suspension

Combined type

This is a combination of the two car suspensions described earlier. Their design includes an independent suspension at the front and an axle at the rear. The developers' compromise solution allows for comfortable movement on asphalt and free overcoming of minor off-road conditions.

This combination of passenger cars will fit perfectly into crossovers and SUVs. The ability to move freely around the city, go to the forest for a picnic, or drive along country roads becomes an embodied task. Even if it turns out to be something average, in most cases it will provide acceptable driving conditions.

Combinations Worth Considering

The types of pendants described above do not exhaust their diversity. There are some other types of units that deserve attention:

Torsion bar. It is based on the work of a special element - a torsion bar, which is a metal shaft. Its function is represented by twisting when a load occurs.
Active. For passenger cars with this suspension, the term “active” implies the possibility of fluctuations in parameters during operation of the unit.
Pneumatic. Responsible for changes in the height of cars relative to the road, in other words, fluctuations in ground clearance. The design of the air suspension provides for the use of air stops on each wheel. A separate air suspension for passenger cars is not a separate type, but serves as a kind of addition to the standard one.

Sounds under the bottom

In cars with all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, characteristic knocking noises may appear under the bottom while driving, the cause of which is the driveshaft crosspiece. The sounds are especially clear when starting to move, sharply accelerating or changing gears.

Knocks are often accompanied by vibrations. It should be borne in mind that this problem cannot be ignored, since when driving a car with a bad spider, the driveshaft can simply come off. This may cause the car to roll over. The rear crosspiece is loaded more, so it fails faster.

MacPherson struts

Many people know this type as a “swinging candle.” The main difference is the presence of a shock-absorbing strut, which performs several functions at once. In this case, all functions are performed simultaneously. The design involves:

shock absorber;
spring.

The element is attached to the wheel hub from below, and to the body from above. In the second case, additional supports are also used. Thanks to this type of fastening, it is possible to ensure reliable fixation of the wheel with the body when rocking. There is also a guiding system. Its role is played by levers having a transverse direction.

The stand is the most popular and in demand type. Its purpose is to ensure comfortable movement on the road. The suspension is valued for its reliability and durability.

If it's knocking from the front

Determining the cause of front suspension knocks is not always easy, even at a service station, since in order to detect malfunctions of some parts, they need to be disassembled.

The most common elements that produce noise are:

Steering rack. The beginning of wear on this device can be detected by simply jerking the steering wheel left and right. Here, when driving, a distinct feedback will be felt against the background of knocks. Most often, this problem affects domestic cars older than 10 years.
Silent blocks. These elements of the front suspension arms are most often affected. Due to the rupture of the rubber elements, the metal parts come into contact with each other, producing metallic sounds. They are often quite difficult to diagnose. If you place your foot on the floor, the knocks should be felt in the foot.
CV joint Before they fail, these elements begin to crunch when turning. External elements fail more often, so they may be the cause of knocking.
Spherical bearing. This part begins to knock when driving even on small uneven roads. Due to wear of the mechanism and rupture of the protective rubber, the efficiency of this part is noticeably reduced. She starts knocking unexpectedly, increasing in volume and intensity. To diagnose the ball joint, you will need to dismantle it, so it is better to seek professional help from a repair shop. Visually you can determine the integrity of the rubber boot.
After prolonged use, even high-quality racks begin to knock. In this case, the knock will be dissipated throughout the entire suspension. Often this device fails after the support bearing breaks.

The difficulty of diagnosing the chassis is explained by the fact that all its elements are interconnected. Even after disassembling the suspension, it is not always possible to immediately detect the source of the problem.

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Changing the candles

Replacing spark plugs is not a complicated operation, but you will need a set of sockets (including a 16 spark plug) with extensions and knobs. The spark plugs are located between the plastic pipes of the intake manifold and are easy to reach.

The technology for replacing spark plugs is as follows:

Disconnect the ignition coil wiring chips;

Unscrew the coil mounting bolts;
We remove the coils;

Using a spark plug head with an extension, unscrew the spark plug;
Screw in a new candle;

Then all that remains is to put the coil in place, secure it and connect the connector with the wiring.

Wheels

Due to heavy load, the spokes weaken and begin to creak. All spokes must be tightened in a balanced manner.

“Shuffling” sounds often occur in the bushing. This problem can arise if the cones are not tightened correctly, the bushing has become loose and lost some of the balls, or there is mechanical damage to the components of the part. What to do: disassemble the bushing and count the number of balls on both sides. If the number of balls is different, you need to replace them all so that the size and degree of wear on all balls is the same. Inspect the balls and their seat for chips and cracks. Then lubricate the bearing and tighten the cones correctly: to do this, leave a barely noticeable play. If you overtighten or, conversely, tighten it poorly, the life of the bushing will rapidly decrease.

One of the possible causes of bushing grinding is a damaged bearing raceway.

Causes of squeaking in the cabin

In order to solve the problem of squeaking in the cabin, it is necessary to establish as accurately as possible the cause of its occurrence. The most common cases:

Poor quality assembly. If the parts do not fit together accurately enough, there are large gaps. In such situations, a squeak may appear already in the first days or weeks of using a completely new car. The same problem is possible if the specified tightening torques for connections are violated. As a rule, all domestic cars, as well as budget foreign cars, and cars with a long service life (over 10 years) are in the “risk zone”.
Unsatisfactory quality of materials. This problem is most often encountered by owners of budget cars. Low-quality plastic does not cope well with the load, “dumbs” in the cold, and wears out quite quickly. As a result, under multidirectional loads, which are inevitable during movement, extraneous sounds gradually begin to appear.
Improper vehicle care (or complete lack thereof).

Engine Lada X Ray

Speaking of engines, it’s worth mentioning right away that the engineers took full care to provide a choice. So, the machine can be equipped with the following engines:

VAZ-21129 with a volume of 1.6;
HR16DE with a volume of 1.6;
VAZ -21179 with a volume of 1.8.

All engines love to “eat” 95 gasoline, but the Renault-Nissan HR16DE will not refuse 92 gasoline.

Statistics based on long-term observations tell us that the VAZ-21129 has the longest life expectancy. Unfortunately, its slight advantage does not mean that it is not susceptible to common “diseases” of X Ray engines, which include:

Gas pedal drops, followed by inability to reduce speed

This problem, as paradoxical as it may sound, is caused by the inability to operate correctly at low temperatures. Residents of the northern regions claim that when the temperature drops to -20 degrees, the pedal becomes inhibited and does not allow the speed to decrease. The treatment is to replace the original electronic pedal contact, as it cannot withstand severe frosts.

The engine is adjusting

VAZ -21179 distinguished itself here. Owners note unstable operation in frosty weather, but as soon as operating temperature is reached, the symptom goes away. There is no treatment as such - this point, rather, relates to the characteristics of the engine model and does not have obvious dire consequences.

Leaking seals (crankshaft, camshaft)

All engines from the series have a decent oil appetite

To avoid this problem, an immutable rule for every owner is to change the oil in a timely manner and monitor its level.

Exhaust system

Sounds when the exhaust system malfunctions can be similar to a roar or pistol shots. If such noises appear, you should immediately contact a car service center, as this will allow you to significantly save on repairs. The longer you ignore the problem, the more expensive the repair will be.

When diagnosing the muffler yourself, you need to pay attention to the liquid coming out of the exhaust pipe. If it is water, it is normal condensation and there is no problem

If the liquid smells like oil or gasoline, or feels oily to the touch, you should immediately contact a workshop. Without immediate correction, the problem will very soon require a major overhaul of the engine.

Often the car is in good working order, but the driver is bothered by extraneous noise in the cabin. Noise sources can be very different (seats, control panel, door trim, etc.). You can eliminate such noises at the Mister Felt car service center.