VAZ-2114 “Samara-2” is an improved version of the famous “nine”. This car was produced for ten years, from 2003 to 2013. This model was very popular among car enthusiasts and was produced not only in Russia, but also in Ukraine. Until now, tens of thousands of VAZ cars of this modification are driving on the roads of the country. And, of course, VAZ-2114 owners periodically face the question of the need for routine or emergency repairs of their iron horse.
As you know, the second most important problem in our country is roads. In this regard, one of the most common problems for car owners is replacing struts, which quickly become unusable on Russian potholes. Therefore, in this article we will try to analyze the question: which racks are best suited for the VAZ-2114?
Rack types
A strut is a part of a car's suspension, and it serves to absorb the energy of wheel impacts on road irregularities. At this time, both among car enthusiasts and among sellers of spare parts, confusion has arisen between the concepts of “strut” and “shock absorber”. The name “strut” can mean the shock absorber spring assembled with a cup; some believe that, in fact, the strut is part of the shock absorber. For a clear concept, it is necessary to define that the stand is the so-called syringe itself, filled with a working substance - gas, oil or a gas-oil mixture.
In this case, there are front and rear racks. They differ both in the method of fastening, which is caused by the design features of the car, and in the load. For example, the A-pillars bear the greatest impact force when hitting a pothole on the highway. As a result, the front pillars on Samara-2 are made in a more durable version - they are somewhat shorter and thicker. The manufacturer indicates that it is better to use oil struts on the VAZ-2114 for everyday use. Therefore, we will put the main emphasis on them - after all, most car enthusiasts purchase Samara-2 specifically for daily use, and not for street racing.
Selecting products by labeling
So, the driver came to the store to buy new springs. How to make the right choice?
The decoding of the markings shown below can help with this:
- 2101 - perfectly fits standard sedans equipped with rear-wheel drive;
- 21012 - rigid springs, which are mainly used on special vehicles;
- 2102 - originally created for Russian station wagons. When installing this product, the vehicle's ground clearance increases, which is quite important if the vehicle is operated off-road;
- 2018 - usually installed on any vehicle with front-wheel drive, except for Oka and those cars that have a 16-valve power unit under the hood;
- 2110 - these products were created for expert Russian models from VAZ;
- 2111 - work on models such as VAZ 2111 and 2113. Only on rear-type suspensions;
- 2112 - analogue of 2111, only for front-type suspension;
- 2121 - most often installed only on all-wheel drive vehicles. First of all, this is a simple Niva.
New springs for VAZ
The markings are easy to understand. But it is still necessary to understand how the manufacturer influences the choice of springs.
Oil racks
In the original factory version, early VAZ modifications, including the Samara-2, were equipped with exclusively oil struts. The main advantage of such racks is their great softness. Such racks are most suitable for driving on country roads and roads with poor surfaces. They are best suited for regular, quiet driving from home to work or for out-of-town family trips.
Due to the fact that such racks are filled with liquid oil, they “swallow” most of the unevenness and potholes of the road quite well. And this is not only the guarantee of a comfortable ride, but also greater safety of the car, which does not experience sharp shocks, vibrations and shocks when driving on a bad road.
Changing the angle of the front wheels
Another way to increase vehicle stability by upgrading the suspension is to change the recommended angle of the front wheels. Many experts recommend installing negative camber, which will significantly increase vehicle stability. Tuning the VAZ 2114 suspension in this way is carried out quite often, but the following points should be taken into account:
- Negative camber will significantly increase the rate of tire wear.
- Adjustments will have to be made quite often.
- Other suspension elements will be subject to quite a lot of wear, since the possibility of installing negative camber was not taken into account when designing the car.
The correct angle of inclination of the front wheels can only be changed using special equipment. It is almost impossible to carry out such work on your own. Almost all service stations where film editing is carried out carry out wheel alignment adjustments.
"AvtoVAZ"
The most popular oil struts for the VAZ-2114 are, of course, the original struts from the Volzhsky Automobile Plant. But we must make a reservation that the word “popular” in this case does not mean “best”. It’s just that these racks, firstly, were installed as standard on all VAZ-2114 cars, and secondly, these supports are among the cheapest spare parts on the modern market, which plays a significant role in their popularity.
From the point of view of functionality and reliability, a number of questions arise about them. Starting with the fact that this model, as a rule, has insufficient resistance to high subzero temperatures. At low temperatures, the oil mixture in them thickens excessively, and they become excessively hard - you have to “roll” them for quite a long time (drive carefully, trying to avoid hitting bumps) until they warm up under the influence of mechanical loads and return to normal.
In addition, oil struts produced by AvtoVAZ have a short service life compared to other models - as a rule, oil begins to leak from them after 30 thousand kilometers of active driving. Among the advantages is the low price, generally not exceeding 800 - 1000 rubles.
Why is it necessary to change springs on time?
So, what can happen if a vehicle's spring has reached the end of its life or has broken completely?
There are several negative consequences of this problem:
- The vehicle's ground clearance decreases, which can lead to damage to other vehicle parts due to contact with poor-quality road surfaces (potholes, bumps, and much more).
- The rubber of the wheels in the rear arches of the car begins to feel double friction, which means it wears out more often.
- Transport control deteriorates, as it may begin to tilt to one side and swing during the trip.
- The service life of the depreciation-type system quickly begins to decrease.
Damaged spring
It turns out that a spring that has failed can lead to serious problems in the future. Therefore, the next question is absolutely logical: when should the replacement be carried out?
Most often, manufacturers claim that their product can last for about 10 years. But they mean that vehicles will only move on level roads, without auxiliary loads. This is almost impossible to do on Russian roads, so it is best to replace it three years after the start of use.
"Kayaba"
Oil struts from the Japanese company Kayaba have received good reviews. The Samara-2 model is suitable for Premium modifications, produced for both front and rear axles. Almost all car enthusiasts note the high quality. But at the same time, there is a great danger when purchasing racks from this company that you will run into counterfeit products. The fact is that racks produced by Kayaba, due to their high quality, are a favorite object for counterfeiting. Therefore, it is better to buy products from this company from official Kayaba dealers, because when purchasing them second-hand on the market or even in auto parts stores, there is a very high risk of buying a fake, usually made in China from low-quality metal using homemade technologies.
According to the reviews of those VAZ-2114 owners who purchased the original Kayaba struts, their service life often exceeds 100 thousand kilometers under normal driving conditions. As a rule, there are no particular complaints about the softness of their operation in cold weather. True, the price of Kayaba spare parts exceeds the cost of products from other companies. Let’s say, the same “Premium” for the rear axle will cost the buyer 2800 rubles, and for the front axle - 2100. It should be taken into account that it will be impossible to replace only the struts. You will have to change the entire package at once: shock absorber springs, rubber bands. If the front supports are changed, then the original bearings will need to be installed.
SS-20
Another oil variety presented on the Russian spare parts market is SS-20. These racks are nothing more than modified SAAZ (Skopinsky Automotive Aggregate Plant). Based on user reviews, it is impossible to form a clear opinion about this product. Some are very pleased with the purchase, while others lost their SS-20 almost immediately. This is probably due to both the different quality of workmanship and the different driving styles of car owners. Moreover, these racks are produced in several versions. Let's say, “Comfort” is offered for normal driving on daily errands.
But the “Sport” option is for those who love driving. Moreover, for driving on smooth city streets and country highways. When turning onto a country road, the “Sport” instantly loses all its main functions, and the car’s driving characteristics begin to resemble a horse-drawn cart on a wooden track. The cost of SS-20 products is quite expensive compared to standard Samara racks (rear - from 1.5, and front - from 2.5 thousand rubles.)
"Plaza"
Another option that can be installed on Samara-2 is products from the St. Petersburg Plaza shock absorber plant. According to reviews, these racks are somewhat stiffer than the original ones. However, they are also poorly resistant to large minuses - in the cold they also have to be “rolled out”. Therefore, in regions where severe frosts are not uncommon in winter, it is recommended to take the “Arctic” option, with winter oil poured into them. The durability of the “Plaza” causes no less criticism than its native Samara ones - for some car owners they “ran” after only 20 - 25 thousand km. For fans of a sporty driving style, it offers “Sport” and “Supersport” options. The cost of products ranges from 1200 to 1600 rubles.
Other types of struts, gas-oil and gas, are intended mainly for active driving on fairly flat surfaces - city streets and highways. Among their advantages, the main one is that they behave much better than oil ones at high speeds, approaching 150 km/h. But considering that according to the technical characteristics, the maximum speed of the VAZ-2114 in the standard version does not exceed 170 km/h, it is unlikely that anyone would think of constantly operating their car in such extreme conditions.
Moreover, when driving on a dirt country road, such gas struts become absolutely useless. As a result, we can say that the question “Which racks are best to put on your Samara-2?” remains with its owner - either inexpensive or reliable. A number of other factors should also be taken into account: which roads your car travels on most, what style you prefer to drive, and the climatic conditions of your region. And, of course, your financial capabilities.
https://youtu.be/WMrvhXEuY18
How to install shock absorbers on a VAZ 2114
It is better to once again make sure that the necessary spare parts and tools are fully equipped before installation. Assess how efficient they are. It is advisable to wash the settled dust particles on the rods with running water. Finally, we start replacing the racks.
- Place the car on a level surface. The machine must stand firmly on the base and not wobble or move.
- To prevent the VAZ 2114 from suddenly moving from its place, you need to put the handbrake on it, then jack up the car and secure the wheel restraints.
- Remove 2 wheels from the part of the car where the old suspensions will be removed. It’s up to you to decide which new units are best mounted for a comfortable ride.
- If the front products are to be replaced, release them from the safety mechanism.
- Replacing rear products involves removing the protection in the upper fastening element.
- Slightly loosen the rod nut and fasteners adjacent to the body.
- Hold the pliers tightly in your hand, then use them to release and remove the cotter pin from the VAZ 2114.
- Disconnect the steering rod.
- Remove the hose involved in the braking process.
- Through the arch, free yourself from the outdated type of shock absorber.
- Dismantle the support bearing.
- Carefully and slowly fold the new product, consisting of a spring and a bearing.
- You can install shock absorbers by initiating the reverse procedure for installing the product.
Now you know what manipulations need to be done in order for the replacement of struts in a VAZ 2114 to be completed successfully. Auto repair shop specialists recommend replacing the support bearings along with the suspensions, which wear out quickly in domestic cars.
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