Replacing the clutch cable Lada Kalina: how to change the cable

The drive cable in the clutch mechanism of the domestic Lada Kalina model plays a huge connecting role. By means of this element, the driver, when pressing the corresponding pedal, forcibly disconnects the driven disk from the rotating flywheel. A direct “participant” in the process of disengaging the clutch, transmitting the pressing force to the basket, is the release bearing.

Why did the manufacturer prefer a cable drive? In classic car models, the cable gave way to a hydraulic drive, when the clutch is released by acting on the fork by a system of hydraulic cylinders (main and working).

It is not uncommon for the cable to break, after which the car is no longer able to move, since changing gears becomes impossible. Only replacing the clutch cable will return the car to full functionality. The repair procedure itself does not cause difficulties, so it is accessible even to those novice owners who have embarked on the path of a motorist for the first time. And therefore, many people are interested in the question: how to change the cable?

When does the cable need to be replaced?

Of course, after the fact of its breakdown! However, this is not the only case, because experts recommend leaning towards this procedure if several wires are also broken in the tip. Another relevant advice is related to the need for this repair procedure when the plastic braiding of the cable has acquired visible through damage.

Please pay attention! The clutch cable in a Lada Kalina car can not only break, it is also prone to gradual stretching. As a result, there comes a time when it will not be possible to engage the gear. Situations are more rare if the car has been idle for a long time without moving. This can cause acidification of the cable inside the sheath.

Error p0504 Lada Granta
Wiring diagram of Lada Granta norm with description of elements
Granta sport review

Additional Information on Clutch Cable Compensating Mechanism

The compensation mechanism on the LADA Kalina clutch cable is designed to ensure that cable is always in a tense state. A slight deviation of 1-2 mm is either “selected” or added to the length by the compensating mechanism.

The clutch cable of the Lada Kalina, as on any car, is one of the irreplaceable and fundamental parts that performs the function of turning the clutch on and off at the time of gear shifting. A malfunction of this unit can affect the operation of the unit, and untimely replacement will lead to excessive wear on other parts of the structure.

READ Replacing the front wheel bearing of Skoda Fabia

Clutch cable, LADA Kalina, replacement.

Replacing the LADA Kalina clutch cable,

Dismantling the old cable

First, we find the clutch drive pedal.
We remove the stop from the cable sheath. The braid itself is attached to the pedal bracket. The manipulation is very simple. Using the “8” wrench, we simply unscrew the nut that secures the shell to the bracket. Having “defeated” the nut, we easily remove the stop from the stud.
Now there is an approach directly to the finger. A stopper is held on it, which we remove using pliers (or a screwdriver). After dismantling the marked stopper, remove the clutch disc compensation unit (driven).
We remove the plastic bushing located on the pedal drive finger. A visual inspection of its condition would be useful. If there are visible deformations, we replace it with a new product. Before installing the bushing, lubricate the pin surface with lithol.
We proceed to removing the seal from the cable sheath.

In the interior of the Lada Kalina, the entire list of manipulations has been completed, so the next step will be dismantling the elements under the hood.

Let's proceed further

On the transmission unit, pull the end of the cable towards you. It should come out of the landing hook without any effort.
Now we unscrew the leash, which we remove from the tip.
The final step is to pull the clutch cable out of the bracket on the transmission.

A special feature of the Lada Kalina model is its one-piece bracket, not a split one. Here you will need to remove the cable from the corresponding hole in the bracket towards the interior. The component we are looking at is now removed.

How to remove and install Kalina clutch cable

You will need : an “8” wrench, a flat-head screwdriver, and a caliper.

Removing the Kalina clutch cable begins from the interior, under the panel:

Unscrew the nut of the cable sheath bracket to the pedal assembly using a 8mm wrench.
Pry and remove the spring clip from the clutch pedal pin groove using a flat-head screwdriver.
Remove the eye of the automatic cable length adjustment mechanism housing from the clutch pedal pin.
Remove the upper part of the cable from the pedal assembly bracket.

Then in the engine compartment:

Pull the cable guide out of the groove of the clutch release fork lever by pulling it forward.
Unscrew the leash from the threaded end of the cable by rotating counterclockwise.
Remove the rubber boot from the cable end.
Pull the end of the cable sheath out of the bracket hole on the gearbox.

We return to the cabin and remove the cable sealing cover from the hole in the front panel, and then pull the cable into the cabin.

Before installing the cable, you should check the condition of the plastic bushing on the Kalina clutch pedal pin.

If necessary, replace the worn bushing with a new one and apply grease. Cable installation procedure:

Pass the cable through the hole in the front panel from the passenger compartment into the engine compartment;
Install the sealing cover into the hole in the front panel;
Place the automatic cable length adjustment mechanism on the pedal pin and secure it;
Screw a plastic leash onto the threaded end of the cable so that the end of the cable tip is flush with the end of the leash;
Insert the leash into the groove of the clutch release fork lever;

Installation of a new cable

We carry out the installation procedure following this algorithm. We start with manipulations in the salon.

First of all, we thread the cable into the engine compartment.
Now we install the body of the compensation mechanism, which serves to level out wear on the disc linings. We install the body itself on the finger and secure it with a locking bracket.
We return the cable sheath seal to its place.
In the engine compartment we pass the cable through the bracket, after which we install the guide sleeve.
We screw the leash onto the lower tip of the component. Tightening should be done so as to provide the tip with a protrusion of approximately 1 mm.
Now we pull the cable all the way. When this manipulation is completely completed, we measure the adjustment distance using a caliper. In optimal condition it should be 27 mm. When the measurements give a different value, we rotate the leash and achieve the specified indicator.
We place a cable end in the groove on the clutch fork. Under the pressure of the spring, the leash will “climb” into the fork.
By pressing the pedal several times, we check the unhindered functionality of the unit. We immediately control the adjustment gap (27 mm).

Signs indicating the need to adjust the clutch on a Lada Kalina

Among obvious symptoms such as: problems with gear shifting, extraneous sounds when depressing the clutch pedal, poor traction and the clutch not completely disengaging, there are other signs that indicate the need to adjust the Lada Kalina clutch. In order to identify them, carry out a simple check.

The engine must be completely stopped.
Depress the clutch pedal several times and listen for any extraneous sounds while pressing, for example, friction, squeaking, clicking, etc.
Pay attention to whether there is any jamming while moving the pedal. If you cannot feel it with your foot, try pressing the pedal with your hand and check the stroke.
If the pedal jerks or sticks while driving, the clutch most likely needs to be adjusted.

Other signs of the need to adjust the clutch of your Lada Kalina:

Take a ruler and check the distance from the floor of the car to the outside of the pedal.
Depress the pedal fully until it hits the floor.
Release it and check the distance again; if it exceeds 14.6 cm, it is necessary to adjust the pedal travel.
If: the full pedal stroke is 14.6 cm, the lower cable guide moves freely relative to the release fork lever by more than 2.7 cm, there is a runout of the driven disk linings of more than 0.5 mm, and the distance between the linings and rivets is less than 0, 2 mm - adjustment or complete replacement of the clutch is necessary.

Adjusting the pedal position

Having completed replacing the cable in LADA Kalina, it will be useful to adjust the pedal assembly. For this purpose, you will need to place the car on a level area. Now we measure the pedal stroke. We use a ruler. We apply it to the floor and the starting point of the pedal. We press and measure. The stroke should be no more than 150 mm. If the fact of excess is evident, then we adjust the position.

To make adjustments, move to the engine compartment. Here, at the junction of the fork and the cable, there are two adjusting nuts. We twist the first one (the locking one), after which we rotate the second one until the required stroke is achieved. Typically this value is 120-130 mm. Continuing to loosen the nut, we increase the free play, and do the opposite - we decrease it.

Signs that your clutch cable needs to be adjusted

It is necessary to adjust the clutch cable after the following symptoms appear:

Extraneous sounds when disengaging the clutch;
Problems when shifting gears;
Poor traction;
Incomplete release of the clutch.

Adjusting the clutch cable Lada Kalina
You can check the clutch by performing a few simple steps: with the engine turned off, you need to depress the clutch pedal several times, and you should listen carefully to see if there are any extraneous noises during the pressing process.

If during this procedure you hear noises or feel increased play or jamming of the pedal, then most likely it is worth adjusting the cable, but first pay attention to its appearance; if the cable itself is rusty or has tears at the attachment points, then it may be necessary its replacement.

However, not all car enthusiasts can easily determine play and jamming by eye. In such cases, it is best to press not with your foot, but with your hand, because it is a more sensitive human organ.

There is a more effective way to check the clutch of a viburnum. It consists of measuring the pedal stroke, for this you need to:

Measure the distance using a ruler from the floor to the pedal itself;
Press the clutch pedal to the floor and measure the distance again;
Perform the procedure several times for the most accurate result.

Now let’s compare the obtained value with the regulated one, which is 146 mm. If you have more value, then adjustment is simply inevitable.

Features of the VAZ 2112 clutch

The machine is equipped with a dry-type single-plate friction clutch with a central pressure spring. adjusting the clutch on Kalina any motorist must take into account that the control pedal is connected to the disc via a cable with a special ratcheting mechanism.

How does automatic cable tightening work?

As a result of intensive use, the friction linings of the disc gradually wear out. The ratcheting mechanism built into the drive design allows you to compensate for wear for a certain period of time - it gradually tightens the cable. During operation of the device, the fork rotates and the bushing spring is gradually compressed. As a result, the cable end clamps are compressed, after which the latter is released and tensions the cable.

The purpose of this design is to facilitate the maintenance process. According to the plans of VAZ engineers, the mechanism should save the owner from the need to make adjustments himself. But this is all only in theory, but in practice it turns out that you cannot do without adjusting the clutch.

When should adjustments be made?

Before adjusting the clutch on a Kalina car, you need to determine the moment when the automatic cable locking no longer functions. This is not difficult, especially since the machine itself signals problems:

Loss of traction, friction clutch does not provide a reliable connection between the flywheel and the disk. The consequence of such a defect will be the loss of a significant part of the torque force.
The clutch control pedal does not return to its initial position, which, in fact, is a consequence of the first point.
Poor clutch disengagement - the pedal is not pressed all the way, which makes changing gears difficult.

The symptoms, however, are similar to those when clutch adjustment is needed on a VAZ 2107 , so experienced motorists can skip this unit and proceed directly to the test.

How to check the clutch?

To make sure that the mechanism needs to be adjusted, you should perform a number of basic checks:

Press the pedal several times and release - any extraneous sounds are unacceptable. For better control, you can press with your hand, this way you can feel the pedal stroke more fully.
Check the pedal for sticking; if it returns with noticeable twitching, then adjustment is necessary.

Check the full travel of the pedal using a ruler or tape measure. Press and release the pedal several times, then measure the distance of its outer edge to the floor; if it is more than 146 mm, then the mechanism needs to be adjusted.
Check the movement of the cable guide relative to the clutch release fork; the maximum distance between these elements is 27 mm.
If the runout of the driven disk linings is more than 0.5 mm, adjustment is also required.

When performing checks, it is important that the car engine is turned off.

What does incorrect adjustment of the Kalina clutch lead to?

If the gaps are not set correctly, the auto compensator may not work correctly, or may not work at all if the gap under the hood is too low (10mm or less). The release bearing may also howl.

For example, my release bearing was humming in 4th and 5th gears. After adjusting the clutch cable , the noise disappeared. Many questions also arise about the fact that the clutch “takes over” at the very end. This is, in principle, normal. Structurally, the clutch on Kalina begins to grab in the second half of the stroke. Therefore, setting it up to start the stroke means making constructive changes to its operation, which is not desirable.