Repair and replacement of steering rack VAZ 2108, 2109, 21099

In VAZ 2109 cars, the steering rack is responsible for controlling the rotation of the wheels, converting the rotation of the steering wheel into the translational movement of the steering rod. Wear or breakage of parts leads to an increase in play, as a result of which the car’s handling deteriorates, the wear of car tires from uncontrolled “yaw” increases, and the movement of the car itself becomes dangerous on multidirectional turns. The owner of a domestic passenger car will be able to repair the VAZ 2109 steering rack with his own hands, guided by these detailed instructions and a diagram of this unit.

• 2 Symptoms of malfunction
• 3 Removing and disassembling the steering rack in a VAZ 2109 car
• 4 Repair of the steering rack in a VAZ 2109 car

  4.1 Video: repair of the steering rack of VAZ 2108, 2109, 2113, 2114, 2115

Disassembling the steering rack

Let's analyze the removed steering rack of front-wheel drive VAZ 2108, 2109, 21099 cars and their modifications.

The steering rack will have to be disassembled when deciding to repair it (this is one of the stages of repair) and not replace it with a new one in case of malfunctions. Namely, the appearance of knocking noises (the rack knocks), vibrations and shocks on the steering wheel, increased play in the steering wheel - problems that are very common on VAZ 2108, 2109, 21099 cars.

Before carrying out work, you should stock up on some special tools: a special wrench for unscrewing the stop plug, a special wrench for unscrewing the bearing nut, without which it will be problematic to disassemble the steering rack.

Special keys for disassembling steering rack 2108

Features of disassembling the steering rack of VAZ 2108, 2109, 21099 cars

We will not consider removing the steering rods, protective cover and cap, because everything is simple there, but then it’s more complicated. To make work easier, the body of the rack can be clamped in a vice, but you can also do everything on your knee.

— Remove the steering rack stop

To do this, use a special wrench to unscrew the plug (nut) of the stop and remove it.

Using a special key, unscrew the steering rack stop plug 2108

We take out the spring located under the plug.

Use a slotted screwdriver to pry it up and remove the stop ring.

Turn the rack shaft (with an open-end wrench set to 14) clockwise until the end of the stroke and, pressing on the protruding part of the rack, move the stop.

We remove the rack stop itself from its body (you can use special thin pliers, insert them into the hole for the spring in the stop and pull it out, or simply knock it out with a sharp blow of the rack body on a wooden block due to inertia).

Removing the steering rack stop 2108

— Remove the steering rack shaft with bearing

Remove the shaft lock washer.

We unscrew the bearing nut with a special wrench and remove it.

Unscrew the rack shaft nut 2108 with a special wrench

We remove the rack shaft with bearing. We use a lever: we hook it to the flat on the shaft with a long open-end wrench size 14 and, leaning it on the mounting (or a wide wrench), pull out the shaft.

Remove the rack shaft using a lever

— Pull the rail itself towards the short part of the body

— Use a screwdriver to remove the rack support sleeve

— We remove the needle shaft bearing from the steering rack housing (you can use a special puller or drill two holes in the end of the rack housing with a 2 mm drill and knock out the bearing through them). The needle bearing should be removed for replacement only when it is clearly worn out, since it rarely fails.

The rack, support sleeve and holes for drilling through which the needle bearing is knocked out are removed from the housing.

The steering rack of VAZ 2108, 2109, 21099 cars is completely disassembled.

Elements of the removed steering rack shaft 2108

If necessary, use a puller to compress the ball bearing from the rack shaft using a pipe. First remove the retaining ring from the shaft.

Removing the steering rack shaft bearing using a three-legged puller

Notes and additions

After disassembly, we completely wash the rack body and all removed elements. Next, we carry out the rejection of faulty parts, their replacement and assembly.

Source

Typical breakdowns

Torn steering rack boot

There are several most common reasons why a unit may need to be replaced:

• The rail has exhausted its service life;
• The vehicle is regularly driven on uneven roads;
• Having turned the steering wheel to its extreme position, sharp accelerations are often made;
• The presence of mechanical damage due to collisions with potholes, accidents, etc.

Drivers should pay attention to the behavior of their car, which itself may indicate that the steering is out of order. This may manifest itself as follows:

This may manifest itself as follows:

• The rack knocks when turning the steering wheel;
• The steering wheel jams and turns to the sides with some difficulty;
• There is knocking and vibration during travel;
• The play at the steering wheel has increased;
• The wheel alignment is disrupted. This can be determined by uneven wear of the rubber.

Repair of VAZ 2108 steering rack

Repair of the steering rack on a VAZ 2108 is carried out on a removed part; in order to dismantle it, you will need to remove the wheel. There is no need to dismantle anything else. We unscrew the bolts securing the rack and attaching the mustache to the rack. That's it, the rail is removed.

Next you will need special keys for disassembly (octagonal key). After complete disassembly, inspect all spare parts and identify those that require replacement. Assemble and install the rail in the reverse order.

To repair the VAZ 2108 steering rack you will need:

• spanners,

special keys for disassembling the rack itself.

You can also clearly see the entire process of repairing the steering rack in the video.

Signs of breakdown

By studying the signs of malfunctions in the design of the steering rack, you will be able to promptly identify the breakdown and take appropriate action to eliminate it.

The symptoms below may indicate not only a damaged rack, but also problems with the steering column, ball joints or linkages. Therefore, be careful.

Having determined the presence of signs of malfunctions, it is important to understand what exactly caused them to appear. Node diagram

Node diagram

Which steering racks are suitable for the VAZ 2108 and when to check?

Original steering rack: 2108-3400012-10, average price is about 3873 rubles.

• Pilenga SR-P 1141 will cost about 2510 rubles.
• Trialli CR108, with an average price of 2451 rubles.
• Bautler BTL-0008SG, with an average cost of 2279 rubles.

The frequency of inspection is at every scheduled maintenance. The service life of the rack is 60-80 thousand km.

Unscrew the bolt securing the steering shaft to the rack

Jack up and remove the left wheel

We unscrew and unscrew the bolts securing the mustache to the rail. There is no need to remove steering wheel ends

Using a 13mm wrench, unscrew the 4 nuts securing the rack to the engine shield. First remove the dirt with a wire brush.

More attentive and careful

Remove the nut, retaining ring and spring

From the other side we take out the boot and use another special wrench (which I had to pretty much modify with a file) and unscrew it

Next, we take out all the parts, look for defects, and definitely replace the fluoroplastic sleeve

Reassemble in reverse order, do not skimp on lubrication.

Source

Adjustment

So, the situation is such that tightening the steering rack can still give a positive result. Therefore, you need to find out how to tighten the knot and what is required for this.

You can adjust the rack through the bottom of the car, removing the engine protection, or through the top. In the second case, the work will have to be done by touch. So decide for yourself what is more convenient for you.

1. To adjust the steering rack, you will need to tighten the adjusting screw. You can find it in the steering mechanism. To be more specific, in the end cap.
2. It is optimal to have an overpass or a pit at your disposal in the garage. If there are no such conditions, you can get by by raising the car with a jack. Only in this situation will it be necessary to additionally secure the car in order to avoid it sliding off the jack and the likely consequences.
3. Before lifting the body with a jack, be sure to align the front wheels straight.
4. You can measure the backlash using a backlash meter. Moreover, they can be old or electronic. The latter are more relevant and convenient to use, but some people don’t have to choose. What you find is what you will use.
5. According to current norms and standards, for the VAZ 2109 the steering wheel play should not exceed 10 degrees.
6. Find the adjusting screw and begin to tighten it gradually. The operation is carried out slowly. Periodically check the steering wheel movement and any play or knocking in the steering column.
7. Use a special key for adjustment. It is available at any auto parts store.
8. The key is inserted into the adjusting screw and turned counterclockwise. Scroll a little and check the result.
9. The procedure may take a long time. Still, take your time.
10. When you feel that the adjustment has reached the desired level, take a test drive in your car, feel how the steering wheel moves, whether the knocking or play has disappeared, how hard the steering wheel rotates.
11. If the steering wheel has become too tight, you will have to slightly loosen the tension on the adjusting screw.

Special key

If there is no positive result after the adjustment, you will have to eliminate play and knocking by dismantling, repairing or completely replacing the unit. Now decide for yourself.

You should not rely solely on reiki adjustments as a cure for all its ills. But you shouldn’t rush to conclusions about the need to replace the rack. Try to adjust, and then act according to the situation.

We repair the VAZ 2108 steering rack ourselves

View of the VAZ 2108 steering rack

On a VAZ 2108, repairing the steering rack causes a lot of trouble for its owner. It all starts with the discomfort that the owner feels while driving. After this, flying through stations where you will find problems that you didn’t even suspect about, and maybe that don’t exist at all. This work can be done with your own hands and without resorting to outside help. This is what we will talk about in this article.

Required spare parts

To replace the VAZ 2109 steering rack repair kit or restore the unit’s functionality, depending on the type of work, you will need the following spare parts:

1. Steering rack with article number: 21080-3401067-00, 21080340106700 or 2108-3401067
2. Tension roller with article number: 406.1308080-21-088-01, No. 088-01, 406.1308080-21.
3. Nut ring with article number: 21080-3401075-00, 21080340107500, 2108-3401075.
4. Case with article number: 2108-3401224, 2108-3401224K.
5. High-temperature lubricant, article number 4003/2017.

When the rack fails

In order to make timely repairs, it is necessary to identify at the initial stage malfunctions that can lead to irreparable consequences. And they will make the main work easier. After all, if the mechanism is faulty, then the further it goes, the more the parts that interact with it become unusable.

Identifying the problem

To identify a malfunction, you need to know how they manifest themselves. This can be seen through a number of symptoms. So:

• When you hear a knock while driving, which usually comes from the right side;
• There is an increase in steering play. The driver can immediately feel this from the wobbles at speed, and they are not so well controlled. And upon arrival at the station it turns out that the wheel alignment is also poorly done;
• When you eat, you feel difficult to control and the steering wheel is stiff. It's like he's being bitten. This is also a signal to check the rack;

All of the above nuances serve as a reason for inspection and adjustment. It is likely that a complete replacement will be required.

Mechanism design

Before making repairs, you need to know the structure and operating principle of the mechanism. Otherwise, nothing may work out. Among the domestic classics, the VAZ 2108 is distinguished by a simpler and more reliable steering system. Let's see what the steering rack consists of:

• Placed in a closed housing of the entire steering mechanism;
• There is a steering gear, which is connected by an elastic coupling to the steering shaft;
• The movement of the rack to the steering rods is transmitted by the connecting plate;
• Brackets for fastening.

These are the main parts of the entire mechanism. In total there are about forty of them. But you should know the basics. The operation of this unit is quite simple. Rotation of the steering wheel transmits force to the gear, which is carried out through an elastic coupling and shaft. In turn, the gear moves the rack using a gear connection. The wheel hubs are rotated using steering rods at an articulated joint.

Troubleshooting options

Before you do the work, you should also know how to troubleshoot the problem. There are several of them:

• Correction by adjustment, which allows you to get rid of the backlash and help restore the functionality of the mechanism for a certain period of time;
• Purchase a repair kit and replace it. This should be done when the shaft is badly worn and simple adjustment cannot help deal with it;
• Complete replacement of the unit, which is usually done when the integrity of the entire housing is compromised.

Functionality check

From time to time it is necessary to inspect the steering. Where is the best place to start? Be sure to study the condition of the rods, their tightness, and do not forget about the protective cover. Have you noticed cracks or other damage that makes the device leaky? Change it.

You should check whether the steering wheel spoke is in a horizontal plane when the car wheels are in a straight position. If even a slight deviation is observed, it is necessary to identify the cause of the malfunction and eliminate it before it develops into a dangerous problem.

To make sure that the car's steering is working properly, you need to turn the steering wheel all the way clockwise and counterclockwise. In this case, there should be no sounds or jamming. The steering wheel must be firmly and reliably fixed; gaps in the hinges and other parts are unacceptable. Check whether the bolts and nuts of the fastenings are fully tightened.

If something goes wrong when checking the controls, knocking or other problems appear, remove the suspension control rods and check the condition of the steering mechanism again. This will make sure that knocking and malfunctions are caused by malfunctions of the steering wheel, and not by other reasons, of which there may be many.

Eliminating backlash

Of course, major repairs are not necessary in every case, and replacement of component parts is also not always necessary, because:

• On the VAZ 2109, the steering rack is adjustable, and if you know how to tighten the steering rack mechanism, then you can remove steering knocks without any financial investment at all
• This is possible, of course, if the knocking is caused by operational or factory control play
• To adjust, you should use a trestle or inspection hole, find the adjusting nut under a layer of dirt, then use a special wrench “17” to tighten it

We disassemble the rack

When you have eliminated the play, but the knocking has not disappeared, then the steering rack on the VAZ 2109 must be disassembled and repaired:

• Repairing the rack yourself will not be difficult, of course, if you know in what sequence the operations need to be performed
• First, we remove the steering rack, and if everything is in order with the rods, then it is not necessary to remove them, just unscrew them from the unit and that’s it
• Then we clamp it in a vice or in a special device for repair.
• And then remove the clamps securing the protective cap, boot, right support and spacer ring
• Subsequently, all other parts are removed (photo with diagram below), including complete pressing out of the bearings
• Then the parts should be cleaned of dirt as thoroughly as possible, followed by washing them in kerosene
• And after cleaning all the parts, they should be very carefully inspected for signs of tears or other damage.
• If small scuffs can be easily removed with sandpaper, all heavily worn parts, and especially damaged ones, must be replaced
• The same approach applies to bearing troubleshooting.
• In their particular case, if there is the slightest doubt about the performance of these devices, parts should be replaced immediately
• You should also understand that tightening the steering rack itself, the procedure, in principle, is not a difficult operation to perform with your own hands
• But disassembling the steering wheel, and even more so replacing it, may require special skills from you; in addition, you will need competent instructions
• When you have absolutely no time or desire to carry out such operations yourself, or you do not want to delve into all the intricacies of this process, then the best option for you would be to perform all repair work in a specialized automobile workshop
• You, of course, understand that the price of specialist services will cost more than self-repair
• Moreover, the amount of the invoice that you will receive may vary greatly.
• For example, carrying out troubleshooting is one cost, but a complete repair is a completely different one.

Schematic structure of the steering rack, it clearly shows what is removed and then put back on

• It is worth noting that the steering rack is not the cheapest component of a car, so few people dare to replace the whole thing right away.
• Everyone starts by trying to repair the existing device.
• It happens that it is enough to simply adjust it so that the malfunction disappears, or perform a partial repair by replacing the bearings
• Of course, the diagnostic procedure, as well as subsequent repairs, is impossible without disassembling
• Only by disassembling the steering rack will you get a complete picture of the condition of its parts, which parts require improvement (grinding, for example), and which should definitely be replaced
• Repair in almost any case will be much cheaper than a complete replacement
• And if you repair the rack yourself, you will also save on the cost of auto mechanic services
• To carry out independent repairs, as has been mentioned more than once, you will need a repair kit, specific keys, as well as a set of bearings and grease.
• Not a lot of money is spent on purchasing components
• However, if you have replaced all the bearings, as well as seals and lubrication, and still have problems with the operation of the machine, then you will still need the services of specialists to determine the exact cause of the failure or replace the “serious” (major) components
• The most remarkable thing is that in the conditions of the modern total “deficit” of finance, a complete replacement of the entire unit is resorted to only in extreme cases, when there is nothing left to repair in the old one