Steering rack VAZ 2115 device repair adjustment

Self-replacement of the VAZ 2115 steering rack - step-by-step instructions

In a car, as in every mechanism, performance depends on the correct functioning of each unit or part; the failure of one leads to the failure of the others, according to the principle of the so-called “chain reaction”. The steering rack is one of these mechanisms; its malfunction is unacceptable, primarily because faulty steering is a deadly phenomenon. Operating a vehicle with such a malfunction is unacceptable. Replacing the steering rack is necessary when, when turning the steering wheel, a crunching or knocking noise is heard; in some cases, tightening the bolts and nuts or replacing the seals can save the situation. If after this the problem remains, the steering rack needs to be replaced. It happens that after tightening the nuts, the rotation of the steering wheel worsens or even jams.

Replacing the rack on a VAZ 2115 is not the most difficult task, but it does require certain skills. You can replace the steering rack yourself, but I would advise getting an assistant.

A few words about the instrument. In order to do this work you need to have:

1. Steering rod puller;
2. Hexagon at “17”;
3. WD-40;
4. Set of wrenches (socket and open-end wrenches);
5. Litol;
6. Well, actually the VAZ 2115 steering rack itself, I also purchased Kroner ends for myself, but this is optional.

1. Remove the wheel bolts while the car is on the ground.

2. Jack up the car and hang up the wheels.

3. Remove the wheels and treat the nuts that need to be unscrewed with the “magic” WD-40 liquid.

4. In the cabin, unscrew the locking bolt of the steering cardan.

5. Next, unscrew the absorber under the hood, this will make the work easier and give you access to the steering rack.

Self-replacement of the VAZ 2115 steering rack - step-by-step instructions

6. Unsplit the tip nut, then knock the tip away from the stand, I think you can’t hit the thread, everyone knows!?

7. If you don’t have a steering rod puller, you can use a hammer and a powerful pry bar.

How to remove and replace the tie rod end is written here

8. Now unscrew the steering rack mounting nuts.

9. Remove the rail from the right side.

10. Next you need to knock the rack out of the slots; as a rule, it comes out without much difficulty.

11. After the rail with tips is removed, unscrew the tips and count the number of turns, this is so that after replacement you can more comfortably get to the nearest service station.

12. Open the side plugs in the new rail and fill the holes with Lithol.

13. It’s time to screw on the ends, be careful not to mix them up, the right one is different from the left one.

14. Installation of a new steering rack will require assistance. Place it in place and attach the fastenings to the right. The assistant's task is to help you get into the splines of the steering cardan. To loosen the clamp, you can drive a chisel into it. This way the slots will fit in easier.

15. The rack has a special groove into which a locking bolt is installed.

Assembly is carried out in reverse order. Do not forget to adjust the camber/toe after replacing the rack on the “tag”.

Thank you for your attention! By following consistency, you can complete this type of work without much difficulty.

Source

Causes and symptoms of malfunctions

There are several reasons why the VAZ-2114 steering rack needs to be replaced:

• Natural wear and tear of components;
• Wear due to foreign particles (sand, dirt) getting inside the mechanism;
• Damage to the rack or pinion teeth.

Natural wear and tear is understandable. If a car has driven more than 100 thousand km (and on our roads maybe less), then play in the steering is a common occurrence. But other causes of malfunctions are influenced by the features of operation and maintenance.

Damaged boots and oil seals, careless operation of the car, ignoring adjustment work - all this significantly reduces the life of the steering mechanism and leads to damage that makes further use of the unit impossible.

A worn or faulty VAZ-2114 steering rack will definitely manifest itself, and the symptoms can be different:

• Increased free play in the steering;
• Knocks from the steering rack when driving over uneven surfaces;
• Strong vibrations in the steering wheel;
• The car pulls in different directions;
• Crunching in the area of ​​the steering mechanism when turning;
• Wedging;
• "Weighting" of the steering wheel.

Since many symptoms are also inherent in problems with other components of the VAZ-2114 steering, before making a replacement, you should first make a diagnosis.

Steering rack repair for VAZ 2113, VAZ 2114, VAZ 2115

The steering rack is a mandatory, indispensable element of the steering of a car. This device converts the driver's efforts on the steering wheel inside the car, ensuring the wheels of the car turn and, accordingly, change the direction of movement. Over time, like any part, it wears out, and an unpleasant knocking noise appears, especially audible when cornering and while driving on uneven roads. This knock, firstly, is annoying, but it clearly makes it clear that something is wrong with the car. You should not ignore the knocking, because one day the rack may simply jam, and the steering wheel will lock in one position, and only braking and a complete stop can save you.

Car steering

One of the important components of a car is the steering mechanism. The steering rack in a car is the most important part of the unit. Through it, the force applied by the driver to the steering wheel with the help of tips and rods is transmitted to the turning levers, which are connected to the steered wheels through axles. It follows from this how important the serviceability of the steering rack is for the safe movement of the car.

Steering design

The photo shows the elements that make up the steering control design.

Steering rack device

Steering rack assembly components:

• Position 20 – staff.
• Position 21 – rack support sleeve.
• Position 22 – damping ring.
• Position 23 - rubber-metal hinge.
• Positions 10, 11, 14 – parts for attaching the rack to the steering rods.
• Position 12 – brackets for attaching the steering device to the shield in front of the body, 13 – rubber supports for the steering mechanism, 15 – protective cover for the device. The rack of position 20 engages a drive gear mounted on bearings in the housing of position 17 of the steering rack assembly. A cermet stop, sealed with a rubber ring in the crankcase, presses the rack against the gear with a spring, which rests against the nut.

Repair of rack on VAZ 2113-VAZ 2115

Disassembly

1) First, you need to remove the rack from the car, and we recommend that you read the details of the process in the article: “Replacing the steering mechanism on a VAZ.”

Note! By the way, do not rush to start repairing the rack if you only heard a knock for the first time. The first symptoms can be removed by pulling it up; the top link to the article contains information on this topic.

2) Now on the right side, remove the support and spacer ring from the end of the rail, as shown in the first photo. Then use pliers to cut through the clamps holding the protective cover in place (see photo 2, these clamps are disposable), and then remove the cover (photo 3) from the rail. On the other side (from the end), remove another support, now metal, and the protective cap. This operation is shown in the fourth photo.

3) Next, unscrew the special. using a 17 octagonal wrench on the rack stop nut (photo 1) and remove it. There is a spring located immediately behind the nut (photo 3), remove it and put it aside. Using a screwdriver, pry up the retaining ring as shown in the last photo.

4) Next, take the rail in your hands and knock on the board. Knock the crankcase until the stop falls out of the inside, look at photo 1. Then remove the bulkhead seal (photo 2) and use a screwdriver to remove the gear boot (photo 3) and the lock washer (photo 4).

5) Proceed to removing the gear that comes complete with the bearing. It is necessary to remove it from the crankcase by unscrewing the gear bearing mounting nut (photo 1), and then remove it from the shaft (photo 2). Then, taking the mounting blade and using it as a lever for a wrench, use a 14mm wrench to grab the flat of the gear (photo 3) and, leaning the wrench on the blade, remove the gear together with the bearing from the crankcase (photo 4).

Replacing the steering rack of VAZ 2113, 2114, 2115

If you do not promptly replace a faulty VAZ 2113, 2114 or 2115 steering rack, the steering wheel or wheels may unexpectedly freeze right on the road, which can lead to an accident. What if you drive in heavy traffic at high speed?

Therefore, if you hear a knock in this device, find a leak of working fluid, notice increased play in the steering wheel, or the pump hums, you should check the serviceability of the mechanism. Individual problems can be eliminated by repairing the steering rack of a VAZ 2114, 2113 or 2115, but it is better to replace the entire unit. This is not a complicated procedure, and with common sense and the ability to handle the tool, it is accessible even to a beginner. But if you have not yet encountered this problem and do not know how to fix the device, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the diagram.

Signs of faulty tie rod ends

The steering tips need to be replaced if, when driving over uneven surfaces, or when accelerating, you feel the steering wheel beating and vibration reverberating through the gas pedal.
It is possible to visually determine the condition of the steering rack tips only when checking the anthers. These parts have a direct impact on wheel alignment, which means they should be replaced on time, since the rubber will begin to wear unevenly. Replacing steering rack tips is also carried out when the car is on a lift or in a pit. By the way, this procedure is best left to the masters, since the work requires precision and strength in the hands. In total, the entire process of replacing tips takes no more than one hour, so you don’t have to part with your favorite car for a long time.

Remember that if you replace the tips in a timely manner, your car's steering rack will last much longer, and the ride quality will noticeably improve.

Source

Order of Operations

The steering rack is located in the engine compartment. It is installed with clamps on the wall. Work should begin with installing the machine. Its immobility must be secured with a brake. Further operations are performed in the following order:

1. You need to jack up the car and remove the front wheels.
2. Then the on-board electrical circuit is de-energized by disconnecting the negative terminal from the battery.
3. Now you need to unscrew the cardan stopper bolt, this is done from inside the car. The fastener is located under the steering wheel between the pedals.

• Now we go to the engine compartment and remove the adsorber there. You don't have to take it out, just move it.
• Then we pull out the cotter pins and disconnect the ends, having first unscrewed the nuts.
• The tips must be removed from the racks. This is done using a special puller. You can even buy a cheap tool; it will easily withstand one-time work. If you do not have this device, tap them from the bottom, but carefully so as not to disturb the threaded threads.
• Now you need to work on the fastening nuts. They need to be cleaned of corrosion. The nuts are lubricated with a corrosion removing compound; it is important to wait until it is absorbed.
• Now comes the removal of the VAZ 2114, 2113 or 2115 steering rack. To do this, the mechanism must be moved to the right side of the driver’s seat.
• Note that we unscrew the nuts of the clamps and remember how many turns they were screwed on, so that during assembly they can be installed correctly. With this operation we remove the tips from the steering rack.
• It is advisable to remove dirt with a rag before installing a new mechanism. And let's start installation.
• For a new device, you first need to remove the side plugs. The housing must be filled with lubricant as much as possible.
• Then we screw the ends to the steering rods; it is important to install them correctly in their original places. It's not difficult, they are different. Just pay attention to this moment.
• The new mechanism is installed in its regular place. The nuts are attached to the clamp studs.
• At this stage the master will need a partner. It should help you insert the shaft gear. It is difficult for one person to accurately hit the regular place on the rail. It is important that the pins match exactly. If everything worked out correctly, you can complete the work.
• Tighten the cardan stop bolt.
• Further operations are performed in the opposite sequence to that described above.

Also, see the procedure for replacing the VAZ 2114 steering rack with your own hands in this video:

>

When is replacement carried out?

If the condition of the listed elements does not cause any complaints, and adjustment work cannot be performed due to backlash, the fault lies in the steering mechanism itself.

Increased free play and knocking can still be eliminated by adjustment. While under the car on the mechanism body, you can find an adjusting screw for a special key, which can be replaced with a 17mm hexagon.

Using a wrench, tighten the screw until it stops, and then unscrew it by ? revolutions, and check the “heaviness” of the steering wheel. It should rotate easily, then you can check the behavior of the steering on the road.

If the adjustment does not help, the play and knocking remain, the VAZ-2114 steering rack needs to be repaired or replaced.

Read on the topic: The play in the steering, what it should be, is normal.

But if there is a crunch in the rack, you can immediately start replacing it, since adjustment with such symptoms obviously will not help.

Replacing the VAZ-2114 rack can be entrusted to service station specialists, but you will have to pay. The cost of replacement services at service centers varies from $20 to $45. And if we add the price of the rail itself, then the amount comes out to be considerable.

You can replace everything yourself, saving on this, especially since performing the operation on a VAZ-2114 is not difficult and even a novice car enthusiast can do it.

Also read about the causes of knocking when turning the steering wheel.

Let's summarize

As can be seen from the above, the work is available for self-execution. It is important to purchase a new steering rack for replacement, even if it is a cheap analogue. A good replacement for the factory mechanism would be the following racks: Weber-SG-2108-0012, Trialli-CR-S-708, Trialli-CR-108 or Pilenga-SR-P-1141. These devices are often of decent quality and will last a long time. It is not recommended to purchase refurbished units. Practice shows that they will last from 3 months to six months. For greater confidence in the performance of the device, you can purchase a complete repair kit, which includes bushings, oil seals, anthers and other spare parts.

Source

FAQ

How do problems with the steering rack manifest themselves?

Characteristic signs of a malfunctioning steering column: knocking when driving over uneven surfaces, inadequate behavior of the steering wheel (jamming, play), lack of feedback from the wheels, deviation from the trajectory when moving in a straight line. On cars with power steering, the steering wheel may rotate spontaneously and traces of liquid may appear under the car.

How to quickly check the steering rack without removing it?

For a quick preliminary check of the steering rack, just hit the side of the tire of the wheel of a stationary car. If a characteristic knock is heard, the steering rack or tips are most likely faulty.

How to check a contract steering rack?

You can independently check the contract steering rack visually by making sure there is no damage to the body, as well as by rotating the steering shaft and observing the operation of the mechanism. The condition of the teeth and bushings can be diagnosed only indirectly by the absence of backlash. More reliable diagnostics of contract and used steering racks is possible at a stand in a service station.

How long can you drive with a faulty steering rack?

It depends on the nature of the damage. Wear of the support bushings manifests itself mainly only as extraneous sounds, which does not in any way affect the control. Malfunctions in the hydraulic system, destruction of bearings or wear of the teeth of the worm pair can lead to an increase in the steering play beyond the permissible limit, its uneven rotation and jamming. Driving a car with such a malfunction is dangerous, so at the first sign of a problem, you need to check and repair or replace the steering rack.

Source