Repair and replacement of ball joint for VAZ (Lada) Granta i

If you experience knocking noises from the front suspension, especially when driving on an uneven road with small holes or potholes, you should pay attention to the condition of the ball joints. On a Grant, factory ball joints can easily travel more than 100,000 km during normal operation, but there are also cases when this has to be done much more often. It is for such cases that this article will be written.

In order to replace the ball joints on the Grant, we will need the following tool:

1. Hammer
2. Mount
3. Puller
4. Key for 17 and 19
5. Torx head e12
6. Ratchet or crank

Replacing the ball joint of the suspension arm

Brake the vehicle with the parking brake and place wheel chocks under the rear wheels.

Loosen and tighten wheel bolts only with the vehicle on the ground. The tightening torque of the bolts is 65–95 Nm (6.5–9.5 kgf m).

1. Raise and place the front of the vehicle on supports.

Remove the wheel.

2. Unscrew the ball joint nut using a 19mm wrench.

3. Press the ball joint pin out of the lever using a puller.

Puller for ball joint of suspension arm.

4. If there is no puller, do not unscrew the nut completely.

Press the lever with a pry bar and use a hammer to press the hinge pin out of the lever using a hammer along the axis of the lever.

After this, finally unscrew the nut.

5. Unscrew the two bolts securing the ball joint to the steering knuckle using a 17mm wrench

6. Press the lever down with a mounting tool and remove the ball joint

7. Before installation, lubricate the hinge and the internal cavity of the cover with grease

8. Install the ball joint in the reverse order of removal.

After lowering the car to the ground, rock it vigorously several times.

Tighten with the appropriate torques: nut securing the ball joint to the lever - 80-96 Nm (8.0-9.6 kgf m), nut securing the ball joint to the steering knuckle - 50-63 Nm (5.0-6.3 kgf m).

After driving 100 km, tighten these threaded connections again to the required torque.

When installing, be careful not to damage the ball joint protective boot.

We replace the front suspension arm when the silent block is worn out or the arm itself is worn out and deformed.

We also remove the lever when repairing the front suspension.

To check the silent block of the front suspension arm, insert a mounting blade between the body bracket and the head of the arm and try to move the arm along its axis and along the axis of the bolt.

If the lever moves freely, without effort, it means that the silent block of the lever is badly worn or damaged, and it needs to be replaced.

Cracking or swelling of the rubber of the silent block is not acceptable.

To replace the lever, place the car on a lift or inspection ditch.

Remove the middle engine splash guard.

We disconnect the ball joint from the lever, as described at the beginning of the article.

Unscrew the nut securing the brace to the front suspension arm and remove the washer.

Unscrew the nut of the bolt securing the stabilizer bar to the arm and remove the bolt.

Using two 19mm wrenches, unscrew the nut of the bolt securing the lever to the body

Use a bronze or aluminum drift to knock out and remove the bolt, remove the lever from the bracket and remove it

Using a vice and suitable tool heads, press out the silent block

Using a chisel, we knock down the silent block of the guy wires on one side and the other.

New silent blocks are moistened with soapy water and pre-pressed in a vice

We finally press the silent blocks by striking a punch with a diameter of 8 mm through three windows in the rubber layer

Install the lever in reverse order.

We tighten the threaded connections of rubber-metal hinges when the car is on its wheels.

Tightening torques:

— nut of the bolt securing the front suspension arm to the body 79 – 96 Nm (7.9 – 9.6 kgf.m);

— nut of the bolt securing the stabilizer bar to the front suspension arm 43 -52 Nm;

— nut securing the brace to the front suspension arm 163 – 176 Nm (16.3 – 17.6 kgf.m);

After installing the lever, you need to check the angles of the front wheels.

How to check the condition of the front suspension of Lada Granta, Kalina and Priora

15 March 2022 LadaOnline 6 807

According to the maintenance regulations for Lada Granta, Lada Kalina and Lada Priora cars, the technical condition of the front suspension parts must be checked every 15,000 km. mileage You can determine the causes of knocks and squeaks in the suspension using self-diagnosis.

Layout of front suspension parts

1 — anti-roll bar; 2 — rubber-metal joint of the transverse arm; 3 — shock absorber strut; 4 - stretching; 5 — extension bracket; 6 — nut for fastening the extension to the bracket; 7 — ball support of the shock absorber strut; 8 — joint of the anti-roll bar; 9 — wishbone; 10 — bracket for securing the stabilizer bar.

How to check the front suspension

• Checking the front suspension should be carried out in the engine compartment and from below the car, mounted on an inspection ditch or supports (with the front wheels hanging out).
• The condition of the protective covers of the suspension ball joints (they should not be mechanically damaged) should be checked during each maintenance and repair of the vehicle.
• Check the condition of the rubber-to-metal joints, rubber cushions, suspension ball joints and the condition of the upper suspension strut mounts.
• Rubber-metal hinges and rubber cushions must be replaced in case of ruptures and one-sided bulging of rubber, as well as when their end surfaces are trimmed.
• Suspensions on rubber parts are not allowed:

• signs of rubber aging;
• mechanical damage.

Pay special attention to mechanical damage (deformations, cracks, traces of contact with road obstacles, etc.) of suspension elements, especially levers.

Procedure

:

1. Check the tightness of the shock absorber rod mounting nut.

2. Check the tightness of the nuts securing the upper strut support to the body. Similarly, check the fastenings of the rod and the upper support of the second rack.

3. Check the condition of the protective covers of the ball joints. If the boots are damaged, replace the ball joints.

4. Check the ball joints for play. To do this, measure the distance H (see Fig. 7.1) between the transverse arm 17 and the brake disc 21. Insert the mounting blade A (see photo) between the steering knuckle and the suspension arm and, leaning on the lever, try to swing the steering knuckle. If this distance changes by more than 0.8 mm when the suspension is rocked, replace the ball joint.

5. If the ball joints are in good condition, rock the wheels in a vertical plane and make sure there is no play in the hub bearings. The maximum permissible axial clearance is no more than 0.015 mm. If the gap is greater than the specified value, replace the bearings.

Advice

: When swinging the suspended front wheel, it is difficult to distinguish play in the hub bearings and ball joints. Ask an assistant to press the brake pedal: if you feel play in this case, then the ball joints are faulty.

6. Check the rubber-to-metal joints in the places where the transverse arm is attached to the body bracket for play.

7. To do this, insert a mounting spudger or a large screwdriver into the gap between the lever and the bracket and try to rock the lever. If there is significant play, it is recommended to replace the lever assembly with hinges.

8. Check the rubber-metal hinges for attaching the stabilizer struts for play. To do this, insert the mounting blade between the wishbone and the stabilizer bar and rock the bar. If necessary, replace the stabilizer links.

9. Check the tightness of the nuts securing the brace to the lever...

10. ...and to the extension bracket.

11. Check the tightness of the nut securing the stabilizer link to the front suspension arm. Replace the racks whose hinges have noticeable play.

12. Check the condition of the rubber cushions where the stabilizer bar is attached to the body.

Causes of malfunctions in the front suspension

Cause of malfunction
Remedy

Noise (knocking) in the suspension when the car is moving Fluid leakage from the strut Frequent “breakdowns” of the suspension Insufficient resistance of the suspension strut during the recoil stroke Increased clearance in the ball joint The car pulls away from straight-line motion Increased wear on the tire tread Uneven wear on the tire tread

Options

As you can see, the quality and durability of a ball joint for any car is built on these important details. And for the VAZ-2110, the support should have the following parameters, if you can check them:

• finger angle - minimum 50°>;
• finger swing moment - 0.4-0.8 kGs/m >;
• moment of finger scrolling - 0.4-0.8 kGs/m >;
• the force of destruction of the top cover (pulling out a finger) is 2900 kgf .

Article number and cost of analogues of original ball joints

The lack of stable quality of original ball joints forces car owners to search for good analogues from third-party manufacturers. At the moment, the market is filled with a lot of alternative spare parts options. The price for non-original supports is comparable to the original. The best brands of balls are presented in the table below.

Table - Recommended alternatives to ball joint 11180-2904192-00.

How to replace a ball joint on a VAZ car?

Raise the car with a jack and remove the wheel.

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Unscrew the ball joint using a 19 key.

Unscrew the two nuts a little higher, here you need a 14mm wrench.

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Using a crowbar, you need to lift the upper arm of the front suspension and remove the ball from the mount.

We install the new ball joint and tighten all the bolts and nuts into place.

Granta 39 7 new size

The suspension springs must not be damaged. Tearing, cracking and severe deformation of rubber bushings, cushions and compression buffers of shock absorbers are unacceptable.

Liquid leakage from shock absorbers is not allowed. A slight “fogging” of the shock absorber in its upper part, while maintaining the characteristics, is not a malfunction.

If the rubber element of the upper support of the front suspension telescopic strut settles or is destroyed, the support must be replaced.

Additional recommendations for replacing the ball joint

There are special stock Lada Granta ball joints for sale for sporty driving. They have increased strength. Many car owners recommend installing them. According to reviews, the service life of tuned supports is 20-30% longer than original ones.

"Sports" ball joints for Lada Granta

The service life of the ball joint is directly proportional to the quality and quantity of lubricant under the boot. Therefore, it is recommended to remove the cuff and check the contents before installation. For fear of tearing the boot, car owners apply additional lubricant using a syringe, bending the rubber band on one side.

Adding Additional Lubricant

You can dismantle the ball joint without a puller. To do this, you will need to remove the lever with accompanying elements in the assembly.

Dismantled lever

Hammered out ball joint

If you do not have special tools, you can remove the support from the lever by knocking it out with a hammer. Strikes should be applied sharply and accurately. With this method of dismantling, the risk of damage to the lever and ball seat increases significantly. For this reason, experienced drivers still recommend purchasing a puller, the cost of which is from 500 to 1400 rubles.

Shock absorber

This element is a damping device. The shock absorber serves to reduce the range of vibrations of the car body. In other words, the element prevents spontaneous rocking. The work of the shock absorber is based on hydraulic resistance. Inside it there is a liquid of a certain viscosity. It moves through a special valve. Thus, the device absorbs sharp impacts while preserving vulnerable suspension parts. Therefore, the shock absorber is one of the most important components in the chassis. On our roads, this element lasts about 60-80 thousand kilometers. But this period may be shorter, even with careful driving. It is enough just to damage the protective boot, and all the dirt will accumulate in the rod seal.

Also note that the damping element changes in pairs. That is, in the event of a breakdown of the rear left shock absorber, the rear right shock absorber also changes. As for the front struts, they are more durable. Often they are replaced already assembled with a spring, since they fail no earlier than after 150-200 thousand kilometers.

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Required tools and materials for replacement

To independently replace the ball joint on a Lada Granta car, you need the tools from the list below.

Table - Tools and materials required to replace the ball joint.

Ball joint puller

conclusions

The process of replacing ball joints on the Lada Kalina is quite simple and easy. But, it is worth paying attention to the choice of part, since how long and how well it will hold the suspension depends on its quality.

If you are going to drive a car in winter, it would be a good idea to check the condition of the chassis and transmission so that you do not have to do repairs right on the road, in dirty snow slush. Any Granta owner can save both time and money if they check the car themselves. Today we are talking about the chassis and transmission.

LADA > Granta

Video review on replacing ball joints on Grant

For those who are too lazy to understand photo reports, everything can be shown clearly and easily using the example of a video review, which was taken from open sources.

This concludes this repair report.

Before starting work, you need to prepare: a set of keys, a universal puller, a jack, WD-40 fluid, as well as new spare parts.

1. Before starting work, apply a few drops of WD-40 to threaded connections that you think may have problems. They will be different for everyone, it all depends on the condition of the car, the roads on which it drives, and the attitude of the owner towards this car...

2. Unscrew the ball joints. There are two TORX bolts that are attached to the hub; for this we take an E12 head.

Which ball joints are better for the VAZ-2110: reviews, articles

As often happens, the most popular spare parts are produced by all and sundry, to the detriment of quality and in favor of price.

The service life of a VAZ-2110 ball joint rarely exceeds the hundred thousand mark, so there is always a demand for this part. And since there is demand, there is more than enough supply on the market.

In order not to throw money away and not experiment with your car and safety, let’s look at the issues of buying a ball for tens in more detail.

Features of ball joints on the VAZ-2110

Structurally, the support, as one of the main elements of the suspension, bears a huge load.

Not the same as in the classic double-wishbone suspension, but even in the MacPherson suspension it gets a lot of mileage.

The main purpose of the unit is to transfer force to the steering knuckle without losing the possibility of angular movements in all planes.

The simplest technological solution for this was a design based on a threaded ball pin, rolled into the body through plastic inserts.

Ball circuit.

As can be seen from the diagram, it is almost impossible to spoil anything in the simplest design. However, some manufacturers and artisanal cooperative enterprises manage to mess up here too.

Differences between a good ball and a low quality fake

Fortunately, we know how to distinguish a good support for a VAZ-2110 from a cheap fake, not only by brand (more on them later), but also visually:

1. Let's look at the finger . The thread on it cannot under any circumstances be cut on a machine. It should only be forged or rolled. Pay attention to the color, it should be ashy with scale. This indicates the correct production technology and heat treatment of the finger.
2. Frame . On dozens, the body is ball-welded, but we should see the welding points only on one of the halves. The halves fit neatly, distortions are excluded. The top cover should have a slot in the form of a neat hemisphere, but not an oval or other shape. It is important that the top cover must be made of hardened metal. This can be checked easily - two or three movements with a needle file, and a damp, low-quality lid will give itself away. The lower part of the body must be strictly cylindrical, and a cadmium-plated grease fitting is screwed into the lower part
3. There is also a hemisphere on the finger, which should also be made of hardened metal.
4. Support work . We take the ball in our hands, hold the body and rotate the finger, swaying it from side to side. It is strictly unacceptable for the finger to get jammed - it must turn with a uniform, slight force. If the effort is uneven, it turns with jamming, we immediately look for another option, it’s a fake. If the finger is stuck to the liners and does not give in, we also leave this support, we can do without broken lower arms.
5. Boot and fasteners . The boot is made of elastic but durable rubber; it has a metal ring at the bottom for pressing onto the body. Correct supports are sold with fasteners - the nut should be cadmium plated, with a light plastic insert.

Reinforced ball joint BZAK.

Let's sum it up

There are a number of features of operating the Lada Granta on Russian roads. For some reason, a domestic car is not very suitable for our roads; it crashes and fails instantly. Sometimes you come across a well-built car that doesn’t show any character after 100,000 kilometers. But in most cases, the Garnet justifies the title of the cheapest car in the Lada line. And when it comes to racks, the manufacturer saves a lot on these elements. The installation of low-quality suspension elements leads to the fact that more and more people, after purchasing Grants, repair it under warranty.

However, sometimes it is better to cancel the warranty and install normal racks, supports and other parts. In this case, you will ensure the normal service of your car’s suspension and will be able to establish normal operation of each unit. This will take a certain budget, but can provide you with comfortable movement without any particular difficulties or problems. Of course, even the best quality rack will eventually fail. But it can travel far beyond 100 thousand kilometers. What brands of spare parts do you choose to repair the suspension of your Lada Granta?

Reasons for failure

There are several reasons why a ball joint may fall out. Let's consider the main ones:

1. Wear . The most common malfunction that occurs on cars.
2. Insufficient lubrication in the boot leads to the fact that the finger begins to creak and may eventually simply break.
3. The penetration of dirt and water into the ball contributes to the development of corrosion, which can affect the operation of the vehicle. At best, a wedge and the inability to turn the wheels; at worst, the car will fall onto the asphalt.

To avoid consequences, it is necessary to regularly diagnose and maintain ball joints.

Diagnostic operations

How can you diagnose the condition of ball joints on a Lada Kalina:

• The first thing you need to pay attention to is the condition of the boot. If it has cracks or is torn, then it must be removed and the ball should be inspected.
• We hang the wheel a little and swing it up and down with our hands. If there is play, then it’s time to replace the ball.
• The presence of a squeak, as well as heavy turning of the steering wheel, can also be signs that the ball joints are in critical condition.
• Instability in control, namely departure from the trajectory of movement to the left or right, with the steering wheel in a level position, indicates that the ball joint has failed.

Problems when paying with bank cards

Sometimes difficulties may arise when paying with Visa/MasterCard bank cards. The most common of them:

1. There is a restriction on the card for paying for online purchases
2. A plastic card is not intended for making payments online.
3. The plastic card is not activated for making payments online.
4. There are not enough funds on the plastic card.

In order to solve these problems, you need to call or write to the technical support of the bank where you are served. Bank specialists will help you resolve them and make payments.

That's basically it. The entire process of paying for a book in PDF format on car repair on our website takes 1-2 minutes.

Unlike the front, it has undergone virtually no changes. Here, just like on the first Soviet G8s, a semi-independent beam is used. It is attached to the body on hinges (fortunately, there are no “crabs” in the design). A helical spring with constant stiffness is used as an elastic element. To dampen vibrations and prevent swinging, two shock absorbers are used.

• High reliability. The design does not have additional levers, which, in addition, can bend when falling into a large hole.
• Energy intensity. The Lada Granta absorbs all bumps perfectly, especially if oil shock absorbers are installed at the rear.
• Cheap maintenance. Due to its simple design, this pendant can be rebuilt even with your own hands. And the cost of new rubber-metal elements is unlikely to empty the pockets of even the most stingy car owner.

The main difference between the “Grant” suspension is the wheel alignment angles.

Diagnostics of the ball joint condition

The car owner can learn about the need for diagnostics by the following symptoms of a ball joint malfunction:

• driving over small humps and pits is accompanied by extraneous sounds emanating from the front suspension;
• There is a knocking sound in the wheel arches when entering a turn at speeds over 35 km/h;
• it becomes more difficult to turn the steering wheel and a creaking and grinding noise appears;
• decreased level of control over the car when cornering;
• partial loss of vehicle control while driving on uneven road surfaces.

To indirectly check the condition of the ball joint, you must use the method below.

• Hang the wheel on the side where the ball joint is expected to fail.
• Firmly grasp the tire with one hand from below and the other from above.
• Shake the wheel rim. If this is successful, then more accurate diagnostics of the suspension is required. Play can indicate not only a malfunction of the ball joint, but is also often a consequence of excessive wear of the stabilizer struts or steering tips.

Checking wheel play

You can more accurately identify a faulty ball joint if you gain access to the car from the bottom. To do this, you need to use an overpass, inspection hole or lift.

• Insert the mounting bracket between the lever and the ball.
• Shake the mount.
• The presence of noticeable play is unacceptable, as it is a sign of the need to replace the support.

Having gained access from below the machine, you should visually inspect the boot. It should not show any mechanical damage, such as cracks or tears. Seeing grease is also a reason to pay attention to the ball joint.

Leaking grease on the ball joint boot

The most accurate diagnosis of the ball can be carried out by dismantling it. The support must be clamped in a vice and the axial and radial movement of the pin must be checked. It should not move due to hand effort. The presence of any play indicates that the ball joint must be replaced.

Checking the axial and radial movement of the pin in the support clamped in a vice

A torn boot, in most cases, signals the need to purchase a new support. Still, if you want to save money, you can conduct a more detailed diagnosis of the condition of the lubricant and, based on the test results, decide on the advisability of replacement. If it is noticeable that dirt is present inside the ball, then applying new grease on top does not make sense and you will need to buy a new spare part.

If you do not want to troubleshoot or have doubts about the failure of the ball, it is recommended to contact a service station.

Checking the car on special equipment, for example, a vibration stand, will show the true breakdown quickly and with high accuracy.

Removing the ball joint

The operation is performed when replacing a ball joint. We install the car on an inspection ditch or overpass. We hang up the front of the car and remove the wheel from the side of the ball joint being removed. We wet the screws securing the ball joint to the steering knuckle with penetrating liquid. If there is no puller, unscrew the nut securing the ball joint pin not completely.

We install an adjustable stop under the nut with a pin, tighten it and, striking the lever with a hammer, press the pin out of the lever. After pressing the pin out of the lever, unscrew the nut completely.

Using the E-14 head, unscrew the two screws securing the ball joint to the steering knuckle...

...and remove the ball joint. The ball joint can also be removed with a special puller. In this case, unscrew the pin fastening nut completely.

Using the tool shown in the photo, press the ball joint pin out of the lever. Unscrew the two screws securing the ball joint to the steering knuckle and remove the ball joint (see above). A working ball joint should have no play in its pin. We replace the faulty support with a new one and install it in the reverse order.

Cover granta var2.indd

We check the chassis and transmission every 15 thousand kilometers.

We carry out the work on an inspection ditch or overpass.

The parts of the chassis (wheels, suspension arms, anti-roll bar, rear suspension beam, shock absorbers and suspension springs) and transmission (front wheel drive shafts) must be free of deformations, cracks and other mechanical damage that affect the shape and strength of the parts.

Hanging the front wheels one by one (while the car must be securely fixed on the support stand), we check the condition of the wheel hub bearings.

Use only factory-made support stands.

The wheel should rotate evenly by hand, without jamming or knocking.