Which shock absorber struts are better to install on a VAZ 2112

Expert: Boris Vladimirovich Filatov

*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

Struts are key elements of a car suspension, designed to compensate for uneven road surfaces and dampen the resulting lateral vibrations of the body. In the current article, we will look at the most successful serial racks for VAZ cars, since this topic remains relevant throughout the entire modern stage of the existence of the domestic company. The criteria for selecting nominees for the consolidated rating were numerous consumer reviews, as well as the opinions of in-house experts, made on the basis of analytical data and research.

Front shock absorbers VAZ 2110, 2111, 2012

Front shock absorbers on VAZ 2110, 2111, 2012 are divided into right-hand and left-hand, gas and oil. Since the first modifications had collapsible bodies, and later solid Priorov ones, it is recommended to install front shock absorbers in accordance with their design. If you switch from shock absorber (strut) 2170 to 2110, everything will turn out to be much more financially expensive, since this will require changing such spare parts as: shock absorber (liner) 2110, shock absorber body 2110, factory nut securing the shock absorber to the body 2110, spring 2110, upper front support shock absorber 2110, spring plate 2110, shock absorber boots 2110, shock absorber bumpers 2110.

To choose a rack, you need to correctly determine its main dimensions; the data in the tables below will help you with this.

Why is shock absorber wear dangerous?

Failure of shock absorbers leads to a loss of vehicle stability on the road: skidding and rolls occur, and the brakes work worse. With such unstable driving, tires wear out faster, supports break, and other important suspension elements fail, which leads to an increased risk of an accident.

With 50% wear, the braking distance of the car increases by 2 m (if the car is moving at a speed of 50 km/h). That is, worn shock absorbers are just as dangerous as faulty brakes.

The reasons for accelerated wear of shock absorbers can be factory defects, corrosion, accumulation of dirt, temperature and mechanical deformation, and malfunction of other suspension elements.

Signs of shock absorber wear are:

• body swaying during maneuvers;
• skidding on corners;
• sagging of the rear part of the body when accelerating the car and the front part when braking;
• increased sensitivity to road irregularities;
• uneven tire wear, “squealing” when turning and braking;
• vibration of the steering wheel while the car is moving;
• Frequent activation of the ABS anti-lock braking system.

The need for urgent replacement of shock absorbers is also indicated by the appearance of oil leaks on the struts.

If there is obvious wear on one of the shock absorbers (rear or front), it is necessary to change both cylinders at once, since they work in pairs, and their quality most likely deteriorates simultaneously.

Experts advise diagnosing shock absorbers every 20,000 km, and this should be done at a service station where there is special high-precision equipment for this. It is important to remember that it is usually difficult for a driver to “by eye” determine the initial signs of deterioration in the performance of shock absorbers.

Analogs of front shock absorbers Lada 2110-12

Very often, when replacing a shock absorber strut or liner, preference is given to foreign manufacturers, since their products are relatively cheap and have a high level of quality. The most popular are the racks presented in the table.

Shock absorber KYB 665503

Shock absorber Hola S431

"Plaza"

Behind this very pleasant name is the St. Petersburg Shock Absorber Plant. In itself, the fact that this is a domestic company speaks of production taking into account current standards. All products have the “QTK” stamp, which reduces the risk of defective parts reaching store shelves. All shock-absorbing struts produced by the plant are oil-based, which, however, does not reduce their quality. A total of 4 rack options are offered:

• Soft-Drive
  , these are the softest shock absorbers offered by the manufacturer; in terms of driving performance, they are practically no different from the original ones. The car will still rock, but their service life will be much longer;
• Sport. The rigidity of these racks is almost 80% higher compared to the original ones. In this regard, they perfectly hold the road. But, when traveling over bumps, the movement will not seem too comfortable to you. This line includes shortened racks designed to lower the car;
• The X-Drives
  are quite rigid and do a good job. The manufacturer recommends them for use in the northern regions of our country;
• The standard is perhaps the toughest of the entire line. The disadvantage is that the oil freezes even in slight frost. It takes a considerable amount of time to “roll out” the car.

Rear shock absorbers for VAZ 2110-2112

Rear shock absorbers on the VAZ 2110-12 are available in two types: gas and oil, respectively, the article numbers for gas will be 21100291540220, and for oil - 21100291540201. Both are left- and right-handed. Technical dimensions are presented in the table below.

Kayaba

The products of this manufacturer are in great demand among drivers. It is these shock-absorbing struts that are considered the standard of quality. At the same time, there are plenty of fakes on the market, so always order products only from official dealers. The range of products produced is large. 3 models of racks are perfect for the “tenth family”:

• EXCEL-G
  is a gas shock absorber strut. It uses nitrogen. As a result, the knot turns out to be quite soft. This will be appreciated by those who like a comfortable and not too fast ride;
• Ultra SR
  are sports shock absorbers. With their help, the car holds the road perfectly. Possible use in conjunction with low profile tires. And also together with tires that have a radial tread pattern;
• Premium
  is a hydraulic shock absorber. It is a complete analogue of the factory one. But, at the same time, it is made of higher quality materials. And what is typical, it lasts much longer.

Analogs of rear shock absorbers Lada 2110-2112

When buying a car, many car owners change the rear struts to higher quality foreign parts, this allows them to increase the reliability of the car, the softness of the suspension and the stability of the ride. The most popular spare parts from foreign manufacturers are presented in the table.

Shock absorber KYB 441824

Shock absorber OAT 21100291540220

Types of shock absorbers. Their advantages and disadvantages

Today, the automotive market offers consumers a huge range of shock absorbers. However, the question of which struts (gas-hydraulic or oil) are the safest and most reliable does not lose its significance and relevance.

The hydraulic (oil) shock absorber consists of:

• compensation chamber;
• working cylinder;
• bushing guide;
• rod with piston;
• shock-absorbing fluid.

The oil strut significantly reduces the amplitude of suspension vibrations that occur during tension and compression. The movement of the oil emulsion from one part of the capsule to another provides the effect of leveling the destructive force of vibrations.

The disadvantages of oil racks include:

1. Low or excessive presence of air in the compensation chamber. In the first case, the efficiency of the unit tends to zero, and in the second, resistance inside the structure almost completely disappears.
2. When driving on uneven surfaces, the effectiveness of the shock absorber is significantly reduced. This occurs due to the fact that when the working piston moves too actively, the oil substance mixes with air bubbles and loses viscosity. Therefore, regular driving on country roads can lead to rapid wear of the hydraulic struts.
3. During prolonged continuous driving, the oil overheats and becomes less viscous. This significantly reduces the efficiency of the shock absorber.

The main advantages of units of this type are compactness and fairly low cost.

A characteristic feature of gas-oil struts for GAZ 2112 vehicles is that their compensation chamber is filled with gas. It is pumped there under high pressure, which, in fact, determines the advantage of gas shock absorbers over hydraulic ones. Since high gas pressure keeps the piston in a slightly compressed position, when the car overcomes bumps, the stiffness of the strut changes non-linearly. And this ensures qualitatively better handling of the VAZ 2112 car.

A special membrane inside the chamber of gas-hydraulic struts isolates gas from oil, which prevents the liquid from foaming and extends the service life of the strut.

The increased level of rigidity of gas-oil units can significantly increase the stability of the VAZ 2112 when maneuvering at maximum speeds. At the same time, the load on the vehicle body increases, which can extremely negatively affect the condition of metal parts (ball joints, bearings, etc.). In addition, the complexity of the gas-oil shock absorber design significantly increases its cost.

Features of the front pillars

Shock absorbers are a kind of telescopic devices. Functionally, their presence ensures reliable and constant adhesion of the wheels to the road surface. The design itself is a hollow cavity in the form of a chamber within which pistons can move. Thanks to this system, the impact force transferred from the wheels, during the passage of uneven surfaces, to the car body is smoothed out. The characteristics and operating features directly depend on the environment in which the piston system is located.

What other options are there?

Most drivers leave the standard “original” shock absorbers. Some people install dampers from the Niva - such parts are much stiffer, because the 2121 model was originally designed for poor road conditions.

Gas-oil ones are not particularly popular, but are great for those who drive quite quickly. This is an indispensable part for tuning. Improved comfort. Adjustable shock absorbers are used in sports cars. For ordinary cars, such a solution is impractical.