Installing front strut struts on a VAZ 2114, which one is better to install and is it worth it?

What is the front strut brace on a VAZ 2114? This is a power element that is part of the body structure. Its task is to reduce the loads placed on the body if the shock absorbers are not doing their job. Additionally, the spacer allows you to avoid deformation of the corners after wheel alignment, increase vehicle controllability, and improve its stability on the road.

Installed spacer

In the end, we are talking about an element of safety and a means of increasing the life of the body of your car.

Today we will look at the spacers for the front pillars in more detail, we will study their tasks, the nuances of selection and installation on the VAZ 2114.

Why install

In fact, the body of the VAZ 2114 is quite rigid, so it allows you to drive at decent speeds on roads that are not of the highest quality. But the existing rigidity is not enough to keep the body intact during long-term use in such conditions.

Amplifier

If the stiffness is insufficient, the car's handling is characterized by sluggish response. In theory, the presence of a spacer or extension allows you to maneuver more confidently and take turns at speed. Also, the body will not be greatly deformed, and the effect of metal fatigue will be avoided. This is especially true for owners of the VAZ 2114, who regularly drive on roads that are not of the highest class.

To summarize, let's look at what exactly spacers will do.

1. They will increase the car's controllability when cornering.
2. They will reduce the likelihood of spontaneous transmission shutdown at the gearbox.
3. They will protect the engine from active displacements during maneuvering.
4. Maintains the integrity of the body and power unit.

Some note that it is not worth installing a spacer, since it significantly increases the noise level in the cabin. The statement is true, but partially. The noise level will indeed increase, but only slightly. In practice, it is impossible to feel the difference, since the increase will be no more than 0.5 decibels.

For reference, specially trained people are able to distinguish noise levels only starting from 1 decibel.

Rear strut extension for VAZ 2110, 2111, 2112

Recently, I saw such a nice thing in my favorite store and decided to take a closer look at it.

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Tolyatti

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The need for such a thing arose a long time ago, because... The front has both a strut and a thicker stabilizer; the rear lacks rigidity.

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After reading the Internet and not finding more than one sensible review or at least an authoritative opinion. I decided to install this piece of hardware and form an opinion about it myself. On the Internet, on thematic forums, they write that if you are going to install a rear extension, then it should be either a TV or a cross. Supposedly they are the only ones that work noticeably.

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And it’s a no brainer that such options are better than a regular straight stick, but for that kind of money I don’t really need them. Especially the crosspiece, because the ability to transform the interior can be simply vital.

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External inspection The design is quite light and does not particularly inspire confidence. Attaching it to the strut rods immediately seemed like a controversial option to me.

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From the description of the piece of hardware, Stretching the rear pillars of the VAZ 2108-2115, Priora increases the overall rigidity of the body, which in turn has a positive effect on handling and stability. It is usually installed between the rear suspension mounting points. And the closer to the suspension mounting points, the stiffer the structure and the fewer body elements are subject to load. In addition, the possibility of easy dismantling/installation during operation is taken into account. If you need to transport large cargo in the trunk, the extension can be temporarily removed.

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Installation Installation, in theory, should be very simple, but in reality, it was not without hemorrhoids. To install, you need to unscrew the top nuts of the rear shock absorber rods, put on the brace and tighten the nuts back. But the stretch refused to fall into place. It fell into one glass with a whistle, and into another it was possible to push it only at an angle after first disassembling it.

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The next joint turned out to be its length. The stretch was noticeably longer than needed and did not fit into place. The adjustment range was severely insufficient and I had to remove one of the locknuts.

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Fortunately, you can lock this structure with just one nut. As a result, the stretching, after all, became as it should. I didn’t stretch it too much, I pulled until the connection of the two parts of the stretch itself became rigid.

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I didn’t feel any obvious effect. On the verge of self-hypnosis, the roll decreased slightly. It was not possible to ride particularly aggressively at high speeds. On an improvised snake, from edge to edge of the road, at a speed of 60 km/h, it seemed that the rolls actually became less, and on one of the rings, where the “ass” used to be held, I experienced a slight drift. Road bumps go exactly the same way. Immediately after installing the extension, without installing the seat backs, I decided to test drive it to see if any new squeaks or knocks appeared. Surprisingly, no new creaks or knocks appeared, but a new sound appeared, the rack squeaking. I understand that the rattle of the strut is normal, but before installing the extension, this sound was definitely not audible in the cabin. At first I decided that the pillars could have been making noise before, but I simply didn’t hear them because of the noise and the installed seat backs. I decided to install the backrests, throw on the noise twice as much as before and take another test drive.

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Need more noise!

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The sound became much quieter, but still remained noticeable, which was definitely not the case before installing the stretcher. After driving around the city for about an hour in different modes, and playing with tightening the stretcher, the sound did not disappear anywhere. There is an assumption that due to stretching, the geometry of the rack changes.

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Under the influence of the applied force acting on the rod from the tension side, i.e. almost perpendicular, the piston may warp or some seal inside the strut may be crushed, causing it to leak, making that same sound.

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I decided to remove the stretch, out of harm's way, while the racks were still alive.

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Conclusions Not all yellow iron is equally useful. The rear extension of this configuration is essentially a useless piece of hardware. The income from it is practically not noticeable, although at such a price this would be good. But the negative effect completely covers the positive one; the sound of the struts in the cabin is clearly unnecessary. It is possible that this stretching could lead to premature failure of the rear struts.

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17:2019 next article:

Front shock absorber struts VAZ 2110, 2111, 2112

The content of the article:

Planned replacement of VAZ 2112 front suspension struts Features when replacing VAZ front struts

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How to choose

Spacer kit

The front strut struts offered today for the VAZ 2114 can be of two types:

• Point-to-point;
• Three-point.

There is no difference between them as such, if you do not take into account the number of bolts for fixation - two and three, respectively.

Separately, it is worth noting the universal coupler, which has proven itself well among the owners of the “fourteenth” model from the domestic automaker.

According to other criteria, spacers are divided into:

• Adjustable;
• Unregulated.

To produce unregulated ones, manufacturers adhere to very strict rules and maintain certain geometric shapes and parameters.

You will need a special spacer if there is a 16-valve engine in the engine compartment of your VAZ 2114. The braces have an additional support for them, which replaces the upper support of the power unit.

As for the material of manufacture, it is better to choose aluminum spacers , but in extreme cases you can get by with steel ones. The thing is that in the event of a car collision, aluminum elements will simply break, and steel elements can seriously damage the racks themselves.

Disadvantages of the VAZ 2110 strut

Content

There are no precisely confirmed deficiencies in such a spacer, and none have been identified at all. But some motorists argue that when hit to the side, both sides of the car will suffer. Of course, this may be what happens, but only in the design of the spacer there is a special hollow in the middle. And it is she who will bend and the blow will not be transferred to the opposite side. There are a lot of myths around this part, but there is one confirmed drawback. These are difficulties when filling brake fluid.

Installation

Increasing body rigidity

Installing front strut struts on your VAZ 2114 yourself will not be difficult. This procedure does not require any special skills, so you can safely go to your own garage and get to work.

1. Remove the screws and washers from the shock absorber struts.
2. If your car has a motion sensor on the struts, it will also need to be removed. But be sure to remember the position in which it was at the time of dismantling.
3. Now secure the mounting bracket with the sensor directly under the plate. This must be done in such a way that the sensor is in its position before removal.
4. The front strut extension is placed on the studs. The same work is done on both sides.
5. The bolts are secured properly. Be sure to make sure the fasteners are properly tightened. In this matter, reliability plays a huge role. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to additionally verify the quality of the bolts used.

Pros and cons of stretching the front struts

Initially, the front strut brace was used on sports cars that were operated under extreme load conditions. It strengthened the body when driving off-road, jumping from springboards, and also increased the sensitivity of the steering wheel. But currently this accessory is actively used among Lada car enthusiasts (XRAY, Vesta, Largus, Granta, Priora, Kalina and even Niva 4x4). How the “glasses” shift while moving is shown in the video:

Advantages:

1. steering sensitivity increases when maneuvering (by increasing the angular rigidity of the body);
2. the vehicle's stability increases when moving in a straight line;
3. body deformation is reduced when cornering and on uneven roads (reduces the likelihood of cracks appearing on the body), and the stress at the attachment points of the front suspension supports is also reduced.

Flaws:

1. In the event of a side impact, the opposite pillar may also be damaged.

Manufacturers and prices

In fact, the cost of extensions for front struts suitable for a VAZ 2114 car may vary depending on many factors.

Serious differences in price may arise due to the materials used and the manufacturers of these elements. On average, you can purchase a structure for a price ranging from 800 to 3000 rubles. The difference, as you can see, is significant.

Therefore, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the most attractive options in terms of reliability and price, ideally suited to the design features of the body and pillars of the VAZ 2114.

In what cases is it necessary to change silent blocks on the top ten?

Typically, experienced drivers quickly determine the reasons for the failure of the elements in question. Firstly, while driving the vehicle, shocks will be felt in the suspension area. Secondly, in the absence of intervention, the silent block structures are destroyed, the angle of the wheels changes and the controllability of the vehicle worsens. If a motorist ignores these problems, then he will face expensive repairs in the future. Let's look at the signs of failure of silent blocks:

1. the appearance of tire squeaks while the vehicle is moving. Minor wear produces minimal noise;
2. You can hear a knocking noise right next to the wheels. This indicates that the fastening elements of the silent blocks are damaged;
3. Upon visual inspection, cracks are visible on the surface of the elements. This is evidence that the parts have lost their operational parameters and require replacement.

Replacing the extension

The braces on the car are designed to hold two opposing struts together. The main function of a device of this kind is to reduce the flexibility of these struts under conditions of sharp turning of the machine. Stretch bars increase the strength of the body, allow you to make corners as comfortably as possible and improve feedback between the car and the driver.

The main reason why car extensions break is that they were poorly (or poorly) made or installed. They must be both light and as strong as possible - which is why most high-quality products of this type are made of aluminum or carbon fiber (carbon fiber), but steel braces are also widely used today.