The VAZ-2109 rocker is a simple mechanism used to change gears. The driver, applying force in one direction or another, acts through the rocker on the gearbox. This switches on the required speed. Very rarely, the mechanism breaks down and requires partial or complete replacement. Most often the cardan shaft fails. Changing it won't be difficult. But if the rocker itself is broken, you can think about a little tuning - make a short-stroke one. This will require less effort to engage the desired gear.
Types of mechanisms
Despite the different design models, only two types can be distinguished:
- Long-stroke (standard, previously installed on cars of model 2109 and similar).
- Short-wheel drive (installed on Kalina cars).
Structurally they are very similar, only different in size. The advantage of short-throw ones is that with their help, gears are engaged easier and faster.
True, many myths have formed around the gear shift: some claim that the dynamic characteristics of the car are significantly improved. This is all wrong; there is no connection between the dynamics of the car and the view of the backstage. But still, the short-stroke one has advantages over the standard one.
Removing the gear shift drive VAZ 2108-2109
One of the reasons why it is necessary to remove the gear shift drive may be an increase in the free play of the gear shift lever, or difficulties in engaging them. Over time, the drive's hinge mechanism wears out, so the solution to the problem may be to completely replace it or repair it using repair kits.
Description of removing the gear shift drive VAZ 2108, 2109
Take a screwdriver and spread the ends of the clamp, sliding it back along the rod.
Pull the drive rod off the splined tip of the gear shift rod hinge.
Why change the backstage?
There are situations when it is necessary to intervene in the gear shift mechanism due to the failure of a component. But there are times when an extreme measure is required - replacing the VAZ-2109 rocker. In these cases, replacement is required:
- An oil leak appeared due to damage to the oil seal. Only the oil seal can be replaced.
- Complete failure of the scenes.
- You have realized the advantages of a short-stroke design and you have the funds for this kind of tuning.
Symptoms of gear shift mechanism failure:
- Increased gearshift lever play. Please note that this behavior may also be caused by a loose cardan. Sometimes the bolt securing it gets screwed out, so to reduce the backlash it is enough to tighten it, and first apply a drop of thread locker.
- Difficult to shift into gear. Sometimes extraneous sounds are heard.
- Gear shifting is not possible.
- Inconsistency between the position of the lever and the selected speed. For example, the back one disappears, and the first one is in its place.
If a slight play appears, it is advisable to carry out diagnostics and identify the breakdown of the unit. Make repairs immediately, otherwise one or more speeds will disappear at the most inopportune moment.
Causes
What could be the reasons why the reverse gear in a VAZ car does not engage? In fact, there can be a lot of them, because the problem with switching gears, one way or another, lies in the transmission system and, in particular, in the gearbox itself.
Gear shift lever in a VAZ 2109 car
- Incomplete release of the clutch. As a rule, if the clutch is not disengaged correctly, all speeds may not engage well, but sometimes this problem affects only the reverse gear.
- The gearbox drive levers or rods are damaged. The fastening may also be loose. To eliminate such a malfunction, it is necessary to conduct a thorough inspection of the unit and transmission system. If necessary, it is recommended to replace all damaged system components.
- The lubricant in the gearbox has run out. In this case, the problem with switching gears will affect all gears without exception. Therefore, the likelihood of such a problem, unless only reverse gear is engaged, is very small. As you understand, you should check the level of consumables in the system and, if necessary, add oil to the gearbox.
- Bad gear oil. The transmission fluid has already lost its properties and cannot fully ensure lubrication of all gearbox components. In this case, the problem will also affect all gears without exception, although in practice there have been cases when problems occurred with engaging the reverse gear. In this case, an oil change will be required.
- Poorly adjusted rocker: the gearbox rocker cardan needs to be adjusted. Due to poor adjustment of the rocker, the reverse gear sometimes not only does not engage, but also falls out. This problem is one of the most common among VAZ 2109 cars, so we will consider fixing it first.
How to replace the oil seal
If you detect an oil leak from the gearbox, carefully inspect the crankcase.
The leak will reveal itself. Lubricant usually leaks out through the CV joint seals and rocker panels. In the latter case, to replace you will need to perform a number of actions:
- Purchase a new VAZ-2109 gearbox seal. Its price is about 100 rubles.
- Drain the oil completely from the gearbox by unscrewing the plug from the bottom using the key “17”. If necessary, you can replace the lubricant later. It is recommended to pull out the upper dipstick to facilitate oil drainage.
- Disconnect the cardan from the rocker arm.
- Remove the boot, use a 10mm wrench to unscrew the bolt securing it to the gearbox rod.
- Using an awl or a thin screwdriver, remove the old oil seal. Inspect it for damage.
- Install the new oil seal using a pipe or large washer to press in.
After replacement, install the boot. Assess the condition of the cardan: if it has too much play, it will need replacement. After carrying out all the work, be sure to check that the speeds are turned on correctly.
VAZ 2109 - removing and replacing the gear shift lever
In most cases, the main reason for removing the gear shift lever on a VAZ 2109 car is its mechanical damage, as a result of which it is impossible to adjust the quality of gear switching, or the lever has become completely unusable and needs to be replaced.
If the base and the lever itself are in good condition, then there is no need to change them; it is enough to just replace the broken bushings or plastic support. It may also be necessary to replace the gear shift rod located under the car. To remove the gear shift knob, do the following:
- Remove the decorative leather cover from the lever.
- Next, remove the decorative plastic tunnel. To do this, remove the hatch and unscrew the fastening screws and remove it from the car interior.
- Now you can remove the lever by first unscrewing the nut and removing the bolt from the axle. Then unscrew the five bolts securing the base to the car body.
- Having unscrewed the bolts, carefully turn it over and remove it by removing the rubber cover from the base.
Actually, now that the lever has been removed, you can begin to replace the failed elements.
- First of all, we disassemble and remove the axle. To do this, remove the two plastic bushings on both sides. The axle must be replaced if it dangles in its socket, that is, in the bushing, which is installed in the lever itself. Replace faulty elements and lubricate them with grease before assembly.
- Next, remove the plastic lever support. To remove it, simply pull it towards you. Lubricate the new one with grease and install it back.
- Replace the leather cover if necessary.
Next, if you need to replace the gear shift rod, to do this we climb under the car and unscrew the nut of the clamp mounting bolt. Then, inside the car, disconnect it from the shift lever. Pull the rod into the cabin. At this point, the repair work on removing and replacing the VAZ 2109 gear shift lever has been completed. Reassemble in reverse order.
How to replace the universal joint
In most cases, it is not the rocker itself that fails, but the cardan. Due to its displacement, even a small one, a failure occurs in the gear shift mechanism.
Standard VAZ-2109 scenes are rarely installed during repairs; similar parts from Lada Kalina are used. The replacement looks like this:
- Using two keys set to “13”, unscrew the clamp securing the cardan to the rod.
- Using a screwdriver, pull the boot towards the box housing. If desired, you can remove it completely, and if it has cuts or other damage, replace it with a new one.
- Unscrew the fixing bolt with a “10” key.
- Knock down the cardan with a hammer, strike carefully so as not to damage anything.
- The Kalinovsky universal joint is much more durable and reliable, so install it instead of the standard one.
- Reassemble the entire structure in reverse order. But do not rush to tighten the bolt on the clamp - adjustment is necessary.
repair of the gear shift lever on VAZ 2108, VAZ 2109, VAZ 21099 cars
1. Remove the protective cover of the gear shift lever (Fig. 5.14) from the floor tunnel lining.
2. Remove the floor tunnel lining.
3. Remove the screw securing the floor tunnel lining at the rear.
4. Remove the floor tunnel lining by sliding the floor tunnel lining back.
5. Remove the nut securing the shift lever shaft, and then the five bolts securing the shift lever base to the floor.
6. Remove the gear shift lever with the base, while removing the rubber protective cover from the base.
7. Remove the gear shift lever shaft with two plastic bushings. If the axle dangles freely in the bushings installed in the gear shift lever, then the bushings are worn out and the bushings need to be replaced. When installing the bushings, lubricate the bushings with grease.
8. To replace the plastic support for the gear shift lever, remove it from the spherical pin of the lever, put grease into the hole of the new support and put the support on the pin.
9. To replace the leather cover, remove the handle by pulling it off the gear shift lever. 10. Install the gear shift lever in the reverse order. Tighten all threaded connections to a torque of 16-26 Nm (1.6-2.6 kgf-m).
11. To replace the gear shift rod from the bottom of a VAZ 2108, VAZ 2109, VAZ 21099, loosen the clamp and disconnect the gear shift rod from the joint tip.
12. Unscrew the nut securing the gear shift lever axis and remove the rod into the interior of the VAZ 2108, VAZ 2109, VAZ 21099.
Rice. 5.14. Details of the gear shift lever for the VAZ 2108, VAZ 2109, VAZ 21099:
1 — gear shift lever; 2 - bushing; 3 — lever axis; 4 — lever support; 5 - base; 6 — leather case; 7 - handle
Backstage adjustment
There is nothing complicated in the procedure; you can do it yourself, but you will have to run from the pit to the salon.
Yes, it is advisable to do this work in a pit or overpass. You need to act approximately according to this principle:
- Loosen the nut on the clamp.
- Set the gearshift lever to the reverse gear position.
- Set the box rod to the reverse speed position. This is difficult to achieve, so adjustments will have to be made.
- Check how the gears shift. If the rear one is too far to the left, loosen the clamp and turn the cardan counterclockwise. If the fifth speed (including reverse) has gone too far to the right, then the cardan rotates clockwise.
By adjusting the position of the gearshift rocker, you will notice that when the lever is installed in the middle, neutral speed will be engaged. When turning on the fifth gear, the lever should not catch the passenger seat, and when moving in reverse, the driver's seat should not interfere with the movement of the lever.
Comparison of short and long stroke
Car enthusiasts describe the difference in options as fantastic. The renovation dramatically improves ergonomics. The amplitude of movements of the gear shift knob decreases by two to three times, but the force on its tip increases. The increase is quite acceptable, since gear shifting occurs in an unloaded state with the clutch depressed and does not require any serious effort.
Some experts believe that an increase in the shoulder leads to an increase in forces on the gearbox rods and to additional wear on the gearbox. There is no statistical confirmation of this point of view yet. Unfortunately, it is not possible to order a short-stroke configuration from the factory. You must install it yourself at your own risk. AvtoVAZ does not approve of such changes in the design of the Nine.
Independent modernization of the design associated with welding the levers lengthens them, and the height of the gearshift knob above the tunnel increases by about 5 cm. Such alteration requires welding work and the involvement of an experienced specialist, for whom cutting the levers using a grinder, installing a pipe and a strip of the appropriate section , and also welding the levers is not difficult.
The adjustment changes the ergonomics, but due to the reduction in the strokes of the shift knob, it is not perceived as a deterioration.
Short-throw slides for "nine"
Such designs were developed exclusively for sports models, but are widely used in production ones. Advantages of the VAZ-2109 short-stroke rocker over the standard one:
- Easier gear shifting.
- The backlash of the gearshift lever is reduced, especially when using a cardan from Kalina.
Disadvantages:
- You need to either buy it or make it yourself.
- It takes a lot of force to change gears. Despite the smaller stroke, this type of backstage is more suitable for people who are not only strong in spirit.
But you don’t have to buy a VAZ-2109 rocker in stores; you can make a short-shifter from a regular one with little welding skills.
To do this, cut the old rocker in two places and weld pieces of a metal plate to lengthen the arms. The main thing is for the new drawstring to fit into place, so first carefully study the drawing, which shows the locations of the cuts.
Short walker
Many people are still wondering whether it is worth changing their standard factory long-stroke linkage to a short-stroke one.
Short walker
Make your decision purely on the basis of individual reflections and do not “be fooled” by statements regarding a significant increase in dynamics with the transition to a short-stroke.
The real difference between short-stroke and long-stroke is shown in the table.
Operating principle and manufacturing method
The VAZ 2109 short-throw gearbox came from professionals in motor racing; you will agree what kind of sport it is if a lot of time is spent shifting gears. What does such a scene give:
- Thanks exclusively to it, switching becomes much more pleasant for you, and the lever stroke is significantly reduced by almost half, the result obtained from the installation is simply incredible
- Therefore, smart people picked up this “theme” and launched it into the “masses”
- It turns out that today the VAZ 2109 short-stroke rocker is sold in almost every auto parts store
- Of course, the price is significantly inflated, but this is not an obstacle for most motorists
- There is nothing surprising here, because the rocker is worth it, I myself, like many car owners, was ready to buy it, I liked the short rocker of the VAZ 21093 gearbox so much.
- However, as soon as I saw its design and understood the main point of tuning, I changed my mind about paying for it, because it is possible to make one with your own hands in just half an hour of work
- What I got - see for yourself. Now I’ll tell you in a few words about how the whole mechanism works, also see the photo
Drawing of moving the upper point of the lever of a regular and short rocker
The diagram I have given will allow you to understand how the short-throw rocker on the VAZ 2109 works:
- The "O" - "F" line represents the low and high points of your standard lever set to neutral.
- In order for you to engage the gear, you will need to move the rod connected to the lever (point “B” is the point of their connection) to point “A”
- The handle of the gear shift lever will move to point “E”
- You understand that our task is to reduce the “E”-“F” switching distance that the handle travels
- And for this we need to increase the length of the lever to point “H”, which will allow us to raise the rod by the same distance (the segment “C”-“D” is equal to the segment “A”-“B”)
- It turns out that the lever that changes gears will have to travel a shorter distance; in this case, you won’t have to stretch or “search throughout the cabin” for the desired gear and its lever
Why does the gearshift lever rattle on Kalina?
The main reason for this problem lies in the very design of the attachment of the lever to the rod. To put it mildly, it is not perfect, but it can be corrected at minimal cost and in just a few minutes of time.
So, first you need to lift up the lever casing, and then unscrew the fastening nut, which is already shown in the photo below almost completed:
When the bolt is removed, we also remove all the washers and the metal sleeve. And this whole damn thing looks like this in parts:
Where does the vibration come from?
In this article we will popularly understand where the legs “grow” from and what to do. As expected, this is a mistake by the VAZ design bureau, sometimes it is the result of “tuning”, but we will consider all the reasons in detail, as well as methods for solving the problem.
- When moving, the bushing connecting the lever and the rod first begins to rub and then hit the edge of the rod. This vibration creates this sound. This is a pure engineering miscalculation, the length of the sleeve is worked out incorrectly, its length is longer than necessary and it is this extra edge that catches.
- Replacing the lever with a Kalinovsky one, here the rattling comes along with the positive effects of the replacement. Due to the imperfection of the design, Kalina's driveshaft produces vibration, which is subsequently transmitted to all structural elements. The vibration and sound remain even without the lever.
- The retaining spring is broken; the first symptom is that the VAZ 2114 gearbox lever dangles freely in neutral gear, absolutely not fixed in the position between third and fourth. If the problem suddenly appears, then the spring is to blame, and only repairing the gearbox will help here, otherwise the remains of the spring will break the entire box, then it will be really expensive.
- Sometimes this occurs due to general wear and tear of the car's shock absorbing parts, gearbox mounts and engine.
Car owners put off the problem until forever “later”, due to lack of time and money, but it’s worth knowing that the repair procedure is inexpensive, done with your own hands, and costs very little
