Shock absorbers VAZ 2107 (front and rear): types, installation, signs of malfunction

Without exception, all VAZ 2107 owners often wonder what shock absorbers can be installed on their car. This dilemma is quite obvious. The development of the model took place back in the 60s, and today any such car is simply not able to handle well at speeds above 100 km/h. This fact will be proven by any owner of the seven. The car rocking at high speed is often the cause of factory parts. Therefore, VAZ modifications begin with improving the suspension.

It so happens that most owners who are keen on constant modifications immediately replace standard parts with improved ones.

Front shock absorbers VAZ 2107

Front shock absorbers for the VAZ 2107 are not divided into right and left, and have one article number for both sides. As drivers note, these shock absorbers are too soft, and therefore the car body often sags greatly when cornering or when transporting cargo. They serve for a relatively long time. Often VAZ 2107 owners install shock absorbers from Niva. But this is not the best option, since in addition to this, you also need to install springs from the Niva. As a result, the front of the car rises significantly, and on top of everything else, these racks turn out to be much stiffer. And as a result, riding them is uncomfortable.

Also, the seven has original front gas shock absorbers under article number 210102905402. They are never installed from the factory, you need to buy and install them yourself. Compared to oil ones, they are a little stiffer, and according to most drivers, more comfortable.

Analogs of front shock absorbers for VAZ 2107

Numerous replacements for the original shock absorbers are very popular among drivers of sevens. The reason for this is higher quality foreign spare parts, and most often at a lower cost. After all, for the price of an original oil shock absorber, you can find a gas analogue, which, as a rule, is more expensive than conventional hydraulic struts. The table shows the most popular oil analogues, as well as one gas one from Kayaba.

What other options are there?

Most drivers leave the standard “original” shock absorbers. Some people install dampers from the Niva - such parts are much stiffer, because the 2121 model was originally designed for poor road conditions.

Gas-oil ones are not particularly popular, but are great for those who drive quite quickly. This is an indispensable part for tuning. Improved comfort. Adjustable shock absorbers are used in sports cars. For ordinary cars, such a solution is impractical.

Rear shock absorbers for VAZ 2107

The rear shock absorber struts are identical in characteristics and design to the front ones. They still have the same significant drawback - excessive softness. Since the VAZ 2107 is often used for economic needs, in particular for transporting various cargoes, overly soft shock absorbers are a problem. Therefore, installing seven shock absorber struts and springs from Niva on the rear wheels is more justified.

For the rear wheels there is also an original gas shock absorber, which is not installed from the factory - 21010291500610.

Analogs of rear shock absorbers for VAZ 2107

For the rear suspension of the VAZ 2107, replacements are especially relevant, since in most cases the owners of this car require stiffer shock absorbers.

What are the best shock absorbers for the VAZ 2107 to buy? If the car is not actively used for business purposes, and is operated mainly in urban conditions, then stock oil shock absorbers are well suited. In all other cases, many drivers recommend installing shock absorber struts from Kayaba (KYB), oil ones if moderate rigidity is needed, or gas ones if a stiffer suspension is needed.

According to the rating of shock absorbers for the VAZ 2107 on PartReview dated 04/07/20, owners prefer products from KYB. Manufacturers FENOX, Bilstein and Monroe also stand out.

↑ Shock absorbers of front and rear suspensions

1 - lower eye; 2 — compression valve body; 3 — compression valve discs; 4 — throttle disk of the compression valve; 5 — compression valve spring; 6 — compression valve cage; 7 — compression valve plate; 8 — recoil valve nut; 9 — recoil valve spring; 10 — shock absorber piston; 11 — recoil valve plate; 12 — recoil valve discs; 13 — piston ring; 14 — recoil valve nut washer; 15 — throttle disk of the recoil valve; 16 — bypass valve plate; 17 — bypass valve spring; 18 — restrictive plate; 19 - reservoir; 20 - rod; 21 - cylinder; 22 — casing; 23 — rod guide bushing; 24 — sealing ring of the tank; 25 — rod seal race; 26 — rod seal; 27 — gasket of the rod protective ring; 28 — rod protective ring; 29 — tank nut; 30 — upper shock absorber eye; 31 — nut securing the upper end of the front suspension shock absorber; 32 — spring washer; 33 — shock absorber mounting pad washer; 34 — pillows; 35 — spacer sleeve; 36 — front suspension shock absorber casing; 37 — rod buffer; 38 - rubber-metal hinge.

When to change shock absorbers on a VAZ 2107?

According to the VAZ 2107 maintenance regulations, shock absorbers are checked, as everywhere else, at every scheduled maintenance. Vary depending on the condition. Symptoms when replacement is necessary are standard - extraneous sounds from the suspension, the car does not hold the road well, the shock absorber struts have begun to leak, etc. As the experience of owners of sevens shows, original shock absorbers last an average of 50-70 thousand km. mileage But this largely depends on the driving style and operating conditions.

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Characteristic

A shock absorber is an element of the chassis whose task is to dampen vertical vibrations of the body and absorb some of the shock from the suspension. The stability of the car on the road depends on their technical condition.

The design of the VAZ-2107 shock absorber includes a rod and a working cylinder filled with gas or oil. There is also a piston that moves up and down and a chamber through which the filled liquid moves. Thus, the rear and front shock absorbers of the VAZ-2107 dampen suspension vibrations and make movement more comfortable.

Choose

Before replacing shock absorbers, you should select the ones that are suitable specifically for your operating conditions. After all, they are all different. And accordingly, depending on the road and driving style, they can behave differently. Let's take a closer look at their characteristics:

• Oil shock absorbers,
  as already mentioned, are installed as standard. They are often called “relatives”. They use oil as a working fluid. Only twin-tube shock absorbers are installed on classics. This makes them quite reliable. The disadvantage of this type of damper is its slow response. When driving at high speeds, the shock absorber does not have time to return to its working state, which ultimately causes the car to swing on the springs. This type of shock absorber is suitable for people who do not exceed 90 km/h when driving;
• Gas-oil engines
  use 2 types of working substance. The oil does the main work. Gas is used to stabilize operation. It eliminates excess foam, which helps the shock absorber respond more effectively to changing road conditions. When installed on a Zhiguli, it significantly improves driving performance. Swaying practically disappears at relatively low speeds. The downside is the tendency to miss sharp blows;
• Gas-oil shock absorbers with variable stiffness. This type is rarely used on VAZ cars. This is due to the high cost of such equipment. This type of part has a special solenoid valve, it adapts to the driving mode and changes the amount of gas in the main tube of the shock absorber, thus changing its stiffness.

Gas-oil

This is a kind of “golden mean” for those who want to get good handling without sacrificing comfort. Both gas and oil are used as the working element. These shock absorbers are slightly cheaper than gas shock absorbers, but still provide good handling.

The car does not skid like the factory ones. In addition, the energy intensity of the suspension is preserved - bearings, hubs and other elements do not break.

Rear shock absorbers VAZ 2107

If you need to replace the rear suspension shock absorbers on a Zhiguli model seven, you need to know not only the sequence of actions, but also which dampers should be installed.

Which ones to choose

When choosing shock-absorbing elements for your car, you need to understand what you want to achieve. Oil-type shock absorbers are excellent for measured driving. They are softer than gas ones and provide a higher level of comfort when driving over uneven surfaces, and no excess load is transferred to the body elements. In the renovation process, price is the deciding factor for many. Therefore, for classic Zhiguli cars, oil shock absorbers are one of the best options. If you like sporty driving, then it is better to give preference to gas-oil dampers. They are stiffer and allow you to corner at higher speeds.

Design and purpose of shock absorbers

Shock absorbers used in a car's suspension are used to dampen vibrations and shocks transmitted to the car body when driving on a bad road. They provide the wheels with reliable contact with the road surface, ensuring controllability regardless of driving mode and surface quality.

In the first cars, the functions of shock absorbers were performed by springs made of metal plates. In them, vibrations were damped due to friction between the plates. With the increase in vehicle speeds, this design no longer provides adequate safety and comfort. The vibrations began to be damped in a package of friction discs, which rotated relative to each other as the car passed uneven surfaces. But this design overheated greatly, and the disks quickly wore out. Only in the third decade of the 20th century were shock absorbers invented that dampen vibration energy by flowing liquid under pressure between two containers. The principle of operation of the shock absorber has been preserved to this day - the kinetic energy of vibrations is damped due to hydraulic (gas) resistance.

A shock absorber has two main elements: a piston and a cylinder. Inside the latter there are chambers with oil and air or oil and gas. Oil or gas resists the movement of the piston, converting the vibration energy of the body into heat.

Only the fillers have changed, on which the dynamic characteristics of the unit depend.

Manufacturers

As you know, parts for VAZs are produced by many companies under contract. And although they seem to be the same, there is still a difference in quality and driving characteristics.

You can purchase simple oil shock absorbers from any manufacturer. As a rule, they do not differ much in quality. Gas-oil options are practically not produced by domestic manufacturers, so we have to look for options from foreign manufacturers. Most often you can find the following brands in stores:

It should be noted that these are not all manufacturers, but only those more widely represented on the market. If you find a product from other manufacturers, it is advisable to look for detailed information about them.

. The shock absorbers on the classic are quite reliable. Their replacement is required quite rarely, especially when driving on smooth roads. But you still need to know which shock absorbers are best installed on the VAZ 2107. After all, sooner or later there will be a need for replacement. You can notice the malfunction of this structural element by the smooth rocking of the car even at low speed.

Friends, please recommend Shock Absorbers for VAZ 2107.

Which ones are better, last longer, and what is the price? I'm thinking between oil and gas-oil. I don’t know what will be more comfortable and better. Please tell me! Who has what and what is their experience with them. And if possible With a photo.

What types of shock absorbers are there?

It is possible to install one of three types on a classic:

• oil;
• gas-oil with variable hardness;
• gas-oil with constant hardness.

As a rule, each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. Standard shock absorbers are oil shock absorbers that come from the factory. This is the manufacturer's recommendation.

As for double-sided shock absorbers, they cannot be installed on a VAZ, because they cannot be secured in the traditional way. Drastic changes to the fastening system will be required.

Shock absorbers suitable for the VAZ 2107 can also be installed on other models of this manufacturer. The exceptions are 2104 and 2102 - longer and more powerful shock absorbers are installed on these machines.

Modernization of shock absorbers

Not every owner likes the soft suspension of the 7. To make the car more assembled, reduce roll and sway, and increase rigidity, car enthusiasts resort to modifications, replacing original shock absorbers with products with other characteristics. For example, to stiffen the rear suspension without any modifications or alterations, you can install shock absorbers from Niva. Based on the reviews of many owners of the “Seven”, after such changes the car becomes a little stiffer and holds the road better.

Double

To install dual shock absorbers you will need:

• 4 rear shock absorbers;
• set of heads, screwdrivers, keys;
• hammer;
• welding machine.

The essence of the modification comes down to the fact that it is necessary to manufacture and attach to the body a bracket for the second damper.

Installation of the latter to the rear axle is carried out together with a standard shock-absorbing element using a long bolt or stud. The procedure is carried out the same way on both sides.

With such modifications, it is recommended to install new shock absorbers.

Sports

If the car is modified for a sporty driving style, then the changes apply not only to the rear, but also to the front suspension. For such purposes, it is convenient to use a suspension kit, which includes springs and shock absorbers. Depending on the goals pursued, the installation of such elements is possible both without changing the ground clearance and with lowering the suspension, ensuring maximum rigidity in all modes of damper operation. The kit allows you to get excellent car handling. However, you can install sports elements separately - in front or behind, which depends only on your wishes. One of the common options for sports shock absorbers installed by owners of “sevens” and other “classics” is PLAZA SPORT. Installation is carried out in place of standard parts without any modifications.

Shock absorber malfunctions

Any car malfunction always manifests itself in the form of extraneous noise, unusual behavior of the vehicle or other signs. Problems with shock absorbers also have certain symptoms, and if they are detected, you should not delay replacing the dampers.

Oil leakage

The most common sign that a shock absorber has become unusable is a fluid leak. Leaks on the body indicate a loss of seal in the oil reservoir. As a result, not only leaks occur, but also air leaks. In this case, the damper rod has free movement, i.e. it moves without any effort, and the part loses its functionality. If signs of smudges have just appeared on the shock absorber, it will serve a little longer, but you should not leave it without attention and it is better to replace it in the near future.

The main malfunction of shock absorbers is leakage of working fluid

Body rocking

Since springs and shock absorbers work together to dampen vibrations that occur when driving over bumps, contact with the road may be lost if the damper fails. In this case, shaking increases, the body sways, and the level of comfort decreases. The car becomes rolly, and when it hits obstacles it sways for some time. The easiest way to check the shock absorbers of your “seven” is to press the wing, try to rock the body, and then release it. If the car continues to swing on the springs for some time, then this is a clear sign of a faulty damper.

To check the shock absorbers, you need to swing the body by the fender or bumper

Body roll

One symptom that indicates problems with the suspension shock absorbers is body roll when cornering. This behavior of the car negatively affects safety, since the quality of braking, as well as vehicle control, suffers. If liquid has leaked from the damper, it will be quite difficult to keep the car turning, which is especially dangerous in winter. When the mileage of the products in question is more than 60 thousand km, which also depends on the quality of the parts themselves and the operating conditions of the vehicle, handling may noticeably deteriorate. But since the process does not occur at one moment, but gradually, the driver practically does not notice this and rolls can be perceived as a normal phenomenon.

Suspension noise

Extraneous sounds in the suspension, uncharacteristic of its operation, indicate the need to check and service this mechanism. When dampers and their bushings wear out, the ability to effectively support the weight of the machine is lost. In addition, so-called shock absorber breakdowns often occur.

Uneven or increased tire wear

If it has been noticed that the tire tread has uneven wear or wears off too quickly, then this is a clear sign of problems with the suspension. With faulty shock absorbers, the wheel moves vertically with a much greater amplitude, which leads to uneven tire wear. When driving, extraneous noise appears on such wheels.

If your tires wear unevenly, one of the likely causes is problems with the shock absorbers.

Plunging when braking

Among car owners there is such a thing as “the car bites.” If the dampers fail, the front of the car will dive during braking, and the rear will sag when accelerating. This is explained by the fact that parts that have become unusable do not cope with their function, that is, they do not support the weight of the machine.

Broken fastening

One of the infrequent breakdowns of the front shock absorbers is the breakage of the lower eye. The reasons for this phenomenon may be different:

• installation of low-quality parts;
• making changes to the standard suspension design.

Sometimes it happens that the fastening of the rod along with the glass breaks off. This phenomenon is accompanied by a knocking sound while driving. It is quite easy to identify a breakdown by opening the hood and looking at the place where the upper part of the shock absorber is attached.

When the upper shock absorber mounting cup breaks, a knocking sound appears in the suspension

The problem is resolved by welding. Some Zhiguli owners reinforce this part of the body with additional metal elements.

Checking shock absorbers on a stand

The most accurate method for diagnosing shock absorbers is to test the car suspension on a vibration stand. Using such equipment, the properties of each damper are checked separately. At the end of the diagnostics, the device will display a diagram based on the results of measurements of axial vibrations. By comparing the diagram with the permissible vibration value of a working damper, you can understand the condition of the parts.

Oil shock absorber

This is a factory element that is designed and installed on the VAZ-2107 as standard.

It is characterized by high softness, which increases the smoothness of the ride. The oil shock absorber absorbs all irregularities perfectly. It also has a lower price. The cost of one rod is up to a thousand rubles.

Now let's move on to the disadvantages. First of all, due to softness, the sharpness of control is lost. Roll increases when cornering. On the other hand, the VAZ-2107 is not a racing car, and the standard shock absorbers are more than suitable for everyday driving.

↑ Sequence of disassembling shock absorbers

• Unscrew the nut 29 of the reservoir with the key A.57034/R, remove the working cylinder 21 with the rod 20 and its parts from the reservoir. Release the reservoir from the vice and drain the liquid from it.
• Using wrench 67.7824.9513–005, remove rod guide sleeve 23 from the working cylinder. Remove piston 10 with rod from the cylinder and drain the liquid. Carefully, using a special mandrel, knock out the 2 compression valve housing assembly from the cylinder.
• Place the rod with the piston into the jaws, clamp it in a vice and unscrew nut 8 of the recoil valve. Remove piston 10 with valves (bypass and return), guide sleeve 23, rod seal 26, seal race 25 and other parts.

NOTE! For the front suspension shock absorber, for ease of inspection of the surface of the rod covered by the casing, it is also recommended to compress the casing.

Description

“SS20 Comfort-Optima” is the optimal solution for both quiet and active driving in the city and on the highway, with a balanced combination of comfort and handling (in comparison with the “STANDARD” series, rigidity has been increased by 30%, which has improved energy consumption and controllability with a noticeable reduction in roll in turns). The Comfort-Optima series is ideal for those who are not satisfied with the factory suspension settings, namely handling, but at the same time value comfort in the car. Excellent for city-highway operation at all speeds, regardless of the condition and quality of the road surface. “SS20 STANDARD springs” are springs without lowering, made of high-quality steel using the hot-winding method. The STANDARD series springs are unique in that they work without loss of comfort (not oak), but at the same time the car’s handling becomes better and more predictable, it is important that these springs do not shrink as much as factory springs do. The SS20 STANDARD series is perfect for using a car for every day, in city-highway-off-road conditions, regardless of the quality of the road surface. An excellent and cost-effective solution when replacing your old factory springs with new ones on a budget.

Advantages of VAZ suspension springs from SS20:

• 100% quality control;
• the most identical characteristics ensuring the best traction, reliability and comfort;
• high resistance of paint coating.

The SS20 company offers front and rear reinforced shock absorbers for VAZ, which, unlike the standard shock absorbers of the VAZ 2101-2107, have increased resistance during the rebound stroke, and an increased diameter of the body and rod.

Advantages of using SS20 shock absorbers:

• excellent stability and uniform grip on the road surface is ensured by the identical characteristics of SS20 shock absorbers, matched in pairs;
• high reliability and stable operation of SS20 shock absorbers in all climatic zones of Russia and neighboring countries (at ambient temperatures from –42°С to +50°С);
• all traffic safety requirements are taken into account when setting up - shock absorbers undergo long-term life tests on stands, as well as full-scale tests on VAZ cars (“moose test”, “rearrangement”, “comb braking”);
• the ability to choose a modification of the SS20 shock absorbers (“Standard”, “Comfort Optima”, “Highway”, “Sport”) allows you to get the level of driving comfort that suits you;
• high durability, which is achieved due to the increased diameter of the shock absorber body, piston, and the use of original hydraulic fluid;
• the ability to install with spare parts from other manufacturers - this does not affect the performance of the product and the SS20 warranty;
• protection against counterfeiting and provision of a guarantee regardless of the presence of purchase documents (impact-perfect indelible marking of products);
• Great warranty without mileage limitation (we take on high obligations).

The shock absorber housing for the “classic” SS20 production was enlarged compared to standard shock absorbers, which made it possible not only to increase the oil volume, but also to use larger diameter pistons, which significantly reduced the specific loads on the elements of the valve system and increased their service life. Pistons with a “skirt” are used, providing excellent sealing and stability of shock absorber characteristics with an extended service life. The lower and upper silent blocks of the front shock absorber have an original design that is superior to the factory shock absorber for the VAZ 2101-2107 family in terms of reliability and damping capacity.

Thus, the shock absorber for the “classics” (VAZ 2101, 2102, 2103, 2104, 2105, 2106, 2107) of the SS20 brand is a reliable design that will allow you to forget about a number of problems that arise when operating a car with standard shock absorbers.

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Bottom line

As a rule, shock absorbers on classic VAZ models are highly reliable, and many do not even think about replacing them prematurely. But it is necessary to have information about what shock absorbers can be installed on the seventh model. Over time, parts will still need to be replaced. A clear sign of damper failure is the car swaying even at low speeds.

It is best to make the replacement yourself if you have previously done similar things and have some experience. Otherwise, it is better to contact a private workshop or car service. The price of repair work for a VAZ is quite affordable and does not require large investments in comparison with foreign cars.

Car suspension and our roads

When driving, the car suspension absorbs all vibrations from the road surface and dampens them, excluding the transfer of the latter to the vehicle body.

Of course, it is impossible to completely damp out vibrations, given the state of our roads, but the suspension still absorbs most of them. In this case, the main work in damping vibrations is performed by the shock absorber.

But due to constant heavy loads, this element may fail.

All this will be accompanied by a decrease in controllability, increased body vibration, and knocking when hitting large bumps.

The manifestation of these signs indicates the need to replace shock absorbers.

While shock absorbers have not been created that can work forever, you can, of course, install devices from KYB KAYABA, but they also do not last forever.

Therefore, over time you will have to change them, regardless of what car they are installed on - an old “penny” VAZ-2101 or a Lexus LX570.

But not so many people own Lexus cars, but there are a lot of VAZ owners, and most of them prefer to repair their cars themselves.

Therefore, let's look at how to replace front shock absorbers on different VAZ models - from the Classic to the VAZ-2110 family.

↑ Shock absorber assembly

Assemble the shock absorber in the reverse order of disassembly, taking into account the following:

• after assembling the compression valve, make sure that there is free movement of the disc 7 and the valve discs;
• press clip 6 onto body 2 using a special mandrel;
• press the compression valve into the cylinder using mandrel 67.7824.9513-004;
• to facilitate the assembly of parts located on the rod, use guides 67.7824.9513-003;
• the throttle disk 15 of the front shock absorber has three grooves along the outer diameter, and the throttle disk of the rear shock absorber has six;
• tighten the recoil valve nut to a torque of 9.8–14.7 N·m (1–1.5 kgf·m);
• Tighten the reservoir nut with wrench 67.7824.9513.002 (tightening torque 68.6–88.2 N·m (7–9 kgf·m).

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