What is clearance, why and how to increase it?
In terms of price-quality ratio, the Niva is much more affordable and comfortable than most budget foreign SUVs. Add to this the relatively light weight of the machine, simplicity and even to some extent primitive design, excellent maintainability and a large selection of spare parts - and you get an ideal model for independent modernization. You can turn a Niva into an impeccable car for extreme weather and road conditions without spending fabulous money or a lot of time.
Many car owners consider increasing the ground clearance as one of the most affordable and effective ways to improve a car's cross-country ability. Ground clearance is the ground clearance or the distance from the road surface to the lowest point of the central part of the car. The larger this clearance, the larger the diameter of the wheels you can install on the car, but not everything is so simple. Each car has its own limit on how much ground clearance can be increased by increasing the wheel diameter. For the Niva, without additional modifications and design changes, the most optimal wheels are the size 235/75-R15.
If you try to increase the maximum permissible size, you will inevitably get a whole set of problems, and most importantly, wheels that are not the right size will begin to cling to all the body parts located under the frames. You will have to resolve issues with altering axle shafts, drives, find and install a suitable gearbox and switch box... Such “tuning” can cost more than the car itself.
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How to prepare arches for installing large wheels
Such an operation cannot be performed in every workshop, and will cost 5-6 thousand rubles. However, you can cut the arches with your own hands. To do this, you will need the following tools: an angle grinder with cutting and flap discs; jigsaw; pins; hammers with different weights; pliers; welding machine; metal brush for cleaning the anti-corrosion coating. Preparing the Niva for the “operation” begins with dismantling the existing “glamor” - wheel arch liners, arch extensions, and cleaning the parts from dirt. Then you need to hang the car on a jack and remove the wheel. In the cabin, you will need to remove the seats and side trims, since gasoline vapor exhaust pipes are often located at the end of the wing, and wires from the car audio installation are usually located there, which can catch fire during welding. The body of the Niva car in the area of the protruding edge of the rear wing must be cleaned with a small allowance and the lowest part at the edge must be cut off. Then, using pliers, you need to bend the inner slope of the wing with a bending depth equal to the edge of the wing in order to determine the direction. After which the inside needs to be “finished” with a hammer. The outer side of the hem must be welded to the flap with a continuous seam. Next, you need to go over the entire rear arch with a heavy hammer to roll it out a little in the right direction. On the front arch you need to trim more than on the rear arch, we also bend it so that there is a 1.5 cm edge left. Then you can treat the surfaces with an anti-corrosion coating, prime them and paint them with anti-gravel. Preparation of the Niva for off-road use in the area of the arches is often complemented by soft fender flares, which do not break and come off with difficulty somewhere on a forest road. Wheels on the Niva with such arches can now be 32-33 inches. Many car enthusiasts, in addition to them, install forged wheels that will not break on the road, and some take a cheap stamped version (Kremenchug plant or FMZ) with small holes that protect the wheels well, but quickly rust.
It is known that corrosion is a sore spot in almost all Soviet and Russian cars, so users of Niva SUVs either add additional anti-corrosion protection or cover it, for example, with kelp film (produced in the USA), which withstands mechanical damage and gives the car an unusual look.
Lift kits: functions, features
To reduce the cost of increasing the car's ground clearance and improve the Niva's cross-country ability, it is enough to purchase a special lift kit, which was developed by VAZ designers.
Lift kit 40 mm Niva 2121, 21213, 21214, 2131 until 2009.
Art. SV.21.0000010
9000.00
— +
Buy
Lift kit 40 mm Niva 2121, 21213, 21214, 2131 after 2009.
Art. 21213-2919110-99
10000.00
— +
Buy
Its main task is to raise the body relative to the wheel axle of both suspensions by 40 mm. This is no longer possible, otherwise wear of the drives, cardan shaft crosspieces and other elements of the chassis cannot be avoided. Using a lift kit does not imply replacing the factory front and rear shock absorbers; the stock springs also remain in place.
To maintain the power and acceleration dynamics of an SUV after installing a lift kit, it is enough to replace the main pairs of the front and rear gearboxes from standard 3.9 to reinforced 4.44. This will improve dynamic performance and reduce the load on the engine and clutch.
The combination of all the components of this unit makes it possible to significantly raise the car body, increasing ground clearance. But the original geometric dimensions of the suspension in this case are preserved, as are the operating angles of the drives. To upgrade your SUV you may need:
- complete elevators;
- separate cups (front spring for lift);
- mounting transfer bracket (rear shock absorber);
- ball spacer;
- rear beam for elevator;
- extended rod for distribution of braking force;
- reaction rod;
- reinforced suspension buffer brackets;
- set of shock absorbers and springs.
Front spring cup for lift 40 mm VAZ 2121-2131, 2123 Chevrolet Niva (set)
Art. SV.213.2902700
3500.00
— +
Buy
Rear shock absorber mounting bracket 2121, 21213 (up to 2009)
Art. SV.21.3512001
300.00
— +
Buy
Spacers for ball joint for lift 30 mm VAZ 2121-2131, 2123 Chevrolet Niva (set)
Art. SV.21.2904034.30
1000.00
— +
Buy
Rear beam cup bracket for 40 mm lift VAZ 2121-2131, 2123 Chevrolet Niva (set)
Art. SV.21.2912400
1800.00
— +
Buy
Extended brake force distribution rod for a 40 mm lift VAZ Niva 2121-2123
Art. SV.21.3512000
350.00
— +
Buy
Hit
Reinforced reaction rods for 40 mm lift VAZ 2121, 2123 Chevrolet Niva (set, 5 pcs.)
Art. SV.21.2919010.03
3700.00
— +
Buy
Upper front suspension buffer bracket. Reinforced 2121, 2123
Art. 21210-2904242-10
750.00
— +
Buy
Lift Kit Niva +50 Shock Absorbers “Rod Auto”+Springs
Art. SV.21.THP._50
11150.00
— +
Buy
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Strengthening the engine
Adaptation of the Niva to off-road conditions is also carried out in terms of increasing engine traction. To do this, the service station can increase the flow areas of the valves in the system and the gas distribution head, install lightweight valves, and install a carburetor, for example, with diffusers 24-26. To improve off-road performance, craftsmen change the standard ignition system to an electronic one, install a camshaft (in the head), which is designed for traction at medium and low speeds, and install power steering. To install the amplifier, in some cases it may be necessary to work on the body in the area of the passage from the steering shaft. Here, you may have to move the vacuum booster to the bracket, and lengthen the rod from the master cylinder.
The modification of the Niva due to the increased engine power involves installing a radiator with an increased area (the cooling fan may need to be relocated). Elements of off-road modernization will also be required for the body, which will bear high loads. In this part, the front spar is usually strengthened (to the place where the rear seats are attached in front) with the help of steel plates several millimeters thick. Those who want to drive through forests comfortably change the sound insulation of the cabin. If the above conditions are met, you can expect that a tuned Niva in off-road conditions can show higher speed characteristics (up to 80 km/h after modifications, versus 40 km/h before them), and cope with obstacles more successfully. However, it must be taken into account that the cost of such work and spare parts in some cases exceeds the cost of the machine itself.
Front and rear axle gearboxes
Although the design of the Niva is simple, it is still necessary to know how and how the main components and elements of the “filling” of an SUV are connected before changing its characteristics for the better. The Niva has a front gearbox attached to the engine block. To improve driving performance and reduce wear on components, you can organize independent mounting of the front axle. This step will make it possible to make the gearbox mounting more rigid, and thus the vehicle’s cross-country ability will increase.
Some novice car owners confuse the gearbox and differential. In fact, these are two completely different parts and their functionality is also different:
- The gearbox is used to reduce the torque transmitted from the crankshaft and transmit this torque to other transmission components.
- The differential distributes the incoming torque between the axles.
SUVs, and therefore the Niva, have two gearboxes: front and rear. Both work as normal, being especially effective on loose surfaces (snow or soil). At the same time, oil and fuel consumption is consistently high. These figures can be reduced by installing a decoupler on the front axle.
Independent fastening of the front axle 2121, 2123 (decoupling) with oil seals TechnoPark
Art. SV.213.2303084.10
3700.00
— +
Buy
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Body reinforcement
It would be illogical to believe that tuning the Niva for off-road use will be limited to just this. It will be extremely necessary to strengthen the body, and serious strengthening will be required. At a minimum, you will need to install power bumpers and sills. Without this, the body is unlikely to withstand the enormous loads that will certainly arise on serious off-road conditions. Protection of the crankcase and transfer case is a must, otherwise the first stump or stone you encounter will force you to stop your journey.
By the way, without a power bumper there is no point in even thinking about installing a winch, without which there is absolutely nothing to do in the forest or field! It will come in very handy to scald the side members: you don’t want the body to bend like a screw due to wild overloads, do you? This is especially important if you have a Niva 2131. Off-road tuning of this car should take into account that the body of the “five-door” is significantly weakened!
By the way, about the handout. We strongly advise you to install one with a distribution ratio of at least 3:1. For the standard one, this value is only 2:1, so you will feel the difference already on your first ride!
Self-locking differential
This is indeed an excellent option that really helps solve the question: how to increase the cross-country ability of the Niva. The vehicle's handling, as well as its maneuverability and stabilization, almost entirely depend on what type of differential the vehicle owner prefers. It is the differential that determines the main parameters of the transmission. The most efficient and productive is the screw-type self-locking differential. The main task of this part is to accurately distribute torque and transfer power from the engine to each wheel of an SUV.
Hit
Self-locking differential 21214, 2123 screw 3-piece (24 splines) SV-PARTS
Art. SV.23.2303018
7500.00
— +
Buy
Why is it important? When a car makes a maneuver, the wheels move along a different path: the inner wheel travels a shorter distance than the outer one. If the connection is rigid and the angular speeds are equal, then the inner wheel will begin to slip, the tires will wear out faster, and controllability will decrease.
A self-locking differential allows you to intelligently distribute torque and synchronize wheel movement, maintaining vehicle stability. How to improve the Niva's cross-country ability in snow? Choose a composite differential design, which has three parts that ensure the accuracy of the original parameters, minimize losses due to friction and greatly extend the life of all transmission elements.
The self-locking differential provides:
- improved controllability and maneuverability of the car on any road surface;
- a noticeable increase in the cross-country ability of an SUV on difficult terrain;
- improved dynamics during acceleration.
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Other improvements
We return to the winch again. Don't even think about putting something like Chinese! You need a high-quality winch with a force of at least three tons. The diameter of the cable is at least 7.2 mm, preferably 8 mm. If possible, buy Kevlar rope, as it is much more reliable. It is very advisable to install two winches at once: not only in front, but also in the back. This is especially true for those cases when you intend to conquer off-road spaces alone (which in general you should not do).
You will also need to buy hijacks and sandtrucks.
Without them, you will have a very difficult time off-road. By the way, what is this anyway? In general, a hijack is a reinforced rack and pinion jack. With its help, you can raise the car a meter (or even more) above the ground. In addition to its useful off-road function, the rack can also be used as a hand winch. Of course, it is unlikely to be able to replace a full-fledged electric winch, but it can easily help it when pulling your all-terrain vehicle out of the mud. Sandtracks are plates made of durable metal with hooks over the entire surface. Simply put, iron slats. They are placed under the wheels when the car is pulled out. The simplest devices, and how much effort they can save!
Gearbox: the difference is obvious
The gearbox is also one of the weak links in the Niva’s standard equipment. Of course, many Nivovodys believe that there is no point in replacing, they say, the factory version is quite consistent in terms of gear ratio, but, frankly, it can be better.
Install a reinforced traction box adapted to the Niva, and the difference will become obvious: the traction version is more durable, since the quality of the components is an order of magnitude higher. In addition, all speeds except 4 are reduced by about 10%, which adds endurance to the car and improves handling.
In addition, an improved gearbox allows:
- reduce vibrations on the body and gearshift knob;
- extend the service life of the box and make it more obedient;
- almost completely eliminate oil leakage and maintain the switching range even at low temperatures “overboard”;
- Reduce oil consumption by almost half.
By the way, if you are going to change the gearbox, it is better to do it together with the bell. The completeness of the part will ensure its full compatibility with other structural elements. Here's how you can increase the Niva's cross-country ability with your own hands, simply by changing the gearbox.
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Where to begin?
First, put on normal mud tires. At least 29″, no less. You can safely throw away the original tires from the factory, since you definitely won’t be able to drive them off-road. Yes, driving on asphalt with mud tires, to put it mildly, is not very popular - your ears are literally blocked from the noise (you can’t accelerate, alas), but as soon as you carry out such tuning of the Niva for off-road, you will be able to drive on quite serious roads with almost no problems. mud.
And everything would be fine, but this is where the manual work begins: the fact is that such wheels simply will not fit into standard arches, and therefore you will have to trim them. In principle, you can lift the car (or better yet, do both of these operations), but this is optional. If you decide to raise your “horse,” then the normal minimum is five centimeters. A lift kit will cost you about ten thousand.
Car appearance
Tuning the VAZ 2131 includes a large selection of options - changing the car both externally and internally. Tuning the appearance of a car consists of changing the car body, replacing sills, rear and front bumpers, optics, wings and spoilers, sticking pictures and placing other car decorations, as well as applying a drawing to the car. It is also very important to choose the right wheels for the Niva.
The seats can be borrowed from the G8. They are roomy enough and can comfortably accommodate three people. Increased comfort is achieved by increasing the insert into the car by 0.5 meters for the location of the rear doors. VAZ 2131 (tuning) is often found in green, which is why it was called “crocodile”. Very often, Euro-style handles, heated mirrors, special turn signals, roof rails, etc. are installed in a car.
Exhaust system upgrade
Oddly enough, even upgrading the exhaust system can increase engine power. At the same time, we note one important point - the load value does not increase. Among the features of such work, we note the following points:
- In most cases, tuning the exhaust system involves installing modern exhaust and intake manifolds.
- Due to their special design, the collectors make the flow of air and exhaust gases freer. Therefore, resistance is reduced and efficiency is significantly increased.
- In some cases, a resonator from the muffler is installed. Due to it, the process of removing gases is simplified, and the sound of the car is improved.
In addition, the muffler can be moved further to the rear axle. This also reduces resistance in the exhaust system and increases efficiency.
Legality of tuning Niva
If the driver decides to legalize the tuning of his car, then he needs to do the following:
Draw up a project in the certified laboratory “UkrSepro”, which describes the technical testing of the car for compliance with state standards. This procedure is similar to a technical inspection with a documentary report.
The result of the inspection must be submitted to the Research Center for Road Safety Problems of the State Traffic Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which will issue a permit for operation. Then, at the MREO, the driver is given a new registration certificate, because in fact, his car is considered a new model.
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A little about Chevrolet
What if you have a Chevrolet Niva? Off-road tuning of this model is also quite possible. Firstly, you will have to change the pistons to forged ones, modify the block head, install a new camshaft, as well as a direct-flow exhaust system. It is also necessary to flash the electronic “brains” of the car, which will increase the engine power by about a dozen “horses”. What are all these events related to?
The thing is that the engine of this model is not good for such a mass, so its power will have to be increased. You can install double shock absorbers, improve and strengthen the suspension, and install good tires. This is how the Chevrolet Niva is processed. Off-road tuning will allow you to overcome really serious obstacles on it.
I'll leave it here so as not to lose it.
0. Zero level of training: - bring the car into serviceable technical condition. condition - check the presence and reliability of the towing eyes from the front (it is highly desirable that 14-16 shackles can easily be pushed into them) - install a normal towbar (so that its fastening is “airplane” - put a shovel in the car - get boots (knee-high) and/ or ankle boots (normal), which you don’t mind wearing clothes... - buy a car navigator (whatever with a 4.3″ screen up to 4 TR) Everything now you can do geocaching, start participating in polishing... you can also go on rides with others nivami (if you are ready to be pulled out all the time).
0.5. Let’s say a prepared stock (for participation in Niva competitions in “standard”;): - to the above described we add: - snatch cable - roof rack/roof bars - ladders/send trucks (can be made from boards) - hijack - hand winch, corrosion protection , extension - saw, ax - we strengthen the bumpers (it is optimal to “place” a thick pipe/profile/channel inside the original bumpers) - if you want to participate in the Niva competitions in stock - then some AT tires of standard size... - but IMHO it’s not worth it... Now you can apply to the standard to gain experience... + participate in the Niva and Shniva club competitions in the standard category... and go off-road on your own...
1. Prepared drain i.e. normal nivovod: everything is the same as in the case of 0.5 + mud tires (optimally Cordiant Off Road 205/70 R15 (From me: the cords are small. Or Forwafd Safari 205/75 or Kumho KL71 215/75)
, it’s also worth buying normal 15″ wheels (unless, of course, there are free ones): either VIKOM 106 (2 tr.) - if you want to go into maniacs, or VSMPO forging (3 tr.) - if not. It is mandatory to have a good compressor - because according to a science unknown to the species, mudas begin to “ride” only at a pressure of less than 1 atmosphere... The most optimal option for fishermen/mushroom pickers/nature lovers)... also on rides it will often be you who are jerking, not you (although this will remain)…
