Replacing the Kalina steering rack (new type 2110 racks)

Characteristics of the steering mechanism of different modifications of Kalina

The steering mechanism (RM) is one of the most important elements of a car and is designed to change the trajectory of its movement. Control is carried out by turning the steering wheel, and the greater the angle of rotation, the more the car turns. Among the variety of PMs, rack and pinion mechanisms are most widespread due to their simplicity of design, low weight and size, high reliability and low cost.

All models and modifications of the Lada Kalina car have a standard safety rack and pinion mechanism, which is equipped with an electric amplifier.

The steering column can change its angle depending on the driver's height, ensuring comfortable driving. Currently, there are three manufacturers supplying components for electric power steering: Makhachkala, Aviaelectronics in Kaluga and Korea. All electric boosters are available for free sale and you can choose any one, but experienced drivers prefer the Korean device.

Overhaul and repair of Lada Kalina steering rack

It's not good to offend little ones. And especially with such a patriotic-folk name. At the beginning of its journey to people, Lada Kalina, like all new models, aroused some wariness among the public, but after that, when everyone figured out what they were dealing with, sales went up. The consumer is quite familiar with the front-wheel drive VAZ Baroque, and Kalina, in principle, was not particularly structurally different from other models. A little better, a little more modern, a little more expensive. For the first five years, the car came to its senses, and only after 2010 Kalina formed as a separate organism with its own characteristics.

Operating principle and design of rack and pinion steering mechanism

When the steering wheel rotates, torque is transmitted through the column shaft through a helical gear to the rack, which is connected to rods that change the angle of rotation of the wheel hub. The working pair in the rack and pinion mechanism is the helical gear located on the column shaft and the PM rack.

Kalina's steering rack is placed in an aluminum housing (case), which includes a helical gear connected to the column shaft. The helical drive gear meshes with a rack and is supported by two bearings and a bushing on the crankcase. The rack also has an oblique tooth with a variable pitch, with a smaller pitch on the peripheral part. As a result, the driving behavior becomes more natural and comfortable, and the steering wheel angles are reduced. In a car with a variable ratio rack, the steering range of rotation is 720°. In this case, the driver, turning the wheel one revolution, reaches the right or left stop. During linear motion, the gear shaft is in the zone of straight teeth. When cornering or maneuvering, the steering responds more dynamically. In the area of ​​the rack, which has oblique teeth, the gear ratio decreases rapidly as the steering angle increases.

For fans of fast driving, a Kalina Sport steering rack can be installed, which has a gear ratio of 3.1, unlike other models, in which this figure is 4.02. This shortened version allows you to feel the car better, but increases the risk when driving at high speeds.

Malfunctions of RM Kalina and ways to eliminate them

Even the most reliable mechanisms wear out, especially if they are not protected from dust, dirt, water and aggressive environments. Although the steering rack of the Lada Kalina is located under the hood of the car and is protected from below by a pallet, during operation, especially in off-road conditions, it is exposed to all of the listed factors. The main malfunctions of the PM can be grouped into three groups:

• large free play of the steering wheel;
• knocking, noise and creaking in the mechanism;
• tight steering wheel.

Tightening and adjusting the rack

During the operation of the vehicle, natural wear and tear occurs on the contacting parts, including the PM rack. The presence of such wear can be easily recognized by the characteristic knocking sound of the mechanism at low speeds on uneven roads. This sound also produces a vibration that you can feel through the steering wheel. The initial stage of wear is easy to eliminate; this requires adjustment of the Kalina steering rack, which is easy to do with your own hands.

First of all, you need to loosen the three clamps on the air duct pipe:

• on the mass air flow sensor,
• on the crankcase ventilation pipe,
• on the throttle assembly.

After removing the air duct pipe, a large enough space opens up so that you can stick your hand in with a special wrench to adjust the rack and tighten the nut on the end of the PM crankcase. By turning the adjusting nut a quarter turn clockwise, you can begin installing the disassembled pipe and testing the machine. If the knocking noise has disappeared and when the car is moving, the steering wheel automatically returns from its extreme position, then the adjustment was made correctly. If the steering wheel does not return, you have over-tightened the rack. You will have to perform all the procedures again and loosen it somewhat, and then check again. If the knocking noise does not disappear when the nut is fully screwed in, then replacing the steering rack on Kalina is inevitable.

Making adjustments yourself

You can access the adjusting nut from the engine compartment, but to do this you will need to remove the battery, as well as the battery mounting pad. It is better to drive the car into a pit and then remove the crankcase protection (engine mudguard). If you look from under the bottom, the required element is immediately visible:

You need to turn this nut

And when you open the hood, you can feel the nut, but not see it. Its location is marked in the figure:

To make adjustments, place the key here

Before adjustment, remove the rubber cap from the recess. Its appearance is shown in the photo:

Remove the cap and install the key

If it is not entirely clear what exactly needs to be done, it is better to contact the service. The key is installed in the recess and then rotated 10-15 degrees.

When looking at the rack from above, turning the key clockwise corresponds to unscrewing it. The handle of the key comes from the center of the car - which means tightening is being done. By the way, the latter is true provided that the handle faces forward.

Changing the EUR on Lada Kalina

The electric power steering is mounted on the steering column and is removed along with it. First you need to turn off the power to the car by removing the battery terminal and position the front wheels straight. To dismantle the Kalina steering wheel, remove the lower cross member of the instrument panel, disconnect the wires from the EUR control unit and the switches located on the column, and then lower the steering wheel to the floor.

Now it is convenient to unscrew the nut of the bolt securing the lower universal joint to the steering gear shaft. Then we open the joint connection, use a flat screwdriver to remove the intermediate cardan from the pinion shaft of the RM Kalina and dismantle the column along with the electric power steering. After replacing the EUR with a new one, installation is carried out in the reverse order to that described above.

For safety reasons, replacement of various components and mechanisms should be carried out only with those approved by the Kalina manufacturer. If the vehicle requires repair, it must be carried out immediately, otherwise the risk of creating dangerous situations on the road increases. If damage is detected or there are irreparable faults, the mechanism must be replaced.

All modifications of the domestic car Lada Kalina are equipped with a rack-and-pinion steering mechanism with or without electric power steering (EP). Steering mechanisms with hydraulic drive were not installed on the Lada Kalina. Lada Priora, in turn, and Niva cars were equipped with power steering.

How to disassemble and repair a rack when jammed?

The repair procedure, like replacing the steering rack, begins with disassembling the unit. To perform a set of actions, we purchase a repair kit.

1. To disassemble the rack, unscrew the adjusting nut and then remove the thrust bushing. If at the moment we are experiencing difficulties, then we use a mallet, with which we apply gentle blows to the rack body.
2. We dismantle the side plugs along with the boot. First cut off the plastic fasteners.
3. We must replace the boot with a new product.
4. We also use a mallet to remove the shaft from the rack body.
5. Inside the freed crankcase we find a plastic sleeve, which we remove using a screwdriver. We also replace this component with a new analogue (present in the repair kit).
6. We clean the internal cavity of the rack housing from old grease. Wash and dry.
7. Apply new grease. We lubricate the gear pair with special care.
8. We inspect all other components of the rack and pinion mechanism and, if wear is suspected, we replace them. Removing the steering wheel in Lada Kalina works like this.

1. Disconnect the battery.

2. Turn off the airbags. Loosen the clamps and move them to the side.

3. Disconnect the two-wire horn connector.

4. We move on to the steering shaft and in the area where the arrow is present, we outline the location (until removal).

5. We loosen the steering wheel nut, but do not completely unscrew it.

6. We take hold of the steering wheel and, using rocking movements to the sides, move it close to the indicated nut.

7. Now we align the wheels and place the steering wheel in a strictly straight position.

8. We remove the pin and then insert it into the switch block located directly under the steering wheel. At this moment, the steering wheel rim should be clearly fixed.

9. After removing the wires, we proceed to removing the steering wheel itself.

10. We check the integrity of all elements.

11. Assembly is carried out using the reverse algorithm.

Steering gear

The rack and pinion steering mechanism is the most common vehicle control unit for passenger cars. The main parts of such a mechanism are the gear and steering rack.

The gear is mounted on the steering wheel shaft and is always in gear engagement with the rack. When the steering wheel rotates, the steering column rotates, the gear attached to it rotates, the gear drives the rack, which pushes the steering rods and turns the wheels.

Steering rack and pinion diagram 1-case; 2-lord; 3-spring; 4-ball pin; 5-ball joint; 6-stop; 7-rack steering; 8-gear.

As can be seen from the diagram, the design of the car steering mechanism is simple, but it is sensitive to vibrations while driving on uneven roads. 1 - outer tie rod end; 2-threaded bushing; 3-inner tie rod end; 4-protective cap right; 5-steering mechanism; 6-shaft-gear; 7-steering gear housing; 8-protective cap left; 9-stop plate for tie rod bolts; 10-connection plate; 11-crankcase pipe.

Rack and pinion steering is installed on front-wheel drive cars. On the Lada Kalina car, the steering rack is placed in an aluminum housing (crankcase). The gear used here is helical and, accordingly, the rack has helical teeth. The steering angle is 720 degrees, that is, 2 full turns: one turn to the right all the way, the second turn to the left all the way.

In order for all suspension parts to serve as long as possible, you need to drive over a speed bump or an “artificial bump” at a speed of 20 to 40 km/h.

Steering mechanisms for VAZ Lada Kalina cars are equipped with rack and pinion steering mechanisms with different gear ratios.

So, for those who like to drive, a steering mechanism with a gear ratio of 3.1 is suitable for street racing.

For ordinary cars, a steering device with a gear ratio of 4.02 is installed.

Wear on steering gear parts increases if there is no protection from dust, water and dirt. In Kalina, the parts of the steering device are protected from above by the hood, from below by the sump, but when used in an aggressive manner, water, salts, and dirt still get onto the steering column.

It turns out that the steering rack can be repaired (video example)

The serviceability of the steering system of any car is an important safety requirement on the road. Repair of the steering rack on Kalina must be carried out when any suspicious sounds occur. As practice shows, many car enthusiasts are calm about the fact that when turning the steering wheel there is a knocking or creaking noise, but this may indicate that the steering rack is knocking. Repairing the steering rack on Kalina is best done at a service station, but you can do it yourself.

Steering mechanism: 1 – boot; 2, 20 – bolts; 3 – washer; 4 – oil seal; 5 – crankcase cover; 6, 17 – sealing rings; 7 – separator; 8 – drive gear with bearing; 9 – steering rack; 10 – left protective cap; 11 – rod support; 12 – bracket; 13 – plug; 14 – stop nut; 15 – stop spring; 16 – retaining ring; 18 – rack stop; 19 – stop liner; 21 – locking plate; 22 – cover plate; 23 – clamp; 24 – protective cover; 25 – right protective cap; 26 – steering gear housing

Classification of steering mechanism faults into groups:

• large play (free play) of the steering wheel;
• the presence of extraneous noises, knocks and creaks while driving a car in different modes (creaking, knocking, for example, can only happen when turning right or only when going uphill);
• tight turn of the steering wheel.

Causes of malfunctions:

1. The tie rod nuts have become loose.
2. The steering tips and silent blocks are worn out.
3. The nuts securing the entire steering mechanism (RM) have become loose.
4. There is a large gap between the nut and the adjusting rod.

Troubleshoot problems by tightening bolted connections, replacing tips and silent blocks.

If the steering wheel on your Kalina car has become very difficult to turn, then the reasons for this may be:

1. The bearings of the upper support of the steering column upper universal joint (RC) are worn out.
2. The steering rack support bushing is worn or damaged.
3. The telescopic strut of the front suspension broke.
4. The electric power steering (EPS) does not work.
5. Low pressure in the front wheels.

The fifth reason can be easily eliminated with your own hands. To eliminate other causes of problems, you will have to contact a car mechanic or study the device and replacement procedure yourself.

There are also worm and screw types of steering mechanisms. Some people are interested in whether it is possible to install a mechanism of a different operating principle instead of the standard rack and pinion mechanism for driving a car. Answer: It is possible, it is possible, but is it necessary? It is better not to change the factory design at as many critical components as the machine control unit.

Causes of knocking noises and dismantling the rack

The most common cause of knocking is excessive wear on the ball joint of the tip. This malfunction requires an immediate replacement of the specified element, since further movement may become unsafe, and everything can be done with your own hands using a special repair kit.

The presence of malfunctions in the mechanism considered here, in addition to knocking, can also result in feedback in the steering wheel, which is noticeable to the driver.

It is also possible for the LADA Kalina steering wheel to “bite” in extreme positions. Here, adjustment and repair of the steering rack are extremely necessary. If after these measures the expected result is not observed, then the only way is to replace the steering rack assembly. A fairly common cause of knocking is a banal loosening of the bolt fasteners on the crankcase of the unit.

The design solutions present in the rack do not allow adjustment and tightening of the spring without dismantling the mechanism. But replacement is possible with your own hands using a repair kit.

To remove the rack you will need to perform the following sequence of actions.

1. We lift the front of the LADA Kalina car using available specialized tools.
2. We operate in the interior of the LADA Kalina and unscrew the bolt that holds the steering column in the adjusted position.
3. Remove both front wheels.
4. Unscrew the nuts of the swing arms and remove the ends.
5. Under the hood you will need to remove the battery paired with the platform.
6. We take out the heat reflector.
7. We unscrew the fasteners that hold the electric power steering rack to the body. Now we calmly remove the knot out.

Adjusting and setting the steering rack

If signs of abnormal operation of the steering mechanism appear, diagnostics and a visual inspection should be performed. Check bolted connections. It often happens that the nuts come loose, so the bolts need to be tightened periodically.

How to adjust the Kalina steering rack

Loosen the three clamps on the air duct pipe:

• on the mass air flow sensor (mass air flow sensor);
• on the crankcase ventilation pipe;
• on the throttle assembly.

Correct fault determination

Before starting work, you need to read the provided operating instructions for the vehicle, which explains how to disassemble a faulty steering rack.

After this, you can proceed to direct diagnostics:

1. The right edge of the rack should shine, otherwise a steering rack repair kit is needed.
2. The presence of even the slightest traces of rust, which will act as an abrasive material, is not allowed.
3. You should check the integrity of the bushing: if it knocks or shows signs of wear, it needs to be replaced.
4. It is necessary to carefully inspect all the fasteners: if places with loose clamps are found, tighten them.

You need to be very careful with the last factor. Excessive physical force will only do harm here. If you decide to diagnose and replace it yourself, you must use lubricant and a wrench. A heavily threaded bolt or nut simply requires the use of oil. In some cases, it can be moved 1-3 divisions, but do not despair. This is enough for a visual inspection.

If no signs of physical wear or rust are detected, you can return the nut to its place with your own hands. This will require a wrench and extreme concentration. Carefully pull the element to the desired level and fix it. There is 1 practical tip associated with the mentioned element: when driving intensively, you need to tighten the steering rack nut every 6 months.

There shouldn’t be any difficulties, because information on how to tighten the part is contained in the vehicle’s operating instructions.

How to replace the EUR on Kalina

The electric power steering is attached to the steering column and removed along with it.

Procedure for replacing the EUR:

1. Disconnect the car battery terminals.
2. Align the front wheels straight.
3. Remove the lower cross member of the instrument panel.
4. Disconnect the wires from the electric power steering control unit and the switches that are installed on the column.
5. Lower the steering wheel to the floor.
6. Unscrew the nut of the bolted fastening joint that connects the lower cardan shaft and the PM gear shaft.
7. Disconnect the hinge connection.
8. Using a flat-head screwdriver, remove the intermediate cardan from the pinion shaft of the Kalina steering mechanism and remove the column along with the EUR.
9. We install a new EUR for Kalina and assemble it in the reverse order.

To ensure safety, spare parts for such critical components as the steering mechanism should only be replaced with original ones from the Lada Kalina manufacturers.

Until the malfunctions of the steering mechanism of any vehicle are eliminated, further operation is prohibited.

Video

This video shows how to repair the steering mechanism on Kalina.

Knock in Kalina steering rack. How to remove.

Installation of Kalina steering rack.

Repair of the steering column gearbox and the RR itself on Priora, Kalina, Grant.

How to install a steering rack from Kalina 2 to Kalina 1.

Steering rack for Lada Kalina Sport with a gear ratio of 3.1 instead of 4.02.

Do-it-yourself repair of the steering rack, but not Kalina, but Daevoo Sens / Daewoo Sens.

Kalina control rack - VAZ 11183 Kalina rack repair

Have you ever had a chance to monitor knocks and noises from the side? Probably it happened. They changed the control tips, changed the ball tips, even changed the springs with support bearings, but does the knocking continue? It's time to tug, make sure there is free play and start sorting out the rack. In this article I will talk about repairing the VAZ 11183 rack , but the development is identical to all other VAZ front-wheel drive racks.

The most interesting thing is that these motherfuckers from AvtoVAZ do not fundamentally change anything except the gearbox housing, I bought a repair kit 2110-2112, the rack is listed in catalogs as 2110, but the splined part is longer than 2110, and the gearbox is slightly different, so just change Unfortunately, 11183 for 2110 will not work, although 2110 costs 2500 in my town, and 11183 5500 costs 6000 rubles. The difference per pocket is very noticeable.

Well, it doesn’t fit and doesn’t fit, so we give the engineers a hard time and start disassembling it. Unfortunately, there won’t be a photo for the article, because I was up to my elbows in mud and didn’t want to wash myself for the sake of pictures, but I’ll try to describe everything carefully.

Removing the steering mechanism.

1. For convenience of work in the future, and so as not to climb into the interior with stains, unscrew the bolt securing the splined connection from inside the cabin (you will see it near the floor of the control shaft).

2. We lift the car on a lift, throw it down, and knock out the control tips from the steering knuckles.

Lada Kalina steering rack repair

Buying a rack from Kalina is an expensive pleasure. For 2016, the price of a new rail in Moscow is 4,500 rubles. This is on average. The factory rack from AvtoVAZ from the spare parts stock refuses to move at all. Its resource, judging by reviews, is no more than 20 thousand. But usually for three or four months, after which it again begins to knock, leak and require adjustment, which, however, does little. There is, however, a good option to completely replace the rack with a Kalinov SS-20. Its price is twice the factory price, you can buy it in Moscow, but 10 thousand for a spare part for a budget car looks a little illogical. The resource of such a slats is almost endless and it will outlive Kalina herself. What is so special about it, and what can be special in general in the simplest design, where the only problem is in the polyurethane bushings, the rack and gear itself? Simply high-quality production according to nominal factory dimensions. The SS-20 company simply did what the plant should have done, namely, keep the ratings within the normal range and use those materials and grades of steel and casting that are provided for by the technical specifications.