We increase the ground clearance of the Niva VAZ-2121 21213 21214 2131 (suspension lift)

Currently, there are 4 ways to lift a Niva car:

1. Installation of rigid long springs and a spacer over the upper ball.
2. Installing spacers under the spring cup and a spacer above the upper ball.
3. By installing large wheels (a significant disadvantage is that the arches will need to be cut).
4. Lowering the beam down to the desired height.

Further, for a better understanding, all methods will be considered separately.

The first two methods are the easiest to perform. However, at the same time, these methods are incorrect, since with this design the lower arm moves lower relative to the body, as a result of which the car is lifted.

Experts consider the third method to be more correct. Since when lifting is carried out, the suspension will retain the driving characteristics that were specified at the factory during manufacture. Therefore, by making a lift in this way, the driver does not sacrifice the speed of the car in any way. In addition, this will help avoid unwanted steering and changes in the operation of the braking system.

What affects the increase in clearance

There are two options that car owners use. They can be combined, and in some cases one option cannot exist without the other. They divide Niva elevator methods into two categories.

First category:

• spacers for springs;
• spacers for ball joints;
• replacing springs and shock absorbers with longer ones;

Second category:

• increase in wheel diameter;
• extended jet thrust;

It is worth considering that the use of large wheels is impossible without increasing the length of the suspension elements. In addition, it may be necessary to trim the wheel arches. Therefore, to prevent one type of tuning from developing into another, it is important to start small and follow the elevator sequence.

Subtleties of lifting

In this type of car suspension tuning, such as lifting, you always need to maintain common sense and be able to stop in time. It is important to know that during modification, the bend angle of the drives changes, which automatically leads to a reduction in their service life. In most cases, such car tuning is done to order, since everything depends on the wishes of each car owner; an individual suspension modernization project is drawn up for each car. The center of gravity also shifts and, as a result, the overall behavior of the car on the road changes. It is believed that the maximum wheel size should not exceed 235/75 r15. It is necessary to increase the ground clearance only with minimal load on the chassis, otherwise serious problems may arise.

Tuning the suspension of such a car is very popular among hunters and fishermen. The cross-country ability of this vehicle has already proven itself at a high level, and the suspension upgrades made increase them even more. This makes it even more popular and functional.

Modified all-terrain vehicle

You should only use a lift for a Chevrolet Niva if you spend time off-road, because a lifted car reduces the life of the suspension, transmission and the life of chassis parts. If you know that you will spend time hunting and fishing, then it is worth carrying out such an upgrade. Remember that choosing wheels for your car is an important aspect of tuning. Lifting is also suitable for people who love wild nature and are not afraid of difficulties while riding. But be prepared that parts will wear out faster during such extreme driving.

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Niva elevator

Post by Pilot » Dec 12, 2009, 04:16 pm

The standard Niva has a ground clearance of 220 mm. Because of this, it is very problematic to drive on a serious rut. To significantly reduce this problem, you can make a suspension lift and install wheels larger than standard ones.

The photo shows the car after the lift on tires size 235/75 R15

Clearance under the front beam before and after the elevator

Raised Niva on 235/75 R15 tires and standard on 205/70 R16 tires

There is now 32 cm of clearance under the front beam. So it is now more difficult to sit on it.

Niva 2121 suspension lift sequence

You should start with options that will least affect the design of the car. Then you can move on to complex options, depending on the tasks being solved.

Big wheels

It would be wrong to call such wheels large, but their diameter is slightly larger than that of the standard version, so the ground clearance will definitely increase. On VAZ 2121, 21213 and 21214, without any modifications, you can safely install the following tire configurations:

• 215/65R16;
• 205/75R15;
• 205/70R15;

It is worth considering that the larger the wheels, the worse the dynamic characteristics will be. The Niva engine does not allow it to support larger wheel sizes without maintaining power.

Springs

The next option is more budget-friendly than the previous one, but it will allow you to seriously raise the Niva and allow you to use even 28 tires. An example of such springs is from the Chevrolet Niva. Their length is 314 mm with the standard Lada 4x4 size being 278 mm.

Comparison of springs from Chevrolet Niva and 3D

When installing larger springs, it is necessary to replace the shock absorbers. Otherwise, they simply will not fall into place. And if you try to install them by force, they will break. However, it is not necessary to use new shock absorbers. There are mounting kits that move the installation location of the eye.

Spacers

If you want to install 30th wheels, then you need to use the previous methods in combination with spacers. A spacer is a polyurethane spacer that is installed between the spring and its cup. In addition, there are special spacers that are mounted between the ball joints and levers in order to increase the angle of inclination of the levers.

Elevator set of spacers and fastenings

More tips for tuning the Niva 2121's chassis:

Advice from experienced people: do-it-yourself Niva lifting

Increasing the vehicle's ground clearance
Do-it-yourself Niva lift is an operation that does not increase the ground clearance, but makes it possible to install larger wheels that improve the operation of the car in off-road conditions. Basically, the elevator of Niva 21214 and other models is carried out in two directions:

1. Tourism for those who like to get away from civilization using cheap, relatively imported SUVs, Niva 21213 or Niva 21214, which have the same all-wheel drive and available spare parts for little money.
2. Competitions in the class of trials, rally raids, trophy raids, orienteering, where Niva 2121 or 2131 cars not only drive, but also “jump”, overcome mud obstacles, etc.

Is it necessary to change the jet thrust when lifting the Niva?

As the suspension height increases, the reaction rods will be subjected to too much stress. In addition, their length may become insufficient for fastening. Therefore, to adjust the position of the bridge and increase strength, it is necessary to install adjustable rods of reinforced design.

Adjustable rods of the Niva rear axle

Tie rods must be changed when using:

• longer springs;
• spacers;

If tuning involves wheels of larger diameter, then there is no need to use long torque rods, since the wheels do not change the position of the body relative to the suspension angles.

Lift options

How and where you will make a lift for your crossover, decide for yourself. I will try to tell you about all the nuances of this procedure so that you understand what to expect and what to prepare for.

Let's start with the existing elevator options. Suspension modification professionals distinguish two types of such procedures:

• body;
• pendant.

I will say right away that a body lift lifts the entire body by using stands, modifying the hose and other parts. In theory, such tuning is very simple, but in the case of the Niva it is not used. And why all? Yes, because the Niva 2121 and other representatives of the series do not have a frame. If there was a frame, then there would be no questions.

From this we conclude that for our Niva the optimal solution would be suspension lifting. It provides the following benefits:

• increases crossover cross-country ability;
• lifts the entire machine;
• allows you to install larger wheels without having to trim the arches;
• provides the car with a more attractive appearance;
• makes the Niva an ideal car for fishing, hunting and driving on the most difficult sections of roads and off-roads.

If you raise the car by about 45 mm, achieve a lift of 50 mm, or even take the height to a bold 60 mm, you can easily insert wheels with a diameter of up to 29 inches into the factory arches. Do not forget that installing large wheels affects fuel consumption.

Many people mistakenly believe that it is easier to cut out the arches, insert 33-inch tires there and thereby raise the car. In practice, with such solutions the machine rises slightly. Most importantly, this does not greatly affect the geometric cross-country ability. I would recommend installing 31-inch wheels and lifting at the same time. This combination will provide the best result. Just choose your car wheels wisely and don’t forget about the seasonal rules for storing tires.

I'll make one remark. When lifting the car, the service life of the internal CV joint and the factory boot is reduced. To fix the problem, try replacing the internal boots on the CV joint with external ones, and also lower the FRM (front axle gearbox) by 10 mm. This way it will be possible to reduce the angle of operation of the CV joint.

Classification

The suspension elements under consideration are divided into two types according to their rigidity:

1. Standard hard ones are designated by the letter “A”. They have high stability and load capacity.
2. Soft “B” is their main advantage in providing increased comfort, but at the same time they quickly become unusable - they “sag”.

Reference! From the factory, Shniva is equipped with class “A” parts, that is, rigid ones.

And a few more important points

1. When upgrading the suspension, it is also important to install stronger springs on the vehicle. You can buy special reinforced rigid products, however, their price may not be very low. Most often, springs from Volga are purchased for Niva. Before installation, one and a half turns of the spring are cut using a grinder. Thus, the car's suspension will be more protected for a long period.
2. Reinforced axle shafts are also a necessary purchase when strengthening the suspension. However, relief-type axle shafts will only fit disc brakes. If your vehicle is equipped with rear drum brakes, then you will have to replace them with disc brakes. Moreover, disc brakes have significant advantages over their predecessors.
3. When strengthening the front and rear drives of a car, choose only domestic parts that are durable, have a long service life, and are characterized by low wear.

Important information for motorists

If the driver is going to lift an old car, then it is necessary to remember the internal CV joints (they can move out of place). Therefore, you need to be careful and, if necessary, replace them with new ones. You can also fix the problem by reducing the drive angle by uncoupling the front axle.

When installing 33-inch wheels on a Niva car, you will have to cut out the arches and also perform suspension tuning. If you cut out the arches, you can increase the car's ground clearance and airtight strength. Thanks to this, the car will be able to drive even in the dirtiest and most impassable places.

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Making a Niva-2121 elevator with your own hands, the drawings, the dimensions of which are freely available, will not be difficult. Thanks to such a trick, you can make your car more stable on the road and overcome a lot of obstacles with it. Of course, to bring a truly high-quality Niva elevator to life with your own hands, you will have to work hard.

The process will take time and require effort, because even the easiest elevator requires a significant immersion in the technical aspects of the issue. However, the end result will live up to all expectations, allowing the modest Niva to show its exceptional side.

Now about the necessary gadgets

Now it’s worth talking about what “bells and whistles” you will need when tuning your Niva for off-road use. So: 1. Let's start with the little things - the trunk. In general, the luggage compartment of the Niva is terribly small, so you either need a trailer or attach the luggage rack from above. It’s clear that we don’t need a trailer off-road. Therefore, we simply install an additional roof rack. Advice: Install a reinforced trunk, with powerful fastenings to both the roof and the body. You can also add a ladder, then it will be easier to climb.

2. Since off-roading also involves overcoming water obstacles, I strongly recommend that you do the following:

• completely seal the air filter and remove the air intake to the roof;
• replace the factory fan with twin electric ones. They can be turned off from the cabin when crossing a ford;
• of course, carry out additional waterproofing of the ignition system.

3. Finally, an indispensable attribute of off-road tuning is a winch. I’ll tell you what: very often I see a winch installed on a car, but it’s of no use. Why? Everything is very simple. Some people install a winch more for show than for purpose. In order for the winch to actually perform its functions off-road, you need to do the following:

• Be sure to purchase a quality product. Don't spare money on it;
• It is advisable to install a winch not only in front, but also in the rear. Then you can easily pull your field forward when necessary, and pull it back if you get really serious.