Cable-driven gearbox on Grant

Which models were equipped with a cable gearbox?

As soon as the new gearbox model was introduced in 2012-2013, it began to be installed on cars:

Granta (sedan);
Priora (hatchback, sedan, station wagon);
Kalina (sedan, hatchback, station wagon);
Kalina 2 (station wagon, hatchback, sedan).

"Lada Granta" (sedan, 2013)

In 2014, a new transmission appeared on the Kalina 2 Cross and Granta liftback. Starting from 2022 and up to the present time, they began to install it on the new Granta (Cross, hatchback, station wagon).

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The single-rod gear shift drive was replaced by a cable. The unpleasant vibrations on the lever are gone, there is less play, and shifting is clearer.

It is curious that in the clutch drive, on the contrary, they planned to abandon the cable in favor of hydraulics. Unfortunately, for economic reasons, they left the previous design, although the hydraulic drive has better characteristics. In particular, the clutch pedal works more logically and clearly with it. The advantages in the layout are also obvious: it is easier to lay tubes and hoses. But the cable for the new box had to be lengthened. These are unnecessary mechanical losses, which means additional effort on the pedals and worse information content.

Design of a cable gearbox on the Lada Granta

Among the innovations:

New and improved synchronizers have appeared in the first two gears. They make shifting easier and crisper. The cable gearbox in the Granta has a reduced noise level.
The switching mechanism has also been updated, which now acts as a separate part and is not located below. Thanks to this, it does not sit among the hardening oil in the parking lot and lives longer.
Now you won't be able to turn the car into reverse by accident - a lock has appeared. The shift forks are now cast from aluminum, rather than steel, as was the case in the 2180. They are supplied by the German brand Schaeffler.

The most interesting new feature of this box is the transition to cable drives, unlike the old 2180. Rods cost less and are actually more reliable, but manufacturers are massively refusing to use them. The cables eliminated unnecessary noise, knocks and vibrations. The clutch drive was originally supposed to be hydraulic, but due to the price this idea was abandoned. This is bad because the hydraulic one has better characteristics.

Principle of operation

Compared to a box with rods, a cable transmission definitely wins:

When switching, the cables dampen vibrations.
The lever sticks in smoothly, without clicks or knocks.
By switching to cables, the oil fill level was reduced by approximately 25-30%.
Cable transmissions are not afraid of temperature changes and freezing in cold winter.
The cable gearbox on the Grant has a new clutch with an increased disc diameter (215 versus 200 mm).

Cable gearbox "Lada Grants"

Cable gearboxes are great for cars with powerful engines. Thus, the longitudinal movement was reduced to 13 cm, and the transverse movement to 9 cm. The adhesion moment increased due to an increase in its area.

Volume and type of oil, replacement frequency

The transmission itself has an oil volume of 2.2 liters. The oil in the Grants gearbox with a cable drive must be selected according to viscosity. If it is too viscous and the temperature outside exceeds the specified values, the transmission may bite. For hot regions, you need to select a thinner oil, and for cold regions, a viscous one. The recommended replacement frequency is 70 thousand km.

With a cable drive, Lukoil TM4 is poured. Viscosity depends on the location where the machine will be used. Viscosity grades:

80W-90;
80W-85;
75W-90;
75W-85;
75W-80.

The company recommends filling in the brands of oils "Lukoil", "Rosneft Kinetik", "Trans" KP-2, TNK "Trans" KP and KP "Super", "Novoil Trans" KP. The viscosity of all oils is different; it should be selected according to operating conditions. For all AvtoVAZ cars, they recommend the same oil manufacturers.

Interesting Facts

Let's look at the interesting facts that we managed to learn about the new Lada Granta gearbox:

The VAZ-2181 gearbox will not be installed on the Priora, since the designers considered that it would not be cost-effective to redo the entire design of the power units.
The cost of Lada Grant and Kalina 2 increased by 5000-7000 rubles. with the introduction of a new gearbox into the car.
According to reviews from car owners, the first copies of cable-driven gearboxes were not entirely successful and had quite a lot of flaws: vibration became audible after 70-80 thousand mileage, howling of the gearbox, increased wear of parts, etc. Based on this, the manufacturer made adjustments to the design and improved the characteristics, but many car owners had a negative impression of the VAZ-2181 cable-driven gearbox.
The AVTOVAZ plant continues to develop and modernize a new gearbox, which will become the second generation of cable gearboxes. It is planned to install it on the 2nd generation Lada Granta, which is currently under development. The designers promise to take into account the experience gained during the development of the first generation and not allow such an oversight a second time.

Advantages and disadvantages of cable gearboxes

Advantages:

The first advantage of the cable transmission in the Grant is the switching mechanism. Now it is not immersed in oil, so it is easier to use in severe frost.
The overall reliability of gearbox components has increased, since the gearbox has become more compact.
Improved grip on the Grant with a cable gearbox. Due to the increased diameter, the torque also increased.
Overall comfort has increased. The gears fit in more pleasantly, there are much fewer knocks, howls and vibrations.

The main disadvantage of the manual transmission 2181 is its manufacturing technology. The metal on the gears is bad, it gets licked off quickly. The cable drive fails. The good news is that recently the box has been improved and it has become more reliable.

==Disassembly of differential ==

We clamp the driven gear of the main gear in a vice with soft metal jaw linings.

Using a 17mm socket, unscrew the eight bolts securing the gear to the differential box. Leaning the driven gear of the main gear onto the jaws of a vice (with jaw linings made of soft metal)…

...using a hammer with a plastic tip (or a soft metal tip) we knock the differential box out of the driven gear.

By inserting a blunt chisel into the gap between the end of the inner bearing ring and the differential box, we strike the chisel, increasing the gap.

Then, installing two mounting blades into the resulting gap...

...press the bearing with them.

Remove the speed sensor reference ring.

During subsequent assembly, the tabs of the drive ring must be installed in deeper grooves at the end of the differential box.

By turning, we remove the wheel drive gears from the differential box.

Using circlip pliers, remove the circlip from the pinion axis.

We take out the pinion axle and pinion gears from the differential box.

Service

The only way to maintain the 2181 gearbox on a Grant is to change the oil in a timely manner. The replacement interval is 70 thousand km.

Manual transmission service

The oil change procedure looks like this:

Find a place where you can access the bottom of the car - an overpass, a lift, a hole in the garage.
Drive the car, secure the car with the handbrake.
Prepare a container of at least 3 liters and gloves. Waste oil is harmful to the skin.
Open the drain cap and wait until all the oil drains into the container. You also need to open the filler plug, so the oil will come out faster and more evenly.
Fill in 0.5 liters of mineral oil to flush (a little more is possible), put the gearbox in neutral and idle for five minutes, then turn it off.
Drain off what you washed with and add fresh oil.

Oil change for Lada Granta

For “mechanics” it is very advisable to wash the box when changing the oil, this way it will live longer.

Clutch Drive Maintenance

The clutch drive does not need to be serviced; it is simply easy to maintain. Chafing of the cable and damage to the drive itself can lead to increased noise when the clutch is disengaged and to its incomplete engagement.

It is very advisable to lubricate the cable, and if it is worn out, replace it. Periodically, the clutch needs to be adjusted and the pedal travel monitored.

Maintenance and adjustment of the cable drive (gear selection system)

It also needs lubrication and supervision. There is no way to adjust the cable drive on the Grant purely technically, because the engineers did not provide for such a possibility. Craftsmen try to simply tighten the cables or move the fastening ears, but the method is not very effective.

If the cable drive is worn out, it must be replaced. According to the plan, they are replaced every 100 thousand km. If the car is still under warranty, the easiest way is to contact the authorities. The Granta gearbox cable repair kit will also help you.

Change frequency and types of oil used

According to the manufacturer's instructions, transmission oil in old Grants should be changed approximately every 70,000 kilometers, or once every five years (whichever comes first). In the case of gearbox 2181, the oil will have to be changed almost three times less often - once every 200,000 kilometers. Another important aspect regarding gearbox maintenance is checking the oil level and its consistency. For older boxes, a period of 15,000 kilometers between checks is set, and they have a special dipstick for checking the level. Box 2181 does not provide for oil level control, so there is no dipstick in the design.

In addition, in boxes 2181 and 2190 the volume of the transmission oil sump is significantly different - in old boxes it is 3.3 liters, in new ones it is 2.2. Be sure to remember this when changing the oil - an insufficient oil level (as well as an excessive one) will definitely not benefit the gearbox.

As a rule, the factory oil that is poured into Grant boxes is semi-synthetic and belongs to the GL-4 class. Below is information about the types of factory oil being poured (this does not mean that this is what you should fill in - there are better options on the market, but this information may be useful if you decide to add oil rather than make a complete replacement):

— For box 2190: LukOil TM-4 and ROSNEFT KINETIC 80W85 (these brands of oils were used for a short time, for several months from the start of production of the Lada Grant), TATNEFT TRANSLUX markings TM-4-12, 75W85 (used since 2012);

— For box 2181: TATNEFT TRANSLUX and ROSNEFT KINETIC marking 75W85.

Troubleshooting cable boxes

Let's look at typical faults for a cable gearbox.

Noises

Many owners notice that the cable gearbox in the Grant is noisy. The reason for this may be a badly worn control cable. The howling of the gearbox, especially when braking the engine, occurs due to poor metalworking of the gears.

Oil

You need to pay attention to the oil in the transmission and change it in a timely manner. The factory one is not of the proper quality.

The oil on this gearbox model often leaks, despite changes in the crankcase design. You should not increase the lubricant level in order to get rid of the howling of the gearbox, this will only add problems. Try to fill in high-quality oil. It slightly compensates for noise and allows the gearbox to work longer.

Gear shifting problems

If the gears stop shifting at a certain moment, the reasons may be bent forks or broken plastic bushings of the rocker. Sometimes synchronizers fail.

Which transmission is better?

AvtoVAZ has really done a huge amount of work in order to provide motorists with a popular model with various types of transmission. Both mechanics, automatic machines, and robots have their advantages and disadvantages. The manual transmission model has become widespread partly because it is the most affordable. Despite the occasional hum and noise, a car with a 5-speed manual remains a good choice. But for residents of big cities, a car with an automatic transmission is best.

An automatic transmission with a torque converter will ensure comfortable control of the car and will not cause serious trouble. The version of the model with AMT is considered technologically advanced, modern, but at the same time the most problematic. There is a possibility that in the future the manufacturer will abandon the robot, giving preference to a CVT variator, as was done in the Lada Vesta. A sedan with a robot can be bought either new or second-hand on the secondary market. The second option is the most dangerous and unpredictable: often on manual transmissions, even before 100 thousand kilometers, the servomechanisms fail and the clutch wears out. It is extremely expensive to maintain and repair such a unit.

Lada Granta

Interior of Lada Granta with automatic transmission Jatco JF414E

Interior of Lada Granta with robotic transmission

Cable box repair

Let's look at the repairs one by one.

Preparation

First you need to drive the car onto a pit or lift and secure it securely. Remove the battery, engine mudguards, air filter. It is advisable to prepare all the tools at once and place them within walking distance. After this, the old oil from the box must be drained. The oil container must be at least 3 liters.

Set of tools

To disassemble the gearbox you will need quite a lot of tools. The main thing is to have a set of keys (10, 12, 14, 17, etc.) and heads. You will also need pliers and a flathead screwdriver.

Removal

After preparation is completed, proceed to dismantling:

Remove the clutch housing cover by unscrewing the three bolts.
Unscrew the two bolts securing the clutch housing to the gearbox and remove the torque rod from the box.
Remove the front wheel drives.
Loosen the two bolts securing the top of the gearbox to the cylinder block and the ignition coil nut.
Similarly, loosen the nut securing the box to the block from below. Secure the box with bars.
Unscrew the 5 screws of the left engine support to the gearbox, and then remove the bracket itself.
Remove all transmission mounting bolts and nuts. Carefully move the gearbox away from the engine.

Repair of Lada Granta with cable drive

Be careful with the diaphragm spring petals - do not rest the input shaft on them, as there is a risk of damage.

Disassembly

As soon as you remove the box, you need to wash it to make it easier and more pleasant to work with. Then:

Remove the bracket to which the clutch cable is attached. To do this, you need to turn the box on its side and unscrew the bolt.
Install the transmission vertically. The back cover is secured with 6 nuts, they need to be unscrewed.
Then remove the back cover. It will go hard, you can speed up the process by lightly hitting it with something soft, a rubber hammer handle will do. Don't forget to remove the gasket.
Put it in fourth or third gear. Then unscrew the bolt securing the fifth-speed fork and turn it on.
Unscrew the nuts on the secondary and input shafts and remove the fifth gear assembly.
In fifth gear, remove the locking ring so that the gear can be removed.
Remove the rings, the needle bearing itself and the fifth speed drive gear.
Remove the plate on which the bearings are attached. She needs to be hooked with something.
From the secondary shaft, remove the needle bearing sleeve from the fifth speed and the thrust washer, remove the retaining ring of the primary shaft bearing, and then the secondary shaft.
Remove the plug and three retainer balls. Repeat the same with the reverse lock.
Disconnect the gearbox housing from the clutch housing by unscrewing all the nuts and mounting bolt. Then the box housing must be removed.
Remove the first and second gear shift fork by unscrewing the bolt. Do the same with third and fourth gear. Remove their stem.
For fifth gear, remove the rod, retaining ring and reverse fork. Then remove the gear along with the axle.
Remove both shafts - primary and secondary, and the main gear with differential.
To remove the shift mechanism, unscrew the three mounting bolts. Also remove the sealing gasket.
There is a bearing in the clutch housing. It must be carefully removed with a handy tool. It's pressed in there.
After this, remove the speedometer sensor, the magnet from the clutch housing and the driven gear.
Remove the reverse limit switch and the gear shift rod.

When the entire box is disassembled, you need to wash all its parts. It is strictly not recommended to install it in an uncleaned state. During operation, tiny metal shavings accumulate in the transmission oil, which gradually kills the entire mechanism.

Repair

Once you clean the box, start troubleshooting it. Carefully inspect all parts. Initially, the box was made for classic engines - 70 horsepower. Now the power has exceeded a hundred, but the structure has not been strengthened properly. The use of low quality metal has a worse effect on the reliability of all moving elements.

Pay special attention to gear teeth, bearings, and seals. Remember all the places during disassembly where oil was leaking. It is also necessary to inspect the clutch housings and boxes for mechanical damage.

Don't forget about forks and stems. There should be no deformations, cracks, etc. anywhere.

Assembly

Reassemble in the reverse order of disassembly. However, there are also subtleties here:

Lubricate all moving parts with transmission oil. At the moment the engine starts, even a completely filled oil without moving the mechanism will not fall into all the cracks.
Replace all gaskets.
When installing the shafts, the gear teeth must be in mesh.
Don't forget to install and clean the magnet. Examine it. If it is damaged or not magnetic, install a new one.

Cable gearbox

If the gearbox is leaking, all seals must be replaced. Or at least the drive seals.

Installation

The gearbox is heavy and uncomfortable to hold; it is best to do this work with an assistant. Installing the transmission into the car is done in the reverse order. Lubricate all moving parts that you connect to each other. On drives, replace the locking rings to prevent them from coming off while driving.

When you assemble the box, fill it with fresh oil. It will take a little more because the mechanism inside is almost dry.

Regulations for changing gearbox oil from AvtoVAZ

It is necessary to change the oil in the gearbox-2181 in one case - if the mileage exceeds 200,000 km.

In theory, the entire service life of the car is indicated here, and the numbers are taken from the regulations.

The first two dismantling steps

The thin clamp that secures the expansion tank hose is also removed (see photo).

The video shows how to change the oil

do it yourself in the gearbox

with cable drive
LADA Granta
Liftbek.

Changing the gearbox oil on a Lada Granta

Change of oil

with your own hands.

Disconnect a couple of connectors: the mass air flow sensor and the adsorber valve connector. The first of them is oval (photo below). And the second one is turned off like this: tighten the tongue, remove the terminal block.

Down with all terminal blocks!

The filter housing can be moved to the side in the final step. There is no need to disconnect it from the corrugation.

Rubber fasteners can be defeated this way: the rubber band is held with pliers, and the body is pulled back (to the left, forward). Start with the right front support.

Reconnaissance in force

We are trying to remove the reverse switch. We look for a plastic connector on the crankcase (see photo) and immediately disconnect it.

View of the gearbox housing from under the hood

Using a 22mm round wrench, try to unscrew the switch housing. Cancel the replacement if nothing can be done - neither unscrew the “top” plug, nor remove the switch.

When the switch is returned to its place, the threads are treated with sealant. The tightening torque should be 28-45 Nm.

Detailed algorithm for changing the oil in a CABLE gearbox

The oil from the Lada Granta gearbox is drained through the “bottom” plug. It is unscrewed with a 17 key.

The simplest thing is to drain the oil

You need to unscrew the cap like this: make 1-2 turns with the key, then substitute the container. And then unscrew the plug by hand.

When the liquid flows out, wipe the surface of the crankcase. We tighten the plug back (torque – 29-46 Nm). Getting ready to refuel.

Hose and funnel are ready for use

Results of the modernization of the gearbox on the Lada Granta

The box turned out to be ambiguous. On the one hand, the transition to cables made it more reliable, quiet, and clear in switching. Most automakers are now switching to cable-based transmission designs.

However, the first revision of these boxes was a failure. Many owners have them break. The vibrations became much quieter, but the box began to howl. Bad metal also made itself felt in the form of licked gears. The design of the gearbox was promptly modified at the factory, and everything is fine on modern cars, but the owners were left with an unpleasant aftertaste.

Step-by-step replacement instructions

Let's assume that we will change the oil in the VAZ 2181 gearbox in an ordinary garage, which does not have a pit or a lift.

Using a knife, cut out the side surface of the canister.
Canister with cut side surface
Before starting work, we properly warm up the VAZ 2181 gearbox. That is, you must first warm up the engine, and then drive ten kilometers so that the gears have time to disperse the oil throughout the entire transmission.
We raise the right side of the VAZ 2181 car using a jack. We put a stand or some reliable and durable block and then lower the car. Under no circumstances should you work under a car that is supported by only one jack.
Car raised with a jack
If the floor is cold, you can put a sheet of plywood under the car.
If crankcase protection is provided, then it must have a cutout under the oil plug. The plug is located on the left flange of the gearbox from the bottom; if it is missing, you will need to remove the engine protection. Clean the cork with a metal brush. Wipe the surface around it with a rag. Using the “17” key, unscrew it, after placing the canister under it. The liquid that drains should be warm, not hot. We wait approximately 10-15 minutes for complete drainage, and then tighten the plug.
Location of the plug on the gearbox flange
Using a knife, cut out the bottom of a plastic bottle.
Plastic bottle with the bottom cut off
The air filter must be removed along with the intake pipe. To do this you need to remove the terminal from the air flow sensor.
Removing the air flow sensor terminal
Unscrew the clamps at the throttle body and pipe and remove the intake unit completely.
Remove the oil dipstick from the gearbox. It is located at the top.
Probe location
We place the neck of a 1.5 liter plastic bottle to the hole for the cork. Using the bottle as a funnel, fill it in (a little less than 3 liters). Let's see if oil is leaking from the plug under the car. To do this you need to wait about ten minutes.
Use of a plastic bottle for filling liquid
Having made sure of the tightness, we install the engine protection (if it had to be removed), and lower the car from the stand. Next, you need to top up to the “MAX” level using the dipstick. In total, the box should contain 3.2 liters.
Unscrewed dipstick
We install the inlet pipe with filter.

It is necessary to check the oil in the gearbox of a VAZ 2181 every 15,000 km. The level is checked only when the gearbox has cooled down, with the engine turned off, and the vehicle position must be strictly horizontal.

To make it easier, you may have to remove the engine air filter. In order to find out how much fluid is needed in the VAZ 2181 gearbox:

take the dipstick;
wipe it with a rag and then insert it into the crankcase hole;
Pull out the dipstick again and check the level.

It is imperative that the fluid level in the gearbox must be between o and “MAX”.

Manual transmission 2190

A manual transmission that started its journey on the assembly line together with the release of the Lada Granta. In terms of its ideology, it is almost a complete clone of previous manual gearboxes from Lada, however, there are differences from the old models and the assembled gearbox from the tens or nines will not fit. Firstly, Granta has its own gearbox housing, which some craftsmen call the “bell”. Secondly, the principle of placement of the speed sensor is different; in old gearboxes there was a shaft for the speed indicator, but since with the arrival of the Lada Grant on the assembly line, AvtoVAZ began to switch to a different car control bus and the speed sensor 2190 is already built into the gearbox and only an electrical contact comes out.

Otherwise, in terms of its internal parts, the mechanism is completely identical. Despite its excellent reliability, it has a number of fatal drawbacks: low vibration comfort, poor selectivity of gear selection, large lever strokes.

At the moment, it is not used on Lada cars; it has been replaced by manual transmission 2181, which will be discussed further.

SWITCH MECHANISM

In the old box it is located at the bottom and bathes in an oil bath. After spending the night in the cold, the oil thickened, making it difficult to change gears for the first few kilometers. In addition, at the bottom of the box there were clamps for the rods and reverse forks, a reverse light switch, and a gear selection seal - all of these are potential sources of leakage. Sealants and other materials, of course, helped, but the problem was radically solved only by moving the mechanism upstairs.

The new mechanism is a separate module. It can be installed last and removed if necessary without disassembling the box. This is technologically advanced not only in production, but also in repair. Already at the concept stage developed by the VAZ team, a selector grill appeared in it, clearly repeating the gear shift pattern and setting the lever stroke when selecting gears. The mechanism includes a lock against accidental reverse gear, which is only accessible from neutral.