The problem with standard Niva wheel bearings (VAZ 2121, 2131) is that they need to be constantly adjusted during vehicle operation. If this is not done in time, they will fail, creating a howl or hum when moving. You can save yourself from such problems by installing non-adjustable hubs or double-row bearings.
How to diagnose a broken hub
Surely every driver has at least once encountered a situation when, while driving, a so-called crackling noise is heard.
The sound can appear at speeds of 40 km/h and above. Using a car with such a sign is fraught not only with danger to the life of the driver and passengers, but also with serious consequences for the car itself. Most likely, you will notice a hum in a loaded car when turning. Finding out which wheel bearing is worn out is quite simple: if there is noise from the wheel when turning to the right, the left bearing should be replaced. Similarly, if a hum occurs when turning left, pay attention to the right bearing.
There are several stages of wheel bearing wear:
- hum when turning;
- hum during normal driving with a loaded car;
- hum when driving an empty car;
- constant hum that increases during turns;
- a strong hum, accompanied by crunching, grinding and unregulated movements of the car from side to side.
The period of time between the first and fifth stages with moderate driving can be up to 5 years. It is recommended to replace the part as soon as possible so as not to put the car and the driver’s life at risk.
What could have caused the Niva Chevrolet bearing to fail:
- in 70% of cases, breakdown occurs due to unsuitable lubricant: its quality, excess or shortage may well damage the part;
- it happens that various contaminants and moisture penetrate deep into the bearing;
- this is the cause of failure in 18% of cases;
- There is also a possibility of incorrect assembly of parts, which entails excessive load and overheating.
What are the risks of driving a car with a damaged wheel bearing? There is a considerable possibility of the wheel jamming, which can end in disaster when driving at high speed. It is quite possible to lose control of the car due to the wheel “moving to the side”. Spreading brake pads is also a possible consequence.
Diagnostics
In the absence of a special stand, it is possible to identify the problem. To do this, with precautions, hang up the supposedly faulty wheel. And then grab the extreme points in the horizontal and vertical planes and make swinging movements. A serviceable bearing has no play or it is insignificant, requiring replacement, on the contrary. In addition, when turning, you can hear rolling or cracking sounds. What then? It is necessary to change the wheel bearing yourself, because there is no talk of adjustment.
Converting the hub to a double-row bearing
The hub on a car is the element that connects the wheel and the drive shaft. It has two bearings, which reduce the friction force when rotating on the shaft.
Diagram of hub assembly.
This gap may increase over time and due to wear and tear of parts. In this case, the wheels begin to vibrate on the axles, which is the cause of premature tire wear. To correct the situation, the wheel bearings should be changed in a timely manner.
Hub assembly on steering knuckle
(as well as the rear) Chevrolet Niva has exactly the same design as old cars, and their repair and replacement are carried out according to the same scheme. Initially, you should go to any car wash, where you should thoroughly wash the entire front suspension under high pressure. For crossovers, this advice is especially important.
- The front of the car is raised using a jack;
- The corresponding wheels, brake pads and calipers are dismantled;
- The hinge pin is untwisted and pressed out using a special tool;
- The bolts from the hinges and nuts are removed.
- After this, you have the opportunity to examine the part for damage and make appropriate repairs. Regardless of whether you plan to replace the bearings, you should change the seals.
After removal, the inner race along with the rollers must be thoroughly washed with kerosene. After this, you will be able to visually assess the bearing damage. It is worth remembering that these parts are replaced only in pairs.
- There is no possibility of adjusting the backlash using a nut (tightening does not help);
- The rollers and clips are heavily scratched;
- Overheating is detected and a hum is observed.
And also interesting: Suspension lift on the Niva yourself
If you observe one of these signs, you need to get new bearings for the Chevrolet Niva. Otherwise, only the lubricant and oil seal need to be changed. Pressing occurs using special nozzles. Do not throw away the old clip, as you will need it to install the new part. If difficulties arise, you can always find one of the many videos on the Internet that demonstrate this process.
Connoisseurs of tuned cars are often able to make radical changes to their cars. And few restrictions exist for them. Owners of Niva Chevrolet are no exception. Tuning fans also took a look at the design of the front hub assembly. Often on online forums in discussions you can find advice (and even corresponding training videos) about replacing the bearing using a hub mechanism that has a steering knuckle from a VAZ 2121 car, since it is believed that this design is better in terms of reliability.
However, this is a misconception. Yes, tightening will occur without any difficulties, but this will make it impossible to adjust the camber of the front wheel of the car. The fact is that each fist has distinct differences in size and axial angles. But much more stupid are the tips that require turning the hub and shaft on a lathe.
Repairs such as replacing a wheel bearing in a field can be done independently without much difficulty. Wheel bearings on the VAZ 2121 and Chevrolet Niva have a very short resource due to the suspension design, compared to other all-wheel drive vehicles, therefore, these parts need to be given increased attention in order to identify the fault in time.
Replacing a wheel bearing in the field does not involve anything complicated if you follow the instructions strictly. Anyone, even a novice car owner, can cope with such repairs. Not all vases have wheel bearings changed the same way. The design of the Niva car hub differs from the design of other VAZ models, so the process of replacing the bearing will also have its differences.
Symptoms and identification of a worn wheel bearing
When the life of the hub bearing is running out, a hum is clearly audible when driving, this is the main sign. If you listen, you can understand which direction this hum is coming from. When driving at low speeds, it is not too noticeable, and it can easily be confused with noise from rubber, but as speed increases, the hum increases, which is reminiscent of flying in an airplane. You can’t drive with a humming bearing, because soon it may simply break into pieces, and this implies a lot of other problems.
If there is an assumption that the bearing has exhausted its service life, then you can check this with the car parked. To do this, you need to jack up the wheel whose bearing is suspected and pull the wheel vertically with your hands. If there is play, then the bearing is most likely to blame.
Necessary tools for work
- Jack and supports. To replace the front bearing, you need to lift both wheels, otherwise the stabilizer will interfere, pinching the suspension elements;
- Wrench for unscrewing wheel nuts;
- Flathead screwdriver. To remove the protective cap;
- Head 27;
- Locksmith's beard. To straighten the collar of the hub nut;
- Hammer;
- Wrenches for 10, 17, 19 and 22;
- Chisel and wooden spacer. To avoid damaging other parts when knocking out;
- Vise;
- A piece of pipe for pressing in bearing retaining rings.
Bearing replacement process
- Loosen the nuts on the wheel where replacement is planned and jack up both wheels of the axle. Remove the desired wheel;
- We dismantle the caliper and guide. To avoid damaging the brake hose, we tie the caliper to the upper arm with wire;
- Having removed the protective cap, use a 27mm head to unscrew the hub bearing nut and remove the conical bushing;
- Using a chisel, unbend the locking plate of the front and rear lever mounting nuts. Using a 19mm wrench, unscrew the front and rear nuts securing the lever. After this, remove the locking plate;
- When the lever is released, it must be moved away from the steering knuckle, freeing the brake hose;
- Disconnect the ball joints (upper and lower) from the lever;
- Now you can remove the entire steering knuckle assembly, along with the ball joints and the brake disc, by removing it from the CV joint splines;
- Separate the steering knuckle from the hub with the brake disc. If the parts do not separate freely, then we clamp the fist in a vice and, using a soft metal drift or chisel, through a spacer from wood, knock out the hub with the brake disc;
- Next, pull out the bolts securing the lever and knock down the protective ring with a chisel;
- Using a 10mm wrench, unscrew the bolt that secures the casing and remove the casing itself;
- We hold the fist in a vice and, using a flat-head screwdriver, pry up and remove the wheel bearing seal. There is a metal ring behind the oil seal, we also remove it;
- The next step is to remove the inner ring of the outer bearing assembly from the well. Next, we also remove the oil seal, metal ring and inner bearing ring assembly;
- Using a punch and a hammer, we knock out the metal rings of the outer and inner bearings. At this point, dismantling is considered complete.
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After cleaning the well from old grease, you can proceed to installing a new bearing. Replacing a wheel bearing in a field occurs in the reverse order; it is only important not to forget to fill it with fresh Litol 24 grease and, after installing the steering knuckle on the car, adjust the clearance in the bearings.
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For Niva 4x4 you can find on sale reinforced, non-adjustable hubs with double-row bearings from the Iveco Daily truck. According to the manufacturer, this modernized unit has the following advantages over Nivovsky:
- there is no need to adjust (the bearing tightening is precisely set during its production);
- no need for regular lubrication;
- eliminates rotation of bearings on the hub;
- eliminates wear of bearing seats on the steering knuckle and hub;
- a ball bearing reduces friction in the hub assembly;
- The service life of the hub is increased due to thickening (see photo).
Do you want to modify your Niva, but have a small budget? Then we’ll show you how to remake the front hubs on a Niva with your own hands. Required:
- double-row bearing from Moskvich 2141 (catalog number: 2141-3103020), or an analogue from Craft (article: CR4172370);
- two retaining rings from the same vehicle (part number 366553-15).
We take the drawings and seek the services of a turner. The master must bore the hub to fit new bearings, grind the steering knuckles and make parts according to the diagram. By the way, some Niva 4x4 owners also use an AUDI 74x40x74 wheel bearing, in this case only the steering knuckles are ground.
Russian variant
These bearings can be found in several varieties. The most important thing is to find series A. What is it? This is a series with increased load capacity. Don't be afraid of these words. It’s just that in ordinary automobile bearings the rollers in the cage are installed one after another, but in this (industrial) series - “roller on roller”. That is, there is practically no distance between them. There are two good options on the market. The first option is GPZ 15 bearings, and on the market you can still find them in the Soviet version. This will be visible from the markings on the bearings. The second option is EPK (European Bearing Corporation) bearings.
wheel hub repair kit, EPK bearings
Is it possible to replace the front wheel bearing of a Niva Chevrolet with your own hands?
It is recommended to entrust installation to professionals. However, if you have a set of tools and free time, it is quite possible to perform the replacement yourself. Before starting repairs, you need to visit a car wash and wash the front suspension especially thoroughly. The second important step is the correct dismantling of the part. To do this, you need to block the wheel and remove the bolts that secure the wheels. Further:
- first, use a jack to suspend and secure the front part of the car;
- then remove the wheel along with the brake pads;
- unscrew the piston pin of the swing arm;
- we take out the bolts that secure the ball joints;
- screw the hub together with the hinges.
Also interesting: Suspension lift in the field yourself
The fact that the wheels on a Chevrolet Niva rotate smoothly is determined by the presence of bearings in the hubs. They can stand on both the front and rear wheels. Bearings are designed to reduce friction.
If such bearings fail, the wheel warps and the rubber begins to wear unevenly and quickly. If the bearing is damaged while the car is moving, the wheel will simply lock and stop rotating. For this reason, it is important to pay timely attention to bearings, especially on the Chevrolet Niva, since the car is an SUV and therefore experiences heavy loads on the chassis.
At this point, the process of replacing the wheel bearings on a Chevrolet Niva can be considered complete. After assembly, you should check the ease of rotation of the wheel.
Installation
When the turning work is completed, we begin assembling the unit. Everything is simpler here - no adjustment is required, and the locknut is tightened “from the heart.” There is no need to worry about over-tightening the hub; it is almost impossible.
Stages of work:
- place the steering knuckle on a flat, hard surface;
- install the support washer and, using a head or steel pipe, carefully press the bearing into place;
- install the second support washer, then use the same tools to carefully hammer in the oil seal;
- repeat these works on the opposite side of the steering knuckle;
- put the steering knuckle on the hub and tighten the locknut to a torque of about 200 Nm or with moderate force;
- put on the wheel, rotate it and check the functionality of the bearing;
- We fasten the steering rack and ball joints.
During installation, installing an oil seal is not necessary, because the Iveco bearing is a closed type, dust and dirt do not penetrate there. However, to increase the service life of the unit, it is recommended to install at least the cheapest oil seals.
We carry out similar work on the opposite side of the car. After the installation is completed, we go and enjoy - now replacement may be required no earlier than after 100 thousand kilometers, and maybe later. The manufacturer provides the same warranty provided that the installation was carried out correctly.
And finally, if you contact a turner, do not forget to take the drawings with you. They are presented below:
Let's sum it up
The standard Niva hub unit is a headache for owners of a domestic SUV. For the safe use of a vehicle in conditions of increased impassability, it is important to strengthen the Niva’s hub assembly. If you know how to work with tools and have previously done car repairs, then this kind of modernization is definitely up to you.
Which way to choose to strengthen the hub assembly of an SUV is up to you to decide. It all depends on what financial costs you are willing to incur. Any of the proposed options will please you with an impeccable result.
Other options
Of course, besides these manufacturers there are many others, but I don’t experiment with buyers. We have been working with LHA bearings (Slovakia) for a long time. The quality was a solid four. The bearings were in a “blackened housing.” I won’t say what kind of coating it is, but the mileage is very good. As often happens in this life, “Slovaks” began to slowly increase in price. I won’t say whose fault it is, but as soon as they became comparable to EPK bearings, there was absolutely no need to work with them.
A very large number of wheel bearings with a plastic cage have appeared on the market. Manufacturers and sellers talk about the low noise level of the unit. But they are silent about the humiliating short service life of these bearings. Many times the hammer drill has been disassembled and the plastic separator has not even been found; sometimes it is ground into powder. Carefully.
Summary. Installing a bearing with a steel cage only. It is highly desirable that the bearings have a higher load capacity, series A. Proper installation and the use of good lubrication. Periodic adjustment of the unit. It is enough to do this during an oil change. That is, every 7 thousand km.
Is it possible to replace the front wheel bearing of a Niva Chevrolet with your own hands?
Have you ever encountered a similar modification to the Niva hub? Leave recommendations and reviews about your options for upgrading the VAZ 2121, 2131. Let us remind you that the domestic SUV has other shortcomings, which are also eliminated by modifications. You can also find information about the car you are interested in by its content.
Key words: 4x4 front suspension
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Is there an alternative to permanent repairs?
It must be admitted, but the wheel-bearing unit of the Niva 4x4, being one of the most loaded in the car, has never learned to be reliable. Whether the culprit is bad components or design errors is not easy to figure out. However, the experience of the owners suggests using alternative options, for example, replacing the “stock” with double-row bearings (IVECO, Moskvich, etc.).
Unlike the standard:
- The unit does not require adjustment or lubrication - all settings are made from the factory. There is no possibility of rotation; Wear of seats is minimal; Has an extended service life.
The difficulty of implementation lies in the need to bore the hub for a double-row bearing, as well as the relatively high cost of the components. But there will most likely be no short-term attempts to change the wheel bearing again.
Installation and Lubrication
Probably one of the most important points in this node. Many residents of Nivvod complain that Papuan services know nothing except lithol and lubricant. There are many bearing greases available in the world today, compared to older generation greases that are as old as mammoth poop. In lubricants, as in motor oils, there is the concept of a base oil, and sometimes the composition of a carrier oil. As a popular science story, we can talk about the mineral and semi-synthetic base of lubricants. A number of mineral lubricants at temperatures of 40-50 degrees simply flow, almost like water. And at a temperature of -20 degrees they rise almost like a stake. If this lubricant is poured into the hub assembly and drive shaft bearings, there is no need to talk about the car rolling. For lubrication of drive shaft bearings and hubs, I recommend Total Ceran XM 220 grease. It even exceeds the requirements of our hub assembly. I sent it to services that work on cars and quads, as well as trucks. There is only one drawback of this lubricant - availability. All so-called “resellers and distributors” import and certify only consumer goods in Russia. That is, a product that sells well. And special products are not profitable. My colleagues and I must do this ourselves, through Fink. If things go wrong with the lubrication, you can use S2A.
Total Ceran XM 220 grease
