The next malfunction is damage to the stem, oil seals, valves inside the rack. There are a number of spare parts on the market for repairing collapsible shock absorbers. In addition, an experienced motorist never throws away old spare parts, but tries to repair them. In addition, you can always extract workable parts from them.
Tip: The entire process of disassembling the shock absorber should be photographed. This will avoid assembly problems.
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If you have basic information about how your shock absorbers work, you can save money on replacing them. Most of the rack models are repairable, and the components are either reasonably priced or manufactured in-house.
Almost every motorist can repair shock absorber struts, if he is not afraid of dirty work under the car. At the same time, you will be able to save a good amount of money. After all, as soon as dull bumps begin to appear in the suspension of the car when driving through pits and potholes, then it’s time to come to grips with repairing shock absorbers.
Each automaker uses its own design developments to damp vibrations when the vehicle is moving. But shock absorbers are present in almost all modern cars.
The lifespan of a shock absorber is determined by the driving style and the quality of the roads. For example, many 10-year-old cars from Europe with a mileage of more than 200 thousand km come to us on "native" shock absorbers. And in our road conditions, a rare suspension part survives up to 100 thousand kilometers.
At the end of this article you will find a visual video tutorial on repairing the shock absorber strut of a VAZ 2110 car.
Below we will talk about what are the main malfunctions of shock absorbers, and how you can fix them with your own hands, if you have certain skills, tools and the desire to do this.
The main malfunctions of shock absorber struts are:
Free movement of the rod in the cylinder,
The presence of knocking when compressing or stretching,
Oil drips.
Finding all these problems is quite simple, even without removing the shock absorbers from the car.
To determine the performance of the shock absorbers, it is necessary to press hard several times with the whole body weight on the wing or bumper of the car directly above each shock absorber in turn. If, after the car stops rocking, further vertical vibrations occur, then the shock absorber is faulty. Usually, a working node stops swinging immediately after the impact on it stops.
In a similar way, knocks in the shock absorber strut are detected. To do this, rest your palm at the top attachment point of the rack and swing it up and down with sharp rhythmic presses. Impacts will be clearly felt upon contact.
To find leaks in the shock absorbers, it is enough to look between the wheel and the arch of the car. Turning the wheel to one side will help to improve visibility. It is even more convenient for these purposes to use a viewing pit, overpass or lift.
For more information on methods for checking the health of car shock absorbers, read our article on how to check shock absorbers on a car.
Repair of shock absorber struts begins with their dismantling. Removing the shock absorbers is usually not a problem. Unless the fasteners force the motorist to swear loudly and resort to drastic measures ("grinder" or gas "cutter").
But more often than not, it is enough to clean the nuts and bolts from sand and dirt, and then treat them with WD-40 fluid. After 20-30 minutes, you can start dismantling.
Here are a few things to consider when removing shock absorbers for later repair or replacement:
Often, the part of the car where the shock absorber is removed has to be hung with a jack. It is imperative to install stops under the sill or bottom so that the car does not accidentally move during repairs.
For better access to the lower mountings of the shock absorber, the corresponding wheel must be removed.
The upper attachment points of the struts in most cars are usually located under the hood and in the trunk.
In front-wheel drive vehicles, removing the strut requires more work. The complexity of the work depends on the type of shock absorber.
Collapsible shock absorber structures are distinguished by more complex rack dismantling. To remove such a unit, you will have to unscrew the hub nut and remove the rack together with the hub.
Non-collapsible shock absorbers have a simpler strut design. At the lowest point, the shock absorber is inserted into the cup, where it is attached with one or two bolts.
The top attachment for both types of struts is usually located under the hood (front shock absorbers) and in the trunk (rear). Here you will need to tighten only two nuts.
The shock absorber struts in front-wheel drive vehicles are usually removed with the springs.
To determine the cause of a front wheel drive vehicle's shock absorber strut malfunction, it will most likely have to be completely disassembled. For details on disassembling, assembling and repairing a shock absorber, see the video tutorial at the end of this article.
Ties will be an indispensable tool for disassembling the shock absorber.This spring compressor is a heavy duty stud with a left-hand thread at one end and a right-hand thread at the other. There is a turnkey hexagon at the end of the stud. Grips (with left and right threads, respectively) are screwed onto the ends of the hairpin, which will reliably cling to the coils of the shock absorber spring when it is compressed.
Two such clamping devices are required to compress the spring. They are installed on opposite sides of the spring. Pulling is done by alternating rotation of the pins.
When the spring is compressed enough that it becomes free to "walk" in the rack, you can unscrew the top nut, remove the support bearing with a rubber bumper, and carefully remove the spring.
After careful inspection, it may turn out that the cause of the knock lies in a worn rubber bump stop. A tight rotation with a creak is observed when the support bearing fails.
The collapsible shock absorber is unscrewed from the body using a special key. Some motorists do this job successfully with a hammer and a suitable steel bar.
After replacing defective parts, the shock absorber strut should be reassembled in reverse order.
When the top nut is securely tightened, the spring must be slowly released to a working condition. It is important that the first turns fall into their slots, which prevent it from shifting.
After that, it remains to install the shock absorber strut in place, screw the wheel and lower the car.
Damper struts should be repaired without haste and in compliance with safety regulations. Especially carefully and carefully it is necessary to compress and unclench the springs. Then the repair will take place without damage to the car and human injury. And the car after the repair of the shock absorber struts will go smoothly and quietly.
VIDEO
What part of the car do you think suffers the most on our roads? Of course, this is the chassis. The wear of its elements is happening faster than we would like. And one of the most common problems is the failure of shock-absorbing struts. Sometimes the matter can be corrected with timely repairs, and sometimes a complete replacement of the shock absorber strut is required. We will deal with both the first case and the second. But first you need to decide what this element is
Due to the fact that the shock absorber struts are the most "delicate" element of this system, we will pay full attention to them. Front (sometimes rear) shock absorber struts are made according to the principle of a double-acting shock absorber operating on hydraulics. The rear shock absorber strut is most often manufactured according to the standard two-tube design. It is not worth delving into the structure of these elements, but you still need to know the main differences between them.
So, the main difference in the shock struts is that the front struts primarily affect the handling of the car, while the rear ones serve to increase comfort. The idea is clear - the front struts should be in working order, but you shouldn't forget about the rear ones either, because the good condition of the suspension means trouble-free and comfortable movement of the car.
Diagnostics of suspension struts
But how do you check the condition? The vehicle owner can carry out diagnostics, while the process itself is not difficult. The more modern the vehicle is, the easier it is to inspect and evaluate. But there are general signs that apply to all cars: If you notice fluid leaks in the suspension area or hear a constant knocking while driving, then with a probability of 95% the struts need to be repaired. Moreover, the repair of the racks can be done by hand.
So, we have identified a malfunction - repair is required. Of course, you can go straight to the car service, where you will be replaced or repaired, but you need to say right away - it is quite expensive.Another option is to do the work yourself. If your car has collapsible struts, then there should be no problems with the repair. Unfortunately, in modern foreign cars there are most often solid racks, but in domestic and old cars, the racks are collapsible. Why is that? In Europe, repair is a replacement for quite a long time. And it is right.
In the cold season, it is worth warming up the shock absorbers in the same way as the tires: after a night of inactivity, the car needs to be driven for about five minutes at low speed. This is done so that the oil warms up quietly. If gas is added immediately, the frozen oil can break the poppet valves.
Non-dismountable shock-absorbing struts
If you are the owner of a car where non-collapsible racks are installed, then you will not be able to cope with your own hands - special equipment is required to maintain them, so there is only one way out - to go to a car service. Almost every workshop offers maintenance services for non-collapsible racks. Here lit is better to choose a proven and recommended car service, because the repair of such racks is the introduction of structural changes. There is a chance that they will fail again after repair, even if it is carried out by experienced mechanics, so replacement will be more profitable and more reliable.
Before you start repairing racks, you should decide on the tools:
Do-it-yourself repair and replacement of racks is a change in the main part of the rack - the cartridge, so you need to purchase it. When buying, you need to name the model of your car.
You will need a rack wrench for front-wheel drive cars (you will need it for springs and ties) and a classic one.
Goats must be placed under the car, it is strictly forbidden to work with a jack, because this threatens the safety of the person carrying out the repairs.
Shock Absorber Repair Tools
So, you will be able to independently assess what type of struts is installed in your shock absorber. To do this, a simple inspection is enough for you. If there are fasteners, various nuts, bolts, then the rack can be disassembled. If it is a one-piece product, then the solution to the problem on its own is canceled. Well, now let's move on to the step-by-step instructions:
Remember: repair of shock absorber struts can only be paired.
Get your tools ready, you won't need a lot of them. Also bring a bowl of water and rags, as we will need to wipe the oil drips.
Now you need to put the car on a jack.
On the classics, dismantling the rack is quite easy, but with front-wheel drive cars you will have to tinker: the spring must be evenly compressed with ties on both sides. The compressed spring will then need to be rearranged to a new rack, but before that, a visual defect should be carried out.
Work begins with the rack: we carry out dismantling, then we drain all the oil. After that, you need to take out the "filling" in the scrap and put a new cartridge in its place.
The main process is completed, now you can assemble the system in the reverse order: the spring, then the support bearing and the stand itself on the machine.
After the completion of the repair, it is imperative to carry out a similar collapse. It would be better to contact the service station with this operation.
The rear pillar is repaired in the same way. Do not forget that you need to carry out repairs exclusively in pairs.
Repair of shock absorbers
Of course, repairing shock absorbers will be much cheaper than replacing them, but sometimes you have to do that too. Again, you can diagnose and see if they can still last after being repaired. If you are not sure of your discernment, then the diagnosis can be carried out at a car service. If you change shock absorbers, then this process should also be carried out only in pairs. To replace, you will need the same tools: a rack wrench for the classic and spring-loaded ties for front-wheel drive vehicles.
Do not test the strength of your shock absorbers on a bad road - this can keep them in good condition for a long time. High speed also negatively affects them, so if you drive, then on a high-quality road surface. Lifting the suspension also harms the entire shock absorber system: the rod begins to function in the area of movement, and this entails a quick failure.
If replacing the shock absorber strut can be done by hand, then replacing the entire shock absorber is most often done in a car service, because this is an overly responsible event. Finally, we would like to give a few recommendations on the care of new shock absorbers. The first step is to carry out anti-corrosion treatment of the bottom of the car. This will help you cope with adverse weather conditions.
Means for treating cars from corrosion
Again, this is necessary for our realities, since bad weather lasts about six months, and you rarely see gutters on our roads. Therefore, when you move through solid puddles, it is simply necessary that the underbody of the car is protected from corrosion. In addition, we recommend that when repairing shock absorbers, pay attention to the rear axle gearbox, as well as to other elements of the car's suspension.
VIDEO
Hello dear motorists! Probably, we will not reveal a big secret if we say that on the roads of our country the suspension suffers most of all from the units and mechanisms of the car. The trouble in the form of roads has remained relevant for hundreds of years since the identification of Russia's two troubles.
Without diminishing the importance of each of the suspension parts, let us turn our attention to the shock absorber struts, as the most important element of the suspension of any car. The shock absorber struts of the front suspension are based on the principle of a double-acting hydraulic shock absorber. The rear shock absorber strut, as a rule, is made of a two-pipe traditional design.
The difference in shock absorber struts is due to the fact that the front struts have a certain effect on the car's handling, which is directly related to driving safety. The conclusion is simple - the serviceability of the shock absorber struts, this is a comfortable and trouble-free movement of the car.
Diagnostics of shock absorbers is carried out systematically by the car owner and is not difficult in most cases. Almost immediately, we can determine the malfunction of the shock absorbers either by fluid leaks in the suspension area, or by a characteristic knock while driving. In this case, it is imperative to repair the shock absorber struts.
How to repair is everyone's choice. You can immediately go to the service and either repair or replace the racks - a pleasure not cheap. Alternatively, you can repair the shock absorber struts with your own hands. In principle, nothing complicated if the rack is collapsible.
Do-it-yourself repair of non-collapsible shock absorber struts is unlikely to be possible, since this requires special equipment. And services that provide services for the repair of non-collapsible racks exist, of course, with the introduction of certain design changes to the rack. Is there a guarantee for such a repair? One can only guess, and calculate whether there is any sense and economic efficiency of such an event.
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Most modern passenger cars are equipped with non-separable shock-absorbing systems. But the classic models have repairable parts in the suspension, so repairing shock absorber struts with your own hands is a very real event.
Stages of replacing shock absorber struts with your own hands
Replacement, repair of shock absorber struts is carried out only in pairs.
Of the tools, you need a rack wrench for the classics and plus for front-wheel drive - springs and ties.
During the procedure for repairing shock absorber struts, "goats" are installed under the car, in no case we do not rely on a jack.
Dismantling the rack on the classic is simple, but on the front-wheel drive, it is necessary to compress the spring evenly with ties on both sides. The compressed spring is moved to a new rack after visual troubleshooting.
Then directly work with the rack: dismantle it, drain the oil, take out the filling into the scrap, and insert a new cartridge in its place, then in the reverse order we assemble the rack space - a spring, a thrust bearing, and a rack on the car.
After repairing the shock absorber struts with your own hands, a similar collapse is a mandatory procedure.
The rear shock absorber strut is repaired according to the same principle, and only in pairs.
Practical tips for operating shock absorbers
First, there is no need to test the strength of the shock absorbers on bad roads and at good speeds.
Second, it is not recommended to lift the so-called suspension. attachments: the shock absorber rod begins to work in the travel zone and breaks down quickly and guaranteed.
Third, in winter, "warm up" the shock absorbers in the same way as rubber. Those. after a night, drive for about five minutes at low speed so that the oil, which has thickened at a low temperature, warms up and does not break the poppet valves.
Good luck to you lovers of your car.
VIDEO
The correct operation of the shock absorbers is no less important in terms of the safety and durability of the car than a well-functioning motor or brake, steering system. For example, if a car moves on a rough road, one of the wheels breaks off and the vehicle loses control for a split second. Attempts to brake or twist the steering wheel at speed are fraught with rollover. Shock absorbers just reduce the time of separation from the road surface. Therefore, their failure leads to accelerated wear of the body, and even an accident. Is it possible to repair shock absorber struts with your own hands? More on this below.
By design, this device resembles a chamber with a liquid or compressed gas inside. Through them the piston with holes moves. When its stroke is small, the chamber is filled by means of bypass valves. In this case, the shock absorber does not affect the suspension operation in any way. But as soon as an obstacle is detected in the form of a hole, for example, a force appears that slowly pulls the rod up. Moreover, its value is the greater, the higher the speed. As a result, after overcoming unevenness by inertia, the shock absorber still holds the wheel in a "suspended" state and the driver and passengers almost do not feel the suspension failure. When hitting a bump, the stock begins to sink quickly, and after passing the obstacle, it slowly returns to its place.
If the suspension is simple (dependent or double wishbone), typical of the Soviet "classics", then just sharply press the wing with your hand and release it in order to swing the body 10-15 cm. If it swings no more than two times, then the test is passed. If not, you will have to change the shock absorber, or even the entire rack (for front-wheel drive cars).
However, for cars with a multi-link suspension, such a "number" will not work: it's all about the silent blocks that damp vibrations. Here you need to contact the technical center where there is a stand to check the device. You can do this yourself, but the result will not be accurate, since instruments are needed to measure the force of impact on the product. Remove the suspension element and pull it out by the rod, and then press it in. The tensile force should be significantly greater.
It is recommended to carry it out on a lift or inspection pit. As a last resort, use a jack and stands. Be sure to use supports and wheel chocks: the slightest displacement of the car is fraught with injuries for the repairer.
On a front-wheel drive car (for example, VAZ2109), you will have to remove the rack. To do this, disconnect it from the steering tip and the steering knuckle at the bottom (do not forget to move the brake hose).Then tighten the springs with a special tool and unscrew the stem fastening nuts, holding it with an asterisk wrench. Then unscrew the three nuts from the top in the engine compartment and pull out the rack. At the same time, inspect the support bearing - it may need to be replaced. If the car is rear-wheel drive (for example, a VAZ classic), everything is simpler: you need to unscrew the bottom two nuts securing the product to the triangular arm, and from the top - one (you need a “7” key to hold the rod) - the shock absorber will fall down.
It can have a variety of design features, however, the shock absorbers are mounted in two ways:
bolt from below and from above through the silent blocks;
a bolt with rubber grommets at the bottom and top - a pillow with 3-4 of the same hardware. In this case, you can get to the shock absorber mount from the trunk or the passenger compartment.
First, the dismantled device must be washed, then carefully inspected. If there are cracks, jams, repairing the shock absorber does not make sense: it is better to send it to the scrap and buy a new one. The whole body requires further inspection: pull the stem up and push it down - if there is play, sticking, replace the part. The shock absorber is of two types, the disassembly of each of them has its own characteristics:
two-pipe: pull the stem completely out to gain access to the fastening nut, which is unscrewed with a special wrench;
one-pipe: there is a protective cap at the top, which must be knocked down and then unscrewed the fixing nut to get the stem together with the cylinder or the cartridge.
If the shock absorber is oil, it is necessary to drain the oil from the cylinder, for which press the valve spring. Then knock down the bushing, take out the rod with the piston, remove the valve from the other side of the cylinder. If the device is gas or with a replaceable cartridge, simply unscrew the fixing nut and put in a new one.
There are two ways: the first is to completely replace the rod together with the cylinder with a new cartridge, the second involves replacing the device parts. It is worth dwelling here in more detail, because in the first case, the financial costs will be 5-10 times more (it all depends on the car model) more. For self-restoration of the shock absorber with complete disassembly, you must purchase a repair kit.
If you have a foreign car after 2000, then it is very difficult to find such a set - it is easier to buy a new shock absorber.
To disassemble the product, unscrew the fastening nut and pull out the piston. Further:
replace the squeeze valve, which is installed by hand pressing;
put the piston and guide sleeve;
fill in oil (you can use the old one if it is clean and transparent) - hydraulic fluid for automatic transmission, power steering, or the Russian agent AZH-12T.
Liquids produced in the West have no advantages over materials from the Russian Federation.
Press the rod into the cylinder and fill with 200-250 ml liquid. Then slowly insert the cylinder while pulling out the rod so that the oil penetrates into the cavity and does not flow out. When the cylinder is fully inserted, pull out and reinsert the stem several times: this will allow the oil to completely fill the housing. Then tighten the nut and pump the shock absorber again 4-5 times.
On a two-pipe device, all of the above restoration procedures must be carried out with the upper pipe on the lower one. Press it down during the process while holding the stem in place. Next, you need to pump the device and tighten the nut.
If the shock absorbers were restored on a McPherson-type front suspension, then the camber and toe-in would have to be adjusted.
All operations to restore performance are no different from those described above. But before installation, the shock absorbers must be well pumped (this also applies to new products), otherwise they will not work fully. How to do it?
put the device with the stem down and press the stem until it stops;
hold the shock absorber in this position for a couple of seconds;
without releasing the rod, turn the part over and hold it in a compressed position for 5-6 seconds to let the air out;
extend the stem completely, pause for 2-3 seconds and repeat the operation 5-6 times.
VIDEO turn the product upside down;
slowly press in the rod and leave the part in this position for 5-6 seconds;
turn the product over and stand for 5-6 seconds;
extend the stem until it stops;
flip the shock absorber over and repeat the procedure 3-4 times.
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It is necessary to follow simple rules, then these devices will last much longer than even their manufacturers claim:
the driving speed should correspond to the road surface: you should not accelerate on an uneven, bumpy and bumpy dirt road, even if you are driving an SUV.
Check the condition of the shock absorbers every year: fluid leakage from them indicates the need for immediate diagnosis.
If the shock absorbers are replaced (they must be the same), then this must be done on the wheels of the same axle.
When driving in cold weather, after warming up the engine, drive at a slow speed for at least 5 minutes. During this time, the oil in the shock absorbers will warm up, and they will begin to work normally.
If you have new shock absorbers in stock, they must be stored vertically (as required by the manufacturer): the stem must be pushed in. For gas products, it can be pulled out spontaneously, therefore it is necessary to use special screeds. It is worth adding: if the shock absorber is oil and it is expected to have a long shelf life, then it is better to use a horizontal position so that the oil seals are lubricated with liquid and do not dry out.
Recently, Japanese-made cars, including Toyota (Toyota Corolla), have become very popular among Russian motorists. A striking representative of this brand is the Corolla car, which has a good value for money. If the car is under warranty, there will be no problems with its repair. But what to do if the warranty service is over and the car breaks down.
After a long operation of the machine, problems with the racks may arise, the repair of which in auto repair shops will not be cheap. Repair of Toyota racks with your own hands will save your budget.
The range of racks for the Corolla is wide enough, but you should choose better and more reliable ones. Cheap racks will fail more often, and accordingly, they will have to be replaced more often. The most optimal solution would be to change all the racks. The best option would be to purchase Tokiсo racks.
Some people prefer koni sport racks, but in this case, the car will turn out to be quite tough. Tokiсo drains are quite soft and do not allow the car to get out of control.
First of all, we install the machine on a lift, or an inspection pit may come up. Then the car must be secured to prevent accidental movement. Replacing the Corolla struts is not much different from a similar operation for machines of the next generations. We open the hood and release the nut on the old rack, otherwise, you will have to do it later, which will be quite problematic to do.
After we remove the wheel, and unscrew the bolts of the brake hoses and ABS. Next, remove the bolts connecting the strut to the trunnion. After that, we move again under the hood and unscrew the nuts that attach the upper cup.
We dismantle the rack, after fixing the trunnion.
Next, in a vise, remove the spring, the pallet and the bump stop. We also install new elements by clamping the rack in a vice. The spring is installed in the lower cup and screwed on until it stops. Don't forget to put on the spacer. After installing the spring, replace the upper cup.
The central nut is just getting profitable, it will screw up to the stop on the car itself. The rack is now ready for vehicle mounting. This operation is carried out in the reverse order.
VIDEO
Video (click to play).
As can be seen from the above, any car enthusiast can replace the racks of a Toyota Corolla, if he has the necessary tools, who knows a little about cars.
Example of a blower connection
