Is the body galvanized: characteristics of the Lada Granta

Technique

Lada Granta is the latest incarnation of the VAZ-2108 chassis.
The basic solutions of the body and suspension have been preserved here... and the set of units is exactly the same as was conceived for the first production VAZ front-wheel drive vehicle. Granta is considered a development of the Kalina project, but it is rather “development in reverse.” The modernization is aimed primarily at creating the most practical and budget-friendly version of the car based on the same body and components. Externally, the newer model, even at the time of release, looked no worse than the “ancestor” due to the efforts of the designers, but a direct comparison easily puts everything in its place. Each element of the machine is optimized according to the principle “does it need to be so expensive, let’s keep it simple!” And now here is the good old hydro-corrector for the headlights, simple seats, oak door trim, no extra button for opening the trunk, a steering wheel made of the cheapest plastic, no lockers and a bunch of other “little things” not visible in the photo. But the price of the “standard” option was only 30 thousand rubles higher than that of 2107, which was retired in the same 2011.

But since in the 21st century the requirements for comfort and safety have increased, the Grant has airbags, automatic transmission, and air conditioning. True, not in all trim levels, since the most budget version has only one airbag, the driver’s. Well, from below everything is the same as 35 years ago.

The front suspension has an extension arm and a “crab”, the rear has the same beam, and still there is no subframe. The steering is still a simple rack (the EUR is more of an add-on for the steering column), and in the engine compartment you will find a motor very similar to the 2108, except without a carburetor.

The electronics circuit from the very first Kalina is not much different from the decimal one. Except that since 2013, the CBKE appeared, which was cursed many times at first, it is also a comfort unit on German models or BSI, if we are talking about French cars. It is also an intelligent hub for power supply and control of auxiliary systems. However, first things first...

Review of the new body

The fashion for all-terrain station wagons, as expected, has reached the Russian market, so experts called the appearance of Grants with increased ground clearance only a matter of time.

The first sales of the 2022 model year Lada Granta Cross will begin at dealerships on June 12. How is the domestic auto industry ready to surprise us this time?

The designers of the Grant Cross 2022 managed to raise the new car body above the road with the help of a modernized suspension, while maintaining the usual layout: a semi-independent beam at the rear and McPherson struts on the front axle.

The size range of tires has also partially changed: the cross version will be equipped with 195/55 R15 tires. The range of power plants for this model will traditionally remain modest: a 1.6-liter eight-valve 87-horsepower gasoline engine and a sixteen-valve engine with increased power (106 hp)

Both options are available with manual and automatic transmissions: either a 5-speed manual transmission or a five-speed AMT robot.

A pleasant surprise for owners of an automatic transmission will be the presence of the long-awaited creeping mode, in which the Lada Granta Cross 2019 will start moving when the brake pedal is released.

There is also an additional – sport mode of the gearbox, which provides faster switching from one gear to another.

Exterior

It's no secret that all new station wagon modifications of the Grant family are former Kalinas with a Vesta-style front end design. Accordingly, the Lada Granta Cross 2022 inherited a new radiator grille, a new bumper, optics and chrome inserts characteristic of the X-style.

The fact that we are not just dealing with a station wagon will be evidenced only by wider moldings on the sides of the body, a black trim on the trunk lid and a generally more developed protective body kit, which will not be painted in the color of the new body.

By the way, the color range includes 9 types of colors, including the popular orange Aurum.

Interior

The interior design of the Lada Granta Cross 2022 model year is completely borrowed from Kalina, as was done for all restyled Granta sedans and liftbacks.

Small changes can be found only in the area of ​​the central air ducts with two stylish decorative inserts, and the instrument panel, the rims of which are framed in orange.

The designers of the Lada Granta Cross 2022 also replaced the padding material of all seats, making them less susceptible to fatigue deformation, and significantly increased the size of the armrests.

The general style of the interior design is determined by the usual contrasting inserts on the upholstery and steering wheel, and an ERA-GLONASS activation button has appeared on the interior ceiling.

The luggage compartment of the Lada Granta Cross is characterized by sufficient capacity given the overall compact dimensions of the car: 355 and 670 liters with the backrests of the rear sofa not folded and folded, respectively.

Technical stuffing

AvtoVAZ traditionally focuses on the budget and practicality of its equipment, so buyers will not be able to find the latest achievements in automotive electronics or acoustics in the cross-version.

At the same time, the 2022 Lada Granta Cross is a car that fully complies with modern safety standards established by Russian and European laws.

This predetermined not only the appearance of the ERA-GLONASS emergency warning system in the station wagon, but also frontal airbags for the driver and front passenger.

Among other standard options of the Lada Granta Cross 2022 are:

• heated windshield, which will appeal to car owners who operate equipment in conditions of high negative temperatures;
• audio system with hands-free function;
• driver's seat adjustment within a range of 40 mm;
• rear parking sensors;
• HSA system for easier starting on steep hills;
• stability control system

Whose body is more resistant to corrosion: Kalina or Priora?

It is possible that at one time you were the owner of both a Kalina and a Priora, and in this case, of course, you know which car is more resistant to the appearance of rust and rot on body parts. If you think that both cars are domestic, and therefore will rust the same, then you are seriously mistaken.

I, as a former owner of Kalina, can tell you a lot about this car and am familiar with Priors firsthand, so I can certainly compare these cars of the same model year, especially since I have seen dozens of 100% disassembled cars and believe me, I have something say about this.

A look at the problem from the inside

Of course, there are no eternal cars, especially when it comes to the domestic automobile industry. But while some cars can last up to 10 years without significant signs of corrosion, others already in the third year are covered with red spots almost in a circle.

All the “delights” of Priora

For those in the know, you probably understand that in the first case we were talking specifically about Kalina, since the body of this car, if we consider all models before Vesta, is the most durable and resistant to corrosion. Don't believe me? Take the first Priora you come across, about 5 years old, and inspect it from the bottom. You will see with a 95% probability the appearance of rust along the seams of the doors below, a yellowed trunk lid and rust spots on the hood, which can eat the metal from the inside during this time, and this has happened more than once to many owners of these cars.

The trunk lid is a separate matter - one gets the feeling that on this part they simply saved several times on metal and almost all this is done from waste. Even a sedan, even a hatchback with a station wagon, the result is the same - a rotten trunk in 3-5 years, or even earlier. Here is a real example of the cover of a 5-year-old Lada Priora station wagon.

The rust spots that were cleaned off only worsened the situation, since the metal now became like a sieve - it really shines through. But what turned out to be even more interesting in this story is that this lid was ordered from the Caucasus with shipping from TK for as much as 3,000 rubles. That is, we can conclude that even in this condition, this part is normal for Priora owners.

Is Kalina that good?

But Kalina can no longer boast of such problems, since the assembly of this machine, according to many knowledgeable people, occurs completely differently, and the metal most likely is used is different. How else can we explain the fact that even 10-year-old Kalinas often have a more dignified body appearance than 3-year-old Prioras.

Again, this is not a special case, but a pattern that you yourself can trace if you go to inspect at least 10 cars of the same and second models with the same years of manufacture. Moreover, it is worth saying that the first generations of both one model and the other were of higher quality in terms of metal. Now you can find a door with holes in it even on the new Kalina-2, although these cases are quite rare. But this kind of marriage is not excluded and a large number of car enthusiasts are aware of this.

Speaking about my personal car, which I have used for more than 7 years, I can say the following. Not a single body part has even a speck of rust. Moreover, the car is outdoors all year round, washed no more than once a month, and it definitely hasn’t seen any special care. So, as far as anti-corrosion properties are concerned, Kalina in this regard outshines Priore in no time.

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Features of the Lada Granta body

The new Granta body, of course, is superior in quality and characteristics to other models and cannot but please the owners. More modern technologies, galvanization and high-quality coating are big words that please the ear of a lover of products from the domestic automobile industry. But it should be taken into account that not the entire body undergoes anti-corrosion treatment, but only the areas most susceptible to destruction. Moreover, the manufacturer warns that the warranty for body protection against rust is 6 years, and then the car may need additional treatment. But a lot also depends on the operating conditions of the Lada Granta car. Compliance with all rules for the use of transport and appropriate care can increase the service life of factory galvanized steel up to 10 years.

Comparative characteristics

From the above we can draw the following conclusion:

• Granta is cheaper than Kalina;
• Grant has a modern platform, better handling;
• to the detriment of safety and quality, Grant simplified the headlight unit and other body parts, but this lowered the price of the car;
• Grant has a higher quality paintwork. Less susceptible to corrosion, retains natural color longer.
• Compared to Kalina, Grant has better sound insulation, which allows you to talk in the car even at high speed.

It would be worth considering some parameters in more detail and comparing them.

1. Appearance of cars. Upon a superficial examination of the new product, it may seem that the Granta is not like other Russian cars. Upon closer inspection, it is noticeable that the side doors are the same as those of the Lada Kalina. And the sedan bodies of both models are generally not much different. The Granta can only be recognized by its large size and a different shape of the bumper and headlights.
2. Luggage compartment. When it comes to trunk space, the Lada Kalina remains on the bench. Due to the fact that Granta's body is longer than that of Kalina, its trunk is much larger. It’s just that the appearance of the trunk is “lame”, and it doesn’t close the first time. But the size of the trunk is louder than its shortcomings, and this is good news.
3. Salon overview. Kalina users often received complaints about the unbearable creaking of the panels, a large number of gaps and backlashes. In the new Lada Granta, these shortcomings have been corrected, and the interior makes almost no unnecessary unpleasant sounds. But regarding the plastic in the car, there is a question: is it cheap? Despite this, the interior of the Lada Granta also has its advantages:

• beautiful and pleasant instrument panel;
• cup holders installed;
• the glove compartment has been enlarged;
• There were no problems with the heater operation.

1. Steering rack. A significant advantage of the Grant over the Kalina is the shortened steering rack. This solution made it easier to drive the new car. But there was no room in the vehicle for an ashtray, but all was not lost.
2. Power unit. The engines in both cars are almost the same, but the Granta has some advantages. With the same number of valves per cylinder, the Kalina engine is capable of developing a power of 82 horsepower, and

   Grant - 90. Such indicators can be explained by the fact that the latter has a lightweight connecting rod and piston group. The Granta's power unit works faster, unlike the Kalina, and there is no unnecessary noise.

3. Safety system. It is worth noting that the Grant has two airbags, which cannot be said about the Kalina, and this is a good indicator, considering the new product as a budget car.

In addition, the new product, like its competitor Lada Kalina, will exist in a hatchback body. Granta in a hatchback body looks more youthful, but Lada Kalina is more functional in terms of transporting large loads.

Painting Lada Vesta

It begins immediately after the completion of the cataphoretic priming process. First, the preparatory equipment is dismantled from the car, which is placed in a special container behind the car, and the paint shop is installed. This equipment allows you to open and close the doors, hood and trunk. By the way, the entire line is equipped with special emergency buttons, pressing which completely stops the conveyor.

The painting stage begins with the application of joint mastic to all joints, which increases corrosion resistance. In addition, line workers also spray anti-noise mastic, which reduces the noise level in the cabin.

After this comes the turn of applying primer. In this case, the bulk of the operation is performed by robots, but workers also have to prime the metal in places where the robots cannot reach. For the most part, these are the inner sides of the pillars, the edges of the roof, covered by doors, etc.

d. The color range of the primer is limited to only two tones - light and dark. His choice depends on the future color of the Lada Vesta.

First, a primer is applied to the body. After priming is completed, the machines are sent via conveyor to the secondary soil processing area. In this department, employees eliminate painting defects using special paste and brushes.

Only after completing all these stages, which take about 3 hours, the finished body is sent to the painting booths, where robots work side by side with people. First, the metal is covered with a layer of paint, after which comes the turn of varnishing. At the end, the painted sedan body enters a thermal chamber, where it is dried. This takes about 40 minutes.

At the end, the finished body is sent to polishing and the assembly line.

After drying, a few final touches remain - polishing and anti-corrosion treatment of cavities. In the latter case, plant workers, armed with special sprayers with long nozzles, fill the internal surfaces of the cavities (thresholds, pillars, etc.) with an anti-corrosion compound.

Generator: Valeo brand, made in Türkiye

The generator of the same French brand Valeo, but already made in Turkey, confused us at first - instead of the usual orange transformer varnish, the windings are covered with protection that is not uniform in color. However, as they say, “the speed should not be affected.” But we consider the fact that the terminals from the winding were not soldered, but simply crimped, to be a disadvantage. Not durable.

Three more Valeo components found: starter (Poland), release bearing and climate control unit (Czech Republic). The French company is one of the world's main manufacturers and suppliers of components for car factories, including, of course, fellow countrymen from Renault, from whom it migrated to AvtoVAZ.

In order for the Lada Vesta to stop properly, manufacturers from almost half of Europe had to work hard. In total, we counted five countries producing the braking system, including French SNR bearings pressed into the rear brake drums (integrated with the hub) of the German ATE brand, but of Italian production.

The only question regarding the brakes arose when considering the front pads, on which there was a working mark of the cylinder - a quarter of the pressing surface extends beyond the pads. It is difficult to say whether this somehow affects the braking efficiency. While driving, we had no complaints about the braking system.

You will also have to tinker with the suspension elements during repairs. According to “foreign” patterns, the ball (produced by the BelMag Magnitogorsk plant) comes assembled with a lever. Moreover, replacing a component will require a lot of additional actions to free up space around it. By the way, according to servicemen, play of ball joints and knocking of stabilizer struts are the most frequent complaints from the first owners of Vesta.

Shock absorbers are one of the few Vesta components on which we did not see the “Aglitsky language”. The racks were produced at the Skopinsky Automotive Assembly Plant in the Ryazan region. By the way, in terms of the balance of suspension characteristics, we recognize Vesta as one of the best in the class.

We saw the only “Made in China” inscription on the windshield wiper motor from Bosch, with the logos of another automaker - the Chinese company Chery

How to determine if a body is galvanized

So, if simply assurances that the Lada Grant’s body, albeit not completely, is galvanized, is not enough for the buyer, everything can be checked. However, this is not so easy to do. To find out the exact answer to your question, you will have to fork out a lot for special research.

But first, you should still look at the documents for the car, where it will be stated in black and white that “the body is partially galvanized.” But there are also particularly distrustful citizens who want to see this for themselves. Such a person will need to find a laboratory that specializes in conducting such examinations and pay the workers for their labor and the reagents used.

The only way to personally identify the presence or absence of treatment is to find an unpainted area on the body and assess its condition. This is easiest to determine on used cars that are more than 5 years old.

There you can simply pay attention to any good scratch or paint chip. If there are no signs of corrosion in this place, no rust is visible, most likely the body or this part of it has been treated

Potential buyers and car owners are concerned with the question: does the Grant model have a galvanized body or not? The concern is easy to understand: the cost of the body is a significant part of the price of the budget car Lada Granta, galvanization protects the structure from the influence of adverse external factors.

Different sources provide conflicting information. Official representatives of the AvtoVAZ concern claim: the Lada Grant has a galvanized body, some sales dealers refute the statement.

How to care for an expensive car body, regardless of whether the body of the Lada Grant is galvanized or not?

Electrics

The quality of VAZ electrics has been glorified many times over the centuries. Only Tolyatti knows how to make copper wires so brittle and terminals so unreliable. Yes, in general the machine is quite suitable for use, but it is still worth remembering Ohm’s law for a section of the circuit and knowing how the current flows, where it comes from and how to check the operation of the electrics. It is also advisable to have a simple scanner to read errors, because the engine wiring here is also... VAZ.

The debate about which is better, a generator bracket with or without a tensioner, has been going on for a long time among Grant owners, but the problem is not actually with it, but with the fact that the generator has bad bearings and is of no different quality. It, of course, bears the proud Bosch brand, but comes to us from India. The analogue from KATEK\KZATE has a less stable quality of the relay regulator and assembly, but its bearings and mechanical parts are made better.

I have already written about the poor location and short service life of the windshield wiper gear motor above, in the part about body equipment. Starters also don’t last very long, but this is not a problem - the choice of restored and new ones is good, and on a VAZ engine, replacement can be done in about 15 minutes on the street.

At the driver's door, the wires in the corrugation constantly break, the tips of the connectors oxidize, the connectors themselves are made of weak plastic, they quickly deform, and the plastic becomes brittle. The quality of the assembly also affects - a new machine may have broken connector latches, not inserted fully, or terminals in the connectors not properly crimped.

Relays are inexpensive, but they also have a limited resource, no more than 5-7 years, so it makes sense to keep a few in reserve. After 5-7 years, it’s worth starting to change ignition modules and sensors preventively, so that later you don’t have to spend money on services for “sort of diagnostics.”

The wiring of cars in the “Lux” configuration, as well as all cars with automatic transmission and AMT since 2013, may contain the TsBKE unit already mentioned twice above. It’s quite easy to understand whether it’s worth it: if the relay clicks when you turn on the turn signals, then the electrical circuit is simple, but if the speaker clicks, then the TsBKE is installed.

The idea of ​​installing a unit that combines switching of low-current circuits, all timers and intelligent control of auxiliary systems is excellent in itself. But the quality of the implementation let us down: blocks 21900-3840080-20 for cars in the “Lux” configuration and 21900-3840080-10 for cars with automatic transmission in the “Norma” configuration died quite quickly immediately from the moment of installation in mid-2013.

The transistor assembly responsible for the turn signals burned, often causing a fire, since no fuses were spared on the block; several power lines from 15A and higher went there. Later, the unit’s firmware was updated, limiting the maximum transistor current, and then completely changed to 21900-3840080-50\21900-3840080-60 units, in which such a problem cannot happen. The price of the block is very reasonable, about 5 thousand rubles, which, in comparison with 150-260 thousand for a functionally similar SAM block or a comfort block for the “Germans” of the same years, looks like mere trifles.

Subtotal

In general, Granta can be taken, especially if she has not yet rotted. It immediately makes sense to take anti-corrosion measures, buy spare relays and other little things “for the road”, at the same time hang covers on the seats, put on more decent music... Everything is in full accordance with the traditions of VAZ production from the 90s and 2000s, from which Grant was largely responsible The count didn't go very far. In the next part we will deal with the chassis, engines and gearboxes. Indeed, in addition to the well-known “eight” solutions, there are also fashionable “gearboxes”, and robotic gearboxes, and hydromechanical automatic transmissions.

Fuse box and its housing: Renault brand, made in Romania

The fuse box comes entirely from the Logan model, as evidenced by the Renault logos on the body and the Romanian manufacturer Capirom. True, AvtoVAZ reported that in the near future the company will change its supplier to a local one - from the Samara region.

We didn’t have any questions regarding the unit itself, but during a scrupulous study by the electricians, a very interesting point emerged

Attention was drawn to two fuses that were not indicated either on the diagram or in the instructions. A study of the electrical circuit revealed that during a sudden voltage surge (for example, when lighting a Vesta with the engine running), these fuses may burn out, which will stop charging the battery

The controls also turned out to be imported - the steering rack is from the famous German brand ZF, but made in Malaysia. And the CV joints are provided by the British company GKN and made in Poland.

When painting, we get the following “pie”, the thickness of the body metal is 0.6-0.8 mm:

• Zinc, first layer;
• Cataphoretic primer;
• Polyester cataphoretic primer - second layer;
• Enamel;
• Varnish.

This technology prevents metal parts of the car from rusting. Therefore, AvtoVAZ has established a 6-year warranty on the Lada Vesta against through corrosion. The body of the Lada VestaLada Vesta with a galvanized body has only the outer side coated, the inner surface is simply covered with primer and painted.

This is due to the fact that the outer surface is subject to mechanical damage from sand and gravel from oncoming traffic and car wheels. As a result, chips and scratches appear on the body. The inner surface is not subject to any mechanical damage, so there is no need to galvanize additionally. Anti-noise protection is applied to the bottom of Vesta between layers of cataphoretic soil.

It performs galvanizing using zinc-filled paint, i.e. Fine zinc dust has been added to the paint. This is not the high-quality hot zinc coating of a car, which is used by foreign automakers, but the use of this technology gives good results.

Factory galvanizing methods

Discussions about domestically produced cars do not subside. They argue about the Lada Granta, whether the body is galvanized, how the price corresponds to the quality, meanwhile the giant AvtoVAZ continues its strategy of improving the cars it produces and improving galvanization as well.

The factories use the following coating methods:

• thermal galvanizing is the most reliable;

• galvanization, when zinc is deposited from a solution on the surface of parts under the influence of electric current;

• coating with a primer with preliminary application of manganese, zinc and iron salts to the metal surface.

Now let's debunk some myths

1. Does the galvanized body confidently resist the onslaught of corrosion?

Even in a situation where the dealer gives a positive answer to your question about the presence of galvanized body on the Lada Grant, it is still too early to relax. The “Russian” coating has a small thickness, which entails a rapid loss of the protective zinc layer. Without the use of measures aimed at additional treatment of body components, the panels will still slowly corrode.

2. Does the new body need additional processing?

Practice has confirmed the imperfection of the factory protective layer. Despite the newness of the car, it requires immediate treatment in order to improve its anti-corrosion properties. The operation of a LADA Granta car implies exposure to various types of mechanical stress, which provoke the formation of cracks in the structure of the coating. The process is accompanied by the penetration of moisture, which leads to the appearance of corrosion centers.

3. Is the aluminum body free from rust?

In a real situation, there are no bodies made only of aluminum, whether the body is galvanized or not. In any structure there is the presence of steel components, which suffer the fate of being damaged by corrosion. Aluminum during operation of LADA Granta is subject to oxidation, which causes a weakening of its strength structure.

4. Is standard anti-corrosion protection capable of maintaining its condition for many years?

The rate of corrosion progress is directly influenced by the operating conditions and climatic factors, regardless of whether the body is galvanized or not. In just 6-7 years, a layer of metal with a thickness of 0.6 mm can corrode to through holes. This circumstance requires protective treatment of the body.

5. Are protective plastic panels (fender liners, mud flaps, etc.) really useless?

This is a false statement, because protection of this nature can reduce the dynamic impact of stones and dirt on body cavities. Installation of these accessories is carried out using self-tapping screws, and their joints with body components are treated with appropriate anti-corrosion coatings.

About design

The design of domestic cars this time has exceeded any expectations: they look stylish and modern. You can safely put them on a par with foreign B-class cars (by the way, the Granta is closer to class C in size). But it seems that a little more imagination was put into Kalina 2, it looks a little fresh. A comparison of Lada Grant and Lada Kalina 2 is impossible without a clear understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of different body types. If you like efficiency and compactness, then a hatchback is suitable, if a large interior space is desired - a station wagon, and in both of these cases, your needs will be satisfied by the Lada Kalina 2. Do you need a classic and moderately representative look? It's better to stay with the Lada Granta.

There are no special comments regarding the corrosion resistance of the bodies. With age, the Lada Granta develops problems with locking the doors, especially the rear ones: you need to make an effort. Lada Kalina 2 does not have such a drawback.

Coating Methods

Galvanization as a method of galvanizing a body

The first and most common option is called thermal or hot-dip galvanizing. The zinc alloy is applied to the car body even before it leaves the assembly line. This method is most often used on the luxury version of the Lada Granta and provides the greatest protection.

The second allows the use of galvanization for galvanizing surfaces. Most often used on the Lada Grant in the standard configuration. Sheets of metal are dipped into a bath connected to electrolytes and filled with a significant amount of zinc. When exposed to electric current, zinc adheres to the metal surface.

The third method is the most widespread and is used to cover any small parts of the Lada Granta.

Despite the massive application, this is the most complex method of galvanizing individual parts of a car. First, the surface is treated with salts containing large amounts of manganese, zinc and iron. Once the layer is completely set, an additional primer coating is performed.

As it dries, the surface is additionally painted with paint containing a high content of fine zinc. Therefore, this method cannot be considered full-fledged galvanizing, however, this car painting with the addition of anti-corrosion substances can protect the surface of your car for a long time.

Many future owners of the practical Russian model Lada Granta are haunted by one logical and pressing question: is the body of this car galvanized? This concern is easily understandable, because the body is the most expensive part of a Lada Granta car.

The presence of galvanization has a beneficial effect on resistance to corrosion and increases service life. In this article we will talk about whether the body is galvanized.

Various sources provide very conflicting information regarding this aspect. Official representatives of AvtoVAZ assure that the body elements of the Lada Grant are indeed galvanized, however, some dealer entities refute this statement.

Regardless of whether the body is galvanized or not, we will next consider methods and techniques for caring for the most expensive part of this car.

Budget galvanizing of Russian cars - does it make sense?

The bodies of Russian cars were very rarely coated with zinc. Now VAZ, UAZ and partly GAZ use such protection in the production of their cars. To reduce the cost of the final product, factories often galvanize their products partially, protecting the most vulnerable areas from corrosion.

One-sided zinc coating is often used:

• body elements;
• individual components and assemblies from the outside.

The inside of the metal is coated in the traditional way using primer and paint.

Today, there are only a few domestic manufacturers that galvanize their products, improving the quality of protection. Until 2014, partially cold galvanizing was used by UAZ and VAZ.

Now the situation has improved somewhat and some cars have appeared with a maximum galvanized area. Here, of course, we are talking about real protection, and not about an advertising ploy:

1. Since 2014, UAZ Hunter, Pickup, Patriot, 23602-cargo has undergone full double-sided galvanizing, during which the body is immersed inside a special container. At the output, a protective layer with a thickness of 9-15 microns is obtained.
2. Lada Priora is covered with zinc by 80-90%.
3. The Vesta model is completely processed, except for the bottom and sills. This car became the first representative of the VAZ family with double-sided body treatment
4. Lada Kalina of the first and second generation has almost the same galvanized area, which is about 50%. All hanging elements are galvanized here. Later models have a completely galvanized body, with the exception of the side members, roof and hood.

Against this background, other Russian models are galvanized, as they say, as a distraction and with practically zero benefit:

1. The body of the Lada Granta sedan is only 30% made of galvanized steel. This only applies to doors and fenders. The metal is partially galvanized on both sides.
2. The Largus model has galvanized front fenders, trunk lid, doors, and sills.
3. The body of the Lada X-ray is subjected to double-sided processing, with the exception of the roof and bottom.
4. Since 1999, the VAZ 2110 has been protected from corrosion by cold galvanizing. In this case, the main efforts were directed to welding seams and nodal connections. This coating provides virtually no protection against rust.
5. GAZ cars (Gazel, Sobol, Siber) were processed according to the type of cold galvanizing of node connections.

When choosing a car, it is important to focus not so much on the advertising statements of manufacturers, but on their guarantee of body parts. Only under these conditions can you count on the durability of the machine.

What is body galvanization and why is it needed?

Galvanizing, or more correctly, galvanizing, is the application of a layer of zinc to the surface of the body using various methods in order to protect it from corrosion. Zinc is used because when it interacts with air, it oxidizes and forms a film that prevents oxygen from oxidizing the metal. This very film protects the car body from rust and corrosion.

The body is galvanized first to extend the “life” of the car. Automotive companies use different galvanizing methods. Due to the fact that each method requires different costs, prices for different brands of machines depend on the method and quality of processing.

The service life of a well-galvanized Lada Granta car increases by tens of years, and if during this time the car becomes a rarity, it can be sold three times more expensive. Or, at worst, pass it on to children and grandchildren by inheritance.

But is the body of the Lada Grant properly galvanized?

Four types of technologies

A little about why zinc (Zn) protects steel - it is a non-ferrous metal, has a more negative potential and corrodes first (that is, when it collapses, it protects the coating underneath), and the protection works even when it is damaged or partially destroyed.

To apply particles of protective metal to the body, there are only four main technologies, I will list them from best to worst.

Hot method. When the fully assembled body is dipped into a bath filled with zinc. Moreover, the temperature stays around 460 – 500 degrees Celsius. The method is very expensive and costly. Used by expensive brands on luxury cars - PORSHE, VOLVO, now on some premium HYUNDAI, etc.

• Galvanic method. The method consists in the process of deposition on the cathode (in our case, part of the body), positively charged particles (ions) of zinc from aqueous solutions (electrolytes). This technology works by passing a direct electric current through it. This is a less expensive and simpler technology, used by Mercedes, BMW, TOYOTA, Honda, Mitsubishi, KIA, etc.
• Zinc metal. It is used mainly by KIA, on cars from the “C” class. This is a kind of plastic coating that consists of two layers.
• Cold method. In essence, this is a kind of painting. A powder is applied to the body parts, which contains small particles of zinc powder. Used by many brands (Chevrolet, KIA, HYUNDAI, TOYOTA) including AVTOVAZ.

As you understand, VESTA is processed using the third technology; you choose where and in what volume to apply this layer.

This is where the disadvantages appear, namely the uniformity and thickness of the coating. It is also worth remembering that this layer is not 100% corrosion protection; it needs to be further strengthened.

We independently protect the body from corrosion

To protect the underbody when interacting with various substances (water, chemicals), a special mastic is used, before using which the surface is thoroughly washed from dirt and all cracks are treated with anti-corrosive.

The drug "Movil" protects metal parts of the body from moisture. Special additives in the composition help push moisture out of the metal surface. "Movil" should be used with caution near rubber objects on the body, as it can destroy them.

A method for those who did not have time to protect their body, and the first signs of rust have already appeared on its surface. Now it is important to prevent the situation from worsening. It is appropriate to use products with orthophosphoric acid, which converts corrosion into a soil mixture. This product can be used even before painting the car body, without first removing rust and priming the surface.

Source

Car body stiffness table

Of course, torsional rigidity of the body is one of the most important indicators of a modern car. Let's hope that over time, our engineers will come up with more efficient designs and improve the design so that domestic cars occupy the top positions in the ranking of the best cars in the world for this indicator.

• Absolutely legal (Article 12.2);
• Hides from photo and video recording;
• Suitable for all cars;
• Works through the cigarette lighter connector;
• Does not cause interference to radios and cell phones.

Torsional rigidity of the body or LC/c is a value that characterizes the strength characteristics of the automobile frame, its durability and safety. This value has a strong influence on the car’s handling. That is why the world's famous supercars, equipped with carbon fiber and soft lightweight body panels, are distinguished by the highest values ​​of this very parameter. Let's look at the LCD performance of well-known domestic models and compare them with the performance of foreign cars.