We repair and tune the rear suspension of the VAZ 2110 with our own hands

Springs are the most important component of a modern vehicle, since the operation of the car suspension depends on their functionality. Therefore, it is important for any driver to have information about when it is necessary to change these components, why and for which products?

Before answering the question - which springs are best to install on a VAZ - it is recommended to obtain data on what could result from ignoring damaged elements.

Why is it important to change car suspension springs on time?

So, what can happen if this car component has exhausted its resource or completely failed? There are several consequences of this unpleasant situation:

1. The vehicle's ground clearance is reduced, which can lead to damage to other elements of the vehicle due to contact with poor road surfaces (potholes, bumps, etc.).
2. The rubber of the wheels in the rear arches of the car begins to experience additional friction, which means it wears out faster.
3. Control of the car deteriorates, as it may begin to tilt to one side and sway while moving.
4. The service life of the depreciation system begins to decline sharply.

That is, a damaged spring can lead to very serious problems in the future. Therefore, the next question is quite natural: when is it necessary to make a replacement? Manufacturers usually claim that their products are ready to last for 5-10 years. But they mean that the car will only travel on good roads, without additional load. This is almost impossible to implement in the conditions of our country, so it is recommended to replace it approximately three years after the start of operation.

A rear strut is nothing without a good shock absorber

After replacing the racks on a VAZ 2110, the following situation may occur. The wheels began to hold the road normally over bumps and uneven surfaces, but before, before the replacement, the rear of the car would bounce even on small bumps. But, although road stability became normal, driving comfort suddenly disappeared. In other words, now the bumps hit the driver’s back through the seat, and the car really shakes on the road. What's the matter? Maybe it's all a matter of grinding in the new struts or is this how it should be? It turns out that the whole problem may actually lie in the shock absorbers or in the bearings, but then the knocking should not disappear. Therefore, correct replacement of racks implies knowledge of its design, so to speak, an integrated approach must be applied.

• Shock absorbers in this case can play a very important role. As you know, today there are a lot of different shock absorbers of gas and oil type. Some of them are specially made rigid and when driving on uneven roads, you will definitely feel all the bumps. But driving in this case will be simply superb. Typically, such shock absorbers include products from expensive manufacturers intended for sports driving on highways and even surfaces.
• As for off-road driving, most experts agree that oil shock absorbers are no better in this case. In particular, they are cheaper and do not have too high rigidity. That is why, if after replacing the rear struts you feel stiffness and discomfort in the ride, the problem may lie in the shock absorbers. They will have to be replaced.
• Today, in addition to oil-type shock absorbers, there are also those equipped with special stiffness adjustment. But they are very expensive and not every VAZ 2110 owner can afford to buy them.

Features that the best springs for a VAZ should have

There are several factors that the owner of domestic cars should pay attention to, for example VAZ 2107, VAZ 2110, VAZ 2112 and so on:

• Product diameter. Affects the level of suspension stiffness;
• The number of turns - the more there are, the lower the stiffness characteristics.

Stiff rear springs are preferred by drivers who value steering response. True, in this case the grip on the road surface is reduced. That is, any option has its pros and cons. However, for any domestic model (VAZ 2115, VAZ 2114, etc.) you can always choose a universal type.

It is impossible to accurately answer the question - what are the best springs, since everything depends on their purpose, which is determined by the marking applied.

Replacement

If a problem is discovered and it becomes necessary to change the rear struts, then you need to carry out a number of operations. To begin, you will need to arm yourself with the following tools:

• Key to 6;
• Key to 17;
• Key for racks
• Key to 19.

Dismantling

• we dismantle the luggage compartment in the area of ​​the rear arches;
• Next, remove the rear belts, as well as the brackets that secure the rear seat;
• take a special wrench designed for struts and unscrew the rear strut rod nut;

• Now you will need to lift the car, or rather its rear part;
• Next, unscrew the nuts securing the lower part of the rack;
• remove the stand from its place.

At this stage, the removal of the rear pillar of the VAZ 2110 ends.

Installation

In the process, the new strut will need to be fitted with a compression stroke buffer, a special spacer-type bushing, a casing with an upper cover, a shock absorber pad, a support-type washer and a spring. Let's get started:

• insert the shock absorber rod into the upper hole;
• we press the rack with a beam, using a crowbar or a reliable lift;
• Now you will need to insert the lower mount of the rear pillar into the beam;
• after this you need to carefully fasten the nuts securing the stand;
• install wheels;
• we lower the car.

We select springs according to markings

So, a man came to the store to buy new springs. Which option should I choose? The decoding of the markings presented below will help with this:

• 2101. Ideal for all sedans equipped with rear-wheel drive;
• 21012. A very rigid product, which is usually used on special vehicles;
• 2102. First of all, intended for domestic station wagons. When installing this option, the vehicle's ground clearance increases, which is very important if the vehicle is used off-road;
• 2018. Usually installed on any variant with front-wheel drive, except for Oka and those cars that have a 16-valve power unit under the hood;
• 2110. Designed for expert versions of domestic models from VAZ;
• 2111. Used on models such as VAZ 2111 and 2113. Only on rear suspensions;
• 2112. Similar to the previous version, only for the front suspension;
• 2121. Typically used on four-wheel drive vehicles only. First of all, this is a domestic Niva.

We've decided on the labeling. What else should you pay attention to, for example, if a spring has flown on your beloved Priora? Of course, to the manufacturer.

Let's improve the VAZ 2110

To raise the rear suspension on a VAZ 2110 you need to:

1. Put the car on the handbrake.
2. Use help to lift the rear of the car so that the wheels are in the air and spin freely.
3. Remove the wheel.
4. Unscrew the shock absorber mounting bolt. To do this you will need a key “19”.
5. Get the bolt. Perform a similar operation with the opposite shock absorber.
6. Take the spacer and determine on which side the distance from the base to the first hole is greater. The side where it is larger should be directed inward. The same spacer can be installed on both the right and left shock absorbers, since these devices are mirror symmetrical.
7. Install the spacer so that a line is drawn from the center of its lower hole to the upper hole, which falls into the vertical of the rack. You can install the spacer so that it is not adjustable in height by screwing the shock absorber into a single hole.
8. By unfolding the spacer, you can adjust the suspension height by screwing the strut into the upper or lower hole, but the device will then need to be placed on the opposite rear shock absorber.
9. When installing a spacer on an eye, it is important to install a bolt spacer so that the mechanism does not break during operation. You don't need to tighten the bolt too much, just make sure it fits snugly and doesn't wobble.
10. Install the strut mounting bolt into the holes in the spacer and shock absorber. The height can be adjusted by selecting the top or bottom holes.
11. Also install a spacer on the opposite shock absorber.
12. Adjust the rear brake pressure regulator by unscrewing its mounting bolt. Next, you need to move the bracket with something until the distance between the lever and the spring becomes 2 millimeters.
13. Check the functionality of the brake system. When braking hard at low speed, the rear axle should lock a little later than the front. If the rear wheels brake much later, then you need to reduce the distance from the lever to the mounting spring, and if it is too early, increase it.

Photo instructions

The best spring manufacturers in the domestic market

Of course, most car enthusiasts try to be sure to purchase an original spare part. But, unfortunately, this opportunity is not always provided. Therefore, it is important to know about those companies that produce high-quality analogues.

Here is a list of the most popular ones, according to customer reviews:

1. Sirius . An experienced manufacturer with an impressive range of products and the ability to individually order parts according to customer drawings.
2. Phobos . Budget segment products. The products are inexpensive, but they will also last less than their counterparts from other manufacturers.
3. Technoressor . Another budget option, but with higher quality products.
4. Koni. Good products with the ability to independently adjust the rigidity.
5. Eibach . Expensive, but the quality of the springs offered is excellent.
6. SS20 and Kilen . Two manufacturers who claim 50 percent greater durability of their products than the original VAZ can offer.
7. Asomi . They are made from specially selected alloys, which become even more durable thanks to a special protective coating.

Choice depending on manufacturer

Often, when parts break down, drivers try to buy original factory parts as replacements, not wanting to experiment. However, there is a decent choice from other manufacturers, whose products are sometimes no worse than the original ones.

Sirius

There is a large assortment for different brands of cars, and parts are also manufactured in any configuration according to customer drawings.

Phobos

The quality is satisfactory, but, according to some car enthusiasts, after 2 years they begin to sag, losing rigidity. In total, about 500 types of springs are manufactured under this brand for any brand of car; there are standard, reinforced and lowered springs. Clearance kits with increased ground clearance are also available.

Technospring

Good quality for little money. They lose rigidity over time, but do not sag. Quite good as a budget option.

Koni

Very durable, no sagging. They have a stiffness adjustment directly on the car, done with a special thumb under the hood.

Eibach

High-quality, very durable, practically do not “age” - do not sag, do not lose rigidity. There is no roll when turning. But they cost one and a half times more than Koni.\

SS20

Products of the SS20 brand undergo mandatory testing at test benches, after which they are selected in pairs with similar characteristics. This check ensures, according to the manufacturer, 100 percent product quality. A large assortment allows you to choose the right characteristics depending on your driving style and operating conditions. There are 3 options available:

• hot coiling of standard height with linear compression characteristic;
• cold coiling of standard height with linear and progressive compression characteristics;
• cold coils are lowered, with a progressive compression characteristic.

Kilen

Alternative original springs from Kilen are of the highest quality. The service life, as the manufacturers claim, is twice as long as the original VAZ products.

Asomi

Excellent springs made from special alloys, coated with epoxy coating to increase service life.

Some important tips when choosing the right products

There are several questions from domestic car enthusiasts that I would like to answer at the end of this material:

• Which option is most suitable for the VAZ “seven”? In this particular option, experienced craftsmen do not advise choosing original products specifically for this particular car brand. It is better to take the springs for a VAZ 2104 and cut off one turn of the circle to give the products optimal rigidity for this car.
• Will Niva products fit the “seven”? Yes. And this gives a good result, since the level of comfort while driving does not change, but at the same time the controllability of the car improves.
• What is better to choose for the “ten”? Experts recommend installing products marked 2110 on the rear, and 2108 on the front suspension. The consequence of such actions is to increase the stability of the car when cornering.
• VAZ 2114 – what to buy? It all depends on where the car is used. If it is used more often off-road, then it is better to take the 2112 model, as it can increase the ground clearance by several centimeters.

Actually, when it comes to springs for car suspension, there are a very large number of different options. Therefore, it is always recommended to first seek advice from a reputable and experienced technician before starting any replacement.

Knock or it's time for replacement

This often happens. The car runs about 30 thousand km and nothing, and then suddenly the wheel bearings start knocking at the rear. So it becomes necessary to replace the rear struts. In fact, the knocking sound of the rear suspension is a kind of signal indicating the need for replacement. At the same time, it is still unknown which part should be replaced. After all, a knock does not necessarily indicate a breakdown of the rear suspension, but can only indicate defects. Therefore, it will be relevant to touch upon the topic of determining the cause experimentally and professionally. Therefore, let’s look at the main causes of knocking from behind, so that you know what’s what:

• If the car is moving on an uneven road and a knocking sound is heard, then the cause is most likely faulty shock absorbers that need to be replaced with new ones;
• If it is clearly visible that the rubber bushings of the suspension arms are worn out, then the problem is in the suspensions themselves, which need to be replaced;
• If the spring has settled, then it also needs to be replaced;
• A knock may indicate weak fastening of the shock absorber itself or wear of the rubber bushings of the eyes (all worn elements are replaced with new ones, and the nuts and bolts are properly tightened);
• A knock may also appear when the rear suspension is overloaded or due to its breakdown, which is possible due to the destruction of the compression stroke buffer;
• Sediment or breakage of one of the suspension springs also requires replacement;
• A knock can also occur when the rear axle of the VAZ 2110 moves due to destruction of the suspension arm bushings;
• If the knocking comes from the suspension arms, then they simply need to be replaced with new ones;
• The knocking can also be determined by unloading the trunk (passengers are not seated behind the car and thus the cause of the knocking is determined, which most likely lies in the shock absorbers or springs).

HOW TO DETERMINE SPRING STIFFNESS

The manufacturer applies markings to the suspension springs that correspond to four stiffness groups:

There is also a color coding for springs:

It is recommended to install springs of the same class in the front and rear suspension. In some cases, it is allowed to install class A springs forward and class B springs backward, but not vice versa. If you often have to transport heavy loads in the trunk, you can install reinforced springs (more rigid) back.

Important! They need to be selected in pairs based on stiffness for the front and rear suspension. This wish accounts for 95% of all requirements for springs

Types of springs

The most common are 4 categories of car springs. They are most often installed on vehicles. At the same time, the products are somewhat different from each other, having certain characteristics and advantages.

There are 4 categories of auto springs:

Standard. This is a basic or standard version, which is mainly installed on passenger cars from the factory. Most modern models adapted to normal operating conditions are suitable; Reinforced. Help improve vehicle performance

An up-to-date solution for those for whom it is important to obtain additional strength and stability on the rear and front suspension elements for off-road driving, transporting a heavy trailer or cargo in the car itself; Raising. Or overpriced

Their installation makes it possible to increase the ground clearance, that is, ground clearance, and also improve the load capacity; Lowering. They are also called underestimators. An option for fans of sports driving. They serve to specifically reduce ground clearance and shift the center of gravity of the car.

All categories of springs are in demand and widespread in sale and use. Which ones are right for you, proceed from the operating conditions and the tasks you set for your machine.

Replacing springs may be necessary on almost any car. It's more a matter of wear and tear. If you are not going to change the operating conditions, standard products are replaced with exactly the same ones.

The procedure for replacing springs is carried out on different cars, including:

• Volkswagen Golf;
• Chevrolet Lanos;
• Renault Traffic;
• Peugeot 308;
• BMW X5;
• Skoda Octavia;
• VAZ 2110;
• VAG cars;
• Audi A8;
• Audi 100;
• Toyota Avensis;
• Mercedes ML;
• Lada Priora, etc.

The make and model do not make a fundamental difference here, since the springs can fail on any car.

But when purchasing new products, the specific brand, model, generation and a number of additional parameters must be taken into account. This allows you to select the parts that match your vehicle as accurately as possible.