How to replace rotten thresholds with your own hands

Serial production of the VAZ 2114 lasted from 2003 to 2013; the car continued the line of VAZ “nines” and became its restyled version. The five-door hatchback received updated front body lines, new headlights, and moldings.

Structurally, the Lada Samara of all years of production was built on the same platform as the VAZ 2109; the model received universal engines, an all-metal body with attachments. Considering that the car has been out of production for almost seven years, replacing VAZ 2114 thresholds is one of the most common types of body repairs today.

Replacing thresholds with your own hands

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In this article we will look at how to replace thresholds with your own hands.

The threshold is a stamped panel, which is a structural part of the supporting body of the car.

In a monocoque design, sill panels provide structural reinforcement that influences the vehicle's underbody rigidity and also provide torsional rigidity. While the front and rear parts of the body have zones of planned crumple, the sills provide rigidity to the middle part of the body, which should remain as intact as possible in a crash. Thus, the safety of the driver and passengers depends on the condition of the thresholds.

Thresholds, especially their lower part, are often ignored when washing. Road salt and other contaminants left on them accelerate the onset of corrosion. Also, these elements are constantly exposed to stones and sand that fly from the road while driving and act as an abrasive.

Since the thresholds are a closed, non-ventilated structure, they are vulnerable to corrosion. The worst aspect of threshold corrosion is that it starts from the inside and spreads outward. Thus, corrosion becomes visible when the threshold has already been significantly destroyed. In advanced cases, it may even be impossible to use special places for a jack to lift the car, since these areas have lost their strength due to corrosion. Another problem caused by both completely rusted sills and the bottom can be exhaust gases that can enter the car interior.

Welding speed will be provided by an inverter

For many years, the UAZ 469 car has been very popular among Russians. Having rolled off the assembly line back in the Soviet Union, it is still in demand among extreme sports enthusiasts. It should be noted that the body of this car was very reliable. But it doesn’t last forever, so today the UAZ 469 can increasingly be found in workshops where its body part is being strengthened.

To complete welding work as quickly as possible, an inverter is most often used.

This welding machine uses high frequency currents in its work. Its main advantages are its compactness and excellent speed of operations. In addition, various operating modes allow even a novice master to master the unit in a matter of hours. However, the device also has disadvantages:

high price;
impossibility of welding iron thicker than 3 mm;
frequent breakdowns due to dust.

Do-it-yourself replacement of VAZ 2114 thresholds: step-by-step instructions

If you are dismantling the thresholds, as well as replacing the bottom of a VAZ 2114 with your own hands, it is recommended to drive the car into an inspection hole or turn the car on its side before starting work. If only the threshold needs to be replaced, it is enough to place the car on a flat surface. To work you will need the following tools and materials:

Bulgarian;
a sharp chisel with a wide blade;
hammer;
set of thresholds with amplifier;
automotive putty;
primer;
rubber spatula;
sandpaper R-80;
enamel for paintwork.

In car repair shops, welding machines are used for cutting: the metal is not cut, but welded along the old seams. This allows you to keep the old center pillar amplifier intact and does not damage the metal of the underbody. If the force plate under the strut needs to be replaced, the entire assembly is boiled down.

If you need to replace it yourself, the part is often cut off with a grinder or knocked out with a chisel. It is necessary to attach a new part to the old threshold and draw a dimension line in order to see the perimeter of the future cutting. The cutting is carried out from the central pillar to the left and to the right. Dismantling process:

Remove old paint from the part using a grinder.
Drill out weld points.
Cut off the outer part.
Check the seal and connector: if the metal is rotten, cut it off with a grinder.
Clean the body from rust and sand it down to bare metal.
Try on a new element, adjust it, cut off the excess edge.
Mark the location for spot welding. Clear.

Important points

All work on replacing thresholds should be carried out with the machine installed on a level surface, without distortions.
Before welding the top edge of the new thresholds, you should definitely try hanging the doors on the car yourself. There are often cases when doors after welding either close with difficulty or do not close at all. And this can happen due to one slight misalignment of the thresholds, which is not always possible to notice with the naked eye.
You should never skimp on anti-corrosion treatment of thresholds. If it is not carried out, all the work done will go down the drain in a few years.
It is best to clean thresholds from rust and dirt using a solvent. When working with it, you need to follow safety rules: use gloves, wear safety glasses (this is especially important if you have to work on the bottom of the car while standing under an overpass - drops of solvent can easily get into your eyes), and apply the solvent itself only with a paint brush.
Before welding the thresholds, a series of holes with a diameter of at least 3 mm should be drilled in the areas of metal to which the threshold is planned to be attached. This will greatly facilitate the spot welding process, and the threshold will be held more firmly.

Square pipe instead of thresholds on a VAZ

To change the thresholds on a VAZ 2114 with your own hands, in half of the cases profile pipes are used. This method has proven itself well when replacing similar parts on classic VAZs. The profile has suitable dimensions of width and height, and the metal thickness reaches 2 mm, which ensures the reliability of the body for at least 7 years. In addition, profile pipes in 40% of cases have an additional zinc coating, which ensures the metal’s resistance to corrosion.

To work you will need:

profile pipe 60x60x2 mm: 180 cm for one threshold, 70 cm for the cross member that will connect the spar to the part;
profile with dimensions 40x20x2 mm: 70 cm for an additional cross member, 25 cm for jacks, if you have to reinstall the old ones;
metal plate 15x5 cm to strengthen the part to the bottom;
anticorrosive for the bottom - bitumen mastic 500 g;
Bulgarian;
electric or gas welding, 3 mm electrodes.

Experienced drivers recommend not using an inspection hole, but putting the car on its side, having first removed the battery, door, seats, and interior trim.

Remove moldings and panels.
Using a grinder, cut off the outer part along the top seam and bend the metal.
Cut off the inside, remove the amplifier.
Attach the pipe, cut off the excess part, weld plugs at the ends of the profile.
Tack the profile to the bottom by welding at two points, front and back.
Boil the outer part of the profile to the body, moving from the central pillar. If the body has a bend in this area, tap the pipe during welding to align the profile.
Weld the cross members that will connect the threshold and the spar.
Weld fasteners under the jack, weld plates to the bottom to strengthen the structure.
Clean the weld seams with a grinder and treat with mastic.
Paint and install decorative panels.

Power profile thresholds have maximum resistance to mechanical damage. If the original body elements bend under a strong impact, for example when driving incorrectly on a difficult section, on potholes, etc., then with installed profiles only the paintwork and plastic linings will suffer.

065: The sills have rotted and part of the bottom is at risk

Continuing the theme Life is pain!…

In short, the moment came when it was necessary to remove the floor carpet and the factory Shumka in order to go to the body shop and evaluate what and how much to cook)) And of course, wash the carpet))

I couldn’t capture how I was filming everything, I was in a hurry before it got dark) And the plastic covers had already been removed before that.

It’s not difficult to remove)) Now I’m scolding myself that after buying the car I should have immediately removed it and coated the floor, I didn’t think about it then, but now it’s coming out (((

I pulled out the carpet, under it the standard Shumka was all wet, even if I squeezed it out it stank ((

And... Rust(((In those places that are circled in the photo, the thickness of the metal is like paper, you can easily pierce it with your finger! ((

The studs under the driver's seat have rotted and are bending with your fingers ((I suffered quite a bit while installing the seat back.

I threw out all the old wet and smelly noise.

I only put back the driver's seat, now I drive like in a cramp)) True, it's a rotten cramp))

So everything is sad like this((I’m in a lousy mood((A consultation with a body shop is ahead...

P.S. At least I found out what kind of ECU I have.

Where and from whom can I order the service?

If it is necessary to digest the thresholds in the car, the motorist has three options:

Contact the service center.
Find a competent private auto mechanic.
Do the work yourself.

The first option is the best, but expensive. You should only contact a private owner if he has been recommended by a good friend. You can digest the rapids yourself. But for this you need to have knowledge, skills, a welding tool, follow the algorithm of actions and be extremely careful.

What is this?

By overcooking car sills we mean tuning the body part of a car by a master in order to restore the presentable appearance of this element and give it protective functions. Overlays are usually made of plastic or metal. Plastic is an unaesthetic and impractical material. Therefore, metal sheets are more often used.

Thresholds prevent the formation of dents, abrasions and cracks in the space under the doors. Therefore, when they wear out, repairs are simply necessary. Typically, recovery is carried out by overcooking. For this purpose special tools are used. The work is troublesome and painstaking. There is a risk of damage to the door lock motor. Therefore, it is better to trust the overcooking to service station professionals.

If repair of the linings is required, the motorist needs to do a number of the following actions:

Choose a service station that specializes in restoring cars of a specific brand.
Call the administrator and clarify all the terms of cooperation, the approximate cost and deadlines for completing the work.
Bring the car to a car service center at the time agreed with the technician.
Wait until a specialist inspects the vehicle.
Find out the exact price of the work.
Agree to overcook.
Wait for the repair to be completed.
Evaluate the quality of work.
Pay the auto mechanic for his work.

The wizard’s work follows the following algorithm:

Inspection of the damage to the threshold.
Removing the cover.
Removing the entire element or damaged part by cutting.
Cutting patches from high-quality metal.
Welding the cut part to the thresholds.
Cleaning the trim.
Coating it with a protective compound or film.
Installation in place.

Typically, a car mechanic uses a semi-automatic spot welding machine to repair the trim.

How much does it cost on average to repair thresholds at a service center?

At a car service center, you can either carry out a complete replacement or limit yourself to cosmetic repair of metal from rust. The average cost of work for a service station in the capital region is given; the price does not include the cost of the material used and the part itself:

Complete replacement of thresholds - from 8,000 rubles. Customer details.
Replacement of sills and rear wing - from 23,000 rubles.
Cosmetic repairs with epoxy glue from RUB 2,000.

At a service station within walking distance you can buy all the necessary parts for replacement; the craftsmen will recommend sets of thresholds, moldings, install additional plastic body kits, and carry out tuning.

Approximate price if you carry out repairs and changes yourself:

Set of thresholds and amplifiers - from 2000 rubles.
The cost of one threshold: external part and connector - from 700 rubles.
Amplifier (1 pc.) - from 300 rub.

As an amplifier, you can use a metal plate of the required length and width. It is necessary to make perforation holes in the part with a drill with a diameter of 0.8 cm at a distance of 8-10 cm around the entire perimeter.

When using profile pipes, the price of work will not exceed 3,000 rubles. The cost of the profile is from 450 rubles. for 1 meter, bitumen mastic will cost from 500 rubles. per kilogram jar.

Threshold repairs on a VAZ are carried out if the part is new, but due to careless driving the body has received a dent from an impact. In other cases, it is recommended to replace the element with a new one.

What may determine the cost of elements?

For the body of the Lada Sputnik, black rolled steel was used, which was not galvanized. When replacing with your own hands or in a car service center, they use factory repair kits, parts from the secondary market, or make them themselves.

With a full replacement, the price of thresholds for a VAZ 2114 will depend on several factors:

parameters of the steel used;
is the original amplifier used?
where repair or replacement is carried out.

Standard parts for VAZ today are produced in the experimental workshop of AvtoVAZ (Tolyatti) and in Naberezhnye Chelny. The steel threshold comes complete with an aluminum trim. When installing on a car, parts must be additionally measured. The cost of the original repair kit is 2,600 rubles.

How to replace the thresholds of a VAZ 2109 with your own hands

If a significant part of the thresholds is damaged by corrosion, then there are no options other than completely replacing these body elements. To carry out repair work you will need the following list of tools and materials:

semi-automatic welding machine;
new thresholds;
Bulgarian;
drill;
sandpaper;
putty and primer;
anti-corrosion compound (mastic).

Features of replacement and preparation for it

When planning body repairs, you need to understand that the design of the VAZ 2109 thresholds consists of the following elements:

outer box;
inner box;
amplifier

The outer and inner boxes are the outer walls of the threshold. The outer element goes outside and is located under the door, and the inner one is located in the cabin. The amplifier is an element located between two boxes inside. Most often, the outer frame is subject to corrosion, and when replacing thresholds, this particular body part is in mind.

Even though new parts are used when replacing thresholds, they still require preparation. From the factory they are covered with shipping primer, which must be cleaned before installation, i.e. the metal must shine. This is done using sandpaper or grinder attachments. After cleaning, the elements are degreased and coated with epoxy primer.

The final preparation of the thresholds comes down to drilling holes with a diameter of 5–7 mm for welding in the places where the parts adhere to the body.

Preparatory procedures also include the dismantling of doors, aluminum sill trims and interior elements (seats, floor covering, etc.). Before the immediate start of work on removing the old thresholds, a metal corner is welded to the racks from inside the cabin. It will provide rigidity to the body and prevent it from deforming after cutting off the thresholds.

Step-by-step replacement instructions

Having prepared everything you need, you can begin the repair. The procedure consists of the following steps:

Place the new threshold on top of the old one and outline it with a marker.

Video: replacing thresholds on a VAZ 2109

Damage to the sills by corrosion on the VAZ “Nine” is common. These body elements can be replaced by every car owner who knows how to use an angle grinder and semi-automatic welding. If you don’t have such experience, then it’s better to trust the specialists. Only in this case can one hope for high-quality repair work and a long service life of the thresholds.