Replacing Lada Kalina struts, when to change and how

In the last article, I talked about choosing front suspension components for my Kalina. And here I will try to describe in more detail the entire procedure for replacing these parts, starting from struts and springs, and ending with supports and their bearings. All this can be done in three hours, if there are no special problems with rusted nuts. To perform this repair you will need the following tools:

Balloon wrench
Hammer and pry bar
Jack
Open-end wrench size 9 and socket wrench size 22 (for unscrewing the top nut of the strut and holding the rod)
Socket wrenches 17, 19 or similar heads with a crank
Pliers
13mm socket head with ratchet or wrench
Penetrating lubricant
Spring ties

Signs that it’s time to change the struts

There are characteristic signs indicating wear on the shock absorbers.

Extraneous sound when moving over an obstacle. When the car goes through a pothole, the pillar knocks and a dull thud is heard.
Wheel loosening on uneven surfaces. The car holds the road worse, the tire bounces on potholes. Additionally, the process may be accompanied by a specific, intermittent whistle when turning.
Leaking shock absorber seals. Drips of working fluid may appear on the racks. This causes airing of the damper and provokes a critical decrease in its efficiency.
The need for scheduled replacement of components. Each manufacturer indicates the service life of shock absorbers.
Loss of control stability. The car begins to float along the road, and the process is accompanied by a rhythmic tossing.

How to identify a malfunction

Are you bothered by some strange sounds in the chassis? Can you clearly hear its knocking while driving? This means that you urgently need to assess the condition of the suspension, since it is possible that you had to deal with:

bearing damage;
damage to the gasket.

There can be many reasons for the failure of support bearings, and they are the same for the vast majority of cars, including the Lada Kalina. First of all, we are talking about problems such as:

Wear of the element (as a rule, the service life of support bearings on the Lada Kalina is designed for 50,000 - 100,000 km).
Getting dirt and dust inside, which is very important for most of our regions where there are practically no roads.
Damage due to excessive load on the shock absorber.
Failure due to damage to the shock absorber itself.

Determining whether a support bearing is damaged is quite simple. To do this, you need to open the hood of the car, remove the “glass” and slightly rock the front of the car. A characteristic sound and vibration will indicate that you urgently need to replace 1 or 2 front support bearings. Of course, it’s better not to let things go wrong and install new components at least once every 50,000 – 70,000 kilometers (depending on the intensity of use of your Kalina). If a knock does appear, you should under no circumstances ignore it, since a new strut will cost you 4 to 10 times more than replacing a bearing, the average price of which is 300 rubles. The cost of work at a service station will also cost no less than 500 rubles. If you make the replacement yourself and in a timely manner, you can save a lot of money, especially since there is nothing complicated in the procedure. Next, we’ll talk about how to change the support bearing on a Lada Kalina car without contacting specialists.

Replacement of front struts Lada Kalina

The replacement process itself does not take much time. Knowing the procedure will help save time and money when visiting a service center.

Required tools and materials

For repairs you will need:

set of wrenches for 17, 19, 22;
flat end mounting;
small hammer;
hub key;
pliers;
rags;
wooden extension;
breakdown;
9 key to hold the shock absorber rod;
head No. 13 with ratchet;
jack or lift;
spring ties;
VD 40 or its equivalent for wedging boiled bolts.

The procedure for replacing the front struts of a Lada Kalina

Replacing Lada Kalina struts for the front part of the body is done like this.

Securely secure the car in a secure position and remove the terminals from the battery. It is advisable to wash it well first.
Open the hood and use wrench No. 22 to remove the fastening nut. At the same time, you should hold the rack rod from turning with horn No. 9.
Next, remove the wheel bolts, and then raise the car on a jack or lift.
Now you can completely dismantle the wheel.
Next, using a brush or rag, remove dirt from the surface of bolted joints and movable hinges.
The next step is to treat all bolted joints with a penetrating compound. During operation, parts often boil, which complicates their separation.
Unscrew the nut of the tip pin and use a special puller to squeeze it out of the socket. If this is not the case, you can use a hammer.
Loosen the nuts that hold the strut to the steering knuckle.
Next, knock out the bolts using a piece of wood and a punch.
Using a pry bar, wedge the assembly and the stand will be completely unscrewed at the bottom.
Next, go under the hood - unscrew the nuts securing it to the body.
After this, the block will be completely separated from the machine.

Installation of a new part is carried out in the reverse order and followed by balancing. It is noteworthy that on the Lada Kalina station wagon, replacing the front strut is carried out in the same way as on a sedan.

Required tool for replacement

Jack.
Wheel chocks.
Hammer.
Mount.
Socket wrench "22".
Socket heads for “13”, “17”, “19”, or union sockets with the same parameters.
Open-end wrench set to "9".
Balloon wrench.
Collar.
Knob extension.
Pliers.
Lubricant (WD-40 – approx.).
Spring tie.
Screwdriver.
Rags.

If only one shock absorber fails, you will still have to change a pair, so the order in which the work is performed does not matter.

Step-by-step procedure for removing the shock absorber on Kalina

First of all, open the hood and, using a ring wrench set to “22” and an open-end wrench to “9”, engage the nut securing the support to the rack and turn it. When the fastening becomes loose, do not unscrew it completely.
Then, using a jack, we hang the front wheel and remove it. We place wheel chocks under the rear wheels.
We remove the brake hose from the mounting groove on the rack and move it to the side.

Hoses are marked with arrows

If you can’t remove the tip right away, you can pry it off with a pry bar

An air gun will be useful to unscrew these bolts.

The order in which the nuts are removed does not matter

This is what the stand looks like when removed

This completes the procedure for removing the front strut.

Step-by-step assembly procedure for the front pillar

The first thing we do is put the bumper and boot on the new rack.

New rack, more comfortable to work with new spare parts

The strut spring is in its seat

The new rack is assembled and installed.
We carry out exactly the same work on the other side of the car, since the work process is already familiar, everything will go much faster.

Signs of wear

The first signs that it is time to change the front struts will be their so-called “skips” on rough roads, the characteristic noise they will make and, of course, the presence of oil leaks on the body.

Leaks on the strut indicate the need to replace it

How to disassemble the front strut of a Lada Kalina

The sequence of actions when repairing/disassembling racks is as follows.

Install the spring clamps and squeeze them to remove the load from the shock absorber. There are many types of pullers, but the principle of operation is similar for all.
Remove the shock rod nut and remove the upper support.
Remove the spring, protective cover and compression buffer (bump stop).
Assembly of the unit is performed in reverse order.

An important point is the mandatory completion of the wheel alignment adjustment procedure after each intervention in the suspension components.

Replacement process

Remove the bolts while the car's wheels are on the ground.
Raise the front of the car using a jack or lift.

It is necessary to hang it on the wheels ONLY AFTER you have loosened the bolts securing the wheels to the hub.
Remove the wheels. Clean rusted bolts with a wire brush and moisten them with WD-40 or an equivalent.
Unscrew the steering wheel, providing unobstructed access to the steering tip.
Undo the locking nut using pliers.

We take out the cotter pin and unscrew the tip nut.
Loosen it with a key of 19.
Remove the steering tip using a puller or another method: insert a pry bar between the swing arm and the tip, unclench and squeeze out the ball pin, applying several sharp blows.

Remove the tip using a puller.
Unscrew the nut completely to 19.
Remove the ball pin from the tip. The following action is performed only if the rack is dismantled for disassembly!
Loosen the shock absorber rod with a 22mm wrench. At the same time, the rod is held with a 9mm wrench.
Open the hood, use a 13 key to loosen the three nuts securing the upper support.

The nuts securing the strut support are marked.
Healthy! In order not to make a wheel alignment, make a mark with a marker on the bolt of the upper fastening of the steering knuckle and bracket.
Using a 17mm wrench, unscrew the 2 bolts securing the steering knuckle to the strut (with eccentrics).

Using a socket wrench, unscrew the steering knuckle mounting bolts.
Use a pry bar or a large flat-head screwdriver to remove the steering knuckle from contact with the bracket.
Remove the interfering brake hose.
Completely unscrew the 3 nuts securing the support to the body, remove the strut and spring.

Replacement of rear struts of Lada Kalina

Replacing the rear struts on a car is required more often than the front struts. This state of affairs is argued by the fact that the food suffers more. When cornering, there are often cases when the front end passes by a hole, and the rear part flies into it, which is the cause of intense wear.

Required Tools

In order for the replacement of the Lada Kalina shock absorber strut to be successful, you need to prepare the following materials:

wrenches No. 6, 17, 19;
standard spring ties;
flat screwdriver;
thread releaser (VD40);
hammer and sledgehammer, or a set of squeezes;
pipe for use as a lever;
a set of new racks;
metal brush.

The minimum set of tools can be supplemented with a jack.

A typical replacement is performed in sequence.

Properly secure the car in one position and turn off the power to the on-board electrics.
Fold out the rear passenger seats. There is a rubber plug under it - it should be carefully removed.
Using keys 17, 19, unscrew the rack mounting bolt.
Next you will need to unscrew the lower shock absorber mounting bolt.
The last step is to remove the rack from the car.
Installing a new rack is performed in the reverse order.

While the shock absorber is removed from the car, you can inspect its support and parts.

Choice

Rack disassembly

To disassemble the rack you will need zip ties; the best option would be reinforced ones with two grips on each side.

The procedure for separating the spring from the strut is carried out on a part clamped in a vice. The procedure is as follows:

Install 2 spring clamps opposite each other. They need to be fixed in position so that they interlock 4 threads.

We install the couplers and compress the spring.
Compress the spring by uniform rotation of the tie screws.
After removing the load on the support cup, use a 22mm wrench to unscrew the nut securing the rod.

Unscrew the previously loosened rod nut completely.
Remove the bump stop travel stop.
Remove the upper support and the bearing protecting ring.

Now the support can be removed without any problems.
Remove the compression stroke stop.
Remove the upper spring cup, bearing and gasket.
Remove the bearing.
Separate the spring gasket and the upper cup.
Remove the upper bearing race.
Remove the spring along with the ties.

Now the rod is free - you can remove the spring.
Remove the compression buffer and protective cover.

Remove the bumper along with the protective cover.

The video below shows how to sort out the rack yourself:

Some nuances

Assembly is carried out in the reverse order of removal. However, some nuances should be observed:

Before assembling the strut, you need to make sure that there are no dips, jerks or extraneous sounds in the operation of the shock absorber. If they are found, the part must be replaced.
Springs, as well as struts, are changed on both sides. When buying new ones, pay attention to the class (indicated by paint on one of the turns); it should be the same on both the right and left.
The springs are installed in one position: the lower coil should rest against the protrusion of the lower support. The upper one should rest against the corresponding protrusion of the gasket.

It is better to install new ones for all small things (bump stops, gaskets, sound insulators, etc.).
To install the head of the adjusting bolt of the upper mounting of the steering knuckle, use the marks.
Before installing the bearing, it is advisable to lubricate it with lithol.
After complete assembly, it is recommended to check the wheel alignment.

How to change silent blocks

On Lada Kalina, replacing the rear pillar silent block is quite simple. Here you will need a special puller. Standard large yews will also work. The next steps look something like this.

Remove the shock absorber itself from the car.
Clean the part from dirt and bitumen stains.
There is no need to spare the old silent block - the insert is knocked out with a spacer using a sledgehammer or hammer. The main thing is not to damage the seat.
Next, the mounting sleeve is cleaned and lubricated. Consistent ointments are used here in small quantities, the goal is to ensure ease of installation.
Then the bushing and rubber insert are installed in the yew so that they are on the same axis.
The collar is clamped and the insert slides into place.

What happens if you ignore a shock absorber malfunction?

The clearance of the Lada Kalina is adapted to bad Russian roads. Consequently, the car should ride softer, but has a greater chance of losing control. If the shock absorbers are not replaced in time, the driver will have to drive at a lower speed to save his life.

Faulty shock absorbers will rock the suspension on any hole. And when a wheel hits a hole at high speed, the body begins to sway violently, causing a short-term loss of traction between the wheels and the road surface.

Because of this, the axle skids or drifts, which can cause an accident. Also, untimely replacement damages other mechanisms - for example, suspension silent blocks or support bearings.

Replacing stabilizer struts Lada Kalina 2

From time to time, car enthusiasts need to replace anti-roll bar struts. The procedure is quite simple and can be performed literally on your knees in the field. At the same time, replacing the stabilizer struts of Lada Kalina 1 is practically no different from the sequence of actions of the second modification. Thus, they can be considered together.

The SSPU itself is a simple unit with silent blocks installed in it. A part replacement operation is required for a number of reasons.

The car begins to lean heavily when cornering. The strut may break or the elastic insert may wear out, causing the vehicle to wobble.
Extraneous noise when driving on uneven terrain. When a part breaks, the seals cannot perform their function properly, which causes knocking and vibration.

How to replace stabilizer struts on a VAZ 1117

Required to do the job.

Raise the car on a lift or jacks. The main thing is to securely secure the car from tipping over or rolling away. Experienced craftsmen say that it is enough to hang only the front of the car.
Unscrew one bolt securing the struts on both sides of the body.
Next, loosen and remove the rod clamp nuts, all 4 pieces.
Remove the entire rod from the suspension. This is done carefully - the part is not easy.
If only the racks are changed, they should be knocked off the rod using a mallet or a wooden pointer.
Install new inserts, having previously lubricated the seats with a thick lubricant.

Important note for proper installation

Before installing a new shock absorber on the Lada Kalina, it is necessary to bleed it. The fact is that there is oil inside the rack, which moves through the cavities during operation. Normal operation of the shock absorber is ensured only in a vertical position.

If you place the rack horizontally (as it is transported), then air will get inside, which will have a detrimental effect on the operation of the rack. Installing such a part is strictly prohibited, as it will not last long.

To remove air, before installing shock absorbers, you must perform the following steps:

Extend the compressed stand from the packaging to ¾ of the length and place the stem down. Wait 5 seconds and squeeze gently.
Turn the shock absorber over and wait 5 seconds.
Extend the rod and wait 2 seconds, then flip the post over again and compress.
Repeat the above 3-4 times.

Practice shows that 70% of people who change stands themselves forget about this important procedure.

After these manipulations, the shock absorber should last as long as the manufacturer guarantees.

How to choose racks for Lada Kalina

Lada Kalina racks are divided by type and manufacturer. The area of application of the vehicle decides here. For good roads, it is better to install hard shock absorbers that hold the asphalt even at high speeds. Medium hardness options are suitable for riders whose vehicles drive in small towns where there is an abundance of primers. In rural areas, experienced car enthusiasts recommend installing soft racks.

Firms stand out among the popular manufacturers.

SAAZ. A domestic brand that supplies products to the AvtoVAZ conveyor belt. The stands are quite soft and inexpensive. One of the disadvantages is the lack of stability when cornering.
KYB or Kayaba. Rigid gas-filled struts meet the most modern vehicle control standards. Extreme stability, durability and reasonable price. The downside is that they are only suitable for normal roads.
ASOMI and SS. differ from the stock version in increased reliability. There are no fundamental differences in the operation and efficiency of shock absorption. Used as an alternative to factory racks.
FENOX. Naturally, the Fenox brand produces some models of shock absorbers suitable for second-generation viburnums. Quite popular racks are characterized by an increased shelf life, increased strength and average dynamic characteristics. The manufacturer is often chosen by users who want to find a balance between stability, durability and machine control.
Denckermann. According to buyers, this is a “foreign” analogue of Fenox products, which has similar parameters to the prototype. The only drawback is the low prevalence in certain regions.

"ASOMI"

This manufacturer offers two lines of parts. They are more versatile than the SS20 described above. This allows you to use spare parts without worrying about operating features:

Gas-oil struts “Comfort PRO” can be used on roads with any surface. At the same time, shock absorbers have an excellent resource;
Comfort CLASSIC, these are classic oil struts. Due to their high rigidity, they show good behavior at high speeds.

This manufacturer attracts attention with a combination of relatively low price and high quality

Station wagon

. Quite high demands are usually placed on the suspension of station wagon cars. This is due to their greater carrying capacity. Structurally, the suspension on Kalina and Priora station wagons is practically no different from other body types. But for such modifications it is recommended to use stiffer shock absorbers. This will reduce the subsidence of the machine when loading it. Otherwise, it all depends on the tastes and wishes of the car enthusiast himself.

Conclusion

. Now the market offers a large variety of different shock absorbers for domestic cars. When choosing which struts are best to install on Priora and Kalina (+ Station wagon), you need to start from the characteristics of your driving. For fans of high-speed driving, hard shock absorber models are suitable. If the car is used as a family car, then softer racks should be selected.

The front struts were annoying with their knocking noises a year ago, then only the upper strut supports were replaced, because the struts outwardly seemed to be in good condition. The knocking noises disappeared for a while, and then appeared again. Before purchasing, I checked which springs and struts were installed. And the racks installed by the previous owner turned out to be Weber (looks like Chinese). The springs turned out to be conical. I decided not to experiment with the brand of racks and install “SAAZ”. The bearings of the upper supports were checked and they were intact.

Springs

As a rule, the front struts on the Kalina 1118 (sedan) have a conical spring, and on the 1119 (hatchback) they have a barrel spring.

Currently, according to the current documentation, the following types of springs are installed on vehicles of the Kalina family: 1. Front suspension. a) on cars with an 8-valve engine (except for model 1117 station wagon), conical springs 1118-2902712 manufactured by Avtoagregat OJSC (Kineshma) or shaped “barrel-shaped” springs 1119-2902712 manufactured by Mubea, Czech Republic (?) are installed.

The springs are identical in technical characteristics, but differ in installation parameters, and therefore are interchangeable only as part of a telescopic stand with support and spring assembly. b) on cars with 16-valve engines and models 1117, springs 11186-2902712 and 11196-2902712 with higher rigidity and load parameters are installed.

2. Rear suspension. All cars of the Kalina family are INSTALLED WITH A SINGLE CYLINDRICAL SPRING PRODUCED BY AVTOVAZ OJSC 1118-2912712-10 Racks

The racks also differ from each other - they have a cup on which the lower coil of the spring rests.

Before purchasing and installing shock absorber struts in the Lada Kalina suspension, the owner should decide on the question - what type of these products would he like to see in his car? Which stands are better? There are two options for struts that are suitable for a Russian small car: oil and gas-oil, but which shock absorbers are better?

Removal

Place the vehicle on a two-post lift and turn off the ignition.

Place stands under the rear suspension arms and lower the car until the springs begin to compress.

Tilt the rear seatbacks forward.

Figure 10-1 — Attaching the rear suspension shock absorber to the car body: 1 — plug; 2 — rear suspension shock absorber rod; 3 — shock absorber rod mounting nut

Figure 10-2 — Rear suspension shock absorber with spring: 1 — protective casing; 2 — compression progress buffer; 3 — casing cover; 4 — bushing of the shock absorber hinge; 5, 9 — shock absorber cushions; 6 — spring washer; 7 — nut for fastening the shock absorber rod; 8 — shock absorber washer; 10 — upper gasket; 11 — rear suspension spring; 12 - bolt; 13 — rear suspension shock absorber; 14 - nut

Remove plugs 1, Figure 10-1, covering the mounting points of the rear shock absorber rods (flat-head screwdriver).

Lock the rods 2 and unscrew the nuts 3 securing the shock absorbers to the body (wrench A.57070, wrench type KL-4071-3117 f. “KLANN”, ratchet wrench).

Remove spring washers 6, Figure 10-2, shock absorber washers 8 and shock absorber upper cushions 5.

Figure 10-3 — Attaching the rear suspension shock absorber to the rear suspension arms: 1 — rear suspension arm; 2 - nut; 3 — rear suspension shock absorber; 4 - bolt

Suspend the car until the springs are unloaded, unscrew nuts 2, Figure 10-3, bolts securing the shock absorbers to the rear suspension arms, remove bolts 4 and disconnect the shock absorbers 3 from the rear suspension arms 4 (wrench 19, replaceable head 19, ratchet wrench).

Remove the shock absorbers and springs.

Remove spring 11 from the shock absorber, Figure 10-2, with gasket 10, lower shock absorber cushion 9, shock absorber hinge bushing 4, casing cover 3, protective casing 1 and compression stroke buffer 2.

How to identify a malfunction

bearing damage;
damage to the gasket.

There can be many reasons for the failure of support bearings, and they are the same for the vast majority of cars, including the Lada Kalina. First of all, we are talking about problems such as:

Wear of the element (as a rule, the service life of support bearings on the Lada Kalina is designed for 50,000 - 100,000 km).
Getting dirt and dust inside, which is very important for most of our regions where there are practically no roads.
Damage due to excessive load on the shock absorber.
Failure due to damage to the shock absorber itself.

Step-by-step work order

We place the car on a level surface and turn on the handbrake. The video guide shows how to remove and install the rear door trim on a Volvo xc90 with your own hands. Replacing racks on a viburnum with your own hands. At the beginning of 2012, I replaced the Opel with a new Nissan Almera Classic, tuning it myself. Replacing front brake pads on VAZ 2101, 2107, 2106, 2105, 2103 and 2104. Video guide for replacing front brake pads on VAZ cars. The video shows how to remove the steering wheel, steering column switches and ignition switch on an Audi 80 with your own hands. Check its operation, that it is not loose and is adjusted.
We hang the rear wheels one by one; the order in this case does not matter.
Then we get to work in the cabin, and with the rear seat folded down, using a flat-head screwdriver, we dismantle the decorative cap that covers the pillar rod.

When to change

The service life of the “supporters” is on average 50-100 thousand km, depending on the conditions in which the car is used. Replacing the timing belt on a vw passat b3 1.8 rp. Video how. After this resource has expired, it is recommended to change them. How to change the front strut support on a viburnum, replacing the support bearing: catalog of materials. Correct replacement of the stabilizer bar on a Ford Focus. The front suspension arm of the VAZ 2110 is attached to the hub with the front struts of the VAZ 2110. Replacement. Replacing cushions The video shows a detailed process of replacing engine cushions on a VAZ 2110. Replacement is also necessary if any defects are detected.

IMPORTANT!

Please accept this information as mandatory! After you have carried out work on installing new front struts on the Lada Kalina, you should immediately visit a vehicle technical inspection station to carry out work on the vehicle's wheel alignment, since during the work all the previously established angles were violated. Neglecting this can cause not only rapid and uneven wear of tires and mechanisms, but also lead to a traffic accident.

The support bearing is one of the leading elements of the suspension of any car, and the Lada Kalina is no exception. The movement of a car is associated with constant shocks from the suspension, especially on our roads. This part allows you to absorb the vast majority of loads, taking them upon yourself and distributing them evenly, so that the suspension and body remain in working order.

However, like other components, support bearings wear out over time, after which it is time to replace them. Today we’ll talk about what reasons can lead to a malfunction of this suspension element, how to determine their presence and how to replace it with a Lada Kalina.