Replacing stabilizer struts for a VAZ 2114 - subtleties and features

The design of the front suspension of the VAZ 2114 car consists of the following components:

• Subframe, support bearing;
• Oil type shock absorber, spring;
• Stabilizer's pole;
• Silent blocks, rubber bushings.

During the operation of the car, parts wear out and become unusable. VAZ 2114 needs preventative maintenance and major repairs.

The process of replacing suspension elements is not complicated, and the operating principle is intuitive. We carry out restoration work on our own; there is no need to contact a workshop.

Originals, analogues, article number, price of stabilizer strut for VAZ 2114

Technical data: length 200 x width 28 mm x diameter 10 mm;

Before purchasing, check the compatibility of the spare part catalog number with your car model.

Stages of diagnostics of VAZ 2114

We carry out diagnostics, assess the condition of the machine, and identify breakdowns. The visual inspection process is not complicated; we carry it out on our own.

• We place the VAZ 2114 on the inspection hole, provide priority safety measures, squeeze the parking brake;
• Jack up the side, unscrew the bolts, remove the wheel;
• Using mechanical force on the rack, we check for the presence of play and knocking. We evaluate the condition of the rubber bushings, the degree of deformation of the metal washers;
• At the same time, we inspect the suspension arm, brake circuit, disc, and pads. We complete the diagnostics by checking the tightness of the shock absorber cylinder and the integrity of the spring;

Based on the data obtained, we calculate the number of necessary spare parts, rubber bushings, and other consumables.

Price issue

More precisely the cost of the racks. For car owners, the amount spent on repairs plays a big role. After all, the VAZ 2114 is far from the most expensive car, and therefore its owners are certainly not millionaires.

Today, ordinary factory racks cost approximately 1000-1500 rubles for the front ones, and up to 1000 rubles for the rear ones. The SS20 struts listed in the list of recommended ones cost from 1,500 rubles for the rear ones and from 2,500 for the front ones.

Kayaba (KYB) racks are the most expensive. The front ones will cost you at least 2,000 rubles, and the rear ones start at 3,000 rubles.

Replacing stabilizer struts on a VAZ 2114

Experts recommend replacing suspension elements in pairs. It is highly undesirable to leave worn parts in their original places without attention, since repair work will soon be repeated.

• We install the car on the inspection hole, install the shoes to avoid any arbitrary rollback, squeeze the hand brake;
• Jack up the side, unscrew the bolts, remove the wheel;
• Using a “17” wrench, we unscrew the rack mount from under the hole, use a metal spacer to knock out the bolt, and knock down the rack;
• Lubricate the bolt with graphite grease, having previously cleaned it of rust and deposits;
• We carry out troubleshooting of adjacent mechanisms, parts, levers. If there is no damage, install a new rack, fix it with a bolt, and tighten the nut.

By analogy, we carry out work on the opposite side.

If defects are detected in the lateral stability link bushings, they must also be replaced. The process of installing new ones is not at all complicated; you can do it yourself.

• After removing the wheel, unscrew the stabilizer bar, suspension arm, and ball joint pin. On each side, the rod is fixed with a rubber bushing and a metal plate at the base. We unscrew the two bolts to “14”, replace the bushing, and assemble the structure.
• After the repair is completed, we visit a service station to restore the wheel alignment angle. The degree of tread wear, fuel consumption, and acceleration dynamics depend on the accuracy of the angle.

Often the cause of the knock is the ball joint. As the pin wears out, free play develops inside. Each time you enter a hole, there is an impact on the metal surfaces of the parts.

The defect is eliminated by replacing the ball joint assembly. To do this, jack up the side, unscrew the bolts, and remove the wheel. Using a “14” wrench, unscrew the fastening of the ball joint pin. We substitute a wooden spacer and knock the tip out of its seat. Unscrew the remaining two bolts securing the ball joint.

We troubleshoot the steering knuckle, clean the seat, and fix the ball joint. We assemble the remaining structural elements and check the functionality of the system.

How to identify a malfunction

Replacing the VAZ 2114 stabilizer struts will only be necessary if the driver clearly knows that his strut is completely worn out. There are several verification methods for this, among them are:

• focus on knocking;
• skidding on corners;
• unwinding of hinges;
• vibration when touched.

When a strut in a VAZ 2114 fails, you can always hear it, especially when turning. This is a peculiar knocking and rumble that is difficult to confuse with something. As a rule, the rack only makes a rattling noise when it is completely worn out. This noise can be heard in the front and rear of the car at the same time, since the car has two racks installed in opposite places and they wear out almost equally.

Important: Since the rack is easily subject to physical wear and tear, over time it begins to perform its functions much worse or does not perform them at all. This can be felt when turning, as the driver begins to feel the skidding more significantly. You have to hold on to the steering wheel more confidently to avoid getting into an accident.

You have to hold on to the steering wheel more confidently to avoid getting into an accident.

The VAZ 2114 car is equipped with articulated struts. This is a standard version of the part that is freely sold on the market. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that on both sides it is attached with rotating hinges, lubricated under the anthers. The driver can freely unscrew the strut, remove the hinge and open the boot. If all the lubricant under it has already been used up, it can be reapplied there, but if instead of lubricant a mixture of dirt and Vaseline is found, the rack will have to be changed.

The last effective method includes two stages. At the first, the VAZ 2114 needs to be placed over the pit, one person sharply turns the steering wheel to the side, the other holds the rack with his hand. If you feel vibration and grinding, the part must be replaced.

Rear suspension contour on a VAZ 2114

At the rear, the functions of the stabilizer are performed by a longitudinal beam, which is fixed on two pressed silent blocks. Systematic operation of the machine contributes to the wear of suspension elements and reduces the service life.

• To restore the functionality of the mechanism, we replace the silent blocks. The installation process is not complicated, we do it ourselves.
• After jacking up the car and removing the wheel, unscrew the bolts securing the beam to the base of the frame. We press out the silent blocks one by one, clean the seat, and press in new ones. We complete the installation.
• At the same time, we inspect adjacent parts and mechanisms for defects and damage. We replace elements with new ones as needed.
• The source of the knock is not always a worn silent block. Check the condition of the bushing on the lower shock absorber eye. The presence of free play is unacceptable, as well as cracks and tears in the rubber.

The replacement process is not complicated, but requires a vice to press out the bushing. We unscrew the upper and lower mounts of the rear shock absorber, having first compressed the spring several turns. We fix the shock absorber in a vice, press out the rubber bushing with a puller, and press in a new one. We assemble the parts in reverse order.

Signs of damage

Diagnostics

Problems with racks can be fairly easily identified by several signs:

• There is a serious leak;
• The pads are knocking;
• When braking or moving from a standstill, squeaking noise occurs in the wheels.

Attempts to repair or restore stabilizer struts are pointless. There is only one option - to replace the units with new ones.

Tips for caring for VAZ 2114 suspension

• Use the services of official service stations, where they provide a quality guarantee for the work performed;
• Before purchasing parts, check that the catalog numbers match. Do not give in to provocations, do not buy components at unusually low prices. Cheapness is a sign of a fake;
• Do not violate the technical inspection deadlines. The average service life of suspension elements is 55 – 60 thousand km. Mandatory maintenance every 15,000 km;
• When ordering paid services from a service station, check whether the service workers have entered the data into the service book.

An increase in service life is also positively influenced by a moderate driving style, high-quality road surface, and high-quality components.

Scheduled maintenance of the VAZ 2114 car after 15,000 km, replacement of front suspension elements and silent blocks no earlier than after 50,000 km.

It’s better to buy high-quality struts once and drive 60,000 km on them than to buy cheap ones twice and drive them for 40,000 km.

Why do you need to change

Important: before making a replacement, the driver must clearly understand why to change the struts, how this may affect the movement, so that in the future the car owner can identify the malfunction at the initial stage.

Racks need to be changed for several reasons. Since the anti-roll bar is one of the most important parts of the vehicle's suspension, it must be directly connected to it. Since the stabilizer and suspension are in parallel planes, a perpendicular part is needed that will allow them to interact with each other. The stabilizer strut is just such a part.

Car suspension

When driving a VAZ 2114, the car can skid when turning. At this moment, a roll is created and the anti-roll bar signals the suspension to overcome this roll by raising and lowering the car in the right places. The fact is that this process goes through the racks, which is why they wear out. In fact, this is quite convenient, since a separate part is subject to wear, and not the stabilizer, suspension and other participating elements, which suffer much less from roll.

Anti-roll bar