DIY repair of vaz 2114 racks

In detail: do-it-yourself repair of VAZ 2114 racks from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

The front struts are the key components of the VAZ-2114 chassis. Their task is to dampen vibrations when driving on uneven roads, improve handling and improve traction.

As a result, a smooth ride and maximum comfort while driving is ensured.

According to the manufacturers, the replacement of the front struts should be done after 60-80 thousand kilometers, but on our roads it is advisable to do this work more often.

As we mentioned, the front struts can "live" much less than 60 thousand kilometers. In order not to run into problems, you should first of all focus on the driving performance of the car and its behavior on the road.

Rack malfunctions appear as follows:

  1. Decreased road stability;
  2. excessive rocking of the car when hitting obstacles;
  3. poor car stability during braking and cornering;
  4. increasing the stopping distance;
  5. the appearance of oil drips on the body;
  6. the occurrence of extraneous noise or knocking in the front of the car.

Please note that if there are obvious signs of a malfunction, the front struts of the VAZ 2114 should be replaced as soon as possible. If this is not done, then the following consequences are possible:

  1. The car will literally bounce at the races;
  2. cornering control will decrease (centrifugal forces will lead the car to the side, try to turn it around, or even pull it into a ditch);
  3. tires will wear out faster;
  4. very soon you will need wheel alignment.

At the same time, timely replacement of shock absorber struts will avoid many problems and save your own budget.

Video (click to play).

Before starting work, stock up on the necessary tools. Here you can get by with the standard set.

Prepare two open-end wrenches (thirteen and nineteen), a special twenty-two wrench, a puller for removing the tie rod end, pliers and a small hammer.

Please note that it is worth changing the racks on both sides at the same time. In this way, you will save a lot of personal time and will save your nerves in the future.

Otherwise, the worn out and the new strut may behave differently in motion, which will lead to a deterioration in the car's handling (this will be especially noticeable on a wet or slippery road).

Racks are replaced according to the following algorithm:

1. Loosen the front wheel mounting bolts, apply the handbrake and secure the wheels with stops. All this is necessary to exclude any movement of the car when performing work.

2. Lift the front of the car with a jack, substitute any stops and remove the wheel.

3. Open the hood and find the bolts securing the struts to the car body (they are located on the left and right sides closer to the windshield).

4. Remove the plastic cap that is secured to the glass. To do this, it is enough to pry it with something sharp (an ordinary screwdriver will do).

5. Unscrew the nuts that secure the stand to the vehicle body from above.

6. The brake hose is attached to the car pillar on the bracket - remove it.

7. Take a wire brush and clean all the fastening parts of the strut to the elements of the body and chassis.

8. Using pliers, loosen the nut that secures the steering link end pivot to the A-pillar.

9. Use a special puller and remove the hinge from the strut arm (photo 1). If the racks were not removed before, then screw the nut 3-4 turns before using the puller (to protect the thread).

10.Unscrew the nuts located near the place of fixing the "fist" to the shock absorber strut (photo 2). But before that, it will not be superfluous to apply special marks on the adjusting bolts before unscrewing them (this will prevent toe-out).

Note! What experts still recommend to do wheel alignment when changing struts.

11. Use a drift to knock out the bolts holding the knuckle and strut. Disconnect the knots and move your fist down and remove the rack.

12. Install a new part.

13. Carefully assemble everything in reverse order.

Finally, remember a few simple rules:

  1. Carefully check all units for damage, cracks, scoring or dents;
  2. Unscrew and tighten the bolts only when the vehicle is firmly on the ground.

If done correctly, the work of replacing both racks will take less than an hour. Good luck on the road and, of course, no breakdowns.

We recommend watching a video that will help you on your own, do it yourself, replace the front struts with a VAZ 2114. In this video you will also find everything about pumping shock absorbers. Learn how to pump shock absorbers on a VAZ 2114 yourself.

Shock absorbers are a kind of consumable for your car. Moreover, the cost of maintaining the suspension in working order is inversely proportional to the quality of the roads. Car owners are constantly looking for ways to save money on the repair and maintenance of their car. We will tell you about self-repair and restoration of the characteristics of the shock absorber struts.

Typical malfunctions of this node are known to everyone:

  • Depressurization of the stem packing. Leads to oil leakage from the rack. It can leak at any time. The characteristics change up to a complete loss of performance.
  • Too free movement of the stem in the pipe. In fact, the strut turns from a shock absorber into a guide for the suspension spring. The malfunction is related to the internal valves.
  • Compression or rebound play. Associated with the development in the rod or cylinder. The consequences are similar to broken valves. The shock absorber does not perform its function in a car, it knocks, rattles and makes other unpleasant sounds, why driving in such a car becomes uncomfortable and dangerous.
  • External damage - dents on the body, cracks in the eyelet. Affects the chassis as a whole and can lead to more serious damage.

If any malfunction is detected, it is necessary to remove the rack and release it from the spring. Dismantling is carried out in the garage, without the use of special tools.

Read also:  DIY repair lenovo p780

Sometimes the owners of foreign cars, noticing that their racks have leaked, turn to the service station for diagnostics, where they will carry out a check at the stand.

In fact, this is not such an easy task. Before carrying out work, you should carefully study the material and observe safety precautions. First of all, you need to determine whether you have a collapsible shock absorber or not. The monolithic body is not repairable, opening with a grinder and brewing is unacceptable.

If there is a nut or a retaining ring in the place where the stem enters the pipe, such a shock absorber strut can be serviced and repaired.

Image - DIY repair of vaz 2114 racks

This is what a repairable rack looks like.

  • Compressor for supplying compressed air or pump for servicing bicycle shock absorbers.
  • Special connection for compressed air injection.

Image - DIY repair of vaz 2114 racks

Attention! Safety must be taken care of. Work involves high pressure, so eye and hand protection is essential.

  1. The shock absorber is firmly fixed in a vice, the position is vertical. It is necessary to thoroughly clean the part and blow out the piston rod entry point with compressed air. It is disassembled - removing the protective cap of the stem.

Image - DIY repair of vaz 2114 racks

For convenience, the work is carried out in a vice

Image - DIY repair of vaz 2114 racks

Use a pressure gauge for control. The method is suitable for gas and gas-oil racks

You can watch the process in the video.