People often ask which racks are best to install on Priora and Kalina (+ Station wagon). The fact is that there is very little information on this issue. The manufacturer recommends using only original parts. The quality of which leaves much to be desired. There are few good articles on this topic, and the forums are filled with people who, judging by the texts, have not held a real shock absorber in their hands. In this article we will combine the advice of experienced craftsmen and tell you about the most convenient and reliable shock-absorbing struts designed for these domestic models. Remember that high-quality shock-absorbing elements largely determine your safety on the roads.
How to determine if shock absorbers are faulty
Often, traces of oil appear and disappear over time, and then, when the driver notices a loss of controllability, the strut becomes dry again. To determine its serviceability, you need to grab the roof of the car and try to swing it strongly.
Serviceable shock absorbers should stop the body already on the second swing. If the car continues to rock, the struts need to be replaced.
The problem must be diagnosed at the first sign. There are several symptoms that indicate a damaged shock absorber:
- Knock when driving or extraneous sounds in the suspension. This problem occurs extremely rarely. As a rule, this implies destruction inside the strut housing and the rod simply begins to hit the housing, making unpleasant knocking noises. This sound will appear when driving over both large and small irregularities and will haunt the car owner no matter how much the car rocks.
- Deterioration in controllability. The most dangerous and obvious sign of shock absorber failure. As you know, struts are needed to dampen body vibrations that occur when suspension springs operate. If these vibrations are not suppressed, the car begins to sway strongly at high speed and the wheels may briefly lose traction with the road surface. It is worth noting that this malfunction is quite dangerous.
- Leaks on the rack body. Deterioration in controllability occurs due to internal damage to the shock absorber and its depressurization. Traces of leaking oil, which is the main shock-absorbing component of this part, may appear on the rack.
If, after all, the reason for the knocking on Kalina is in the shock absorbers, then you should select the right new spare parts. Don’t even try to restore them; doing so is impractical, labor-intensive and expensive.
As a rule, shock absorbers are not replaced individually, only in pairs.
"ASOMI"
This manufacturer offers two lines of parts. They are more versatile than the SS20 described above. This allows you to use spare parts without worrying about operating features:
- Gas-oil struts “Comfort PRO” can be used on roads with any surface. At the same time, shock absorbers have an excellent resource;
- Comfort CLASSIC, these are classic oil struts. Due to their high rigidity, they show good behavior at high speeds.
This manufacturer attracts attention with a combination of relatively low price and high quality.
How to choose shock absorbers for Lada Kalina
It’s worth mentioning right away that the Lada Kalina racks 1 and 2 are absolutely identical and interchangeable. Therefore, there is no need to look for a shock absorber for a specific model. After all, the bodies are the same. The difference can only be in the catalog numbers, and it is most likely explained by the stiffness of the shock absorbers.
But the selection consists of choosing a company and the appropriate settings. The latter will determine the product catalog number:
- rear shock absorber, Kalina 1 – 11180-2915004-20;
- rear shock absorber, Kalina 2 – 21928-2915004-00;
- front shock absorber, Kalina 1 – 11180-2905002-00;
- front shock absorber, Kalina 2 – 21928-2901031-55.
In fact, there are a lot of catalog numbers and their variations are combinations of rigidity, applicability for the right and left sides, as well as use in a certain modification and the possibility of use in conjunction with other suspension elements. These items are provided as an example.
As for companies, you should pay attention to the following:
- Kayaba;
- Monroe;
- Lada(original);
- Bilstein.
Shock absorbers from these manufacturers are considered the best in the world. Shock absorbers for Lada Kalina from KYB (kayaba) are considered to be the most expensive. Kayaba offers a wide selection of shock absorbers and struts for Lada Kalina I and II cars with a wide variety of rigidity parameters.
There is also a budget option - SAAZ. It is stock and often ends up on the assembly line as an original. But the analogs are better than the factory ones, and the durability of the factory racks is nothing more than a legend! It’s up to you to decide whether it’s worth saving, because the cost differs insignificantly.
When selecting shock absorbers, stiffness plays an important role. Here you need to find the right balance. The stiffer the shock absorber, the better it keeps the springs from oscillating, which means the car’s handling increases significantly.
On the other hand, the stiffer the pillars, the worse the comfort in the cabin. The driver and passengers will constantly shake from the slightest irregularities on the road. Therefore, for a more comfortable ride (at the expense of handling), it is better to install softer struts that set the appropriate suspension travel.
Which struts to take: oil or gas?
Since each person’s concept of good is different, each motorist has his own criteria for “good racks.” For example, some install only high-tech gas shock absorbers on a vehicle. Although they cost a little more than oil ones, they also have a longer service life. Some people prefer oil shock absorbers, which are softer. But these elements have one drawback - at low temperatures the racks become rigid. We have already talked in more detail about replacing struts on Lada Kalina here.
SAAZ oil struts were installed on Kalina from the factory. Some people immediately after purchasing a car purchase new racks of imported or domestic production. This could be, for example, ss-20 or Kayaba.
Shock absorber manufacturers
Today, many manufacturers make racks for cars that can also be installed on Kalina
Among the variety of racks and their manufacturers, attention should be paid to the following:
- SAAZ. Installed on the car at the factory. They are not reliable and have a long service life. Factory SAAZ rack
- Kayaba. Manufacturer – Japan. The racks have good performance. When choosing shock absorbers of this brand, you need to be careful, since most of them are currently produced in China, and therefore they are of worse quality compared to the original Japanese ones. Kayaba stance - rigid but reliable
- ASOMI. Domestic manufacturer of racks for VAZ and GAZ cars. The manufacturer makes good racks, but the disadvantage of the product is that the warranty on it is one year, and then only on condition that the racks were installed at a specialized service station. ASOMI racks are a very popular alternative among Kalinovodov
- SS. Domestic manufacturer. Makes spare parts for the chassis of domestic cars. Most Lada Kalina owners prefer to install shock absorbers from this particular manufacturer on their cars. With such struts, the car will be moderately rigid, and it will also hold the road well when maneuvering. Warranty – 2 years. You can install the racks yourself. In this case, the warranty also applies to them.
Currently, the following types of racks are sold for Kalina:
- Highway 1118.
- Standard 1118.
- Standard 1119.
- Sport 1119. Complete suspension kit for front and rear - KALINA SPORT
- Optima 1119.
Standard racks from these categories are practically no different from the factory ones. Highway and Sport are narrowly targeted, and therefore few people choose to install them on their car. The last option is the most common and popular. They are installed on cars that are used under normal conditions. They performed well when driving both on bad roads and on the highway. The driver will also find a warranty card in the package along with the racks.
It is recommended to buy all parts and spare parts for the chassis only from trusted sellers, and preferably from an official dealer of the manufacturer.
How to replace front and rear shock absorbers on Kalina
Before carrying out repair work, it is necessary to properly prepare for this event.
What tool will you need?
To replace shock absorbers on Kalina 1 and 2, you will need the following list of tools:
- spring remover;
- standard set of tools;
- pit or lift;
- jack;
Of course, we shouldn’t forget about the new detail. After everything you need appears, you need to set aside a free day and start repairing.
Removal and installation of front shock absorbers on Lada Kalina
It is most convenient to do this work on a lift, but an inspection pit will also work. You need to perform the following list of actions:
- Hang the front wheel and remove it.
- Unscrew the nut securing the steering end to the strut. Remove the tie rod end (1) using a suitable puller.
- Unscrew the three nuts securing the strut to the side member (2).
- Remove the shock absorber mountings to the steering knuckle (3).
- Remove the shock absorber from the car along with the suspension spring and support bearing.
In order to avoid damage to the brake hose, it is necessary to fix the steering knuckle in the position in which it was standing. This is necessary to prevent it from stretching!
To replace the strut, you need to remove the spring and support bearing (4) from it. To do this, using a puller, the spring is compressed and the nut securing the support bearing is unscrewed. Next, all parts are installed on the new shock absorber, and assembly occurs in the reverse order.
Removal and installation of rear shock absorbers Lada Kalina 1 and 2
The procedure will be the same for hatchback, station wagon and sedan. Necessary:
- Fold the rear seat forward and remove the shock absorber nut cap.
- You need to tighten the spring in advance to relieve tension from the shock absorber and remove it without problems.
- Unscrew the nut securing the strut to the body. To prevent the rod from turning, it can be held using another wrench.
- After this, unscrew the lower mount of the strut to the rear beam.
- Remove the old strut from the car.
Now all that remains is to rearrange the spring and install a new support bearing and rod boot. There is nothing complicated about this. Reassemble the strut as it should sit on the vehicle with a new support bearing and boot.
Mount the strut to the body and ask your partner to tighten the nut securing the shock absorber rod to the rear “glass”. Further assembly occurs in reverse order.
Why is replacement necessary?
Over time, use tends to cause shock absorbers and springs to fail. Owners should resort to replacement when such characteristic signs of incorrect product operation appear, such as:
- unsatisfactory performance on the road, which is accompanied by a lack of stability, large swings and the appearance of knocking sounds;
- fact of leakage of working fluid (oil);
- increasing braking distance.
When the Kalina still has standard shock absorbers, the owner should be encouraged to carry out repair work (replacement) in the following situations:
- The rod seal lost its tightness, resulting in traces of oil leakage. This may be affected by severe operating conditions. The rubber cuff “gives up” under the influence of elevated temperature of the working fluid.
- Knock detected. This will require replacing the rack. Before repairing, you should carefully check the unit for malfunctions. Owners often confuse this factor with a knock in the steering rack. Tightening the adjusting element can help here. If the situation does not improve, then proceed to repair the steering unit. Also, due to incorrect installation of the racks, this characteristic knock may appear.
Important note for proper installation
Before installing a new shock absorber on the Lada Kalina, it is necessary to bleed it. The fact is that there is oil inside the rack, which moves through the cavities during operation. Normal operation of the shock absorber is ensured only in a vertical position.
If you place the rack horizontally (as it is transported), then air will get inside, which will have a detrimental effect on the operation of the rack. Installing such a part is strictly prohibited, as it will not last long.
To remove air, before installing shock absorbers, you must perform the following steps:
- Extend the compressed stand from the packaging to ¾ of the length and place the stem down. Wait 5 seconds and squeeze gently.
- Turn the shock absorber over and wait 5 seconds.
- Extend the rod and wait 2 seconds, then flip the post over again and compress.
- Repeat the above 3-4 times.
Practice shows that 70% of people who change stands themselves forget about this important procedure.
After these manipulations, the shock absorber should last as long as the manufacturer guarantees.
Let's sum it up
Replacing the rack turned out to be not as problematic as it might seem at first glance. The main thing is to acquire the necessary tools, which should include pullers and other devices, and also decide which racks are better and which ones to install on your car. As for upgrading racks, in the absence of sufficient experience, we recommend turning to specialists for this type of service.
Timely replacement of components allows you to avoid many problems. Of course, it is the suspension that is subjected to maximum load on Russian roads. Models of the domestic automobile industry are especially susceptible to this “disease”.
What happens if you ignore a shock absorber malfunction?
The clearance of the Lada Kalina is adapted to bad Russian roads. Consequently, the car should ride softer, but has a greater chance of losing control. If the shock absorbers are not replaced in time, the driver will have to drive at a lower speed to save his life.
Faulty shock absorbers will rock the suspension on any hole. And when a wheel hits a hole at high speed, the body begins to sway violently, causing a short-term loss of traction between the wheels and the road surface.
Because of this, the axle skids or drifts, which can cause an accident. Also, untimely replacement damages other mechanisms - for example, suspension silent blocks or support bearings.
Characteristics of car struts
Struts are a device that reduces the impact force on a car while driving on difficult sections of the road. The task of shock absorbers is to smooth out road unevenness and shocks that the car receives during extreme driving. If the quality of the racks is low, then the trip turns into a nightmare. This is especially true for the driver. The steering wheel will feel every bump and take impacts that fall first on the wheels, and then on other parts of the car. Good stands should prevent this from happening.
The quality of shock absorbers is what distinguishes expensive foreign cars from domestic cars. But life does not stand still, and our enterprises are fired up with the idea of modernizing the production process and the technical projects they are working on. Thus, VAZ is already planning to improve the Lada Kalina so that its design fully complies with all modern requirements. But this is in the plans, but for now racks for Kalina are offered in three options.
- Oily. These are two-pipe mechanisms powered by hydraulic oil. The advantage of such a device is its simplicity of design and installation. The downside is that the rack is poorly cooled, which often causes deformations.
- Gas-oil. A similar system, but here the principle of operation is based on gas pressure, which acts on the oil and thereby creates reliable protection for the car from impacts.
- Single-pipe. Plus - good heat dissipation, performance, minus - unreliability and excessive sensitivity. This option is not the most suitable for Russian roads.
As a rule, Kalina racks installed at the factory can last a little more than 100,000 km. Afterwards they need to be changed. Shock absorbers supplied in workshops are effective for 80,000 km.
Symptoms of the need to replace struts are poor tire adhesion to the road surface, insufficient controllability, especially when cornering, deterioration of brake performance, increased braking distance, and oil leakage. If you notice one of these signs, you should replace it as soon as possible. The breakdown should not develop into a serious problem.
Part Description
The racks (they are most often called telescopic) absorb shocks and impacts that are directed at the car body. For example, when you are driving on a rough road or off-road.
ATTENTION! A completely simple way to reduce fuel consumption has been found! Don't believe me? An auto mechanic with 15 years of experience also didn’t believe it until he tried it. And now he saves 35,000 rubles a year on gasoline! Read more"
The part includes a shock absorber, spring and several other parts. Since struts are considered an important element of the entire suspension system, their malfunction leads to emergency situations on the road.
Thanks to the stabilizer struts, comfort is maintained, maneuverability and control are ensured, regardless of how fast the vehicle is moving. In addition, they firmly connect the wheel mechanism and the body itself.
