Every car has a suspension. And one of the most important components of this suspension is the shock absorbers. Thanks to their work, the trip is easy, comfortable and without problems. We guess, needless to say, the function of these all-important elements is to absorb vibrations and provide good traction to the car's wheels while driving.
Shock absorbers are attached to both the vehicle's chassis and body using rubber pads that are designed to absorb vibrations while the vehicle is moving and reduce noise in the body.
Why do supports need to be changed frequently?
As we mentioned a while ago, supports are designed for the following purposes:
- absorb vibrations.
- reduce noise in the cabin.
- absorb shocks while the vehicle is moving.
This means that they are subject to extremely high stress. Taking into account all these factors, adding the fact that they are made of rubber, it becomes quite clear that after some time of use they become deformed and worn out and must be promptly replaced with new ones.
Signs indicating the need to replace the shock absorber gasket
- Comfort in the cabin decreases
- Difficulty of turning
- Increase in unusual noises such as scratching, knocking, etc.
Varieties
Parts, the installation of which is carried out with special eyes, are supplemented with silent blocks or rubber bushings necessary for connection with the body and suspension of the car. It is worth noting that the upper support of the shock absorber strut has become most widespread in passenger vehicles.
Based on the type of construction, supports are classified into two types:
The latter are made in the form of a single element made of metal and rubber and are most often used in the front suspension. The main part of the structure is the connection of a rubber cushion with an internal and external steel bowl. Fixation to the body is made by the outer casing, which has several holes for fasteners. The rod is installed in the central part, and in the upper part there is a device for limiting backlash, which is similar to a steel bowl.
How to change a shock absorber mount?
If you're wondering if you can do the replacement yourself, we've got you covered with this... Replacing the mounts isn't difficult at all, and if you've already tried replacing shock absorbers, you should be able to handle the mounts. If you do not have experience, then it is better not to experiment, but to look for a special service.
So how do you change a shock absorber mount?
To make changes in your home garage, you will need: tools (a set of wrenches and pipe wrenches, screwdrivers, liquid for cleaning dirt and corrosion from nuts and bolts, a wire brush), new supports, a jack and a stand for the car.
- Since the mount is located at the top of the shock absorber, the first step you need to take is to jack up the vehicle on a stand or with a jack and additional stands and remove the front wheel.
- After removing the wheel, use a wire brush to clean any areas where you notice dirt has accumulated and spray the nuts and bolts with cleaning fluid.
- Using the appropriate key number, loosen the bolts and nuts that connect the shock absorber to the chassis, then lower the car a little lower, open the front cover, find the bolt that connects the shock absorber to the body, and unscrew it.
- Locating and removing brake hoses and ABS sensors
- Carefully remove the shock absorber along with the pad. You can easily find the support as it is located on top of the shock absorber.
- Now all you have to do is remove the torn and old support, clean the area well and put the new support in place.
- Advice! When removing the shock absorber, carefully inspect its condition, pay attention to the condition of the spring, boots, bearings and other components, and if necessary, it is advisable to replace them.
Experts advise you to change the shock absorber bearings along with replacing the supports, even if they look normal, but you decide for yourself - this is your personal decision.
If there is no need to replace other components after installing the mount, simply install the shock absorber in reverse order.
It is recommended to adjust the car wheels after replacement. Not for anything else, but just to make sure everything was okay.
Checking serviceability: do-it-yourself diagnostics
A more detailed check can be done using the assistant:
- Open the hood and have a helper turn the steering wheel (if you have power steering, start the engine). When you place your hand on the support, you will feel impacts and clicks. The fault can be more accurately determined using a car stethoscope.
If you don’t have a car stethoscope, a regular medical stethoscope will do.
Is it possible to replace only one support?
There are also no exact rules here, and if you want, no one will stop you from replacing only one support, but you can be absolutely sure that you will do double the work. Why? Typically the mileage that the supports can withstand is the same, meaning that if one is crushed or torn, so will the other and you will soon have to replace the support again.
Therefore, experts advise changing them in pairs each time you change the supports (just like shock absorbers).
Types of support bearings
The bearing must perform angular contact functions, and the more accurately it does this, the longer the car will retain its handling characteristics. Therefore, many different designs have been developed; there is no single one yet.
Bearings according to their structural organization can be divided into:
- by the nature of the rolling body - ball and roller;
- bearings with removable outer or inner races;
- integrated angular contact bearings of non-separable type;
- bearings without cages, which are a powerful cage with built-in rolling elements; the support flanges act as tracks.
During assembly, a supply of lubricant is placed in the bearing, but its operating conditions are such that it is not enough for a long time.
What is the price of the support?
These items are consumables and their price is not at all high. Usually it ranges from $10 to $20. For a pair of supports.
The most common mistakes that drivers make when changing supports:
They Underestimate the Importance Many drivers believe that mounts are tiny rubber consumables that don't make much difference to shock absorber performance. So they don't pay attention to changes in driving comfort, and when they hear knocking, squeaking or rattling noises, they attribute the sounds to anything other than worn or torn mounts. They can only come to their senses when the shock absorbers sharply reduce their effectiveness and problems with the car's suspension increase.
Replace only one of the supports Replacing only one of the supports, to put it mildly, is not a very thoughtful and completely illogical act. Why?
Well, first of all, shock absorber mounts are sold in pairs in all stores. This means there is a good reason for the sale. Secondly, the price of a pair of supports is so low that it is not worth buying a pair and installing only one support. And thirdly, as mentioned, the supports have the same lifespan, meaning that when one wears out, so does the other, and it's a good idea to replace both at the same time. Shock Absorbers and Related Components Are Overlooked When Changing Pads As mentioned, special attention should always be paid to shock absorbers and their components when replacing mounts, whether they have been replaced soon or not. Because it is quite possible, even with a recent replacement of the element, that it has worn out prematurely, and if it is not replaced, this entire procedure of replacing the mount will be useless, since very soon the car will have to be re-repaired to replace the worn shock absorber components.
Installation options
There are two main types of stem mounting: through a bearing and using a sleeve. Bushings in budget options are made of aluminum and act as a sliding bearing. Expensive bearings use more complex bearings that have an angular contact design. The main purpose of the bearing is to ensure easy rotation of the shock absorber curtain. It is also worth noting the existence of parts with forced rotation of the rod.
The support of the shock absorber struts of a non-separable type can be equipped with a thicket to hold the spring or have a simplified design. In the latter version, the support bowl is fixed on a support or mounted on a rod. In another version, it is complemented by a rubber cushion with a recess for spring coils. Access to an installed support of this type is possible only from the wheel arch. This is due to the fact that the part most often experiences loads coming from below, and to ensure greater reliability, emphasis is needed on the body part. In this case, the bolts do not turn, since they are tightly connected to the outer casing. There are locking nuts in the trunk or under the hood.
Removing the front strut on a Chevrolet Aveo
Before you begin the procedure for removing the front shock absorber module, you need to stock up on a suitable set of tools. In the process we will need:
Next we proceed to the procedure of removing the rack
- We put wheel chocks under the rear wheels;
- We hang out the wheel we need;
- Remove the decorative disk cap;
- Unscrew the fasteners;
- Remove the brake hose from the mountings;
- Unscrew the bolts of the stabilizer beam. It is important to remember that it is not enough to simply unscrew one nut; there is an additional lock at the back;
- Next, unscrew the bolts of the lower fastening directly to the steering knuckle;
- Carefully knock out the bolts and disconnect the bottom edge;
- Open the hood and look for the upper fastening nut. Using the key at “9” and “19”, unscrew it;
- We remove the top cushion, and then dismantle the entire assembly from its seats;
Next in line is a complete analysis of the node. The procedure is performed as follows:
- Using a special tool, we tighten the spring until the first turn stops pressing on the upper cup;
- Unscrew the fastening nut;
- We dismantle the old support bearing;
- It is advisable to remove the front pillar trim in order to troubleshoot the assembly elements: evaluate the wear of the spring, the safety of the boots, insulators, bearings and other parts.
Below is a photo of the Chevrolet Aveo T250 1.2 shock absorber module disassembled.
Price for Chevrolet Aveo front struts, articles, recommendations:
Today on the market you can buy shock absorbers or support bearings for cars both from the manufacturer and non-original ones. If we are talking about bearings, then their serial number is 95227628 (T300) or 96535010 (T250). The initial cost is similar to wheel bearings and ranges from 500 rubles.
If you purchase a set together with a pillow (the number for T300 is 95028562, and T250 is 95015324), then you should expect an amount of 1.5 thousand rubles. And complete with reinforced rack support, the price will increase to 1.8-2 thousand.
If we are talking about shock absorbers for the T300, then the part number is 95917162 (left) or 95917163 (right). The cost of original spare parts is about 8 thousand rubles per piece. Below is a table that will help you make your choice.
Source
Symptoms of a problem
Noise coming from under the trunk or hood is the main sign of a breakdown. Most often it appears when driving on a dirt road or poor-quality asphalt. Not only damaged parts must be replaced, but also those with deformation or sufficient wear. The best option would be to replace it before characteristic noise occurs, for example, when the VAZ shock absorber itself is installed.
You can make sure that the shock absorbers need to be replaced by pressing firmly on all corners of the car. The machine should not bounce after pressing; otherwise, it is recommended to immediately work on the supports. But this method is not suitable for all cars; for example, for SUVs, hand effort will not be enough. The way out of the situation is to contact a car service center. Professionals will be able to determine the degree of wear, identify the presence of mechanical damage and leaks.
The regularity of replacement depends not only on the mileage, but also on the load on the car, the quality of the roads and the make of the car itself. The support of the shock absorber struts wears out faster with frequent transportation of heavy loads and careless driving.
We change the support cushions of the front struts in Aveo to reinforced ones
The Chevrolet Aveo suspension is far from ideal, so driving over small bumps is accompanied by dull impacts that are clearly audible in the cabin. If the diagnostics show that all suspension components are in order, then the cause of the dull “mumbling” is most likely the support cushions of the front struts .
As experts say, the factory support pads (code: 96653239) are weak and not designed for use on our harsh roads. Therefore, it is recommended to replace the original front strut supports with reinforced ones (code: 95015324).
Reinforced front pillar support cushions
The procedure for replacing the front strut supports on a Chevrolet Aveo is not prescribed, it all depends on their condition, but we note that according to operating experience, the time for their replacement occurs at 60-80 thousand km.
