How do front control arm silent blocks work?

Replacing the silent blocks of the front levers of the Lada Granta

Tool:

• Jack or ditch lift
• Open-end wrench 19 mm
• Open-end wrench 24 mm
• Straight box spanner 17 mm – 2 pcs.
• Straight box spanner 19 mm – 2 pcs.
• Curved box spanner 24 mm
• Ball joint puller
• Driver for socket attachment
• Torx wrench attachment E12
• Wheel chock (shoe) – 2 pcs.
• Punch
• Large hammer
• Bench vice
• Chisel

Parts and consumables:

• Silent block of the front suspension arm – 4 pcs.
• Soap solution

Notes:

Remove the lever from the car to replace it or replace the silent blocks of the lever. The work to remove the left and right front suspension arms is similar. Carry out the work on an inspection ditch or overpass.

Removing the front suspension arm

1. Disconnect the ball joint from the control arm as described in this article.

2. Unscrew the nut securing the brace to the front suspension arm and remove the washer as described here.

3. Unscrew the nut of the bolt securing the stabilizer bar to the arm and remove the bolt as described in this article.

4. Using two 19 mm spanners, unscrew the nut of the bolt securing the lever to the body.

5. Using a soft metal drift, knock out and remove the bolt, then move the lever out of the bracket and remove it.

Replacing the silent block of the front suspension arm

1. Place the lever from the silent block in a vice and, using attachments, press it out of the suspension arm.

2. Before pressing in, moisten the new silent block with soapy water.

3. Knock down the silent block of the extension with a chisel on both sides of the lever.

4. Pre-press new silent blocks in a vice and finally press them by striking a punch with a diameter of 8 mm through three windows in the rubber layer.

5. Install the lever in reverse order. Tighten the threaded connections of rubber-metal hinges after removing the jack or ditch lift.

The article is missing:

• Photos of parts and consumables
• High-quality photos of repairs

You can recognize problems in the front suspension system, and more specifically the silent blocks on the Lada Kalina, by the characteristic sounds it makes while driving. Thus, driving on an uneven road may be accompanied by various cracks, squeaks and other unpleasant noises. This situation not only causes great discomfort, but can also cause a more serious malfunction or cause an accident.

In the video, replacing the front arm silent block on a VAZ car:

We install new silent blocks

Now the moment has come when you can install new silent blocks on the Lada Granta, the main thing is to know how to press them in. The landing site will need to be pre-lubricated, you can use graphite lubricant, then the nut is screwed on, the silent blocks of the grant are pressed in, the price for them is not high. In this case, you can do without special devices that allow you to press parts. And you don’t need to remove the lever itself, as some people do.

When you have figured out how to change the silent blocks on the grant, it is worth remembering that after replacing you need to loosen the nut so that you can attach the crab. It must be taken into account that the holes intended for fastening are displaced. So Lada Granta, replacing silent blocks is not complete without a hammer, which is useful for adjusting the holes. It will be necessary to use it on both sides.

After replacing the silent blocks on the grant is completed, you may encounter an amazing effect. Drivers notice that the roughness in steering disappears, the steering wheel becomes more obedient, and the road holds without problems. Therefore, if there is a suspicion that the silent blocks of the front levers of the grant have become unusable, it is better to immediately look for the cause and replace them. As a result, you will receive a machine whose performance will only please you.

Removing the front suspension arm on a Lada Granta car is done to replace it with a new one in case of mechanical damage, detection of cracks and chips, as well as to replace worn silent blocks. To carry out repair work, prepare a standard set of tools and perform the following sequence of actions:

We install wheel chocks under the rear wheels and hang the front part of the body, placing it on supports. Then remove the wheel from the side to be repaired.

• Spray all nuts with a penetrating fluid such as WD-40.
• Now we unscrew the nut securing the brace to the suspension arm, while the brace itself must be kept from turning. Remove the nut and the special washer located under it.
• Now we unscrew the nut of the bolt securing the stabilizer bar to the lever, while holding the bolt itself from turning with a wrench of the same size.

• We install the puller and press the ball joint pin out of the suspension arm.
• While holding the bolt from turning, unscrew the nut securing the lever. Remove the spring washer and remove the bolt.

• We remove the end of the lever from the bracket on the body.
• Next, remove one special one and a package of adjusting washers (if installed) from the stretcher. When removing the adjusters, count their number and mark them in order to install the same ones on a given lever and in the same quantity.

At this point, the repair work on removing the front suspension arm on the VAZ 2190 has been completed.

Lada Granta is one of the cheapest and most affordable cars on the Russian market. The vehicle is built on a common platform with Kalina and has similar technical characteristics. However, as for the suspension, the Lada Granta has been slightly modified. Read more in our article about how the chassis on the VAZ 2190 is designed and what its malfunctions are.

Operations for removing the front suspension arm of the Lada Granta

We hang the car, remove the wheel from the side where we will remove the lever. Remove the engine protection. We remove the ball joint, see the article “Removing the ball joint from the Lada Granta.” Holding the extension with a 24-mm open-end wrench, use a spanner of the same size to unscrew the extension nut.

Unscrew the bolt securing the link connecting the arm and the anti-roll bar. Often, if the bolts have not been changed or loosened for a long time, they can break. It is best to have spares before removing the lever.

Use a soft metal drift to knock out and remove the bolt. Do not damage the thread.

Using two 19mm wrenches, unscrew the nut of the bolt securing the lever to the body.

We remove (or knock out) the bolt and remove the lever from the bracket.

Remove the washer from the stretcher and remove the lever.

On the extension behind the large washer there are washers for adjusting the pitch angle of the rack's rotation axis (the photo shows three washers, there may be another number)

Clean up the washers and install them back in the same quantity. If the levers are removed from both sides, mark the washers so that they can be installed in their places.

• 
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Replacement methods

We will tell you about two main ways to replace silent blocks on the rear beam of the “tens” , which can easily be used in a garage.

Which method to choose is up to you to decide. But before that, familiarize yourself with them in more detail.

First way

The method is not particularly difficult if you strictly follow the instructions. To begin with, we note that the silent block is located at the bottom of the car. Therefore, you will need a jack or inspection hole.

Defects

1. Raise the car with a jack or drive it into a viewing hole. The second option is more convenient, since this way the view of the bottom will be better. And it’s much more convenient to work standing up than lying under a car.
2. It is not necessary to completely remove the rear beam. When dismantling it, you will need to remove additional brake hoses, which takes a lot of time.
3. It is better to disconnect the sorcerer so as not to damage it during the repair process. But shoot carefully.
4. Now remove the nut with a 19mm wrench. You will have to make a serious effort, which is why some car owners call their comrades for help. If there are no assistants, pre-treat the thread with the almighty WD40 or plain water. This will allow the fastener to oxidize. Then clean it with a wire brush, which will make it easier to remove the element.
5. Using a crowbar, lower the beam down a little, but do not remove it completely.
6. There is an elastic band on the beam that should be cut off, otherwise it will interfere with the work process. Just keep in mind that if the rubber band is old, feel free to remove it. It is better to dismantle a good product by drilling a small hole.
7. Now the silent block is removed.
8. The new part is generously lubricated and pressed into its rightful place. Just do not use grease for lubrication, as this substance corrodes the part. The best lubrication option is regular soap or any available detergent.
9. Return the sorcerer to its place and tighten the beam.

Replacing silent blocks in the front suspension arm of a Lada Granta

To replace the silent block for attaching the Lada Granta lever, you will need a vice. We press out the silent block with a suitable piece of pipe. We moisten the new silent block with soapy water and press it into the lever, also using a piece of pipe of a suitable diameter.

We knock down the silent block of the extension installation with a chisel. There are two of them, on one side and the other.

Having removed from one side, remove in the same way from the second.

We press the new silent block in a vice...

...and finally press it, striking a punch with a diameter of 8 mm through three windows in the rubber layer. We carry out the assembly in the reverse order. Tightening the threaded connections of all rubber-to-metal hinges of the front suspension arm of the Lada Granta must be done when the car is standing on its wheels, on a flat surface.

Selecting new parts

Before replacing worn silent blocks, you need to select new ones and buy them. Today there are many choices of these parts. Types of silent blocks of front levers:

• rubber;
• polyurethane.

Before buying new ones, the following question arises: which silent blocks to take, rubber (rubber) or polyurethone.

Polyurethane ones have a longer service life, they last 3-5 times longer. But, they are more expensive. The polished tan vibration isolator is less likely to be deformed and squeezed out of the grooves of the seat.

Advice! In case of increased vehicle operation, it is better to install polyurethane ones. For low mileage mode, ordinary rubber silent blocks will be sufficient. Both types of these parts are produced by many manufacturers. The main thing is not to take the cheapest ones.

Before purchasing, you should check whether they are suitable for your particular make and model of car.

Causes of knocking in the front suspension

In total, there are four main reasons why noises and squeaks can annoy the Lada Kalina car owner, and three of them can be eliminated independently and everything can be returned to a safe state.

1. The first reason why knocking occurs in the suspension is the poor quality of the road surface . A suspension that is in good working order can also produce some extraneous noise. If the noise disappears when you drive onto a good road, then everything is fine with your suspension, you can move on to the point below.
2. If knocking and simultaneous vibration occur in the steering wheel, the reason may lie in a faulty steering rack . If you can tighten the steering rack yourself, then it is better to entrust its repair or replacement to professionals.
3. The third reason is the front suspension strut spring that has lost its elasticity . Since the spring tone is significantly reduced, the suspension hits directly against the body. How to change the front struts, and along with it the spring, is described in detail in this article.
4. And the last reason is cracked silent blocks, which are simply necessary to thoroughly dampen knocks and vibrations that occur while driving. Read below for information on how to properly replace these front suspension elements.

Shock absorber

This element is a damping device. The shock absorber serves to reduce the range of vibrations of the car body. In other words, the element prevents spontaneous rocking. The work of the shock absorber is based on hydraulic resistance. Inside it there is a liquid of a certain viscosity. It moves through a special valve. Thus, the device absorbs sharp impacts while preserving vulnerable suspension parts. Therefore, the shock absorber is one of the most important components in the chassis. On our roads, this element lasts about 60-80 thousand kilometers. But this period may be shorter, even with careful driving. It is enough just to damage the protective boot, and all the dirt will accumulate in the rod seal.

Also note that the damping element changes in pairs. That is, in the event of a breakdown of the rear left shock absorber, the rear right shock absorber also changes. As for the front struts, they are more durable. Often they are replaced already assembled with a spring, since they fail no earlier than after 150-200 thousand kilometers.

What is a puller for installing silent blocks?

This is what a RMSH puller looks like, which you can make yourself. In order to make it yourself, at home, you will need the following materials and tools:

• Bolt with nut. The diameter and pitch of the thread are at your discretion. If the thread is small, you will have to turn it longer, but it will work easier and smoother.
• We select a cylinder with a diameter such that the silent block fits into it.
• Washers. Some. One washer should tightly cover the cylinder hole. You can even weld the washer on one side. We take the remaining washers with a smaller diameter than the diameter of the silent block.

How difficult is the job?

Any novice craftsman can cope with such repairs; the silent block of the grant will be shown in the photo; it is not difficult at all. It is worth doing the work in the following sequence. You need to hold the stretcher with one key, and use the second to unscrew the nut. Now you need to unscrew the 3 bolts that secure the crab, after which replacing the silent blocks of the fret grant involves removing the brace.

The attractive price for the grant silent block will allow you to purchase parts without extra costs. When you try to remove the stretcher, the rubber part may fall out towards you. Please note that the part also has metal clips; you will also have to deal with them. To do this, you can use a screwdriver and a hammer, or take a drift; you can see the work on replacing silent blocks in the video grant.

What to do about the knocking?

If you do not pay attention to the problem and do not change the silent blocks on the grant, the knocking will become increasingly stronger. Therefore, it’s time to drive the car into the pit, remove the engine protection, and look at all the details. You can swing the car from the desired side, whether you hear a knock or not, but it will happen if the silent block on the grant has become completely unusable. If the problem is in the stretcher, then you need to pull it too, the resulting knock will be proof that the cause of the breakdown has been found.

You can replace the silent blocks with grants, the price of which seems reasonable, right in the pit, without the need to remove the levers.

Tools required:

1. 2 keys for 24. 2. Extension tubes. 3. Head 17. 4. Thin screwdriver. 5. Punch, it is better to give preference to the canonical one. 6. A hammer, it will hardly be possible to do without it in work when the silent blocks of the grant need to be replaced.

How does the clutch work?

The clutch mechanism transmits torque to the gearbox. In general, it consists of a drive and the mechanism itself.

The drive is necessary to activate the clutch mechanism when you press the pedal. The drive consists of:

• pedals;
• clutch release cable;
• shutdown plugs.

Clutch mechanism

The clutch mechanism serves to transmit direct torque and consists of:

• pressure plate;
• crankcase and casing;
• master disk;
• driven disk, on which wear-resistant linings are located.

It disconnects from the engine when you press the pedal and smoothly connects when you release it.

Signs of wear

During operation, silent compounds are exposed to reagents used on winter roads, dirt and large temperature changes.
The rubber-metal hinge loses its elasticity over time, cracks and wears out. Theoretically, the resource of silent blocks is 100,000 kilometers. However, they have to be changed (they cannot be repaired) much more often, every 50,000 kilometers.

Some of the signs that silent blocks need to be replaced are:

• the appearance of extraneous creaks and knocks in the area of ​​the vehicle’s chassis;
• play of levers and wheels;
• uneven tire wear;
• loss of stability of the car on the road, difficulties in controlling it (the car seems to become “wobbly”);
• Upon visual inspection of silent blocks cleared of dirt, cracks and damage to the rubber are detected.

An indirect sign is considered to be a violation of the camber/toe of the car's wheels, if it is known that it was previously adjusted.

Lada Granta suspension diagnostics

To identify and eliminate the cause of the rattling, I decided to inspect the entire suspension of the Lada Grant for the presence of play and “tired” elements (bushings, rubber bands, etc.), since I thought that the problem lay somewhere there. So, let's begin.

Checking the front struts

The first thing I did was check the front struts. While rocking the car from side to side, I simultaneously kept one hand on one of the racks. If the knocks were coming from the front shock absorbers, I would have felt them. However, there were no knocks.

Rear suspension

Unlike the front, it has undergone virtually no changes. Here, just like on the first Soviet G8s, a semi-independent beam is used. It is attached to the body on hinges (fortunately, there are no “crabs” in the design). A helical spring with constant stiffness is used as an elastic element. To dampen vibrations and prevent swinging, two shock absorbers are used.

• High reliability. The design does not have additional levers, which, in addition, can bend when falling into a large hole.
• Energy intensity. The Lada Granta absorbs all bumps perfectly, especially if oil shock absorbers are installed at the rear.
• Cheap maintenance. Due to its simple design, this pendant can be rebuilt even with your own hands. And the cost of new rubber-metal elements is unlikely to empty the pockets of even the most stingy car owner.

The main difference between the “Grant” suspension is the wheel alignment angles.

Stabilizer struts for Lada Vesta. Signs and causes of malfunction

There are plenty of reasons for extraneous sounds emanating from the front suspension. This could be a loose steering rack on Vesta, worn shock absorber struts, ball joints, silent blocks of levers, or worn stabilizer bushings. At a mileage of 40-50 thousand km, sometimes less, the stabilizer struts may knock and this is easy to check. The stand knocks only in two cases:

• increased wear of the strut ball joints and the resulting play;
• ball joint jamming.

It is rare, but a break in the strut hinge occurs; in this case, the stabilizer loses one of its attachment points, which affects directional stability, controllability and the operation of the front suspension as a whole. The reasons for the failure of the rack are obvious:

• lack of lubrication in ball ends;
• boot damage;
• mechanical damage to the rack;
• defective or low-quality racks originally installed on the car, which is also not uncommon.

To check the condition of the rack, it is enough to shake the ball joints by hand in an unloaded state (the car is standing on a level surface without lateral roll). The backlash will be visible immediately, if there is any. You can more accurately determine the condition of the ball ends if you remove them from their mounting points, which, in fact, is equivalent to replacing the stabilizer struts.

Purpose and design features of the silent block

There are one more element in the design - silent blocks. These small-sized parts with a simple design play a fairly important role. Their task is to dampen vibrations and prevent their transmission between the components of the suspension. They are connecting elements of the structure; connections of a number of parts are made only through silent blocks. That is, these parts are directly involved in the main task of the suspension.

Silent block refers to rubber products used in the construction of a car. At the same time, it is a consumable material, which, as a result of wear and tear, is simply replaced, since it cannot be repaired.

The design of this part is very simple and includes only two main components:

1. metal clips;
2. and a rubber spacer between them.

Thanks to the use of rubber, it is possible to dampen vibrations and vibrations received from one component of the suspension, and not transfer them to another.

Outwardly, it looks like a massive bushing that fits into a special seat in the suspension element, but in essence it is just an elastic hinge that connects the parts into one unit. Thanks to the hole in the inner frame, the element in which it is installed to another component of the suspension or body is fastened.

There are also silent blocks, in which only the internal clip is used in the design, and the role of the external one is played by the seat itself in the suspension element.