Self-diagnosis and replacement of VAZ 2107 ball joints

Purpose of ball joints VAZ 2107

A ball joint (BJ) is an ordinary hinge built into the VAZ 2107 suspension and allows the wheel to move only in a horizontal plane. At the same time, it limits the possibility of wheel movement in the vertical direction.

Ball joints on the latest versions of the VAZ 2107 have become more compact

Ball joints of the VAZ 2107 are very short-lived, so they have to be changed often.

Design of ball joints VAZ 2107

Previously, passenger cars did not have ball joints. They were replaced by bulky king pins that had to be lubricated frequently. The mobility of such compounds left much to be desired. This, in turn, negatively affected the car's handling. The designers of the VAZ 2107 abandoned the kingpins and installed ball joints. The first SHO consisted of:

• housings;
• ball pin;
• springs;
• anther

The finger was pressed into a fixed eye, fixed with a powerful spring and covered with a boot. This structure also needed to be lubricated periodically, but quite rarely (about twice a year). The lubricant on the pins had to be changed every week.

Modern ball joints do not use springs

Subsequently, the VAZ 2107 SHO was constantly improved:

• the spring disappeared from the structure;
• the steel boot was replaced with a plastic one;
• the fixed eyelet in which the finger was fixed became more compact and received a plastic external finish;
• SHOs have become non-separable, that is, practically disposable.

One driver I know assured me that he had found a great way to extend the life of plastic boots. Before installing new ball joints, he always applied a thick layer of silicone ointment to the boots, which car owners use to prevent the rubber bands on car doors from freezing in winter. From his words, it turned out that the anthers after such a procedure become practically “indestructible.” When I asked how an ointment intended for rubber could improve the quality of plastic, I was recommended to just try it and see for myself. Unfortunately, we never got around to it. So I leave it to the reader to check this driver’s find.

Reasons for failure of VAZ 2107 ball joints

The main reasons for SHO failure are as follows:

1. Alternating shock load. As a result, the ball pin pressed into the suspension eye is destroyed. The support is designed in such a way that the shock loads on the pin ball are very high. When the quality of roads is poor, these loads increase manifold. In such conditions, even a high-quality SHO will not be able to fully exhaust its resource.
2. Lack of lubrication. Under the influence of shock loads, the lubricant is gradually squeezed out of the SHO. In addition, over time, the lubricant loses its original properties.
3. Anther destruction. The boot protects the hinge joint from dirt. If a crack appears in it, the dirt that gets into the joint turns into an abrasive material and grinds down the surface of the ball pin.

   
   Dirt gets into the joint through a crack in the boot and wears down the surface of the ball pin.

Signs of malfunction of VAZ 2107 ball joints

The main symptoms of a VAZ 2107 SHO malfunction include:

1. Extraneous sounds. While driving, a knocking or grinding noise begins to be heard from the wheel. This is especially pronounced on uneven roads at a speed of about 30 km/h and is usually a consequence of partial destruction of the ball on the support pin.
2. Wheel rocking. When accelerating, the wheel begins to sway slightly in different directions. This happens due to the backlash that occurs in the SHO due to its wear. The situation is quite dangerous, and the backlash must be eliminated quickly. Otherwise, the wheel may turn at a right angle to the body at speed.

   
   Play in the ball joint causes the front wheel to sway, which can spin out at speed.

3. Grinding and squeaking noise when turning the steering wheel left or right. The reason is the lack of lubrication in one of the SHOs (usually only one of the supports fails).
4. Uneven wear on front and rear tires. This can happen not only due to faulty SHOs. The cause of uneven wear may be incorrectly adjusted camber and toe-in, insufficient or excessive air pressure in individual wheels, etc.

Troubleshooting

Now we need to talk about how to determine that the ball joints have failed. Replacing the suspension (VAZ-2110 is not very complex in design) is done with a minimal set of tools. Firstly, an external sign of a malfunction is third-party sounds. A crunching sound comes from the suspension when driving, as well as when a passenger or driver gets into the car. Of course, this is not very pleasant and does not add comfort.

When the wheel is pulled, knocking noises are also heard. To make sure that it is really the ball that has failed, ask your partner to pull the wheel. And carefully place your palm on the clip. If the breakdown is really in it, you will feel your finger knocking inside the clip. For repairs, you will need to remove and install the VAZ-2110 ball joint. It is almost impossible to confuse this failure with any other, since grenades, for example, begin to make a crunching sound in the extreme position. And the ball joint knocks at any steering angle.

Diagnostics of ball joints VAZ 2107

You can make sure that the cause of the grinding or squeaking is the ball joint in various ways.

1. Aurally. An assistant will be needed for this. Two people rock a car with the engine turned off, simultaneously pressing on both sides of the car's hood. If at the same time an uncharacteristic sound is heard from one of the wheels, the corresponding wheel is worn out or needs lubrication.
2. Detecting the backlash of the sho. The wheel, on which the support has most likely failed, is raised with a jack by about 30 cm. An assistant from the interior presses the brake pedal as hard as possible. After this, you should forcefully rock the wheel, first in a vertical plane up and down, then to the right and left. When the brakes are locked, play will immediately appear. Even if it is insignificant, the SHO still needs to be changed.

   
   To identify play in the ball joint, the wheel should first be rocked up and down, and then to the right and left.

3. Inspection of ball pins. This method is relevant only for the latest VAZ 2107 models, which have special inspection holes for monitoring ball pin wear without disassembling the support. If the pin wear is more than 6 mm, the ball joint should be replaced.

Replacement process

First you need to purchase the appropriate ball joints. The best ones are Track “Champion”. Price: 2000 rubles per set. The next thing you need when replacing is a ball joint remover. It makes the procedure much easier.

After this, follow the following procedure:

1. Lift the wheel and remove it. Secure the machine against accidental falls.

2. Clean the ball nuts and bolts from dirt and apply penetrating lubricant:

3. Using a 22mm wrench, unscrew the lower ball nut not completely:

4. Install the “soldier” puller between the two balls:

5. If there is a jack under the lever, it can be removed. Using a puller, create tension between the two balls. If the puller bolt is difficult to unscrew, apply several blows with a hammer to the eye of the lower ball knuckle. The lower ball should “shoot”.

6. Pull out the puller, unscrew the ball nut until the end. If the pin rotates together with the nut, then it must be clamped using a bench clamp. After unscrewing the nut, lift the steering knuckle and release it from the ball:

Repair

Now these critical parts are classified as “consumables”. But even relatively recently, during times of total shortage, balls were dismountable and craftsmen restored them for reuse. Such balls on the “classic” lasted up to 40-45 thousand. Restored parts are slightly smaller. Modern ball bearings can last up to 60-65 thousand km, but this is in the factory version and on relatively good roads. But if you come across a “left-handed” product, you will have to change the supports much more often. And in the worst case, you have every chance of standing in the middle of the road with a “twisted” wheel.

The company has been well known for a long time, and the packaging box with details and a security hologram gives hope for their authenticity. The standard tool for the job is quite enough: a jack, a hammer (weighing at least 0.8 kg) and a reliable stand. An opponent of “sledgehammer” methods will also need a special puller (see below).

When pressing out ball joints on a VAZ 2101-2107, it is possible to use the three most common methods.

Attention! Do not forget to remove the additional plate from the upper support and put it back in place when reassembling, otherwise there will be a gap between the cover and the support body. We remove the lower support in the same way. But the pin nut cannot be unscrewed completely, since the rotary lever is in the way. Therefore, all remaining turns will have to be done after pressing out the finger. Remember that in a worn body, nothing holds the finger and, if the nut is screwed together with resistance (for example, the thread was not cleaned of dirt and rust before this work), the finger will rotate in the body, and it will be very difficult to hold it with anything. Now, even if you decide to clean the thread, you will be faced with the problem of how to screw the nut back on? WD-40 won’t always help here either! In such a situation, it is most reasonable to hit the cone of the finger into the hole of the steering knuckle. Now you can return the nut to its original place. Do not tighten too tightly! And then a thorough cleaning of the thread, after which the nut can usually be unscrewed.

We carry out assembly in reverse order. And do not forget to put grease in the case before installing the ball. The mileage will be longer.

Front suspension design of the VAZ 2107

The time-tested double wishbone suspension appeared much earlier than the McPherson swing plug. The double wishbone is objectively better than the racks in terms of geometry and controllability, stability and endurance. But it’s not for nothing that we started with the market. MacPherson is much cheaper. It is three times cheaper to produce the most profitable double wishbone suspension. That's why they put it on the front of very inexpensive cars. At the rear, MacPherson can be found in a Mercedes, Cadillac, or BMW - this is the number one suspension for expensive sevens. But it's not that.

Structurally, the double wishbone suspension holds the car much better when turning, has better control and is more stable in terms of directional stability. This happens due to a larger number of attachment points for the moving part of the suspension, if you don’t go into details. And the VAZ 2107 is an excellent example of how a strong and unpretentious design lasted on the assembly line for almost 50 years without any problems. This scheme is still used today and will continue to be used for a long time. Although the weak point in it is the ball joint.

Requirements for a new ball

Make sure that the new ball joint boot is in good condition - there should be no cracks or damage. The new ball joint should have a grayish color to the finger. There should be no defects on the clip. The ball pin is not allowed to rotate freely - this indicates that the element is of poor quality.

For good elements, it either does not rotate in the cage at all, or does so very tightly. Try to purchase products from domestic manufacturers - “BelMag”, “Trek”, “Trial”, “Kedr”, “Nadezhda”, “BZAK”. You should not trust manufacturers from China or Turkey - practice shows that such elements are very unreliable and have a short lifespan.

Parts selection

The main enemies of the upper and lower ball joints are not only water or dirt, but also low-quality materials. It is best to purchase spare parts made of steel, as they are the most durable and wear-resistant. Any auto store will tell you which companies produce such parts. Also, reviews of other VAZ 2107 car owners can help you in your choice. Most of them recommend paying attention to domestic manufacturers, since cheap Chinese analogues can fail at any time.

• pressure plate;
• ball pin cover;
• upper ball pin.