The VAZ-2107 car is the latest model produced by AvtoVAZ using the so-called classic layout, when the car was driven by the rear wheels.
And since the majority of our car enthusiasts prefer rear-wheel drive cars, the 2107 is still a popular car among the people.
The chassis of any car includes two main suspension components: front and rear wheels.
If we take into account the front suspension of the VAZ-2107, then it is more reliable than that of the VAZ-2108.
This is explained by the fact that the “Seven” has fewer front suspension components than the “Eight” due to the drive to the rear wheels.
But at the same time, due to the same drive, the rear suspension is more complex, which means there is a greater likelihood of a malfunction.
Front suspension device for VAZ 2107
The “Seven” is equipped with an independent suspension, consisting of an upper and lower control arm, a spring and a shock absorber on each side. The lower arms are connected to each other through the anti-roll bar.
The axles of the lower arms are rigidly attached to the cross member (beam), which is attached to the front side members of the body. The role of the axes of the upper arms is performed by the fastening bolts with which the arms are screwed to the mudguard posts.
The mobility of the levers is ensured by rubber-metal hinges - silent blocks.
The wheel hub is bolted to the steering knuckle, which is held at the ends of the arms by ball joints (upper and lower). This ensures that the wheels rotate around a vertical axis.
The front suspension springs, which smooth out bumps when driving over uneven sections of the road, are located between the lower arms and the mudguard. That the springs did not move while driving, their edges were inserted into the support cups.
Shock absorbers that absorb vibration energy are attached by the body to the lower arm, and their rods are screwed to the mudguards through rubber cushions.
The anti-roll bar is connected to the arms and side members through rubber bushings to prevent direct metal-to-metal contact and absorb shock loads.
Malfunctions of the front suspension of the VAZ 2107
Repair or replacement of the front suspension of the VAZ 2107 is required in case of wear or breakage of its parts. Rubber and rubber-metal bushings, shock absorbers and ball joints are most susceptible to wear. Failure of the latter is the most dangerous, since in such cases the steering knuckle turns out along with the wheel, and the car loses control.
To determine damage, it is necessary to inspect and diagnose the condition of the front suspension.
The inspection consists of checking the absence of oil leaks from the shock absorbers, the condition of the rubber parts of the parts and the integrity of the spring.
How to check the chassis on the "seven"
Self-checking the chassis of a VAZ is a relatively simple and quick procedure. No special tools are required, but you need to drive the car onto an overpass or pit.
Checking the chassis involves a visual inspection, so you will need to take care of good quality lighting. During the inspection, it is necessary to carefully examine all suspension components, paying special attention to:
- the condition of all rubber elements - they should not be dry or cracked;
- the condition of the shock absorbers - there should be no traces of oil leakage;
- integrity of springs and levers;
- presence/absence of play in ball joints.
Any oil leaks and cracks indicate that the element will soon fail.
This check is quite enough to find the problematic part in the chassis of the car.
Checking the front suspension parts of the VAZ 2107
It’s easy to check the condition of the shock absorbers: press hard on the wing, forcing the spring and shock absorber to compress and release. The machine should return to its original state and not continue to rock.
The condition of the ball joints can be assessed by checking the play of the parts with the suspension loaded and unloaded.
All rubber parts (boots, bushings, silent blocks) must be replaced at the first sign of wear or damage. Silent blocks must also be replaced if there is play in the lever on the axle.
Multiple ways to set corners
In general, it is not recommended to change the factory settings on a car, but you need to set the wheels to a certain position, and there are several options.
- In the first case, if the castor is negative, then the car becomes too sensitive. And in this case, the car will seem to float and not hold its position when turning.
- In the second case, the castor is positive, but the camber angle is at zero, and the steering wheel will be too heavy. But the car becomes more obedient on the road.
- In the third case, they make it sporty, that is, they set it to both minus and plus, and the steering wheel will remain the same, but the handling will improve.
Replacement of ball joints VAZ 2107
To replace the ball joint, you need to jack up and remove the wheel. Then unscrew the nut holding the support pin in the steering knuckle and press out the latter.
After this, you can unscrew the support from the lever and remove it along with the boot. All that remains is to install a new ball joint with a new boot and reassemble it by performing the previous operations in reverse order.
After replacing the ball joint, it is advisable to adjust the alignment angles of the front wheels (wheel alignment).
How to adjust wheel alignment with your own hands without stands
- To adjust the wheel alignment, the car must be empty and the tire pressure must be immediately equalized.
- A car with good wheel alignment has:
- The wheel alignment is adjusted either in the inspection pit or on a lift.
Let's start checking the wheel camber. For this we need a plumb line. It is desirable that it be flat and on a soft thread.
- We display the inclination of the wheel parallel to this plumb line.
On VAZ 2104, VAZ 2105, VAZ 2106, VAZ 2107, VAZ 2108, VAZ 2109, VAZ 21214, the camber is adjusted with two bolts on the rack. One bolt with an eccentric, and the second just for fixing. In order to adjust the camber, both bolts must be loosened.
These bolts can become very sour, which is why it is better to clean them with a wire brush and fill them with WD-40.
Let's start adjusting the wheel alignment. To do this, first the wheels were placed straight by eye.
- Then fix the steering wheel in a straight position.
- The best way to fix the steering wheel is to use a rack that is screwed to the steering wheel and rests against the doors on both sides, as in the photo.
- To do this, so that our wheels turn well, you can take two metal plates and lubricate them well with any lubricant (even old oil).
We run our wheels onto these two plates. Now our wheels will turn well.
Now we hook one end of the wire on the rear wheel and bring it to the front. Make sure that there is no interference from the splash guards.
- We need to bring the wheel exactly parallel to this wire.
- Toe is adjusted either by increasing or decreasing the length of the tie rod, as shown in the photo.
We repeat the procedure on the other side of the car. This method is very effective.
Replacing silent blocks VAZ 2107
Repairing the front suspension of a VAZ 2107 often requires replacing the silent blocks. To perform this operation, you must remove the upper arm. The silent blocks of the lower arm can be changed without removing the arm from the car.
The silent blocks are pressed out of the lever and pressed into it using a special puller. To remove the upper arm, it is necessary to press out the support pin.
The silent blocks of the lower arms can be replaced by unscrewing the nuts on the arm axis. It is worth removing the lower arms only to replace them with new ones. But such an operation is usually required only when eliminating the consequences of an accident.
About the choice of jet thrusts
Traction "Track"
The product is very popular among owners of the “Seven”. These rods are distinguished by their high reliability and high price, which starts from 2100 rubles per set.
Trek thrusters are distinguished by high reliability and high price
The main difference between Trek is the heads for the bushings. Firstly, they are large, and secondly, they are attached to the rods by welding. The silent blocks on Tracks are also made of especially dense rubber, which significantly extends their service life.
Rods "Cedar"
The overwhelming majority of “Sevens” that had previously rolled off the assembly line had jet thrusters installed specifically from “Kedr”, since this company has always been and remains the official supplier of AvtoVAZ.
Kedr rods have an affordable price and mediocre quality
The quality of Kedr is somewhat inferior to Trek. This is especially true for bushings and silent blocks. All this wears out quite quickly, and therefore they will have to be changed more often. But there is also a good side - a reasonable price. A set of “Cedar” rods can be purchased for 1,700 rubles.
Belmag rods
Despite the simplicity and reliability of Belmag rods, they have one significant drawback: they are not so easy to find on sale. Every year they are found less and less often on the shelves of auto parts stores. But if the car owner still manages to find them, then he can be congratulated, since he got a reliable product at a reasonable price. The cost of Belmag rods starts from 1800 rubles per set.
Today it is not so easy to find Belmag rods on sale
This, in essence, is the entire list of large manufacturers of good rods for the VAZ 2107. Of course, now there are a lot of smaller companies on the market that are quite aggressively promoting their products. But none of these companies gained much popularity among the owners of classics, and therefore it is inappropriate to mention them here.
So what should a driver choose from all of the above?
The answer is simple: the only criterion for choosing jet rods is the thickness of the car owner’s wallet. If a person is not short on funds, the best option would be to purchase Trek rods. Yes, they are expensive, but installing them will allow you to forget about problems with the suspension for a long time. If you don’t have enough money, it makes sense to look for products on the shelves. Well, if this idea is not crowned with success, there remains a third option - “Cedar” rods, which are sold everywhere.
Here we should say a few words about fakes. Knowing that car owners most often choose products from the three above-mentioned companies, unscrupulous manufacturers are now literally flooding the shelves with counterfeits. Moreover, in some cases, the fakes are made so skillfully that only a specialist can identify them. In such a situation, an ordinary driver can only focus on the price and remember: good things are expensive. And if there is a set of Trek rods on the counter for only a thousand rubles, then this is a serious reason to think about it. And don't rush into buying.
Replacing the front springs of a VAZ 2107
Replacing the front suspension springs is done after removing the shock absorbers and undocking the anti-roll bar (the latter prevents the arms from moving freely). Also, to replace the spring, loosen the nuts securing the lower arm axle.
To lower the lower arm as much as possible and release the spring, it is necessary to press the lower ball joint pin out of the steering knuckle.
Before installation, the new spring must be compressed and secured with special ties.
Assembly of the unit is carried out in reverse order. The clamps can be removed from the spring only after the ball pin is secured in the steering knuckle.
You can read more detailed information on replacing springs here
Repairing the VAZ 2107 suspension is not particularly difficult and does not require special knowledge or special qualifications. The only question is whether there are special tools (pullers and ties) and an inspection hole in the garage.
Here is a video of the complete disassembly and correct sequence of the front suspension
Will the repair and operating manual help when disassembling a car?
The VAZ 2104 repair and operation manual is an indispensable source of information about your car. Where else can you find out how much oil is poured into the VAZ 2104 engine and with what frequency and what oil is suitable for your “four”. The manual says how much luggage is loaded into the trunk of a VAZ 2104, what fuel consumption is used when driving in the city and on the highway, how much anti-freeze is poured into the windshield washer reservoir, and to what pressure the tires are inflated. This information is given in the section on operating the VAZ 2104. And the more accurately you follow the recommendations from this section, the less often you will have to refer to the repair section.
The VAZ 2104 wiring diagram contains a lot of information. The manual contains an electrical diagram indicating the color of the wires that lead to electricity consumers and the current ratings for which the fuses are designed. This information is indispensable when troubleshooting problems related to electrical repairs of a VAZ 2104 car.
It is important that the repair and operation manual that you purchased along with the car contains information specifically about your modification and configuration option of the VAZ 2104. Information obtained on the Internet often refers to a version of the VAZ 2104 that is different from yours and may not be suitable for you personally
If you rely on information obtained from the Internet, you are responsible for the result. If you find a typo in the official repair manual, you can submit a claim to the manufacturer of the VAZ 2104, and he will respond.
The official manual is important when disassembling and even more important when assembling the VAZ 2104
