Many Russian cars are widely known for their various “sores,” and problems with the steering mechanism are one of them. With frequent driving on broken city roads, as well as uneven dirt roads, unpleasant knocking noises may appear from the steering rack, and this malfunction can appear after the first 10,000 kilometers.
In the video, adjusting and “tightening” the steering rack on the Lada Kalina:
Therefore, it is very important to know how to tighten the steering rack with your own hands, using only a special tool, without going to a dealer or specialized workshops.
Steering rack - simplicity and reliability
The steering mechanism of a car is designed to change the direction of its movement. It has been tested and tested for more than a hundred years, but meticulous designers still find new solutions to improve its performance.
The steering rack is no exception - a relatively simple and reliable mechanism, the operating principle of which is based on the interaction of the “rack-and-pinion steering shaft worm” pair, which converts the rotational movement of the steering shaft into the reciprocating movement of the steering rods.
Consequences of untimely troubleshooting
Neglecting the problem can lead to even more unpleasant consequences. Driving the car will become difficult due to the increasing play - the car will begin to “float” when moving. Elements of the part will begin to collapse, which can lead to a wedge in the steering wheel. At the same time, late repairs will be more expensive, since they may require the purchase of a new unit.
The described process may take a long time, but ultimately it can lead to an emergency situation on the road. That is why you should solve the problem in a timely manner - this way you can save time and protect yourself.
At the same time, you should not take on work without experience - it is better to contact specialists who will identify the malfunction and promptly fix it.
Signs that your steering rack needs to be tightened
First, you need to turn down the radio volume and listen to the suspension work. If at low speeds there is a knocking sound over small irregularities, there may, of course, be several reasons, but the most likely is a loose steering rack. Secondly, you need to constantly monitor the steering play; its presence also indicates that the steering rack is not working in normal mode.
Moreover, the presence of play is an unpleasant signal; it makes the steering wheel’s reaction unpredictability in response to your actions, and even with a play of 10 degrees you will not pass the state inspection.
How the control system works in Kalina
In the model of the domestic automobile industry we are considering today, the steering rack, if disassembled from a technical point of view, is a mechanism that structurally looks like a gear, which in turn is installed on a shaft and is associated with special rods and a rack. Thanks to these elements, the car turns when moving the steering wheel in a certain direction allows the front wheels to move in the same direction.
Modern cars have 3 variations of the rack and pinion mechanism:
- Electric steering mechanism;
- Hydraulic modern mechanism;
- Mechanical mechanism.
So, the car control system is an electric drive. This is what helps reduce the load on the driver. In this case, the increase in turning force is carried out due to a special electric motor built into the column, so to speak. This device is used exclusively on premium and, accordingly, luxury cars. For example, in our Lada Kalina, the electric mechanism can be obtained as an additional option for an additional payment for the TOP configuration.
The next option is a hydraulic mechanism. Viburnums of the first and second generation are equipped with this mechanism. Owners of such cars receive sharpness and lightness of the steering wheel. And not only Russian cars, but also many modern foreign models are equipped with the popular and most convenient hydraulic drive.
The mechanical mechanism is the simplest in its design and is also found on many machines. In this case, as you understand, the rods will be turned only through the use of the driver’s physical force. It is clear that such a car is extremely difficult to drive.
In addition to the above mechanisms, there is also a mixed version - electrohydromechanical. It combines all the best qualities of an electric and hydraulic amplifier. You can find it on the Kalina Sport model.
Let us note that each of the systems we have listed has its own advantages, and to some extent disadvantages, but they all break down with the same frequency. If a breakdown of a mechanical control rack will lead to insignificant costs for repair work, then electrical and hydraulic breakdowns will force you to spend a fair amount of money on repairs. It follows that it would be nice to know how to tighten the steering rack on the car we are considering with your own hands.
Tightening process, video
There are several ways to tighten. One of them is the method of removing the slats. The removed rail is clamped in a vice and then, using a special wrench, the nut is tightened 10-15 degrees by turning it counterclockwise.
This is followed by a check for backlash and, if necessary, the procedure is repeated, since the backlash can be more or less. It is not advisable to overtighten, it will be difficult to rotate the steering wheel. The advantage of this method is the ease of adjustment, but the disadvantage is that you have to remove and then put the steering rack back in place, and this requires time, certain knowledge and skills.
The second method is simpler, it does not require removing the steering rack, you just need to remove the battery and the platform under it with four bolts, but it is much easier and faster than removing and installing the steering rack. This way we gain access to the steering rack and steering rods.
We take hold of the rod with our hand and begin to shake it with force. A characteristic knock will immediately indicate the presence of play. The stop nut is located on the rack behind the left link from the bottom; you need to feel it with your finger. Now the task is to get the wrench into the nut and then turn it counterclockwise. We check for play and, if necessary, tighten it further.
But in the video there is another tightening option, even without removing the battery:
Preparatory actions, dismantling unnecessary parts
To remove the crankcase protection, you need to unscrew 4 screws located in one row near the bumper. Also, unscrew two screws having a standard size of M6x16. In some configurations, the protection consists of two parts, but in this case they are attached only with self-tapping screws. These words are illustrated by the following photo:
First, unscrew the “10” screws, and then the two “18” screws. In the second case, there will be more screws (eight).
Now let's look at how to remove the battery. First of all, disconnect its terminals. Then, you need to move the additional fuse box to the side. In general, actions are performed according to the photo:
Repair, price
A lift is a fairly simple and quick way, but often it is only a partial, temporary solution to the problem. After all, the appearance of play can be caused by various reasons - the boot may be damaged, gaskets may leak and who knows what else, that is, there is a high probability that the steering rack is running dry. In this case, there is a risk that a short time after tightening it may simply jam. Therefore, troubleshooting the rack will be very useful, at least an external inspection, it will make sure that the anthers and corrugated casing are not damaged.
If you suspect the need for repairs, consider whether you can handle it yourself. Get ready for the fact that you will have to spend the whole day in interesting positions, and you will also need an assistant to perform some operations. Do you know how to install the rack so that the steering wheel is level? If not, you risk having to do the installation again.
An alternative is a service station. They will charge you around 3,500 rubles for repairs, 200 rubles and another 200 will be spent on anthers and so on.
The easiest option is to buy a new rack, complete with rods for about 6,000 rubles, there are, of course, racks with bells and whistles (short-stroke, sports, etc.), these cost about 10,000 rubles, the choice is yours.
Love and respect your steering rack and it will love you back!
A little theory: front suspension design
Before attempting to fix any problem, there is a tendency to look at the blueprints or repair manual. It is known that the VAZ-2192 parts catalog contains the following object:
This is what the steering rack looks like in the drawing
Whether the knock will remain in the steering rack of Kalina-2 depends on the following: how accurately element “14” is adjusted. The adjusting nut, marked “14”, looks almost invisible here. But first impressions are deceiving. In the catalog, by the way, the element is called “Stop Nut”.
It is important to know that the thrust nut has external threads. And it spins clockwise. And the words “tighten the rack” mean screwing in the specified nut, and nothing more.
Now let's move on to practice and see what the node in question looks like in reality:
If you remove the rail, it looks like this
The nut has a non-standard notch, and it can only be rotated with a special tool. By the way, the recess will be closed with a cap. In the catalog it is designated by the number “15”, and now, let’s look at the appearance of the special key:
Rack adjustment key
The thrust nut is turned at small angles. We are talking about values of 10-15 degrees. What happens if you overdo it with tightening the rack? The knocking noise will disappear, but the steering wheel will turn with difficulty. Therefore, if necessary, the nut can be pulled back.
Tools for work
To make it easier to carry out all repair work, you need to ensure that you have the following tools:
- The key is "10".
- 13" socket and wrench.
- Special key for tightening the rack. (Marking for VAZ 2110 – approx.).
The cost of such a key in stores is about 100-150 rubles
Step-by-step order of preparatory work
If you are not the lucky owner of a garage with a pit or a lift, work on tightening the steering rack can be done on the ground, but before doing this you need to prepare the work area.
- First of all, remove the battery, unscrew the terminals and fasteners of the batteries one by one (if available - approx.).
Remove the battery clamps carefully
By unscrewing these 4 bolts around the perimeter, the pillow can be easily removed
Steering rack tightening
- In the very center of the steering rack, strictly on the opposite side, by touch we look for a rubber cap, which we remove from its place with our hands or with a screwdriver.
Any car enthusiast will enjoy this view from above.
It is on this seat (indicated by the yellow arrow) that the key should be fixed.
Lyrical digression
In Lada Kalina, the steering rack never makes a knock when we are talking about a new car. This is also true for the break-in period. Let's say in your case this is not done. Then, do not try to repair anything, but go straight to the dealer. According to reviews, the defect in question is covered under warranty, and most car dealers do this: the steering rack assembly is replaced with a new one.
This is what the replacement unit looks like, the rack assembly
There is a logic here. At the factory, adjustments are made correctly (this is true in 99.9% of cases). If a defect appears, the dealer replaces the assembly without expecting that adjustment will solve the problem. The owner does not need to hope for this either. The choice is yours.
Making adjustments yourself
You can access the adjusting nut from the engine compartment, but to do this you will need to remove the battery, as well as the battery mounting pad. It is better to drive the car into a pit and then remove the crankcase protection (engine mudguard). If you look from under the bottom, the required element is immediately visible:
You need to turn this nut
And when you open the hood, you can feel the nut, but not see it. Its location is marked in the figure:
To make adjustments, place the key here
Before adjustment, remove the rubber cap from the recess. Its appearance is shown in the photo:
Remove the cap and install the key
If it is not entirely clear what exactly needs to be done, it is better to contact the service. The key is installed in the recess and then rotated 10-15 degrees.
When looking at the rack from above, turning the key clockwise corresponds to unscrewing it. The handle of the key comes from the center of the car - which means tightening is being done. By the way, the latter is true provided that the handle faces forward.
