Tie rods are important parts of the Chevrolet Niva suspension. They limit the movement of the rear axle, preventing it from moving forward or backward.
When driving off-road, the rods are subject to a high load. This may cause their deformation, wear of the silent blocks or breakage of the fastening.
As a result, the position of the rear axle is disrupted, the car begins to pull to the sides and tire wear accelerates. Therefore, you need to monitor the condition of the torque rods and silent blocks of the rear suspension.
What links are included in the rear suspension?
The Chevy Niva bridge is held in place using five parts. To prevent longitudinal and transverse displacement, four longitudinal rods (two each: front and rear) and one transverse rod are used. At the ends of the products there are eyes into which silent blocks are inserted to prevent knocking in the suspension. One end of the rod is attached to the bridge, the other to the car body.
The parts have the same diameter and differ only in length. The longest is the transverse thrust. The length of the elements ensures vertical mobility of the rear axle. Thanks to this, the silent blocks do not twist, even if the suspension moves by the full stroke of the shock absorber.
Thread: Adjustable Panhard rod.
Our rear suspension is the most common dependent suspension design. It consists of multiple levers - four longitudinal and one transverse. The levers are fixed on the bridge on one side, and on the frame on the other.
Levers provide the perception of vertical, longitudinal and lateral forces. A spring is used as an elastic element, and a shock absorber is used as a damping device. The transverse rod that prevents the car's axle from moving due to lateral forces is called the Panhard rod.
The attachment point of this rod to the body describes an arc, i.e. when the suspension oscillates, the body experiences some lateral displacement
, which
is greater
the
shorter the thrust and the greater its inclination
. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the tilt of the Panhard rod during a turn (also depending on the length), which, when rolling to one side (in our case, a roll to the right side) leads not only to a shift of the roll center upward, but also to an increase in this roll. As a result, the body may rotate around a vertical axis, affecting the position of the front wheels, which will lead to a change in direction of movement
Types of breakdowns and their causes
The parts are made of high-strength alloy steel, so they are practically not subject to deformation.
The jet rod can only bend as a result of hitting large stones or tree stumps off-road.
More often, car owners have to deal with other problems:
- Cracks in the welds between the rod base and the eyes. If a breakdown is not detected in time, the part may fall apart while moving.
- Corrosion of rods. A rusted base loses strength and is easily deformed or broken.
- Wear and damage to rubber bushings of silent blocks. Over time, rubber dries out and cracks. This process is enhanced by physical activity. As a result, play appears in the connection of the rod with the bridge and the body. This worsens the car's directional stability and can lead to the lugs coming off.
Important: the appearance of a knock in the rear suspension may indicate wear of the torque rod silent blocks. If the malfunction is not corrected in time, the lugs will quickly come off under the influence of increased shock loads.
Which ones are better?
There are parts from several manufacturers on the market, among which the following options can be distinguished:
- Cross and Detal-Resurs are two budget brands that produce suspension parts for the Niva. Price - from 1600 rub. per set.
- Sitek - budget spare parts with rubber or polyurethane silent blocks. They are distinguished by their small wall thickness and low weight. Suitable for those whose route mainly runs on asphalt. Price - 2200 rub.
- Niva Urban - inexpensive high-quality spare parts for Niva Chevrolet. The manufacturer produces rods for the entire VAZ family. Price - 2600 rub.
- UG is another budget rod from a little-known company. Like Sitek, they are not intended for active off-road running. Price 3000 rub.
- SC is a more expensive model, characterized by a rectangular cross-section. Judging by the mass, the manufacturer did not spare the metal. The quality of the seam does not cause any complaints from car owners. Price - 3400 rub.
- Niva Extreme - reliable, durable suspension parts that are preferred by fans of extreme racing. The only drawback is the price, which is almost 5,000 rubles.
Note: the high price of Niva Extreme parts is due to their non-standard design. These are enhanced traction.
Reinforced rods
The appearance of cracks between the rod base and the lugs will shorten the service life of the parts.
This problem can even cause an accident - the car suddenly pulls to the side when the traction breaks. To avoid unpleasant surprises, special reinforced parts are installed in the rear suspension. They are made of alloy or cold-rolled steel and differ from conventional ones in the diamond-shaped section of the base and powerful welding seams that hold the lugs.
Reinforced rods differ from standard ones in the following characteristics:
- Reduced weight of parts.
- Improved paint coating that prevents corrosion of elements.
- High strength welded seams.
- Increased resistance to torsion, compression and tension.
Installation of reinforced rods is recommended for full use of the Chevrolet Niva off-road. They don't offer much benefit for city or highway driving. Under gentle operating conditions, the strength of standard rods is quite sufficient, so there is no point in overpaying for reinforced parts.
Replacing jet rods
The work is carried out on an overpass or inspection ditch. To replace jet rods you need to prepare:
- hammer;
- a pair of spanners 19;
- metal brush for cleaning threads;
- mounting blade;
- WD-40 liquid.
Reaction rods need to be changed in the following sequence: transverse, front, rear. You should not lift the rear axle with a jack, otherwise there will be difficulties in aligning the holes of the silent blocks and mounting brackets.
Replacing longitudinal rods on a VAZ 2121 Niva car
With longitudinal reaction rods, everything happens exactly the same by analogy, and the same tool is needed. The only thing that can be noted is that you will need to unscrew the lower shock absorber mounts when removing the long cross rods. This is necessary in order to remove the long rod mounting bolt.
Also everything is done, we put two keys on both sides and unscrew the fastening nuts:
Then we knock out the bolt through a wooden block, the photo below clearly shows it, only without the block:
We carry out all work on replacing jet rods one by one, replacing first two long ones, for example, and then changing short ones, or vice versa.
Purpose of jet thrust
The reaction bar for the Chevrolet Niva car is a suspension element, the purpose of which is to limit the movement of the front steering knuckle or rear axle, depending on their location.
Tie rods are part of the suspension design, and their main purpose is to hold the wheel in place in the longitudinal direction. The rods are designed in such a way that allows the lever to move freely to the upper or lower position. The fastening to the lever is provided by a rigid tie at two points, and to the body by bolts that are threaded and secured into silent blocks.
Rear torque rods are used primarily in the design of independent multi-link suspension. They are designed to retain oscillatory influences in the transverse direction of the bridge. The rear reaction rods are attached to the suspension due to the fact that both ends are mounted through silent blocks. One edge is attached to the body, and the other to the axle of the Niva Chevrolet.
Transverse jet thrust has a longer structure than longitudinal ones. This is due to the fact that the possibility of moving the bridge can be quite significant. Thus, in order to achieve significant mobility, these elements are lengthened. Even if a situation arises when the bridge moves over the entire length of the shock absorber, the structural elements of the product (silent blocks) practically remain motionless (do not twist).
What are they made of and why do they need to be changed?
Tie rods are made primarily of cast elastic steel, designed to withstand high loads over a long period of operation. But if they consisted only of a cast steel base, then they would almost never need to be replaced. But an important element of this product are silent blocks or eyes. They are an integral part of the rods, which are attached by welding. Silent blocks are not poured together with the production of rods, so I rightfully recognize them as the weak link of this product. A small crack in a weld can cause the product to disintegrate on the road, so it is necessary to monitor and replace them at the first sign of trouble.
How did jet rods appear?
Progress has never stood still, of course this also applies to the automotive industry. Engineers are constantly working to increase the speed of the car. But it’s not enough to achieve high speeds; the car must still handle perfectly. Previously, the rear suspension was quite simple and consisted of a spring, which was also a stabilizer. This caused the car to roll and sway at high speed, which had a negative impact on handling. But if you didn't go very fast everything was fine.
This fact has forced automakers to think and look for solutions to eliminate the negative influence of forces that can overturn a car. First, engineers invented and used a system of levers, which were also taken as the basis for creating an independent suspension. Of course, this did not stop there and development continued. To make the body more stable, jet propulsion was invented.
Purpose of jet thrusts.
In the Chevrolet Niva, torque rods are a suspension element. Rods are installed to limit the movement of the rear axle or steering knuckle. The wheel is fixed in the longitudinal direction, but at the same time moves freely up and down. Fastening is carried out using bolts on the lever on one side and using silent blocks on the body on the other.
Rear links are used if the car is equipped with a multi-link suspension. They perform the same function - they hold the longitudinal movement of the bridge. They are attached using silent blocks to the bridge and car body.
Depending on the location they have different lengths. Longitudinal rods are usually shorter than transverse rods. This is because the bridge can deviate over a considerable distance.
Replacing bushings.
To save on repairs, you can limit yourself to replacing metal bushings. However, it is necessary to check the welds for damage. If a visual inspection does not reveal any damage, but it is noticeable that the rubber bands have dried out or become rough, then the bushings can be replaced. The cost of such a kit is quite low, around 300-500 rubles.
Work order:
- The rod is removed
- A stop is installed on the sleeve, on the other side there is a tube, opposite the silent block. It is necessary to use a pipe with a diameter of 5-8 centimeters. This structure is then clamped in a vice so that the sleeve falls out.
- You need to pull out the rubber bushing. To do this, the rod is clamped in a vice and the remaining rubber is removed using a screwdriver.
Why is there a need for replacement?
The thrust rods themselves are made of high-strength material to withstand high loads that occur during movement and long-term operation of the vehicle. But using only one metal in the manufacture of rods is impossible. At the mounting points, special eyes are made into which silent blocks are installed. They are installed in the rods directly at the factory and secured by welding. Therefore, they are the weak point of the system. If errors were made during manufacturing and microcracks appeared, this could eventually lead to destruction of the product. Therefore, it is important to correct the malfunction in a timely manner and periodically diagnose the car.
The design also includes rubber bands that protect against dust. If the seals are damaged, the rubber bands bear increased load. They begin to deform and tear. Over time, this can cause the rod to come off.
But it is impossible to constructively do without oil seals. Therefore, the rod must rotate slightly to compensate for the movement of the suspension.
Installation of reinforced rods
To increase the life of the suspension, to be more confident in the condition of the car, you have to use higher quality, but also more expensive parts. Reinforced thrust rods of the Niva Chevrolet are made of more durable materials. In addition, the place of welding seams is processed more carefully to prevent the occurrence of cracks. Some reinforced rods are specially made not round, but diamond-shaped. According to experts, such angles of rigidity allow them to withstand stronger loads.
In general, there are several criteria that distinguish enhanced jet thrusts:
- lower weight
- high quality production. The special shape allows protection against twisting and compression, which gives an advantage when driving off-road.
- factory production
- Technological painting. The use of powder coating helps prevent corrosion due to higher adhesion to the metal. This also protects against the occurrence of microcracks.
Which jet rods (rods) are best installed on the Chevrolet Niva and other SUV modifications
Content:
- Rear suspension rods and their purpose
- What are the dangers of worn jet thrusts?
- Types of faults and repairs
- Which Niva Chevrolet jet rods are suitable for the Niva and other modifications of this car
- Trusted manufacturers
Rear suspension rods and their purpose
What are jet thrusts?
In simple terms, these are steel tubes that hold the Niva’s rear axle from excessive vibrations transmitted from the wheels, not only in the vertical plane, but also horizontally. There are lugs at the ends of the metal tubes; silent blocks (rubber or polyurethane seals) are inserted into them. By means of bolts and nuts on the left and right, a pair of short and a pair of long rods connect, respectively, the upper and lower plane of the rear axle with the body. The rods are attached to the body through appropriate brackets.
Another longest one, the Panhard rod, is installed transversely, to some extent performing the work of a stabilizer bar. It, among other things, does not allow the car to catch excessive roll in sharp turns.
If we approach the issue academically, then the Panhard thrust goes back as far as the 19th century and its name is consonant with the name of the inventor Rene Panhard, who is also the founder of the Panhard-Levasseur automobile concern. This structural element prevents predominantly lateral vibrations of the Niva Bridge.
Later, Watt’s device was invented, which is considered, not without reason, to be a more technologically advanced alternative to the above-mentioned thrust. It does exactly the same job. A consists of two beams placed parallel to the axis of the machine, articulated by a vertical connecting link. But we definitely won’t dwell on this subject for long; you can learn more about the principle of operation of the Watt parallelogram in technical literature or on the Internet.
Also, for reliability and greater rigidity of the suspension, there is a practice of using rods of square rather than round cross-section, but experienced Nivovodys know very well that excessively heavy and “super-reliable” suspension elements attached to the car body can simply break off the fasteners, thereby doing a bad job .
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What are the dangers of worn jet thrusts?
In a car, by and large, there are few elements whose significance can be questioned. It is better to keep the suspension, along with all its numerous elements, in relative order.
Knocking and other sounds
Are there any extraneous thuds from the rear of your vehicle when driving off-road?! It is better to choose the time and inspect, among other things, the Niva Chevrolet jet rods. The source of noise can be, for example, dried silent blocks. In this case, the eye will constantly hit the mounting bracket, the latter will suffer more and more and may eventually break off if the traction eye does not collapse first.
Problems with handling, the car "drives"
This case is just a neglected version of the previous story. When the driver does not pay attention to the car’s suspension, sooner or later one can feel strange vibrations of the car even on a flat road, a distinct instability of the car when turning, etc. The Niva 2131's jet thrusts are largely responsible for this point.
Accelerated wear of rubber, as the bridge moves along one trajectory - the car moves along another
Abnormal vibrations of the axle, together with the hubs and wheels, are a sure way to premature damage to the tires and their inadequate wear. Again, it is better to take timely measures to replace or repair jet rods.
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Types of faults and repairs
As a rule, external signs are relatively easy to help you diagnose yourself - whether you need to prepare for a total replacement of all five jet rods, or whether you can limit yourself to a partial replacement of silent blocks or individual units of the kit.
Metal deformation
Motorists who own any of the modifications of the VAZ-2121 SUV have an active lifestyle, frequent off-road trips, etc. Operating the machine in difficult road conditions on dirt, rocky and forest paths often leads to trouble. Stones “fly” into the bars, the iron bends, and in high-speed races, it sometimes even breaks, in the literal sense of the word.
By the way, a bent piece of iron can always be replaced separately from the kit. There is no need to delay this.
Dried or torn rubber bands
A dry silent block quickly makes itself known - extraneous impacts appear, and there is noise in the rear of the car. In order not to break the rubber seats, it is better to take timely measures and, at least, simply replace the silent block.
Strong displacement, broken fastening
This kind of damage to the car body or axle usually occurs when various structural modifications or reinforcements are used. Even the installation of reinforced rods can easily lead to “fatigue” of the mounting brackets, since they will bear more load than expected by the engineers. Moreover, usually reinforced rods have more weight.
Accordingly, when using them, care should be taken in advance to strengthen the attachment points. Well, the torn bracket will have to be fixed by welding, and then a set of measures will have to be taken to protect the seams from corrosion.
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What jet thrusts go to the Niva and other modifications of this car?
The history of the VAZ-2121 goes back over four decades! This is actually a lot. Therefore, it is not strange that in modern generations of the car, since about 2016, they do not use the same rods that were installed on the first Niva cars.
Now they use improved versions of new rods. They are relevant for Niva Urban and VAZ-2121. Accordingly, the thrust rods on the Niva 21213, 21214 are installed the same - on cars with a long body, as we already know, the cardan shafts are different, but the rods are identical. Both the Chevrolet Niva, aka VAZ-2130 and Lada Niva are equipped with the same modified version.
By the way, the SV-PARTS assortment includes reinforced jet rods for the Chevrolet Niva made of alloy steel:
Jet rods VAZ 21213, Urban AvtoVAZ
Art. 21217-2919010-00
2600.00
— +
Buy
They are also applicable to the classic car family. Visually and actually from the parts from the “Soviet” car, the new Niva 2121 thrust rods (rods) differ in more massive silent blocks, greater weight, and a slightly larger diameter (30 mm). For safety, the products are powder coated, which remains the best protection against corrosion.
Speaking about the choice - which is better to choose jet rods for a Chevrolet Niva, you can also consider the option of installing a suspension lift kit, for example, using a ready-made kit, which is available in our online store. You don’t have to select them separately for your car:
Lift kit 40 mm Niva 2121, 21213, 21214, 2131 until 2009.
Art. SV.21.0000010
12000.00
— +
Buy
It’s worth mentioning separately about the installation of an adjustable Panhard rod:
Hit
Reinforced adjustable reaction rods VAZ 2121-21214, Chevrolet, Niva Urban (silent block 21217)
Art. 21217-2919110-01
2860.00
— +
Buy
As mentioned above, it is used to align the position of the bridge relative to the body in order to prevent incorrect operation of the suspension, which causes deterioration in handling and increased wear of parts.
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Trusted manufacturers
With all the wealth of choice, in fact, the Russian market offers products of only 5-7 companies that produce jet rods (rods) 2123 and their other varieties. There are, for example, inexpensive and quite reliable products “Cross” and “Leader” from the company SITEK:
Jet thrust VAZ 2101-2107, 2121 SITEK Leader, set
Art. 2107-2919110-15
3200.00
— +
Buy
Of course, factory parts from AVTOVAZ are present on the market and, rightfully, in demand:
Jet rods VAZ 21213, Urban AvtoVAZ
Art. 21217-2919010-00
2600.00
— +
Buy
There are, with their own jet rods for Niva, such as UG, SC and Niva Extrime for fans of extreme vehicle operation.
From our company’s assortment, we can recommend parts from our own brand SV-PARTS, which combine almost all the best characteristics. We have regular non-adjustable rods:
Jet rods 2101-2121 (1 long adjustable) SV
Art. SV.21.2919010.01
1850.00
— +
Buy
There are also adjustable ones. A complete set of reaction rods for maximum fine tuning of a car with a complex custom suspension:
Jet rods 2101-2121 (all adjustable) SV
Art. SV.21.2919010.02
3800.00
— +
Buy
Let's stay in touch!
This is where we put an end to the story. We hope that our review will make it easier to choose what are the best jet propulsion systems for the Niva in Russia and the CIS. In the meantime, it remains to be reminded that the SV-PARTS company is present on social networks.
With us you can easily learn a lot of interesting things, we are on Instagram and YouTube. Subscribe! Read and watch useful reviews and recommendations for choosing spare parts for the Niva!
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Signs that the rods require replacement
Typically, a problem with torque rods manifests itself in the form of vibrations when starting off or changing gears. If these symptoms occur, it is necessary to carry out an external inspection of the rods for malfunctions. To do this, the car is placed on a pit or viewing platform and the welding points and the condition of the rubber bands are examined. It is also necessary to check the backlash of the reaction rods. If there are problems, replacement is required.
As a rule, the entire set is changed completely, since the load on them is distributed evenly and if there are problems with one, it may soon be necessary to replace the other rod.
Replacing the transverse rod of Niva VAZ 2121
I will show you using the left side as an example, since there are certain nuances there. To unscrew the nut, you need to hold the bolt on the back side, and you can only reach there with the head, approximately as shown in the photo below:
On the reverse side, we use a wrench with a long lever to move the threads out of place. If the nut is then unscrewed normally, you can use a ratchet to do everything as quickly and conveniently as possible:
After this, to knock out the bolt, you can use a wooden block or the handle of a hammer, knocking on the back side:
And then you can do the same with the second side of the transverse rod, after which you can remove it and replace it with a new one if necessary.
The price of a set of new rods for the Niva VAZ 2121 is 1,100 rubles.
