Do-it-yourself Lacetti rail repair

Chevrolet Lacetti steering rack repair does not require any special tools. In addition, it can be safely produced on your own in your garage. But in order to carry out this, something is still needed. The whole dismantling and replacement process will take a little over 3 hours, provided that you have at least basic car repair skills. Of course, you can contact a car service, but then the price of the issue will literally increase significantly.

It is better to completely replace the Chevrolet Lacetti steering rack repair kit. By replacing it immediately, you will save yourself from the thought of an early re-repair. Steering rack repair is the same as cheap car painting.

Among the recommendations of experts, there is an opinion on the repair of the steering rack, however, as a rule, such repairs are carried out only if the steering rack is not deformed, which is difficult to assume, given the condition of our roads. So it's just not practical. Let's just say that you need yellow window tinting, and you are performing anti-corrosion treatment of a car in St. Petersburg.

The direct replacement of the Chevrolet Lacetti steering rack repair kit is carried out in two stages: the first is done under the hood, the second is on a lift or pit (directly under the car).

1. However, before that, it is necessary to prepare a new steering rack for installation. To do this, remove the protective anthers and put a little grease under them. Usually use lubricant on silicone (any). Then you need to put the anthers back.

1. After that, proceed to dismantle the old steering rack. To do this, unscrew the bolt connecting the steering shaft and shank under the hood. Wipe off any liquid that comes out. Use a regular syringe for this.

1. Further work will take place on a lift, a pit. If you are using a pit, then it will only be enough to install the front of the car on it. After installation, it is necessary to remove the wheels and unscrew the bracket bolts holding the hydraulic booster. Then unscrew the fittings of the hydraulic booster hoses and collect all the liquid in the dishes.

1. Next, you need to unscrew the nuts of the tips of the ball joints, press out the fingers of the steering tips and separate the ball joint and the hub. Then remove the cross rail and dismantle the subframe. Disconnect the subframe from the old rail and proceed to install the new one. To do this, not forgetting to lubricate all fasteners, assemble everything in the reverse order.

If you liked the article about repairing the Chevrolet Lacetti steering rack, then click "Like".

If you are interested in how to properly repair a Chevrolet Lacetti steering rack, we recommend watching a training video created on the basis of our specialized car service.

In the process of work, the master used special tools and equipment of Ukrainian production TM "MSG equipment", which is represented by the company "Master Service".

The repair kit for replacing worn components is selected in the product catalog of the Italian company Emmetec.

The sequence of actions when repairing the steering rack Chevrolet Lacetti

The control system of many modern cars is based on a combination of MacPherson strut suspension and steering rack. Both mechanisms were developed back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (the final version of the suspension was presented in the forties of the 20th century, but it first appeared on the drawings in the 1900s). Now this system is very common, but not used in luxury cars, for example.But for the production of crossovers and middle-class cars, this scheme is ideal. One of the clearest examples is the control system and steering rack of the Chevrolet Lacetti.

Despite the fact that this car is now out of production, it still remains one of the most popular models in its class. Therefore, such issues as the repair of the Lacetti steering rack, the price of this action and its process are quite relevant.

This unit of the car transmits the force from the steering wheel to the steering wheels and provides a change in the trajectory of the car, depending on the movement of the steering wheel. This effect is achieved through the interaction of the following details:

• shaft rail
• internal and external seals
• distributor
• crankcase
• support sleeve
• retaining ring

What do you need to pay attention to? The owners of this Chevrolet model most often complain about the backlash of the steering mechanism. Also from the side of the steering wheel may appear:

• "biting"
• spontaneous rotation of the steering wheel
• too tight rotation
• difficult return to zero position

Another proprietary problem is the rapid wear of the mechanical parts of the rack. If this happens, you will hear and feel:

• thud from under the hood in the left front of the car
• metallized knock, reverberating throughout the body
• return to the steering wheel; when driving on rough roads, a strong shaking of the steering wheel is possible
• sometimes oil stains under the front left wheel may appear after stopping

The cause of trouble can be all the details that make up the Lacetti steering rack:

• The distributor housing may be worn out. This happens when the distributor rings rub against the inside of the housing.
• Bushing destruction. As a rule, this part wears out after driving on rough roads.
• The destruction of the central tooth of the shaft-rack awaits all cars after about 150 thousand km. run.

These are the most typical breakdowns, the probability of which cannot be reduced. So, driving exclusively on roads on which there are no small obstacles is, in principle, impossible in our country. It is also unrealistic to save the central tooth of the shaft-rail from inevitable destruction. This part wears out when the car is driving in a straight line. Namely, the driver adheres to this trajectory almost all the time.

There are also more rare malfunctions that occur during careless operation of the car. For example, shaft-rail corrosion occurs if water gets inside the car. Or if a poor-quality repair was made.

To accurately determine whether the Lacetti steering rack repair is needed, a diagnosis should be made. To fully check the condition of the node, you will have to contact a car service. But you can check it yourself first. To do this, you need to drive the car onto a lift or pit, fix the wheels in a straight position and perform the following steps:

• measure the free play of the steering wheel. It must be less than 5 degrees
• shaking the steering wheel in different directions, make sure there is no knock
• hanging the front wheels, pull them towards you and away from you, putting your hand to the tip of the rack. No free play should be felt.

If the diagnostics showed that the rail is faulty, you can try to adjust the mechanism. To do this, leave the machine fixed and find the adjusting screw. Pulling it up, you need to track the following points:

• backlash
• knocking
• screw tension

Often, after carrying out the diagnostics, it turns out that the wear of the internal parts of the rail is small and, in order to get rid of minor backlash, it is enough to make an adjustment. This procedure consists in tightening a certain adjusting nut. It is fast and minimal cost.

Professional repair includes:

testing the steering rack on the stand

complete disassembly of the mechanism

replacement or repair of worn parts

lubrication of moving parts of the mechanism

assembly assembly and retesting

After the repair, you will definitely be given a guarantee for the work performed.
In order to extend the safe operation of the car, follow a few time-tested and people-tested rules:

• When repairing, check which ties are put on the anthers. They don't have to be plastic. Otherwise, corrosion of the shaft-rail and complete replacement of the assembly.
• The inevitable damage caused by driving on rough roads can be reduced by carefully driving over them. You also need to smoothly drive through tram rails and speed bumps.
• Try to avoid long stops, especially in wet areas.

Be attentive to the condition of your car, repair it on time and then the ride will always be comfortable and safe!

Based on the operating experience of the owners of the Chevrolet Lacetti, one of the problem areas of this car is the steering rack. Immediately after buying a new car, while driving over small bumps, knocking is heard in the front suspension. Complaining to dealers does nothing. Even a warranty replacement steering rack Chevrolet Lacetti does not solve the problem, knocks remain.

In most cases from knock steering rack Chevrolet Lacetti can be removed by tightening just two screws.

1. We tighten the screw on the spline steering in the car
2. We tighten the bolt by 10 in the engine compartment. In the figure, these bolts can be seen in node No. 2 steering rack device Chevrolet Lacetti.

In cases where the above adjustments did not give a positive effect, or knocking steering rack Lacetti appeared during the period of long-term operation of the car, which indicates the failure of the rail elements, which means that it is time to replace it with a new one or a restored one.

• If you decide to purchase a new steering rack, here is its catalog number and the rack itself.

• We unpack and remove the anther from the shaft and put plastic silicone grease under it that does not cause swelling of the rubber

The steering mechanism is removed for repair or replacement, as well as when replacing steering rods.
We set the front wheels in the position of rectilinear movement of the car.
We press out the fingers of the ball joints of the tie rod ends from the lugs of the steering knuckle levers (see Replacing the tie rod end).
Disconnect the intermediate pipe from the catalytic converter of the exhaust system (see Removing the intermediate pipe).
We remove the rear support of the power unit (see Replacing the supports of the power unit).
We turn off the bolt of the terminal connection of the yoke of the lower universal joint of the intermediate shaft with the shank of the steering gear shaft and loosen the bolt of the terminal connection of the yoke of the upper universal joint of the intermediate shaft with the steering shaft (see Removing the intermediate steering shaft).

With a “10” head, we unscrew the bolt securing the drain line tube holder to the front suspension subframe.
Before disconnecting the hydraulic lines from the crankcase of the steering mechanism, we substitute a container under the crankcase to collect fluid.

Using the “18” key, we unscrew the fitting of the discharge line pipe and the fitting of the drain line pipe.

We remove the tips of the tubes of both lines from the holes of the crankcase of the steering mechanism and insert the plugs of a suitable diameter into the holes of the pipes and the crankcase.

The tips of the tubes are sealed in the crankcase with rubber rings.

With a spanner wrench or a “14” head, unscrew the nut and bolt of the bracket for attaching the steering gear housing pipe to the subframe.

Remove the steering gear housing tube bracket.

With a spanner wrench or a “14” head, unscrew the nut and bolt securing the crankcase of the mechanism to the subframe.
We substitute an adjustable stop under the front suspension subframe and unscrew the nuts of the front and rear mounting bolts of the subframe (see Removing the subframe).
We lower the subframe on the stop to a height of 60–70 mm so that the studs of the front fastening of the subframe do not completely come out of the holes in the subframe (this will allow the subframe to be more accurately centered during its subsequent installation).

When lowering the subframe, we remove the shank of the gear shaft from the eye of the intermediate shaft fork.

We take out the steering mechanism together with the steering rods.
We install the steering mechanism in the reverse order.
Before mounting the steering gear, set the middle position of the rack (rectilinear movement of the car). Tighten the bolts and nuts securing the pipe and the steering gear housing to the subframe to the prescribed torques (see_Appendices).
Before connecting the pipes of the drain and discharge lines to the crankcase of the steering mechanism, we check the condition of the rubber sealing rings. If they are damaged (tears, cracks, dents), we replace the rings with new ones. We tighten the pipe fittings with the prescribed torques (see Appendixes).
Pour working fluid into the power steering reservoir and bleed air from the system (see Bleeding the power steering system).

The steering rack anthers are responsible for the condition of the steering rack, which are attached to its ends, it is the anthers that protect the working part of the rack, as well as the toothed shaft from dust, moisture and sand. In the end part of the rail housing there are protective seals that prevent leakage of oil, which is inside the rail housing. In addition, they do not allow dust and moisture to get inside, this is in case the anthers of the steering rack fail.

The influence of moisture can also cause irreparable damage to the steering rack, corrosion destroys the working surface of the shaft, and sand prevents normal rotation. The result of such a tandem is an oil leak, after which the shaft runs “dry”, being damaged and failing. Steering rack repair possible, but not always cost-effective, specialists perform complex work in the form of a shaft groove on a coordinate machine, after which they install a set of oil seals of a slightly larger diameter. In the event of severe mechanical damage, for example, a strong impact in the form of a pit or bump on the road, the straightness of the steering rack shaft is often violated, after which the steering rack completely fails and requires immediate replacement.

Today, I will talk about how to replace steering rack chevrolet lacetti with your own hands in case of failure. In order to repair the steering rack, it will take about 2-3 hours, provided that you know how to hold the key in your hands and distinguish between a “balonnik” and an “adjustable” one. This work requires a lift or, at worst, a viewing hole. If there is neither one nor the other, you can use pads or jacks, in general, your task is to hang out the front of the car.

By instrument. No special tools are required, except perhaps a puller for steering tips.

1. Remove engine protection (if any).

2. Remove the boot from the new shaft and put more grease under it as shown in the photo. As a lubricant, you can use almost any silicone-based grease that does not corrode rubber.

Do-it-yourself Chevrolet Lacetti steering rack replacement

3. Now put the boot back.

4. Some operations will have to be performed from above, that is, under the hood.

5. Turn off a bolt in connection of a steering shaft, and also its shaft on a steering rack.

6. Next, using a syringe, remove excess fluid from the power steering reservoir (GUR).

7. On this, all work in the engine compartment is completed.

8. Raise the front of the vehicle using one of the above options.

10. In the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe right side member on the subframe, it is necessary to unscrew the bolt of the bracket that holds the power steering tube.

Do-it-yourself Chevrolet Lacetti steering rack replacement

11. Now you can unscrew the two fittings of the power steering hoses from the steering rack.

12.Prepare an empty container as some of the liquid may spill out of the system.

13. Now you can begin to partially disassemble the suspension, this is necessary in order to remove the subframe.

14. Using WD-40, treat all threaded connections: ball joints, stabilizer links, engine mounts, tie rod ends, and so on.

15. Turn off nuts of tips of spherical support.

16. Turn off fixing bolts of fingers of spherical support, then take them from connection with a rack of stabilizer draft.

Do-it-yourself Chevrolet Lacetti steering rack replacement

17. Using a stripper, press out fingers of steering tips.

18. The connection of the ball joint and the hub, as a rule, is separated without much effort.

19. Turn off two fixing bolts of the lower support of the engine, then completely remove it.

20. Next, you need to remove the cross rail, for this you need to unscrew the four bolts.

21. Carefully unscrew the three nuts that secure the exhaust pipe flange to the catalyst, as well as the supporting mounting bracket to the engine block.

22. On the frame under the radiator, disconnect the lambda probe connector. In a place convenient for you, hang the entire exhaust pipe of the muffler.

23. All that is left to do is to dismantle the subframe, this can be done by unscrewing the mounting bolts, but do not rush to unscrew the bolts completely, leave a few threads.

24. Install a special stand under the subframe and now completely unscrew the four fixing bolts.

25. Here you need an assistant, whose task is to disconnect the connection of the shank and the steering shaft on the rail with a screwdriver.

26. Carefully treat the joints with WD-40 liquid, and in the meantime, slowly lower the subframe down. This phase can be considered completed, consider that the subframe, along with the stabilizer and rail, have been removed!

27. Turn off four bolts of fastening by which steering rack attached to the subframe.

Do-it-yourself Chevrolet Lacetti steering rack replacement

28. For prevention, remove the stabilizers and lubricate the rubber bushings with the same grease, this will eliminate the possibility of suspension squeaks, in addition, the suspension itself will significantly improve, and the ride will become more comfortable and soft.

29. Take a new steering rack and assemble everything in reverse order. During installation, do not forget to remove the plugs from the power steering holes. Lubricate everything properly with sealant in those places where it is needed, the connection of the catalyst and the exhaust pipe flange must be lubricated with graphite grease.

Now you know how to replace the steering rack, it remains to pour fluid into the power steering reservoir and bleed the system, for this you need to turn the steering wheel with the engine running, first to the maximum left, then all the way to the right. Also don't forget to do a wheel alignment.

Chevrolet Lacetti Steering Rack Replacement Completed! I hope everything worked out for you. Thank you for your attention, be careful on the roads!

The Lacetti car (Chevrolet Lacetti), which began its production in South Korea in 2003, evokes mixed emotions among motorists.

Adherents of the Lacetti confirm that the meaning of this name justifies itself.

The modern and

harmonious style, ease of use of the steering column, which is adjustable in height, easy reading of data from instruments, high-quality finishes, spaciousness of the cabin, wide visibility, and much more. The ratio of price and quality is also not in last place, which did not go unnoticed in the Russian market. Lacetti and today has its popularity among domestic motorists.

Opponents of the Lacetti note some shortcomings in the technical characteristics. Among them, the vulnerability of steering racks is highlighted. All Lacetti owners face the need to repair them. It can only arise almost immediately after purchasing a car, for others the mileage can reach up to 30 and even up to 80 thousand kilometers.It depends on many conditions.

Lacetti are available with engines of various capacities:

• 1.4 liters, 93 liters. With.;
• 1.6 liters, 109 liters. With.;
• 1.8 liters, 122 liters. With.

But regardless of the modification, improvements and options, both the adherents who note all the advantages and the opponents are right, pointing out that the repair of the Lacetti steering racks will be necessary sooner or later.

Signs indicating that something is wrong with the steering rack will be found by anyone, even a novice driver.

1. The effect of "naughty steering"

• starts to rotate by itself;
• turns with difficulty;
• "biting".

All this points to the backlash of the steering mechanism.

It is distributed from the front left, and is given throughout the body. This indicates the wear of the Lacetti steering rack mechanics.

3. Excessive shaking of the steering wheel when driving over bumps

It is worth looking under the car for oil stains under the left wheel after stopping. The reason is the same worn-out mechanics (crankcase, distributor rings, bushing, etc.).

The trouble is that it is unlikely that it will be possible to exclude and even reduce the likelihood of these major breakdowns. Especially considering the state of Russian roads. You also need to be prepared for the fact that the central tooth of the rack shaft will someday collapse from wear. Wear is facilitated by both external influences and driving on a straight road without a long change in the trajectory of movement.

In addition to the natural causes of wear, the failure of the Lacetti steering rack parts is also caused by the careless attitude of car owners to its condition. Corrosion is caused by water getting inside, loose fasteners, poor-quality parts, unscrupulous repairs.

One way or another, the steering rack diagnostics will tell you exactly about the causes of the malfunctions.

This stage of work before repairing the rail, carried out independently, without contacting a specialized car service, is more of an inspection than a full diagnosis.

Inspection is carried out as follows

:

1. The car is installed on a viewing hole or lift.
2. Wheels are fixed straight.
3. Steering wheel free play is measured. (Normally, it should be less than five degrees.)
4. The absence of knocking and free movement is checked with the hanging of the front wheels.
5. The adjusting screw is tightened or loosened while checking for play and knock.

The last stage is performed if there is a problem in the diagnostic process. This simple adjustment may be enough to fix the problem. But even if the signs of the problem disappear, you should not reassure yourself with this. On the example of a human disease - antipyretics, it is quite possible to eliminate the symptoms for a while, but it is still very far from a cure. That is, it is better to play it safe, not relying on your "healer" meager knowledge, but trusting an experienced "doctor".

There are no fundamental differences in the procedure for repairing and replacing steering racks between various Lacetti modifications. The repair steps are carried out in the same order. The same tools and equipment are used. The difference lies in the size and marking of the parts.

One of the most difficult stages of repair is its beginning. In order to simply remove the steering rack, you need to raise the front of the car, remove the engine crankcase, steering tips, stabilizer struts, ball to steering knuckle, upper tubes from the hydraulic booster, subframe, etc. In addition, the difficulty lies in the need to be careful not to inadvertently damage parts and assemblies, and remember the order of their disassembly and removal for subsequent proper assembly.

After the rail is dismantled, you must:

• check toothed shaft for wear;
• perform a complete cleaning of all components;
• completely disassemble the rail (remove the distributor fastening caps, fixing nut, retaining ring, stuffing box, distributor, etc.);
• replace worn parts and seals;
• assemble the steering rack according to the marks in reverse order and prepare for testing.

When all problems are fixed, all procedures are also performed in the reverse order.

In artisanal conditions, it will not be possible to accurately diagnose and repair the Lacetti steering rack. And there are a number of reasons for this:

1. A personal garage, where there is professional equipment from a lift to a special stand, is the exception rather than the rule.
2. It is rare for a car enthusiast, even one who constantly provides car repair services for his friends, to have a complete set of tools necessary for even minor repairs that can be made at the diagnostic stage.
3. It is unnecessary to talk about the presence of a repair kit for each car from self-taught masters. Motorists most often have to look for the required parts themselves in the car market, via the Internet.
4. Experience is the most important thing for diagnosing, which determines the strategy for subsequent repairs. Each brand, each model has its own differences and requires its own approach. This also applies to the repair of the Lacetti steering rack.

Experienced car enthusiasts recommend:

1. After repair, check which ties are attached to the anthers. When installing plastic, corrosion of the rack shaft is possible, which will lead to repeated repairs pretty soon.
2. When driving over bumps, you should drive at the lowest possible speed.
3. Small elevations on the road (curb, speed bump, rails) must be passed smoothly.
4. Long-term parking in the open air leads to faster failure not only of the steering rack, but also of all systems and mechanisms.
5. Listen to your car. His behavior will indicate problems and the need for repairs.

When a car owner is worried about the Lacetti steering rack, the repair price becomes one of the first questions he asks along with the quality of the repair. The Avto-rail company specializes specifically in the repair of this unit, so you don’t have to worry about the efficiency of work

.

The price of removing, installing and repairing the Lacetti steering rack by the craftsmen will be announced immediately after the diagnosis.

Our company also has a technology developed in cooperation with manufacturers of original parts for the restoration of steering racks and power steering pumps.

We offer prompt and accurate diagnostics, and you can choose to repair or replace. "Quickly, inexpensively, efficiently," - we hear such feedback from our regular customers.