Do-it-yourself Niva 2121 elevator: drawings, dimensions

Dimensions of openings and clearances of mating parts of the car body of the VAZ-2121 model

Engine and suspension mounting points on the body of a VAZ-2121 model car

Mounting points for the engine and suspensions on the body 21214 and 2131

1 – fastening of the front suspension cross member; 2 – mounting of the anti-roll bar; 3 – fastening the rear suspension of the power unit; 4 – transfer case fastening; 5 – fastening of the lower longitudinal rods; 6 – fastening of the upper longitudinal rods; 7 – attachment point for the rear suspension transverse rod. ( )* – size given for body 2131

Engine and suspension mounting points on the body 21214M, 2131M

7 – fastening of rear shock absorbers; 8 – attachment point for the rear suspension transverse rod. ( )* – size given for body 2131M

Dimensions of openings and clearances of mating body parts 2121,21213, 2131

A	B	IN	G	D	E
1112±5	1320±5	955±4	782±2	883±2	1710±6
AND	3	AND	TO	L	M
938±2	1420±4	575±2	1420±4	780±2	1395±5
N	ABOUT	P	R	WITH	T
950±4	1250±5	1090±5	855±4	480±2	570±2

Points of attachment of components and assemblies to the body and dimensions between them - VAZ-21213 (clickable)

Sections of body parts

Clearances of the door, hood, lock door with mating parts (indicated in mm.)

Large poster with control points, angles, degrees

Video

DIY buggy from NIVA

I really wanted to make a buggy with my own hands from a cornfield with all-wheel drive , and, according to the idea, it should be lighter than the standard one and have a completely independent suspension. There are several buggies where both front suspensions from Niva are used as suspension. I consider this a half-measure, since the entire front suspension assembly weighs as much as 130 kg. My fist after weighing is 2.4 kg, Niva’s is 6! The only thing that needs to be done is to preserve the layout of the units from the donor - the most standard spare parts.

Everything else is my fantasy at someone else’s expense. The main purpose of the car is fishing and trips to the forest. UAZ tires, Cordiant Off Road on overcooked Niva wheels. 1.7 engine, 4-speed gearbox, cardan shafts, RPM - everything is standard.

After I agreed with the client on the general concept of the machine, I had to make several sketches on paper and transfer everything to the computer. I work in AutoCAD and the ultra-modern paper-pencil system:

Since there was no welding table, we had to make a base from what was at hand - a rolling table and two channels, which were brought into the plane and allowed us to make an even frame. The difference in the suspension mounting points (when measuring diagonals) is 2-3 mm, although in reality you didn’t have to bother with that.

In what cases is Niva lifting done?

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.

To increase ground clearance, it is best to use the factory lift kit and follow the instructions that came with it. In this case, to make a suspension lift, the Niva (VAZ-2121) will be upgraded in no more than 1 day.

For lovers of tourism and travel. It's no secret that most people like to get away from the city.
For various types of competitions: trials, rally raids, trophy raids.

Any repair requires not only experience, plumbing skills and a standard set of tools. Most operations are performed on an inspection pit or overpass.

To replace ball joints and silent blocks, pullers are required, and checking and adjusting the alignment angles of the front wheels is carried out only on special stands.

Repairing a car yourself is worth it only if you have the necessary equipment and tools. It is often cheaper to go to a service station than to buy pullers or keys for a one-time job.

Suspension repair is a serious process on which your safety on the road depends. If you are not confident in your abilities or do not have the necessary tools, it is better to turn to professionals.

Diagram and description of the Niva 2121 transmission

The legendary Niva is an all-wheel drive vehicle. This ensures unprecedented road holding and reliability comparable to expensive high-performance cars. With the exception of updated versions under the Chevrolet brand, the traditional Niva has always had a rather modest design, but this did not prevent it from being the undisputed leader among car owners who prefer high-end car platforms.

What distinguishes the Niva's chassis from other all-wheel drive vehicles is the transmission of torque to two axles at once without disabling the axles, which significantly affects cross-country ability while simultaneously reducing the influence of critical loads on the transmission. This same quality makes this legendary Russian SUV very uneconomical in terms of fuel consumption.

The legendary Niva is an all-wheel drive vehicle. This ensures unprecedented road holding and reliability comparable to expensive high-performance cars. With the exception of updated versions under the Chevrolet brand, the traditional Niva has always had a rather modest design, but this did not prevent it from being the undisputed leader among car owners who prefer high-end car platforms.

Purpose and design of the front and rear

Chevrolet Niva is designed for driving on asphalt and off-road. Therefore, the car, in addition to all-wheel drive, has increased ground clearance. The latter performs three functions:

Reduced shock loads on the body, wheels, bearings.
Providing traction.
Reduced body vibrations when driving over uneven surfaces.

The pendant is divided into two parts:

The front one is shown in the diagram below. Includes four control arms (two on each side), ball joints, telescopic shock absorbers, coil springs and anti-roll bar. The front suspension is independent - vibrations of one of the levers do not affect the position of the other.
The rear is shown in the diagram below. Includes rear axle beam, torque rods, telescopic shock absorbers and coil springs. The beam rigidly connects the wheels. They cannot oscillate independently. Accordingly, the rear suspension is dependent. This slightly reduces comfort and maneuverability. But the beam increases the rigidity and reliability of the structure.

In addition to the listed parts, the suspension also includes other elements: rubber bumpers, silent blocks, bolts, nuts, fasteners, gaskets, brackets. All of them are subjected to large dynamic and static loads. In addition, the rubber parts of the silent blocks and the boots of the ball joints dry out over time and need to be replaced even after the car has been stored in a garage for a long time.

Design and principle of operation of the Niva 2121 transfer case

The transfer case mechanism includes more than 60 independent parts, which is confirmed by the presented drawing. Therefore, it is quite prudent to name the main elements and their purpose.

Frame
Differential housing
Shafts
Couplings
Oil seals
Satellites
Gears
Flanges
Levers

Also interesting: Niva Chevrolet transfer case: device, connection diagram and how to use?

A pair of gears are tightly seated on the drive shaft, one of them (large) is intended for high gear, the second (small) is responsible for low gear. They have serrations with straight and oblique profiles. The first ones are in contact with the coupling, the second ones - with the intermediate shaft. The inclusion of one or another row causes the coupling to move along the hub in the horizontal direction, after which it is connected to the gear on the transfer case drive shaft.

The intermediate position turns off the gearbox (the gearbox is open), and the vehicle cannot be moved in this mode. The front helical gear on the intermediate shaft is used to control the differential. The locking is engaged, or the rigid coupling of the drive shafts of both axles, is carried out through a clutch. The design is typical for modifications 21213 and 21214, and the latter is additionally equipped with a speed sensor drive.

In the operating state (with the transfer case reduction gear connected), the gear ratio in the first stage changes from 4.4 to 7.83, the second - from 2.52 to 4.58, the third - from 1.63 to 2.9, in the fourth - from 1.2 to 2.14, fifth - from 0.98 to 1.75, which is expressed in an increase in traction on the wheels.

Housing Differential housing Shafts Couplings Seals Pinions Gears Flanges Levers

What will you need for the job?

In order to slightly increase the ground clearance, it is advisable to use a factory lift - a kit for Niva-2121, sold both in company stores and in car markets. Using the included instructions, you can carry out the desired tuning in just 1 day. However, there is one significant drawback: the suspension lift is produced exactly as much as the manufacturer considers necessary.

At the same time, if there is an urgent need to tailor the car to specific needs or the specifics of the road, you can make a lift kit for the Niva on your own.

You just need to prepare the following set of tools:

rear and front springs (the best parts on a Chevrolet Niva are 31.5 cm long and 1.57 cm thick, but these parameters can easily be changed according to the owner’s requirements);
rubber spacers for springs with special metal cups;
shock absorbers;
spacers for the upper ball joint (not sold in stores, so they can only be made to order);
brackets for rear shock absorbers;
washers for the Niva-21214 cup of an enlarged type with an internal diameter of 1 cm and an external diameter of 3 cm;
jack;
boards;
spring ties.

When choosing spacers for springs for rear shock absorbers, you don’t have to go too deep into the search and make them yourself from an ordinary metal corner. The internal diameter of the product is 13.2 mm, the external diameter is 32 mm.

In addition, during the work you must refer to the diagram (Fig. 1).

And, if all the subtleties of the technical stuffing of 2131, as well as 2121, are agreed upon and ordered, you can immediately get to work. Just a few hours of painstaking work, and the Niva tuning will be completed.

Transfer case control

The Niva 2121 transfer case has manual control with a lever-type mechanical drive. The shift lever swings in the longitudinal direction and is performed on an axis that is installed in the bracket eyes in front of the transfer case. Friction is reduced by pressed plastic bushings into the holes of the lever.

The lower part of the lever is inserted into a groove on the rod, and fixation occurs using a figured spring. The other end of the rod, in turn, is connected to a fork, which moves the shift clutch. The rigidity of this connection is ensured by the bolt. The rod at the outlet of the transfer case is sealed with an oil seal, and dirt and dust are protected with a rubber corrugation. The entire switching drive is fixed in the set position by a spring-loaded ball that fits into special grooves in the rod.

Advantages and disadvantages

The car demonstrates good off-road qualities. They clearly appear after lifting to install rubber with an increased outer diameter.

Comfort in the cabin is preserved not only on asphalt. This is facilitated by the independent front suspension along with fairly soft springs.

However, many owners of the Chevrolet Niva note the insufficient strength of the reaction rods holding the rear axle.

Those who plan active off-road trips should take care of reinforcing the parts. Kits of reinforced reaction rods are sold for this purpose.

Also in need of attention are ball joints with silent blocks, which are not durable. To extend the service life of the hinges, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the anthers in order to change them on time.

Benefits after installing a lift kit on a Niva car

Conventionally, the installation can be divided into 2 stages: installation of the rear and front suspension. It all starts with a fairly ordinary procedure - removing the wheels and releasing the silent blocks. Now, in order for the Niva-21214 to be securely fastened, a jack should be installed under its ball joint and the car should be raised until the spring is completely compressed.

All that remains to be done in the future is to unscrew the ball joints and remove the stabilizer. During operation, it is very important not to damage the brake hoses located in the immediate vicinity. Those bolts that are located at the wheel must be replaced with their extended equivalents.

A stabilizer is installed on the lower and upper ball joint. Now the front suspension lift can be considered fully improved and ready for work. It remains to do a similar, albeit slightly more complex, lifting for the rear suspension.

For these purposes, you will need another tool - a semi-automatic welding machine. With its help, additional parts will be installed on top of the standard cups, which will definitely have to be welded. Such a lift of the rear suspension can lead to its movement forward, which is strictly unacceptable. To prevent such a development of events, all rods need to be slightly lengthened.

It would be a good idea to lengthen the size of the brake adjuster rocker arm and move the lower cup slightly. Particularly vulnerable at this moment is the driveshaft crosspiece, which is more than easy to touch in the heat of work. And it is the new size of the cups and filigree work that will protect it from premature failure.

The final battle is the attachment of shock absorbers and a mandatory visit to the service station. Now the rear and front springs of the Niva are reinforced. Any, even the most harmless tuning needs vigilant monitoring by a professional. And even more so, an improved Chevy Niva with your own hands.

If you lift the front suspension, the result is an increase in the distance to the surface in front. However, this will be enough to prevent squats on the beam, since the front takes up more than 60% of the total weight of the car.

Also interesting: Instructions for rewinding the mileage of NIVA 4x4 URBAN with ABS

In addition, the vehicle's airtight permeability improves. This occurs as a result of an increase in departure and entry angles and a decrease in the radius of transverse and longitudinal maneuverability. But lifting in this way significantly reduces the performance of CV joints and factory boots.

Some useful tips

Since the engine no longer bears additional load, you can replace the standard hard cushions of the power unit with softer ones, from VAZ classics.
When attaching the eyes to the front beam of the bridge, welding should be carried out by an experienced welder who is familiar with the technique, which allows not to “release” the metal. The beam is a load-bearing structural element of the car, and its strength should not be reduced.
The welding areas should be cleaned of scale, then the joints should be thoroughly primed and painted.
After untying, the RPM should not touch the engine and beam either in a static position or while the vehicle is moving.
If you are producing a suspension lift, you should select a decoupling kit taking into account the increased angles of the CV joint and driveshaft.
The silent blocks of the brackets of an untethered gearbox are subject to wear in the same way as the power unit cushions or suspension elements.
The replacement of these elements should be included in your list of operations during maintenance.

I hope the material presented will help you when carrying out self-detachment work. In order to decide whether to carry out such an upgrade or not, watch the video below. It clearly shows what mutual vibrations are transmitted from the engine to the axle and vice versa during movement. The RPM of the NIVA car in the video is rigidly attached to the power plant.

Signs of trouble

Chevrolet Niva suspension parts are designed for different service life.

The levers, beam and anti-roll bar do not need to be changed even after 100-200 thousand kilometers.

But rubber-metal hinges, boots and bushings gradually lose their properties even while parked.

VAZ-2123 owners have to deal with the following malfunctions:

Wear of silent blocks, ball joints.
Damage or cracking of anthers.
Reduced performance of shock absorbers.
Breakage of jet rods.

In addition to replacing faulty parts, it is necessary to regularly check and adjust the angles of the front wheels.

Otherwise, the car's handling deteriorates, and the tires begin to wear out rapidly. Wheel alignment is checked every 10-15 thousand kilometers and after very strong impacts when falling into road potholes.

Some problems can be identified by hearing while driving. Worn ball joints or silent blocks, faulty shock absorbers or broken rods knock, squeak or ring when driving on uneven roads.

In addition to extraneous sounds, suspension malfunctions manifest themselves as follows:

Rocking or jumping of the body when driving over uneven surfaces.
Pulling the car to the side.
Increased braking distance.
Deterioration in controllability.
Accelerated or uneven tire wear.

Forced unlock

Sometimes it happens that the lock gets stuck - it cannot be turned off even when the car is completely stopped. The situation is quite common for the Chevrolet Niva. How to solve it? There is a sure way. To do this, engage reverse gear, accelerate a little and turn off the differential lock while driving.

What to do in such a situation? It is necessary to turn on the first speed and try to turn off the unit again. Moving back and forth will solve the problem of a stuck differential. In general, it is recommended to turn on the center lock only in serious off-road conditions. At the intersection of dirt roads and sand dunes, a downshift is sufficient.

Niva suspension lift yourself drawing

We will tell you how to properly perform tuning modifications in this material.

Do-it-yourself elevator - drawings, diagrams, sizes, types of kits. Lifting varies in the degree of intervention in the standard structure. For some, it is enough to raise the SUV by a few centimeters, and for others by as much as 20.

Extreme tuning – maximizing cross-country ability for traveling on severe off-road conditions.

Regular jack
Hijack jack
Spring puller
Balloon wrench
Ratchet socket set
Set of open-end wrenches
Mount
Wooden deck (stump)

It is advisable to perform such work with a partner. First of all, it's safer. Secondly, some lifting work is performed with four hands. Let's take the front suspension as an example.

Raise the front end. You can safely cling to the standard bumper, only the jack is installed under the pipe securing it. By removing the wheel, we get full access to the lever and spring. The front suspension 21214 is made using a double wishbone design, which simplifies the task.

The lever travel is limited by the shock absorber. Unscrew its fastening and move it to the side. Next you need to free the suspension from the anti-roll bar. The mounting bolts may become stuck due to corrosion, so we will use a penetrating liquid (such as WD-40). The stabilizer silent block clamp can be pryed off with a pry bar.

Then disconnect the hub from the lower arm. To do this, you need to jack up the suspension and fix the steering knuckle of the wheel. You can tie it with wire. Then unscrew the 3 mounting bolts and release the ball joint.

We fix the spring with ties and lower the jack. We remove the old elastic element. In some cases, it is enough to simply lower the lever with your foot, and the spring will come out without the use of ties.

Remove the upper support rings from the old springs. With their help, the elastic element is centered in the cups.

They come together easily with a hammer and screwdriver. We install the rings on new, longer springs. We put the elastic elements in their regular places and jack up the lower arm until it is completely aligned with the lower cup. At the same time, an assistant centers the shock absorber eye and moves the steering knuckle to the mounting location of the lower ball joint. We tighten the ball “triangle” and attach the shock absorber mounting axis.

By manipulating the jack, we “catch” the mounting holes for the stabilizer bar clamp. With its bolts it should get into the normal place without distortion. After such modernization, the clearance increases by 30-50 mm. This is enough to install wheels of larger diameter, and the bottom will still rise above the ground.

The rear axle of the Niva can be lifted by installing spacer supports of increased height. When using a size of up to 50 mm (according to changes in front end height), no modifications to the rear axle are required. By lifting the rear axle, maintenance can be carried out on the axle and brake system.

The handbrake cable may need to be replaced. It is lengthened by a couple of centimeters. Otherwise, the Niva lift will lead to increased wear of the brake pads in the rear drums. Disconnect the lower shock absorber mounts and lower them until the springs stretch.

We take out the elastic elements and knock off the support rings from them. We clean the upper cup and carry out anticorrosive treatment. We install new supports of increased size and seat the springs using a jack. We fasten the shock absorbers, assemble the axle, and mount the wheels.

Such a lift will not arouse suspicion among traffic police inspectors, and the cross-country ability of your NIVA 2121 will improve. No drawings, much less homemade parts, are required. You buy new springs and about the rates, the rest is a matter of technology. Labor costs for an elevator of one NIVA are two people/one day off.

For lovers of hunting, fishing and country travel, as well as those eager to try themselves and their own “Niva” in driving a vehicle in difficult-to-pass places, we have the opportunity to offer an increase in ground clearance, which increases the cross-country ability of your car.

Niva tuning – suspension lifting.

At the moment, there are at least 6 types of suspension lifting for Niva and Sh/Niva, each is interesting in its own right and is negotiated during the preparation of the car for “off-road” at the request of the visitor, taking into account the distinctive features of the operation of his car and the sizes of wheels and tires he uses wants to put it on his car.

We often use a kit from the Russian club 'Korovka' as a base. This lift kit was made at the factory and was tested at competitions in Russia. The ground clearance increases by 5 centimeters, which actually makes it possible to install R15 235/75 or R16 235/70 tires (on the right wheels). In addition, this will provide a rise of another 4 centimeters.

In total, the increase in ground clearance will be 9-10 cm! In this version, “NIVA”, without loss of comfortable qualities, has the ability to be used both on paved highways and off-road, being in no way inferior to foreign-made SUVs.

Consequently, at the lower point of the RZM the clearance is 25 cm, and at the cut of the threshold - 44.5 cm.

Front suspension lift.

The lift is performed by installing targeted washers under the lower spring pad (they create a sufficient angle for the front spring). Under the upper arm (between it and the ball) another spacer washer is placed (i.e., we unload the arm).

The levers of the steering knuckles are swapped and the tips of the control rods already go from top to bottom (since subsequently the work done before, when the rod is fully turned, they will rest against the stabilizer, although at the request of the visitor it is possible to leave it as it was by changing the fastening of the stabilizer).

During lifting work, it is often necessary to change shock absorbers, springs, and resins on request. spacers, internal CV joint boots on tuning suspensions modified for this type of lift and create adjustments. spring bumpers.

And also interesting: a Chevrolet Niva and a standard key fob. VAZ forum

Lifting the Niva suspension at the rear.

The lift is carried out by installing new rear spring cups, which are bolted on top of the standard ones, and brackets for moving the mounting points of the rear shock absorbers up 5 centimeters (bolted).

The short upper rods of the rear axle are lengthened or made adjustable (for easy rotation of the shank, so as not to bite the crosspiece), the reaction rods of the rear axle are either reinforced with an angle or installed double; at the request of the visitor, a rear axle stabilizer “Tehnomaster” (Tolyatti) is added, although it will be needed adjust to the elevator machine, digest.

Similarly, it is preferable, on lifted cars, to use a rear CV joint. Those who begin to lift old or worn-out cars need to remember about the internal CV joints (the balls leave their place) and will need to prepare for their replacement. The solution to this difficulty is quite possible by reducing the drive angle by untying the front axle.

The outer CV joints are too little susceptible to this, it will be worse for them if the wheel becomes larger in offset, width and weight, and then they can “crunch”. Although even then the hub bearing has a hard time, especially if it had play before.

Although we have avoided this problem, since we install steering knuckles with 2 ball bearings (from the rear axle shaft), they do not need to be adjusted; they are tightened all the way, although it is much better with a torque wrench. The unit comes out maintenance-free, the hub is unloaded, rolling is easier and the dynamics of the car are much better. Steering knuckles are naturally of domestic production and with a guarantee.

When installing wide wheels after a lift, you will need to keep in mind the ball ones (when the weak ones “fly”), the pendulum will also be able to fly, and the installation of the latest gas shock absorbers results in a stiffening of the upper bracket of the lane. shock absorber (otherwise it tears, especially when the front end is heavier), the mounting of the rear shock absorbers can also be strengthened. It is preferable when lifting, replace the suspension with p/urethane instead of rubber.

Economical Niva suspension lift of 1.5-2 centimeters. In such a situation, we resort to replacing the rubber spacers for the springs with tuning ones (of greater thickness), installing washers, spacers for the upper ball joints and adjusting the spring bumpers (at the visitor’s request). In this implementation, the Niva gets wheels (correct) in size R15 215/75.

The domestic SUV VAZ Niva is an excellent analogue to modern imported SUVs and even some all-wheel drive jeeps. This machine was initially distinguished by its light weight, high ground clearance and high maintainability. However, for more confident off-road driving, some car owners make their own suspension lift. “Niva” then rises another ten centimeters and is able to overcome a lot of obstacles.

Tools

In order to produce a suspension lift (Chevy Niva diesel) ourselves, we need to prepare the following set of spare parts:

Set of front and rear springs. Here parts that are 31.5 centimeters long and 1.57 centimeters thick fit perfectly on the Chevrolet Niva. You can buy springs and other parameters - it all depends on your taste.
Rubber spacers with metal cups. We will install them under the springs.
Shock absorbers. As practice shows, the products of the Premium and Excel-G brands are the most suitable for Niva. But again, it all depends on how stiff the suspension you want to get in the end.
Spacers for the upper ball joint. You can hardly find them in a store, so it would be wiser to order them from a familiar turner. The thickness of the spacers is about 2-3 centimeters. In this case, you will have to make the brackets for the rear shock absorbers yourself.
Enlarged washers for the cup. Their internal diameter should be 1 centimeter, external - 3 centimeters. We will need 12 of these washers in total.
You should purchase special extended bolts for the upper ball joints and cup. Parts from the G8 muffler (M8x65) and from the VAZ suspension arm M10x75x1.25 are suitable here, 6 and 4 units, respectively.
Several jacks, spring ties and boards for backing.

I don’t argue that in Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, Moscow or cities like Yekaterinburg and St. Petersburg there are many companies ready to do any amount of work on your car and suspension in particular for your money.

If you decide to do everything yourself, I have nothing against it. I only advise you to use only factory-made, high-quality kits for the Niva elevator.

Kits from Izh Techno have earned good reviews; you can also find excellent options in the store on Sedova Street in St. Petersburg. This store is called Niva 4x4. The T 34 lift kit also showed excellent performance. Each of them is excellent for the Niva, which is why it is widely used by car owners when modifying the front and rear suspension.

There is an option to assemble the kit yourself. But this will require accurate drawings and even more time and effort. I don’t see the point in this, since it is better to take a ready-made set after looking at a review of different sets.

To work you will need to take:

front and always rear new springs;
spacers made of rubber for springs with a metal cup;
spacers for the Nivov ball joint (upper);
shock absorbers;
brackets for rear shock absorber springs;
cup washers;
set of tools;
jack;
durable boards;
ties for working with springs.

Sizes are selected individually, based on what kind of car you have and what results you are aiming for. You can buy something without any problems. Although some elements will have to be ordered or done yourself. That's why buying a ready-made lift kit seems preferable to me.

Get ready to go. Photo and video instructions will help you.

Rules for using differential

These include:

Switching the transfer case should only be done when the car is not moving.
You can also engage the differential while the vehicle is moving.
You can switch to a lower gear while the car is moving.
To ensure long-term and uninterrupted operation of the differential, it is necessary to periodically turn it on, especially in winter. This should be done once every 7 days.

To ensure that the locking mechanism lasts for a long time, use the following rules:

It is necessary to switch the transfer case when the Niva does not move.
The differential can also be engaged while the vehicle is moving.
To ensure efficient and long-term operation of the device, it is advisable for the Niva driver to turn on the lock from time to time. Once a week in winter is enough.

Where is the lever responsible for switching located? Pay attention to the area between the wings located in front, there are 2 levers there. One makes it possible to change gears at the gearbox, the other successfully controls the transfer case.

The basis of the transfer case is a gearbox, which includes 2 stages. The control lever comes directly from it, you can move it forward and backward - this is how the gear is changed on the Niva. The direction of movement of the lever to the left and right allows you to activate the differential lock and vice versa to disable it.

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Tuning

There are ready-made suspension modification kits available in stores. Three types of tuning are popular:

Lifting - increasing ground clearance by installing spacers under the springs and installing shock absorbers with increased travel.
Reinforcement - replacement of reaction rods and other parts with more durable ones.
Installation of air suspension, which allows you to adjust the ground clearance and stiffness in accordance with the road condition

The last option is the most complex and expensive. But it allows you to quickly adjust the behavior in accordance with operating conditions.

Last stages

After this, we weld the fingers under the shock absorbers under the clamp of the steel brake pipe. We attach the shock absorbers and go to a car service for wheel alignment. This way you will complete the final finishing of the bridge. That's it, the rear suspension on the VAZ Niva has been successfully modernized. As you can see, lifting the chassis is quite possible to do in your own garage without the help of special tools.

Why is lifting dangerous for an off-road vehicle?

If you use this method of modernization, the suspension (Niva VAZ-2121 and Chevrolet Niva) will, of course, become more reliable and suitable for off-road driving. However, at the same time, you will have to forget about alloy wheels - only stamped ones can be installed on such a car. It is worth paying attention to the fact that increasing the diameter of the wheels will lead to greater torque - then you will have to change the gear ratios of the main pairs. In addition, after such an upgrade you will need to install a limited-slip differential on the rear axle, and this is again an additional expense.

Useful tips

To use the lock installed on the Niva effectively, use the following recommendations from experts:

When driving on good quality road surfaces, install the front transfer handle at the front and the rear at the rear.
The front handle is moved back if the road becomes slippery. Once the slippery area has been passed, switch the levers to normal mode.
If the Niva is stopped, the lock may not engage when the clutch is depressed. This occurs due to the alignment of the teeth with the gear teeth. What should you do in this case? Moving as if on a turn, engage the lock. The differential will turn and the gear teeth will come closer to the teeth. If turning off is difficult, do it while the vehicle is moving, maintaining a minimum speed and squeezing the clutch.

Lift kit for Niva: installation process

Hello, dear friends! Today I propose to talk to you about the elevator kit for the Niva. This could be a Chevrolet Niva, that is, series 2123, or the more “our” Niva Urban, 2131 or 4x4, and representatives of the 2121 series, that is, 21213, 21214. It all depends on what kind of car you have at your disposal.

Also interesting: How to replace the low beam light bulb on a Niva Chevrolet: video

Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and a number of other countries are the greatest admirers of Niva cars. They are affordable and provide many benefits.

Some people prefer to do everything themselves. I can’t say that modifying the front and rear suspension of a Niv car will be an easy job in a minute. No, you will have to spend a lot of effort, time and patience on this.

You can find out how much such a service costs at a service station. The price for a professional lift is steep, so not every owner of a not-so-expensive crossover like the Niva is willing to spend that kind of money, having the opportunity to do everything themselves. And if you put a power bumper and an expeditionary trunk on top, it will turn out great. At least now on a round-the-world trip on Niva.

Increasing the ground clearance of the VAZ 2121 (lifting) allows you to increase the vehicle's off-road capability. Thanks to simple manipulations, the ground clearance increases significantly by changing the suspension height (the Niva lift kit will help you here, which makes the work very easy to do even with your own hands without the help of a service center) and installing slightly larger diameter wheels.

Lifting - increasing the vehicle's ground clearance by upgrading the suspension. Performed in order to increase cross-country ability.

We propose to consider this issue in more detail.

As a rule, a lift kit for Niva 2121 includes:

Rear and front springs.
A set of spacers for the upper ball joint.
Front oil shock absorber.
Adjustable Panhard rod.

Possible problems

During the operation of off-road vehicles, parts and components of the transfer case gradually become unusable due to wear. Most often, the following interruptions in the operation of the mechanism occur:

The front axle does not engage.
The transfer case is overheating.
Leaks and increased oil consumption of the transfer case.
Unauthorized disabling of the front axle.

Harsh operation and insufficient attention to how to use the transfer case on the Niva 2121 lead to the appearance of:

Vibrations in the body while moving Vibrations when starting Hum Noise when maneuvering Tight switching on modes

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Experience shows that the culprits are: insufficient oil level, incorrect centering of the steering wheel, loosening of the support fastenings and damage to the rubber bands. An additional influence is exerted by the condition of the cardan and the engine itself.

Vibrations in the body while driving
Vibrations at start
Gula
Noise when maneuvering
Tight switching modes

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.

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.

Niva 2121 elevator drawings

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

Installation of rigid long springs and a spacer over the upper ball.
Installing spacers under the spring cup and a spacer above the upper ball.
By installing large wheels (a significant disadvantage is that the arches will need to be cut).
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.

This way you can install large radius wheels without cutting the arches.

Lifting the front end occurs by installing directed washers under the lower spring pad (this creates the desired angle of the front spring). A washer is installed under the upper lever under the spring, in other words, we unload the lever. After this, you need to swap the steering knuckle arms. Thanks to this, the tie rod ends will go from top to bottom. Sometimes during the installation of an elevator, shock absorbers, springs, and spacers are changed.

In the rear, a lift is made by installing new rear spring cups, which are bolted above the standard ones. In addition, the brackets are changed to move the rear shock absorber mounting point higher by 5 cm.

The short upper rods of the rear axle are enlarged or adjusted so that the shank rotates more easily and does not bite the spider. In addition, the reaction rods of the rear axle are strengthened with an angle or by installing double ones.

Also, if the need arises, you can install a long brake hose, bleed the brakes, adjust the rear spool and adjust the spring bumpers.

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The main purpose of the Niva 2121 transfer case

The transfer case (another name is the range multiplier) is connected directly to the gearbox, participates in the distribution of rotation on the axis of the all-terrain vehicle and helps to increase the torque when transmitted to the wheels of the vehicle.

Niva 2121 transfer case cross-sectional diagram

It is necessary to list the main reasons why the RK failed on a Chevrolet. The most common is frequent driving of a given vehicle at high speeds, which negatively affects the working life of the component parts of the box. In particular, the seals may wear out and the fastenings may become loose.

The transfer case is noisy. To solve this problem, you can buy special silent levers for the RK. Thanks to this, the necessary noise insulation is achieved and vibrations will not be noted.