The design of the VAZ 2114 chassis - rear and front suspension

A complete set of VAZ 2114 chassis elements

The chassis of the car includes two suspensions - front and rear. During operation of the machine, most of the load falls on the chassis. The quality and comfort of the ride, as well as the safety of the driver and passengers, depend on the condition of the front and rear suspensions. The main function of each suspension is to eliminate vibrations and soften the ride. Also, the tasks of the chassis include reducing roll when turning, ensuring a smooth ride, and providing high information content for the driver in the city and on the highway.

On the roads of the CIS countries, the chassis is subject to excessive load, since the condition of the road surface leaves much to be desired. As a result, motorists often turn to car service centers. Things are better with the VAZ 2114, since it has more modern systems compared to previous Lada models. Many motorists choose to solve the problem on their own. But in order to understand what has gone wrong, you need to know the suspension structure.

What's included in the rear suspension?

The image below shows all the main elements of the rear suspension that can fail.

Rear suspension diagram of VAZ 2114

The first part is a rubber-metal hinge, which is the main attachment to the car body.
A bracket used to secure the rear suspension arm to the body.
Shock absorber housing.
A buffer that takes the load from the compression stroke.
Casing cover.
Main support washer.
Shock-absorbing cushion.
Spacer sleeve.
Strut (shock absorber).
Insulation gasket.
Solid spring.
Connecting element for levers.
Beam lever.
Bracket for fastening the rack structure.
Flange.
Lever bushing.

The beam structure includes a connector and two trailing arms; these elements are indicated in the diagram as numbers “12” and “13”. The parts are fastened together by welding. In the rear part, flanges (number “15”) and brackets for attaching struts (shock absorbers) are attached to the levers. The axles of the rear pair of wheels along with the brake elements are screwed to the flanges. Bushings (16) are installed on the rear suspension arms at the front. They are fastened using rubber-metal hinges - number “1”. One end of the spring rests on the support through a rubber gasket, and the other on the shock-absorbing cup.

Brief description of faults

In most cases, chassis repairs can be done yourself. The main malfunctions, as a rule, are associated with the failure of the shock-absorbing front and rear struts, since they are the most loaded structural element. The racks absorb dynamic loads from the car body, from the wheels when overcoming uneven road surfaces and lateral loads from the influence of steering rods, which increases at low speeds.

Two tools are required to remove and install the stands. The remaining tools are in every car enthusiast's garage:

spring ties;
a puller for pushing the steering rod pin out of the lever; it can also be used to press out the ball joint if necessary.

Smaller suspension malfunctions occur due to wear of the rubber seals and rubber-metal bushings (silent blocks). They are much easier to replace than a stand, although sometimes a device is also needed to press out silent blocks.

After repairing the front suspension, it is recommended to visit the nearest service station and perform an operation to correct the wheel alignment of the car. The chassis of the Lada 2114 has a fairly reliable and time-tested design, which is well adapted to our roads.

The front suspension of the VAZ-2114 receives the full load of the body, as well as not only the weight of the engine itself, but also the load force of the transported cargo. Therefore, this element must be very durable. Not many motorists know how the front suspension works, its elements, as well as the nuances of its operation.

Disassembling and replacing the rear suspension: instructions

The main parts of the rear suspension are highlighted in color

A complete disassembly of the rear suspension is required if the motorist decides to lubricate all the parts or change them. Most often you need to get to a specific element and replace it. The parsing proceeds as follows:

The VAZ 2114 is installed under an inspection hole, or, as an option, on a lift. In the luggage compartment, the rear and side trims and the seat belt retractor are disconnected. Also in the luggage compartment there are fastenings for the racks to the car body. They need to be loosened; there is no need to unscrew them completely.
Next, the fastenings of the rear wheel pair are loosened. To do this, you need to remove the hubcaps and then completely dismantle the wheels. Reliable jacks should hold the car at this time; they are usually installed on each side.
Now it is necessary to dismantle the brake system cables. You need to get them assembled. To do this, the cable fastenings to the suspension arms and the body of the VAZ 2114 are disconnected. Afterwards, the brake drums are dismantled. The cable ends should be removed from the manual drive levers. You also need to disconnect the flanges from the brake flaps.
Before dismantling the hoses and pipes of the brake system, care must be taken to prevent leakage. Next, you need to dismantle the elastic drive lever, which is used to operate the brake pressure regulator. To remove the lever, you need to disconnect it from the bracket by removing the lock washer, then remove the shackle from the wheel axle.
The next step is to disconnect the struts (shock absorbers). To do this, remove the rubber cushions, nuts attaching to the body part and the washer. After this, you need to install additional stops for the front wheelset. The rear part should be raised. After this, you can remove the compression stroke buffers, springs and shock absorber covers.
If you disconnect the body mounting brackets, the entire beam can be detached. The rear suspension along with the struts will lie in front of the motorist. If necessary, you can disassemble the shock absorbers, which is no longer difficult.

Components of the rear pillar of the VAZ 2114

IMPORTANT. The shock-absorbing spring must be removed using special ties. If they are not used, serious injury may occur as the iron spring is under high pressure.

How to replace?

Usually the racks are replaced in pairs or as a whole. To do this, jack up the front of the car and remove the wheels. Next, release the rack from its mounting with the steering tip. Then unscrew the two nuts that secure the shock absorber to the suspension arms. The bolts are removed by hand from the reverse side. If they are rusty, you can use a hammer and attach a wooden block. Next you need to open the hood and loosen the upper fastening of the strut, which is in the cup.

In this case, you should hold the stand from below so that it does not fall. After this, the suspension module is removed entirely. A new element is installed in its place. Assembly is carried out in reverse order.

Front suspension device

The main element of the front chassis of the VAZ 2114 is the shock absorber strut, which is designated as number “9”. It is attached to the steering knuckle with two bolts. Compared to the rear system, the front suspension has a more complex design, which can be understood by the number of parts. Number “11” indicates a bolt that passes through the holes of the rack bracket; it has an eccentric washer and an eccentric collar. When the steering gear turns, the top bolt turns. The result is that the car turns. Most often, shock absorber struts fail, since they do the main job.

Diagram and explanations for it

conclusions

The installation and repair of the front suspension of the VAZ-2114 is quite difficult and not every motorist can do it. This article examined the design and repair of the front suspension.

As you can see, there is a main group of parts that change when worn out and broken, and there are also a number of parts that are considered consumables and are replaced when the main components are repaired.

It is worth noting that suspension repair has a significant degree of danger, because the fall of one of the elements can lead to injury and even death. Therefore, when performing repair operations you must be extremely careful. Also, many suspension elements are quite heavy, so you need to have an assistant on hand.

Disassembling and replacing the front suspension: instructions

The VAZ 2114 is installed on a viewing hole or raised on a lift. The car must be set to the parking brake. It is necessary to remove the wheel caps, loosen the mounting bolts and unscrew the hub nut. Having secured the front of the car, you can remove the front wheels.
Next, you need to remove the ball joint pin, which is located in the swing arm of the front strut. The next step is to remove the front stabilizer link (number “24”) from the front suspension arm (number “22”). Next, the stretch marks from the body (30) are removed. Next, you need to completely disconnect the ball joint that is attached to the steering knuckle.
Now you can remove the front suspension arm. To do this, you need to disconnect it from the body bracket (28). Afterwards the lever is removed along with the bracket and the extension (29, 30). It is also necessary to remove the bolts that secure the pads to the steering knuckle.
In front of the driver there will be a caliper assembly. To avoid problems with it, you do not need to completely remove it; you need to hang the caliper on a hook in such a way that there is no load on the main hose. The next step is to press the spline shank out of the front wheel hub.
From the side of the engine compartment, you need to remove the protective fist (“41”). To do this, unscrew the telescopic strut nuts and then remove the solid front suspension strut. It should be together with the wheel hub and steering knuckle. The other front suspension strut is removed in the same way. Next, the racks are removed from the rod.

Removing springs using zip ties

When removing the bolts that secure the ball joint to the steering knuckle, you must use a socket wrench. Otherwise, the protective cover of the hinge may be seriously damaged, resulting in additional costs.

In the case of the front suspension, its assembly proceeds in the reverse order, with the exception of a few features. When installing the mounting bracket to the VAZ 2114 body, you need to make sure that the threads of the bushings are not damaged. To do this, you must perform operations carefully. Also, longitudinal displacement of the cushions on the bar must not be allowed. This can happen during installation of the anti-roll bar.

Rack

This is one of the main elements of the front suspension of the VAZ-2114. The strut combines a spring and a hydraulic shock absorber. Thanks to this part, the suspension absorbs and absorbs bumps in the road. To allow the element to rotate (at the same angle as the front wheels), a support bearing is provided at the top. The stand itself is mounted on the body cups in the engine compartment. Unlike the rear, 80 percent of all loads are placed on it. After all, all the important components and assemblies are concentrated in front - the engine, gearbox and attachments.

The service life of the racks is about 100-120 thousand kilometers. What are the main symptoms of a malfunction? This is a knock in the front suspension of the VAZ-2114, as well as the “yaw” of the car when moving in a straight line at speeds above 60 kilometers per hour. The knocks are usually dull in nature and occur even on small irregularities. The sounds may become stronger over time.

Levers

At the front, the VAZ-2114 uses independent wishbone suspension. These elements ensure the transmission and absorption of shocks that occur when the car hits an uneven surface. The front suspension arms of the VAZ-2114 are made of high-strength steel XK-60, so they can easily withstand high loads.

The element is attached with one part to the ball joint, and the other to the body on a bracket. Levers do not have a specific resource. Some don't change them for decades.

Therefore, you need to navigate based on the signs. The main symptom is delamination of rubber on a metal bushing.

Also, the lever must be replaced in case of a serious collision with a hole (in which the disk was bent) and after an accident. Otherwise, due to deformations, there will be problems with wheel alignment, as well as constant tire waste. How is the front suspension repaired on a VAZ-2114?

Usually the entire lever changes, as does the strut. The cost of a new element is from 700 to 1 thousand rubles. The lever is interchangeable with the first generation Lada (that is, the “nine”).

Symptoms of ball failure

First of all, the problem begins with a torn boot. Because of this, dirt, water and sand get inside. Thus, they wash out the lubricant from the ball mechanism.

As a result, the element begins to work “dry”, and corrosion processes begin. In practice, this results in loud knocks and squeaks from the suspension. Next, the wheels will begin to spontaneously change their trajectory.

There will also be uneven wear on the tire tread. As you turn the steering wheel, the knocking noise intensifies. If you notice the problem in time, you can eliminate emergency consequences.

Rear element design

Suspension type: dependent, on a rigid transverse continuous beam. The structural elements of the rear suspension and the methods of their connection in the VAZ 2114 are as follows.

The base is a cross beam. The structure is welded, in the shape of the letter “H”, only with a long cross member. The two front ends of the beam are secured to brackets bolted to the rear side members of the vehicle. The method of connection to the brackets is hinged, on rubber-metal bushings. The rear ends of the beam have mounting flanges for wheel hubs. The hubs are bolted to the flange; a protective casing, brake cylinder and pads are mounted on them. Inside the hub there is a double row radial bearing. The brake drum is mounted on top of the pads and secured to the hub with guide pins.
The lower end of the strut with a cylindrical spring is attached to the rear ends of the beam on the other side of the hubs. The upper end of the shock absorber rests against a glass welded to the body through a rubber spacer.

The diagram of the rear suspension on the VAZ 2114 The diagram of the rear suspension is shown in Fig. 2. The rear chassis of the VAZ 2114 car operates as follows: the transverse beam works like a swinging pendulum, the attachments to the side members do not allow it to move along the axis of the car. Racks with springs attached to the opposite end of the pendulum limit its up-and-down movement and serve as a shock-absorbing and partially supporting element for the wheels.

Return to contents.

Chassis modernization

There are many ways to modernize, these include installing air suspension and a sports version. As an example, it’s worth looking at a simple but effective modernization - wishbones. This is a rigid and reliable unit that is installed instead of factory parts, namely instead of silent blocks and a tension lever.

Triangular levers are installed to reduce corner slip and improve handling. After installing these parts, the load direction changes to transverse. If you decide to install wishbones, then it is recommended to install a new set of gas supports along with them. Triangular levers can be installed by hand, but after this you need to perform a wheel alignment.

Tools and materials

Tools you will need:

Spanners (take a full set at once);
Socket wrenches;
Vise;
Chisel;
Hammer;
Puller;
Silent blocks.

There are several important nuances:

to take silent blocks from repair kits intended for models 2108-2112 . You will simply waste your money because they are not suitable for the fourteenth VAZ model.

The easiest way to purchase a puller is at auto parts stores. But you can ask your friends for it.

You can make a device for pressing in a new silent block yourself. To do this you will need a 170mm M12 bolt, a bushing, a washer and a high nut. But if you have the opportunity to use a full-fledged, real tool, do just that.

Spherical bearing

This is another important element in the suspension design. The ball joint is a balancer that bears all the load and heaviness of the front part of the body. Therefore, the part wears out much more often than the shock absorber strut and levers.

It is worth noting that the ball is not only the fulcrum of the entire suspension, but also the turning mechanism. Thanks to it, the front wheels are controlled by means of a rack, rods and a fist.

If you do not monitor the serviceability of the element, it may fall out. Because of this, serious consequences are possible - the wheel simply breaks out of its fastenings while driving, and the car loses controllability. At the same time, other suspension elements are damaged and cannot be restored:

constant-velocity joint;
rounded fist;
levers;
stand and its fastening elements.

In other words, the car will need a complete front suspension replacement. The VAZ-2114 will undergo expensive and lengthy repairs. Therefore, at the first sign, this part needs to be changed.