Crab on VAZ 2114: operation and replacement

To begin with, we will describe the location and functional purpose of the so-called “crab” on the VAZ 2114. “Crab” is the front suspension beam mounting bracket.
The resemblance to a marine arthropod is given by four mounting holes for bolts. Faulty crabs are a common problem with Lada Samara of the first and second generations. The brackets are made of a rather fragile material - silumin, so during prolonged use or increased load on the chassis they simply collapse. The destruction can be complete or partial (when one of the four fastenings comes off).

Even if one of the four sides is torn off, it is unsafe to continue to operate the car: the increased load on the bracket will lead to the threads from the remaining fasteners being subsequently torn off.

It happens that a car enthusiast notices that the fastening of the VAZ 2114 crabs has just begun to collapse - in this case, a crack appears on the bracket area. The crack can be welded, but this will be a temporary measure that will slightly extend the service life of the fastener.

If a breakdown occurs while driving, this can lead to loss of control over the car, so it is better to periodically check the integrity of the brackets of their platforms: “crabs” do not fail instantly, this is preceded by long-term wear with all visual manifestations (unless, of course, it is not This is a manufacturing defect).

IMPORTANT! The main danger of increased wear of the front suspension beam mount is that the breakdown has no “symptoms”: the driver can lose control at one moment, even if there were no prerequisites for this.

Crab on VAZ 2114: operation and replacement

Very often, on cars produced by AvtoVAZ, a malfunction occurs such as a breakdown or even complete destruction of the front suspension brace fastening.
The crab on the VAZ 2114 is no exception (this is what many drivers call this fastener). The main reason for such frequent breakdowns is the material from which the crab is made, namely various aluminum alloys (like silumin). If, while driving, a car touches high protruding elements - stones or bricks, with its brace fastening, then in most cases this leads to the destruction of the latter.

It would seem, why did the designers choose this particular material, since crab 2114 could have been made of steel? The answer here is quite simple - this element is made fragile specifically in order to save other, more important and expensive elements of the car suspension when it collapses.

Panhard rod Drift Spec, adjustable VAZ 2101, 2102, 2103, 2104, 2105, 2106, 2107, 2121, 2123

Adjustable longitudinal bar (“Panhard rod”) for VAZ 2101, 2102, 2103, 2104, 2105, 2106, 2107 cars on rubber silent blocks.

Thanks to the use of a thick-walled pipe with a diameter of 30 mm in the manufacture of the rod, as well as VAZ 2108 silent blocks, it was possible to increase the rigidity of this suspension element relative to the original.

An adjustable crossbar allows you to adjust the lateral position of the rear axle when installing a lowered suspension

In warehouse in Samara

How to replace a crab on a VAZ 2115 with your own hands - step-by-step instructions

We drive into the pit, put the car on the handbrake, install wheel chocks, and jack up the front end.
We dismantle the protection and remove the front bumper.
Using a “24” wrench, unscrew the rod nut.

After this, you need to unscrew the three bolts securing the crab to the platform and remove it

We install the new crab in place and fasten it with bolts.

Further assembly is performed in reverse order. Before tightening, we lubricate the fastening bolts with graphite or, in extreme cases, with polish, this will make your life easier in the future.

That's all I wanted to say! As you can see, there is nothing difficult in this work. Now you know what a crab is, why it breaks and how to replace it if it malfunctions. Thank you for your attention and see you again at VAZ Repair.

Replacement of pads

If welding the platform does not make sense (the thread of the nut or the nut itself is broken, the bolt securing the VAZ 2109 crab is broken), then a grinder and welding will be needed here.

Tip: When starting to replace the site, be sure to close the radiator, and if welding is performed from the passenger seat, then also close the generator from sparks. There is no need to remove them; this is an additional and unnecessary waste of time and money (if the repair is carried out at a service station).

Let's move on to actions:

Attach the plate and mark the places for future cuts
Using a grinder, remove the old platform, rusty metal and clean the areas around the cuts; when welding, it is important that the metal is clean
Before performing welding work, you need to remove both terminals from the battery
Weld the plate firmly
The quality of the seams is important here; it must be good, since the part operates under conditions of increased loads, so it makes sense to entrust this work to an experienced welder

The bracket is screwed to the overcooked platform, although the quality of the seams leaves much to be desired, and they were clearly too lazy to clean them

To prevent your car from looking like in the photo, after completing the welding work, you should clean the seams and, to increase protection against rust, coat the surfaces with anti-rust (for example, Tamak) and cover with primer
Attach the stretcher (if you removed it), screw the bracket into place, tightening each bolt of the VAZ 2109 crab (again, carefully, do not break the bolts) Then attach the bumper (see Removing the front bumper of the VAZ) and the lower protection
In the future, when operating the car, it is recommended to check the brackets after each strong impact.
It is recommended not to drive with a broken (split, cracked) “crab” unless absolutely necessary (this is dangerous for the health and life of people around you and for you too). Faulty (damaged, cracked) “crabs” discovered in time should certainly be replaced with new ones as soon as possible
This measure will help save your money, as well as your health and life. Replacing the brackets is complete, everything is simple and completely doable on your own.

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How to replace the “Crab” with a VAZ 2115 yourself

Specialized fastenings in the VAZ 2115 car, more popularly known as “crab”, quite often require replacement or repair in cars of this brand. The mechanism is a kind of bracket for fastening the extension. The original name comes from its shape. The product consists of a bracket with holes for bolts, which is why this mount looks like a crab.

Today, such a mechanism can only be found in cars of several brands. Quite often, various situations happen with VAZ 2115 cars, resulting in deformation or breakage of the element. Experienced professionals who repeatedly deal with the repair of these car brands recommend that owners treat the car with care so as not to damage the specialized bracket. However, given the state of our roads, this is quite difficult to do.

Emergency situations and their solutions

Quite often, quite experienced owners of a VAZ 2115 car install a “crab” made of titanium alloys. This solution is highly durable and guarantees a high level of safety at various speeds under conditions of high loads. If damage or cracks occur, it is recommended to move slowly or call a tow truck to deliver the vehicle to a service center.

If the crab is completely torn off, it is necessary to call a tow truck and go directly to the service station so that experienced professionals can weld or completely replace such a spare part. An important condition for operating a vehicle in various situations is the level of damage that determines the ability of the vehicle to move independently.

Features of performing repairs and self-replacement of the crab on a VAZ 2115

In order to begin independently replacing this part or repairing it, you must have the following tools and materials:

Standard set of sockets or spanners;
Specialized liquid VD-40;
A reinforced pipe, which may become necessary if the fasteners, that is, the bolts on the bracket, are too oxidized.

If the owner wants to carry out independent repairs, then it is necessary to have a specialized welding machine and some experience in using such a unit.

Step-by-step instruction

Experienced service center professionals have created successive steps that will help the owner of a VAZ 2115 independently replace the “crab”:

place the vehicle on the pit;
turn on the handbrake;
install wheel chocks;
use a jack to raise the front of the car;
dismantle the protection;
remove the front bumper;
unscrew the rod nut;

unscrew several mounting bolts;

dismantle the mechanism;
install a new element (or a restored old one);
tighten the bolts;

carry out installation according to the previous principle, but in reverse order.

Recommendations from experts

It is recommended: before finally securing the bracket bolts, they must be lubricated with a specialized product so that they do not oxidize, and in the future this part can be replaced without any problems.

It is important to note that a faulty bracket may not always completely immobilize the vehicle. Thus, if any errors are observed in the functioning of this mechanism, it is important to carry out independent diagnostics or contact experienced specialists.

During the operation of the car, play appears repeatedly, which indicates negative changes that have occurred with the bracket. In such a situation, it is important to inspect the vehicle and, if necessary, replace the faulty mechanism.

Cost and features of brands

Let's start with, which specializes in the production of spare parts for the national automobile industry. Products are certified. Quality standards are maintained in accordance with the standards adopted in the Russian Federation. Brackets of this brand are made by stamping and welding from sheet steel. The bushing material is polyurethane, whose safety factor is higher than that of rubber analogues. The strength of the adhesive connection virtually eliminates separation from the metal even under extreme loads. “Sitek Profi” variety has increased body strength and rigidity of silent blocks. Estimated cost – 1250 rubles per set .

Products from Autoproduct , designed to replace standard brackets, not only improve vehicle handling, but also reduce the load on the body. They increase the rigidity of the suspension mounting points and allow you to set the caster to more than 2 degrees. Approximate price - 1750 per pair .

Under maximum loads, which means frequently occurring bumps, holes, potholes and other unevenness of the road surface, the “CS-20 DRIVE” will give the motorist the opportunity to control the stability of the vehicle and the separation of the wheels from the highway.

Imported cast three-component polyurethane, including prepolymer “CS3516-B” .
Mixed compounds of polyols "CS3516-65A" and catalyst "CS3516-C" .

The part is an original development for the CS-20.

Improved controllability.
Wear resistance.
The service life is several times longer than rubber analogues.

The described benefits remain at any time of the year. Temperature range: from -60 to +140 degrees Celsius. Price – 650 per unit . At the same time, the standard Tolyatti one has a spread from 344 to 383 . Polyurethane fasteners from the PIK company cost from 394 to 438 rubles . Sports “crabs” “Tehnomaster” will be sold to you for 1 thousand 350 rubles - a pair. Among the stated advantages are increased rigidity and improved controllability of the machine. Due to the installation of bushings of smaller diameter.

If we talk about more budget options, the reinforced Inter-auto sells for 275 rubles apiece . Weight 535 grams. Dimensions 15*13*7 centimeters.

From all of the above, we can conclude that on average standard mounts cost from 275 rubles per unit. High-strength sellers estimate 650-900 .

Replacing the crab for VAZ 2108, VAZ 2109, VAZ 21099

Welcome! Crab - thanks to it, the brace is attached to the body of the car, crab this name generally came from the people, in fact it is an ordinary bracket for attaching the brace, but it got its name because it is made in the shape of a crab (This bracket has holes for bolts, they are very similar to a claw crab), only two families of front-wheel drive cars are equipped with these brackets (the Samara family and the Samara 2 family, but they were removed on the tenth family) and therefore on these cars (and on dozens too), you need to drive much more carefully, twist the crabs are made not of titanium alloy, but of ordinary aluminum, and if a large stone hits them while driving at high speed, for example, you can immediately stop and check the crab, if it is damaged (a small crack), then get into the car and carefully drive to at home, if it is completely torn off, then in this case call a tow truck and take the car either home or directly to the service station (It depends on how the crab was torn off, if you do not know how to handle welding, and the crab along with the platform was torn off, then you can immediately go to the service center, if the platform remains in place but the crab has also fallen off, then first look at the threads where the bolts are screwed in; if it is all torn off, then also go straight to the service center, because in this case the platform will need to be changed).

What influences price formation?

The cost of the “crab,” like any other component, depends on the cost of its production and the markup set by the seller. However, the costs of each enterprise, car dealership or online resource are calculated differently. Based on this, even identical fasteners do not have a fixed cost. For example, a set of “crabs” of the “Sevi Expert” brand can cost either 587 or 924 rubles. Intermediate options range around 650 rubles. Then everything depends on the availability of goods in the warehouse and delivery time.

It is no secret that the final amount in the check is influenced by the manufacturing technology of spare parts. Catalogs are full of names of various manufacturing companies. Each, in pursuit of a client, tries to maintain the ratio of price and quality.

What to consider when choosing a new crab?

As stated previously, all front brace brackets are designed to be frangible to ensure the safety of more critical parts when impacted by obstacles.

At the same time, all crabs currently on the market can be divided into the following groups according to the materials from which they are made:

While the first two types of crabs work on the same principle (they break apart in an accident and differ only in their weight and strength), steel crabs work somewhat differently. They are made of a powerful metal base with a welded steel strip that serves as a traction mount.

The fragile element in this case is the weld - if damaged, it bursts and the entire bracket is divided into two parts.

This design is more reliable (for example, it will not burst while tightening the bolts, which sometimes happens with low-quality crabs), but you should understand that it will “work” only with a strong impact. A collision with insufficient energy to fracture a weld may well be sufficient to damage other suspension components.

Faulty crabs are a common problem with Lada Samara of the first and second generations. The brackets are made of a rather fragile material - silumin, so during prolonged use or increased load on the chassis they simply collapse. The destruction can be complete or partial (when one of the four fastenings comes off).

Is it possible to drive with a faulty crab?

In most cases, driving with a faulty brace fastening is impossible. This is caused by the fact that the wheel on the damaged side becomes simply uncontrollable, and movement even at a minimum speed turns out to be extremely difficult.

If the crab is completely broken, you should stop driving the car until it is repaired, and if the breakdown occurs far from home, then call a tow truck.

Cracked crab VAZ 2114
Sometimes a slightly different situation happens - it seems that the fastening is not damaged, and the car is driven normally, but at the same time a knocking sound is periodically heard from one of the wheels (especially clearly when going over uneven surfaces).

This may be caused by the fact that the fit of the fasteners on the crab itself has worn out (due to the fact that it is made of fragile material) and backlashes have appeared.

This is very easy to check - you just need to put the car on an overpass or hang it on jacks, and then inspect the mount. If it turns out that backlashes have indeed appeared, then the crab should be immediately replaced with a new one.

Driving a car with a worn-out crab that has strong play can lead to its spontaneous destruction even without colliding with an obstacle (which is extremely dangerous, as it can happen when driving at high speed).

What does this threaten?

As a result of a breakdown, the wheel begins to move backwards or forwards. Further use of the car is simply impossible. If this happens far from populated areas, you can only call a tow truck. Most often, two types of failure occur - complete destruction or separation of one bolt, together with a nut, and the threads of the remaining two nuts are stripped. There are also two ways to deal with such a breakdown: perform the entire repair procedure yourself or seek help from a specialized automobile workshop.

Tools and materials

Tools you will need:

Spanners (take a full set at once);
Socket wrenches;
Vise;
Chisel;
Hammer;
Puller;
Silent blocks.

There are several important nuances:

to take silent blocks from repair kits intended for models 2108-2112 . You will simply waste your money because they are not suitable for the fourteenth VAZ model.

The easiest way to purchase a puller is at auto parts stores. But you can ask your friends for it.

You can make a device for pressing in a new silent block yourself. To do this you will need a 170mm M12 bolt, a bushing, a washer and a high nut. But if you have the opportunity to use a full-fledged, real tool, do just that.