Which shock absorbers are better to install on Niva 21213

Replacing front elements

To change the front shock absorbers, you need to hang the car, remove the wheel, and use a 17-socket wrench to unscrew the nut at the top mount, holding it from turning. Remove the washer and rubber cushion from the shock absorber rod mount. Then you need to remove the part from the rod of the bracket hole. Next, using the same “17” key, you need to unscrew the nut on the lower mounting bolt, remove the bolt and remove the shock absorber, including the lower rubber cushion and the spacer sleeve on the rod. The new shock absorber is installed in the reverse order. The lower fastening of the nut must be finally tightened when the Niva is on its wheels.

On sports Nivas you can find strengthening of the front suspension by installing an additional second shock absorber. As a result of such tuning, the car receives a wide range of operating modes for the suspension. The resulting two shock absorbers overheat less and have a longer service life due to the redistribution of loads.

The suspension becomes very reliable due to the duplication element, which allows you to ride tolerably even when one of the shock absorbers fails, for example, during a race. The work involves welding additional fastening points, and there are very few services where this work can be done efficiently at a price of about 4000-5000 rubles.

The SS20 company offers front and rear reinforced shock absorbers for the classic NIVU 2121, 2131 and their modifications, NIVU 21214M, LADA 4×4 (3 and 5 doors) and Urban versions.

Front shock absorbers for VAZ 2121 and 21214 (Niva)

The shock absorbers on the front wheels of both Nivas are not divided into right/left, and have the same article number. The length of the shock absorbers of both generations is almost the same, only on the Niva produced after 1994 the rod stroke is slightly longer. Otherwise, they are identical, have the same design and fastenings, and are interchangeable.

Many drivers note slight improvements (reduced sway) in the shock-absorbing qualities of the front wheels of the VAZ 2121 when installing front shock absorbers from the newer Niva (21214). But during dynamic driving, these advantages disappear.

As for the reviews about the original front shock absorbers for Niva 2121 and 21214, they are different. The spare part has most of the “sores” that plague most oil shock absorbers from SAAZ - poor off-road stability, as well as unpleasant vibrations and sounds even on roads with relatively minor irregularities.

vendor code	Rod diameter, mm	Case diameter, mm	Body height (excluding stem), mm	Rod stroke, mm	price, rub.
Dimensions of front shock absorbers for Niva VAZ 2121
21210290540282	12	41	220	105	650
Dimensions of front shock absorbers for Niva VAZ 21214
21214290500400	12.5	45	217	115	1000

Sometimes Niva owners install gas-oil shock absorbers on the front wheels under article number 21214290500402. Their manufacturer is also SAAZ, but these are not installed from the factory. There is a slight increase in ride comfort.

Analogs of front shock absorbers for Niv 2121 and 21214

Replacement front shock absorber struts are more popular than the originals. The reason for this is the poor performance of factory spare parts on off-road and rough roads. And for the Niva this is important, since it is an SUV.

Although for both generations of the Niva under consideration, the analogues of the front shock absorbers are slightly different (except for the manufacturer SS20) due to slight differences in the original shock absorbers, but they are all interchangeable and fit without any problems on both the VAZ-2121 and VAZ-21214.

Manufacturer	vendor code	price, rub.
Analogs for front shock absorbers Niva 2121
SS20	SS20220	2500 (set of 2 pieces)
Trialli	AG01005 (gas)	650
Trialli	AH01005 (oil)	600
Analogs for front shock absorbers Niva 21214
SS20	SS20220	2500 (set of 2 pieces)
Trialli	AG01013 (gas)	1000
Trialli	AH01013 (oil)	950

A drop of economics

My site on fields has existed for many years and I could make a number of “Yunnat” observations. The contingent that buys cornfields and shnivy is completely different. Let's put it very mildly, farmers are frugal people. But it seems to me that there is no need to reach the point of insanity in this matter. I'll try to explain in understandable language. SAAZ shock absorbers were installed from the assembly line onto simple fields. Skopinsky Automotive Assembly Plant. Let's take his products as a basis. Let’s not talk about product quality now, just arithmetic calculations. I called the nearest auto store and asked about the availability and price of these shock absorbers. I was told that one shock absorber costs 570 rubles. But I still need to buy a set of rubber bands for the rear shock absorbers for 60 rubles, because they come “naked”. Let's make calculations that are accessible to elementary school students. The turnkey kit will cost the driver 2,350 rubles. Today I offer kayaba shock absorbers for the Niva - 3,000 rubles for 4 pieces. Complete set, with all nuts and high-quality branded rubber bands. We are talking about December 2021. Guys, when the price of a bourgeois part differs significantly from the price of our part, the savings are clear to me. But when we are talking about 20-30%, and the gap in quality and resource differs significantly, this is beyond my understanding. And if we are talking about Chinese “branded” products (Dukes, Fin whales, Hofers), then their retail price is the same as for a branded Kayaba.

KYB oil shock absorbers for Niva

Rear shock absorbers for Niva 2121, 21214

The rear shock absorbers on both generations of Niva also do not differ from the installation side, and have the same serial number. As is the case with the front ones, the rear struts of the VAZ 2121 are slightly smaller than the shock absorbers of the Niva 21214. And they are also interchangeable. As for quality, the problem is still the same - uncomfortable driving on off-road and uneven roads. The dimensions of original spare parts are shown in the table.

vendor code	Rod diameter, mm	Case diameter, mm	Body height (excluding stem), mm	Rod stroke, mm	price, rub.
Dimensions of rear shock absorbers for Niva VAZ 2121
21212915402	12	41	310	182	600
Dimensions of rear shock absorbers for Niva VAZ 21214
21214291500400	12.5	45	315	198	1000

Also, some drivers install original front shock absorbers from UAZs on the rear wheels of Nivs. This solution is most effective if the car is operated in severe frosts (from -30 to -45 degrees Celsius). In other cases, it will be more effective to install analogues.

Analogues of rear shock absorbers for Niva 4×4

The popularity of various replacements for the rear struts of the Lada Niva is similar to that for the front struts. Analogues also, although different, are interchangeable. The table below shows the most popular ones.

Manufacturer	vendor code	price, rub.
Analogs for rear shock absorbers Niva 2121
SS20	SS20224	2600 (2 pcs.)
Fenox	A12175C3	550
Alca	842340	500
Analogs for rear shock absorbers Niva 21214
SS20	SS20224	2600 (2 pcs.)
Trialli	AG01514	1000
Hola	SH40-413G	850

Which shock absorbers for Niva VAZ 2121 and 21214 are best to buy? For normal city driving and relatively smooth highways, the original spare part is sufficient. If the car will be used off-road, then it is better to install Trialli (the most popular brand among Niva owners). Or you can install racks from the Russian SS20 “Comfort” series. They are moderately tough and perform well on uneven surfaces.

According to the rating of shock absorbers for the VAZ 2121 on PartReview dated 04/02/20, shock absorbers from HOLA are also installed on the Niva. Unfortunately, the TOP is based on a very small number of reviews to be guided only by them, but they were all written by the owners of this car.

Shock absorbers on Niva are changed depending on their condition.

As is correct, the original strut does not last too long - up to 50 thousand km. And when operating a car off-road and on bad roads, the period decreases depending on the intensity of their use.

Source: etlib.ru

There are domestic products on the market

introduces shock absorbers of the 4x4 series and the Sport series for the Niva car. The first ones are gas-powered and have such positive qualities as a small delay when steering maneuvers, moderate rolls, and a slight tendency to breakdown. However, they give longitudinal swing, are prone to tossing of the rear axle, and provide a low level of comfort. Buyers note that the kit does not include bushings, nuts and rubber bands, which creates the need for additional costs.

Niva 21213 will also work well on “one-pipe” ones with support from the American one (there are releases from French and Spanish branches). These products are suitable for quickly covering long distances with high loads and good asphalt, but will be uncomfortable for those who drive slowly off-road. Users believe that in this version, the front hard shock absorbers combine well with the rear long-travel and flexible ones, which eliminates the “goat” of the car.

In addition, you can look for suitable parts among the products of Al-ko (the official supplier of shock absorbers for MANN), FinWhale (Finnish products, there are inexpensive samples), Grodno (Belarusian production, very cheap), etc.

What wears out quickly and how to change it?

Most often, parts in the shock absorber design that suffer are the rod seal or the valve mechanism. The oil seals simply wear out like rubber products, crack, and oil begins to leak out, the level of required resistance drops. During its service life, the rod inside the cylinder makes hundreds of thousands of movements back and forth, so if scuffing or corrosion appears on it, its service life is significantly reduced. This is also facilitated by high dust content in the air: dust passes between the boot and the body, settles and has an abrasive destructive effect. Also, the service life is affected by fast driving on broken roads and rapid acceleration in cold weather (to preserve the shock absorbers, it is better to drive a couple of kilometers at low speed to warm up all Niva systems).

Shock absorbers for VAZ (Lada) 2121 (4×4)

for repair of VAZ (Lada) 2121 (4×4)

The shock absorbers were more or less decent based on their price for gas hydraulics. They are alive, but the bushings are covered.

I put Monroe Reflex in a circle... Cool theme... It's smooth around the city, handles great on the highway.

I am quite happy with it, the car also behaves confidently on the highway even at a speed of 150 km/h and the handling has improved, and this is not only on the highway, but also off-road. After 4 years of use there are no complaints, I will buy them again!

I changed it before, at least the jumping went away.

Nothing has changed in terms of ground clearance; at speed the original shock absorbers felt less of a rut; Monroe was softer or something.

I bought back Tokico oil. THEY ARE SUPER

I bought them a year and a half ago and during all this time I have been enjoying driving the car, the roll has become much less in corners, and a little harsh, but this negates the permissiveness on the track and in corners. The Koni shock absorbers have three settings for hardness, I set them to the softest and they are still much stiffer than the original ones. Regarding the price, I will say one thing: yes, they are expensive, but believe me, they are worth the money.

Hola gas engines are a pleasure to drive, smooth and not heeling!

Hola shock absorbers. Now the ass doesn’t “rearrange” on bumps, and they work well.

They advised me to take TOKICO. It feels like heaven and earth, the car has become more stable on the road, and driving on uneven roads is much more comfortable. I am satisfied with the purchase.

Write your review about shock absorbers

Help others - tell us about your experience using the spare part.

Vectra
Mokka
Antara
Astra
SPORTS TOURER
Meriva
Zafira Tourer

6 April 2021, 06:37

Voted AGAINST GENERAL MOTORS motor oils for Opel Astra on the auto rating page.

6 April 2021, 06:35

The OEM Mitsubishi hub has its first review!

6 April 2021, 06:35

The B-RING hub has its first review!

6 April 2021, 06:31

ASTROhim car shampoos have only 4 reviews. Perhaps you will add another one?

Which shock absorbers should I choose for VAZ (Lada) 2121 (4×4)?

Last month, PartReview users preferred Hola. 32% of positive votes belong to this manufacturer.

Monroe shock absorbers took second place - 21%.

Tokico closes the top three with 21% of the votes.

In the general rating of shock absorbers, which takes into account the opinions of owners of different brands and models of cars, these brands occupy the following positions:

Hola received 5th place, PR score - 81. Data from 92 reviews and 289 votes are taken into account.
Monroe took 11th place, with a PR score of 71. Based on 92 reviews and 431 votes.
Tokico is ranked 14th with a PR score of 68 based on 66 reviews and 220 votes.

Shock absorbers

Go to page:

Shock absorbers

Post by Micah » Dec 21, 2009, 00:54

Re: Shock absorbers

Post by medvedka » Dec 21, 2009, 01:35

If you have the opportunity to install Bilstein, I highly recommend it. Kayaby Excel Zhi - cotton wool. Plus very unstable quality. Kayaba’s policy is, and many have noticed, to make a cheap suspension look bad. My Toyota has KYB AGX, 8 stiffness modes - a very good suspension. The energy intensity is like that of a tank, the car at a speed of 120 does not roll in corners in hard mode, it avoids holes and bumps, which are quite scary on an UAZ. and very comfortable on the softest mode. On the Niva there were Excel Zhi - complete junk. The car resembled a bathtub filled with water. it doesn’t steer at all.. Before Kayaba there were Bilsteins - there was just space. I don’t know what model, my father still installed it. I remember that they were quite expensive, relative to Kayaba.. SAAZ are not shock absorbers at all, but two plugs instead of shock absorbers. Monroe did not live even 100 km on the Saab 9000. Moreover, these were guaranteed to be real Monroes, back in 1995 they were taken through an official supplier, an acquaintance.

I didn’t like ExcelGee because they seemed to be so sporty. but only the slightest load and the feeling that they are not there at all. In general, if we are talking about recommendations, then Bilstein. If we’re talking about saving, then it’s a matter of taste)) I want to put a Kony on the UAZ, even the Toyota also has a good suspension. I don't like saving on this.

Re: Shock absorbers

Post by MEW » 21 Dec 2009, 05:42

Re: Shock absorbers

Post by Anton » Dec 21, 2009, 10:48 am

Re: Shock absorbers

Post by bambr » Dec 21, 2009, 10:52 am

Re: Shock absorbers

Post by Pilot » Dec 21, 2009, 01:33 pm

Re: Shock absorbers

Post by Micah » Dec 21, 2009, 2:05 pm

Re: Shock absorbers

Post by bambr » Dec 22, 2009 00:28

Re: Shock absorbers

Post by GAR » Jan 30, 2010, 01:14 pm

So shock absorbers. A sore subject for me personally (because I like to drive). Now I have KYB ULTRA - SR (sports series price 80 USD - real Japanese ones, not Taiwan), golden metallic color, according to my observations these are the hardest kayabs. In order, for example, to compress the shock absorber, you need to lean on it with all your weight, and the shock absorber holds you (my weight is 80 kg), it compresses very reluctantly, you can’t put the front one in place with your hands, I used a device to install it! The Amov setup is as follows: the front is hard with a fast rebound, the rear is hard with a slow rebound (this setting allows you to get rid of “goat” and also reduces understeer, which is a “+” for NIVA)! Driving impressions: no rocking, roll in corners is minimal, on off-road they allow you to drive very quickly with all wheels “jumping” and “flying” half a meter without suspension breakdowns. Braking dynamics have also noticeably improved, especially during emergency braking. But when you pass a speed bump, you get a serious kick in the ass, it seems like there is no suspension at all! A comfortable speed bump speed is less than 15 km/h, or more than 80 km/h. On broken asphalt (every spring here the snow melts off along with the asphalt!) the shock absorbers destroy all the insides, although by lowering the tires to 1.8 atm you can finally “fly” without any problems without noticing the potholes (which is what I do)! The car holds the road just perfectly, incomparably with standard SAAZs. When driving at high speed on a hard dirt road, they can heat up to a temperature of 60-80 degrees, and they work as efficiently as cold ones, but they work better on small things than cold ones! We have already passed 12,000 km - the flight is normal. I haven’t used Bilstein or KONI - I can’t compare it with the ultra-sr-ovskaya kayaba!

I used KYB EXEL-G, on them the NIVA drives very comfortably on bad asphalt - the characteristics are more stable during long-term driving on uneven surfaces than those of SAAZs - otherwise they drive almost the same as SAAZs! My IMHO is no better than SAAZ, but maybe they are more expensive, I don’t know!

Source: www.niva-club.net

Rear suspension instructions

Replacing the rear shock absorber is carried out in almost the same way as when repairing the front suspension. If it is possible to install the car above the inspection hole or raise it on a lift, then you can do without removing the wheel. In this case, the work can be done as follows.

The car should be raised on a jack or lift.
Unscrew the lower fastening.
Unscrew the top bolt.
Remove the shock absorber.

When the faulty shock absorber is removed, a new product is installed. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure high-quality tightening of the threaded fastening.

Attention! Before installing new shock absorbers, it is recommended to bleed them manually.