Replacing rear shock absorber struts on a VAZ-2112

Unknown knocking in the car is a very common problem for modern drivers. The source of sound in 50% of cases is wheels. And they are typical for the so-called “wheel stands”.

In the domestic VAZ-2112 car, the rear struts are replaced in the same way as in other models of this brand. It is worth noting that replacing the rear strut is much easier and faster than replacing the front strut. This is due, first of all, to the complex structure of the latter, which is not as easy to disassemble as it seems at first glance.

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Description and meaning of the stand

Potholes, uneven surfaces and poor road surfaces are a consequence of frequent replacement of vehicle struts. To replace struts on a VAZ-2112 car, use high-quality equipment, or better yet, entrust this work to an experienced mechanic. Drivers of this car model call these struts “tenths”; their job is to stabilize the car body when driving.

If you drive daily on poor-quality road surfaces, the service life of the struts is reduced by exactly half. In the VAZ-2112 model, due to the peculiarity of the body structure, the rear pillars take the main impact from swinging.

To comply with safety rules and long-term operation of car suspension parts, it is recommended to undergo maintenance at least once every 3 months. The optimal wear of the rear side of the vehicle assembly directly depends on the quality of the struts. When the vehicle oscillates vertically, the struts together with shock absorbers reduce these oscillations to a minimum value. This happens because when the car's wheels leave the road surface, they do not participate in the braking process.

In a VAZ-2112 car, the rear struts should be replaced regularly, since this part of the car mechanism directly affects safety while driving. It is the lack of integrated action of the rear struts that creates a serious danger from even a small unevenness or hole on the road surface.

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We determine that the element did not fire

There are several signs by which a malfunction can be identified:

The body is amplified by vibrating on the ridge on the side of the damaged shock absorber;
Feels in the steering wheel;
The braking distance becomes longer;
When turning, the car enters;
Traces of oil stains;
When driving in a straight line, the car drifts away;
There is a knocking and extraneous noise in the rack.

If you do not repair the front struts at a service station on time or with your own hands, this can lead to dire consequences:

The supporting bearings will collapse;
Tires will wear unevenly, jump, and form bumps on the rubber surface;
The supporting bearings will not pass;
The braking distance will be longer, which is dangerous on any part of the road;
The brake pads will be damaged and their service life will be significantly reduced.

There are two main ways to test items to see if they are faulty. One is a professional, the other is a craft, but also quite effective.

Special table for shaking. It is driven by the car and the computer calculates the efficiency of the shock absorbers. It should be noted that new racks may show a result of about 75%!, but this is quite normal. If the percentage is less than 50, then it's time to change the part.
Manual rotation. You need to take the front part of the car, behind its wing, and start swinging. Try to achieve the maximum amplitude that allows you to bear your body weight. In any case, ask a friend to help. The point is that after swinging, suddenly remove your hands and look at the car. If it immediately returns to its original position and does not wobble anymore, then everything will be fine. If you detect even a slight hesitation, you can assume that the struts should preferably be replaced in the near future.

Replacing front struts, supports and springs VAZ 2110, 2112, Lada Kalina, Granta, Priora, 2109 Video guide on how to independently replace front struts, supports and springs on front-wheel drive cars.

Rack installation methods

Very often, a loaded VAZ-2112 catches on the reverse wheels when moving and rocking on a bad road. Mechanics have found an original solution and attach so-called “spacers” to the rear struts, placing them between the beam and the car’s shock absorber. After the manipulations have been performed, the characteristics of the machine change as follows:

The angle of the headlights changes.
The castor position (wheel angle) changes.
In contour brakes (rear), the direction of the pressure regulator changes.

If the car's headlights can be adjusted independently, the direction of the front wheels and the angle can only be corrected at a service station.

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Selecting new parts

It is not difficult to purchase a rear shock absorber for a VAZ 2112; there is a fairly large selection at any auto store. The question is what type of rack to choose. There are 2 types of them:

conventional hydraulic (oil);
gas-oil (gas).

Parts of the first type are cheaper and handle road unevenness much more smoothly. When the car is operated without special loads and with a quiet driving style, oil shock-absorbing elements can last quite a long time, provided that you do not come across a fake. Gas-oil shock absorbers are more expensive and behave more rigidly, which improves car handling and is a definite plus for an aggressive driving style. In addition, they last longer when used under increased loads.

To avoid purchasing low-quality products from unknown manufacturers, you should choose products from brands that have proven themselves on the roads of Russia:

SS 20 (Samara plant, Russian Federation);
Kayaba;
Monroe;
Sachs.

At the same time, it is necessary to take into account that products of these brands are most often counterfeited in underground workshops. Therefore, it is better to buy parts from official sales representatives of these manufacturers. The same applies to VAZ 2110 springs, which sometimes change due to shrinkage from loads.

If there is an obvious malfunction of one of the shock absorbers, it is recommended to replace both elements.

There is no point in changing them one by one; you will only waste money and time on replacement. Using an old rack together with a new one will cause rapid wear of the latter. A “bad” part will handle irregularities much worse than a new one, which will put a double load on it. An exception is a situation where, for various reasons, a new shock absorber installed recently has failed. Then it makes sense to replace only it.

Knocking in the racks

If the VAZ-2112 has already traveled 30,000 thousand kilometers, you are probably faced with the problem of some knocking in the rear pillars. There can be a lot of reasons for this, and no one can accurately determine which of them was a consequence of the sounds in your car.

If you hear a characteristic knocking sound in the rear pillar while driving over uneven roads, the shock absorbers are most likely due to deterioration and should be replaced as soon as possible.
Wear on the rear suspension struts is also the main cause of problems with the car's rear strut.
A sagging spring is also a cause and requires replacement.
Severe wear of the bushings that were mounted in the lugs.
Problems with the compression stroke of the car's rear strut.
Problems with axis coaxiality due to possible deformation.

In a VAZ-2112 car, replacing rear struts without spring tensioners cannot be properly adjusted. To better identify the problem, empty the trunk of any cargo. If you nevertheless decide to replace the rear struts, the price that you will see on the car markets will pleasantly please you, since it is much cheaper than the prices for a new generation foreign car.

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How to determine the malfunction?

The shock-absorbing unit of the rear beam of the VAZ 2112, although it is distinguished by its simplicity of design, has some “cunning” in terms of detecting malfunctions. Since it does not experience the same loads as the front suspension, the rear shock absorber lasts longer - up to 50 thousand km. The “cunning” of the rear pillar of the VAZ 2110-12 is that there are only 2 clear signs indicating the need to replace the part:

traces of oil flowing down the element body;
a dull knock when driving over bumps or small potholes.

The second sign does not always indicate a breakdown of the VAZ 2110 shock absorbers themselves; the rubber bushing of its lower mount knocks much more often; the issue is resolved by replacing these rubber bands. And only when the struts are too loose, a change in the car’s behavior on the track is felt, which is expressed in vibrations or skidding of the rear end during sharp turns of the steering wheel.

Motorists who constantly operate their cars with a full load or with a trailer are recommended to check the condition of the rear springs and struts after each long trip. An immediate inspection of the unit is also carried out after a strong blow to the shock absorber from a wheel that has fallen into a large hole. If an oil leak appears on the body or the behavior of the car changes dramatically, then most likely the rear shock absorber has become unusable. Too strong a blow often leads to bending of the rod, causing the car to start to pull to the side when driving.

Since the rear of the car does not initially bear much load, you can try to check the struts by rocking. By sharply pressing the corner of the trunk from behind, you should make sure that the shock absorber immediately extinguishes the vibration. If the body swings a second time after pressing, then the element does not cope with its task.

Rear pillar replacement instructions

If you take a closer look at the structure of the front and rear struts, you will see that this is a nodal mount - a kind of device for the interaction of springs and shock absorbers in a bilateral form. Replacing the rear struts on a VAZ-2112 with your own hands is not a very complicated process, but you must carry out a number of steps, as well as have special keys and everything necessary for the work.

Manipulations for removing the rear pillar:

In the area of the stern fastening arches, dismantle the spare parts.
Prepare the car seat located at the rear for removal, remove all fasteners and belts.
Use a special key to unscrew the rod fasteners.
Raise the car on a lift.
Remove the lower mount.
Remove the stand from the mounting socket.

When you have finished removing the necessary elements and removed the desired part, proceed to the next replacement step. Now you need to generate a stroke compression buffer system, remove the protective cover, bushing, support washer, spring and shock absorbers.

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Removal and installation of springs, boots and bumpers (compression buffers) on VAZ 2110-2112

The spring can now be removed without any problems, since there is nothing holding it in place.

The boot is also easy to remove, just pull it up:

The bump stop, or as it is also called, the compression buffer, is also pulled off the rod without unnecessary difficulties. If necessary, replace all removed parts and install everything in the reverse order.

Scheme of work

Replacing struts on a VAZ-2112 with your own hands must be strictly observed:

Install the shock absorber stock at the top.
Pull the beam using available tools or a lever.
Install the bottom fastener into the very base of the beam.
Secure the rack fasteners.
Install the wheels.
Remove the car from the lift.

In terms of time, the entire replacement will take only 3-4 hours, but you will immediately notice the car’s behavior on the road.

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conclusions

Thus, a complete replacement of the rear shock absorber struts will cost less than 10,000 rubles, since thanks to this instruction, you will significantly save on the work of replacing them.

It’s not an incredibly easy task, as my friend and I thought. But after everything is ready, it seems that it is not so difficult. You just have to try to do it yourself.

The role of shock absorbers in a car is extremely important. This applies to the front and rear shock absorber struts of the VAZ 2110, 2111, 2112, the removal and replacement of which will increase comfort, controllability and safety. If the shock absorbers are faulty, then you will feel it immediately: the smoothness of the ride has disappeared, there is a feeling of strong penetration of the suspension when driving over holes and bumps, the car has become worse in handling and braking.

Don't put off getting your suspension diagnosed because a healthy suspension could ultimately save your life. Today we will look at the instructions for replacing the rear shock absorber struts on a VAZ 2110, 2111, 2112 with your own hands.

For this you will need: keys 6″, 17″, 19″.

Hold the tip of the rod and unscrew the upper rod nut with another wrench.

Taking it apart

Unscrew the nut at the bottom

We take out the rear shock absorber completely

Disassembled rear shock absorber strut of VAZ 2110, 2111, 2112. We replace components, depending on wear, selectively or completely. We assemble the rack and install it on the car.

To ensure safety when driving, the VAZ 2112 has a rear suspension with coil springs, double-acting hydraulic shock absorbers, and trailing arms. The devices are connected by a cross beam.

Additional recommendations

Before you begin assembling all the components of the VAZ-2112, you should perform several additional manipulations:

treat all insert elements with kerosene;
Before direct installation, carefully inspect each element, even a new one, to ensure its integrity and quality;
The final fixation of the mounting bolts should be carried out after the jack has been removed;
After assembling all components, it is recommended to carry out a special wheel alignment check.