How to change rear shock absorbers on a VAZ 21213

Replacing rear shock absorbers on Niva

On a car like the VAZ 2121, you can often notice severe wear on the rear shock absorbers; the owners of the car simply do not have time to replace them - work, fishing, hunting and other entertainment. On the road you can hear terrible sounds as the car turns into a turn - this is generally fantastic, but when the shock absorbers also start leaking - it’s better to say nothing at all. In order not to listen to the variety of sounds of a car with a faulty suspension, today we will publish a detailed guide on the topic - how to replace the rear shock absorbers on a Niva with your own hands.

To replace the rear shock absorbers on a VAZ 2121, 21213 or 21214, we will need the following tools:

1. Convenient hammer. 2. Ratchet handle. 3. Collar. 4. Socket wrench 19. 5. Socket socket 19. 6. Lubricant.

Video. Demonstration of the rear shock absorber for VAZ 2121

It is worth recalling that in the previous article we looked at how to replace the pump on a Niva with your own hands. The procedure is quite simple, you can do it even on the road, the main thing is to have the necessary tools and a new part with you.

Do-it-yourself replacement of rear shock absorbers on a Niva

Before you begin removing faulty shock absorbers, you need to apply penetrating lubricant to all connections that you will need to unscrew. We wait 5-10 minutes and get to work.

To make it more convenient for you, I recommend lifting the rear part of the VAZ 2121 with a jack; now you will have more access to the lower shock absorber mount. It needs to be unscrewed, see the image for more details.

Now it's time for the hammer. We take a wooden block and gently hit it with a hammer to remove the bolt. In my case, even penetrating lubricant did not make the task easier for me; I used a hammer without a wooden block.

When the bottom bolt has already been removed, we proceed to the upper part. The steps are the same as the previous ones, see photo.

We knock the rear shock absorber off the top stud and everything is ready, now it’s time to install a new one.

To buy a new rear shock absorber for the Niva, I went to a car store, the cost last year was 400-700 rubles. The difference is which one you want to purchase - gas or oil, I purchased gas and installed it in the reverse order. It took me about two hours to remove and install.

Source

Replacing rear shock absorbers yourself

Usually the rear shock absorbers on a Niva last quite a long time. Based on the example of many of my friends, up to 100,000 km is considered a completely normal service life. Of course, everything largely depends on the quality of the roads where you operate your car and on your driving style. Removing and installing at home is not difficult, and to perform this repair you will need the following list of devices:

The procedure for performing work when replacing shock absorbers on a Niva VAZ 2121

The first step is to drive the car into the garage onto a pit or overpass, if any. If this is not possible, then you can do everything without it, just crawl under the car. When performing this work, you should not lift the car with a jack, as it may then become difficult to remove the shock absorber.

When the nut is unscrewed, you can try to push the bolt in the opposite direction with your hands from that side. If it doesn’t work, then through a wooden block with weak blows of a hammer. In the photo below I showed without a wooden spacer:

The result of the work done can be seen in the photo below; when the rod is completely knocked out, the rear shock absorber of the Niva becomes free and there is nothing holding it from below:

Next, you can begin to free the upper part, for which you will again need a 19mm head with a knob, and then with a ratchet:

After you have dealt with this, you can try to remove the shock absorber. You need to grab it with your hand and slightly shake it to the side, pressing in the direction of removal, as is clearly shown below:

In my case, everything came off without any problems. Replace the second Niva rear shock absorber in exactly the same way as the first. And this is what everything looks like after dismantling:

Installation is carried out in the reverse order of removal and will not take much time if you have the right tools.

Replacement of rear and front shock absorbers

The Niva 2121’s predominant habitat (off-road) and the inconsistent quality of components impose a number of concerns on the owner, for example, replacing shock absorbers. The average mileage of these components is 50 thousand km.

Signs of malfunctions: A serious signal for repairs will be: • prolonged rocking; • jamming in extreme positions; • knocking, crunching and other sounds; • appearance of “breakdowns”; • increase in braking distance. The above inevitably affects traffic safety and must be corrected in the near future.

How to check the status

To diagnose shock absorber struts, 3 methods are used: 1. Place the car on a level surface. Grasp the rear and front bumpers alternately and swing them forcefully. Serviceable shock absorbers will dampen vibrations in no more than the third time. 2. Using a vibration table, test and analyze the vibration graph according to the standard. Additionally, this method will allow you to identify problems with springs, silent blocks and other suspension elements. 3. Remove the lower mount of the rack, then manually bleed it. The compression of the rod should occur without jerking or excessive force.

Which shock absorbers are better to install on a Chevrolet Niva

Chevrolet Niva owners have a question about which of the options offered on the Russian market are the best. There is no clear answer here. It all depends on the conditions in which the car is operated. Based on the requirements, they already choose a specific brand.

Soft

Hard

Options

Characteristics based on the example of factory-installed products from SAAZ: 1) Front pillar size: • initial length (compressed) – 220 mm; • total length (when hanging) – 303.5 mm; • rod – 11 mm; • casing – 50 mm.

2) Rear shock absorber size: • initial length (compressed) – 310.5 mm; • total length (when hanging) – 429 mm; • the diameters of the rod and casing are similar to the front ones. You can clearly see the location of the racks in the drawings presented below.

What are the best shock absorbers to install?

Since native hydraulic (oil) ones are not comfortable - they are prone to swinging, breakdowns, rolls - Niva 21214 owners try to purchase products from foreign manufacturers: 1) Koni Special (gas) - unlike the original, they have a 10 mm longer maximum length in front and on the 70 mm - rear. They also have adjustable stiffness depending on the preferred driving style. They are characterized by increased rigidity and reduce the vehicle’s reaction time to steering movements. 2) Bilstein Sport (gas) - suitable for those who are not used to feeling sorry for their car. Extremely resistant to breakdown, forgives serious piloting errors. 3) Sachs Superturing (oil) – provide a balance between comfort and controllability, which allows you to feel the car well on the asphalt and not get tired when overcoming a grader. 4) KYB Excel-G (gas) – popular among lovers of comfortable driving on all types of surfaces. Resistant to frost and heat, reduces acoustic load. 5) BOGE Turbo24 (gas) - eliminate longitudinal rocking, allows you to receive 100% information about the road and just as accurately set the direction of movement. 6) Monroe Adventure (gas) – similar in characteristics to Sachs, but allow above average rolls, while willingly “swallowing” large potholes. It is worth considering that opinions about which rear and front shock absorbers are better are in most cases subjective. You can make an approximate conclusion by driving a car with the corresponding model of struts.

Popular analogues of standard shock absorbers and their cost

Shock absorbers for the Chevrolet Niva are produced by dozens of companies from China, Russia, Japan and Europe. Let's consider the most popular analogues available on the domestic market in the public domain:

1. KAYABA (Kayaba) is a manufacturing company that is considered to be one of the best in the production of shock absorbers. Models are specially designed for use in bad weather conditions. They help keep the car under control on rough roads and sharp turns.

1. SS20 (Technology System) is a company that has been producing high-quality suspensions and their components in Russia since 1993. Their auto parts are reliable and durable.
2. Boge (God) is a company located in Germany, and specializes in the production of car suspension elements. During production, parts are specially hardened, chrome-plated and micropolished, which ensures their unique characteristics during driver use.
3. SAAZ (Skopinsky Automotive Aggregate Plant) is an engineering company that has been supplying auto parts for domestic manufacturers since the 50s of the 20th century. SAAZ is constantly expanding its range of rack auto components with improved consumer qualities. Many car owners try to purchase high-quality, reliable auto parts at low prices, so the company’s products are in high demand.

According to user reviews, Japanese KAYABA models have proven themselves best in fast driving conditions. They provide comfortable driving on any road surface. However, after the factory shock absorber, the car seems too heavy to drive.

SS20 models are comparable in performance to Japanese auto parts. They are just as reliable and easy to use, but at the same time they cost almost 2 times less.

SAAZ and Boge produces soft, comfortable and inexpensive models. They are quite reliable unless you drive off-road.

Replacing front shock absorbers

To perform repair operations you will need: • A jack (preferably hydraulic); • WD-40; • Hammer or sledgehammer; • Spanner 17 mm; • Socket head 19 mm; • Open-end wrench 6 mm; • Collar. Before removing the front shock absorber, it is advisable to treat the connections with a penetrating lubricant. Moreover, it is recommended to do this 15-20 minutes before the start of the main work. Lift the car in a convenient way until the wheel is completely free.

Unscrew the fastening from the top, holding the rod firmly with a 6 mm wrench.

Remove the washer by hand.

Remove the rubber damper.

By moving the rack downward, release the rod from the body bracket.

Move to the spring cup and use two 17mm socket wrenches to unscrew the lower mount.

Remove the shock absorber from its seat, first removing the bolt.

You can replace the front shock absorber with a new one in the reverse order. In this case, the final broaching is carried out with a naturally loaded axis.

Replacing rear shock absorbers

Provide unobstructed access to the rear axle using a jack, pit or lift.

Loosen the lower shock absorber mounting bolt from the 17 mm nuts using two spanners.

A hammer or sledge hammer may be needed to remove the bolt. To avoid damaging it, use a wooden block as a spacer. To make the process easier, pre-press the spring in a suitable manner.

As a result, you will have in your hands: a spacer sleeve, a bolt and a spacer washer.

Unscrew the upper fastening pin. Remove the washer and then the strut eye.

Please note that rubber bushings are installed at the top and bottom, which may not be available on the shock absorbers you purchase.

Chevrolet Niva suspension diagnostics

To check the technical condition of the car suspension components, you should place the vehicle over the inspection hole and go down into it, or raise it (the car) on a special lift. It is very important, in this case, to suspend the front wheels.

1. Make sure that there are no signs of mechanical damage or aging on the rubber parts.
2. There should also be no signs of aging, cracks, separation of rubber from the reinforcement or its one-sided bulging on rubber-metal hinges. All damaged elements must be replaced.
3. Don't forget to check the condition of the protective covers on the ball joints and joints. If they are damaged, you will have to replace the entire joint assembly.

4. In addition, pay attention to the rubber bushings of the lower hinges and check the condition of the rubber pads of the upper hinges.
5. Also, do not forget to check the rubber-metal bushings of the levers - upper and lower.
6. Inspect the condition of the rubber bushings of the anti-roll bar, as well as the attachment of the stabilizer brackets to the side members and arms.

Mounting rear shock absorbers on Niva 21214

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We pay for photo reports on car repairs. Earnings from 10,000 rubles/month.

Write:

Changing the rear shock absorber on a Niva VAZ-21214 with your own hands will not be difficult, but to be more confident, it is better to watch a video or photo on replacing the shock absorber. The rear shock absorber is secured with just two 19mm wrench bolts, and you can’t do without a hammer and a wedge, since I attach the bolts tightly. We begin installing the new shock absorber from the top, having first installed the rubber bands. It is better to carry out work on replacing the rear shock absorber in the inspection pit.

Before installing a new shock absorber, be sure to bleed it first.

The time has come to change the amas, and I thought about what to install. Many thanks to Cockchafer for the excellent FAQ article. After reading the article, I wrote out the ones I liked and went to the store. In the store, the only ones I liked were kayabas, but I didn’t want to turn on the gas. There was also hydraulics for the ShNiva. A survey of sellers showed their complete ignorance in this matter, so they had to return home and go online again. Having looked through the forum with a search, I was able to find information that someone had installed Ams from ShNiva, but it was not written how. I'm filling this gap.

Shock absorbers Kayaba Premium, black:

Front GM NIVA-F 444266, rear GM NIVA-R 444267.

The amas from Shniva are a little longer, so a slight lift is possible:

The front ones fit without any problems. You'll have to tinker with the rear ones.

Firstly, before purchasing, please note that they will not fit without modifications. This means either goodbye to the store’s warranty, or you’ll have to redo the upper mount on the body. I didn’t touch the body and forgot about the warranty, relying on the quality of the Japanese.

So, if you still decide, let’s get started.

The difference between these amos and the standard ones is that they initially have a silent block pressed into them (which is very good) along with a bushing, which actually does not fit onto the upper mount (which is bad). Practice has shown that it is impossible to press out this very bushing, it sits dead (later it turned out that they are glued together), I had to scrape it off with a knife (photo on the left). This means that the silent block itself needs to be changed. To do this, you need to sharpen the flaring (with a grinder, a file) and press out the silent block.

Replacing rear shock absorbers on VAZ 2101-VAZ 2107

Welcome! A car shock absorber is a very important thing in every car, because if there were no shock absorbers, the car would simply jump up and down. To prevent this from happening, shock absorbers were invented that allow you to keep the car level on the ground, dampening all the vibrations that cause the car to sway.

Note! To replace the rear suspension shock absorbers, you only need two 19mm wrenches!

Question? Which company producing rear shock absorbers for classics do you prefer and why? (Write your answer in the comments)

Summary:

Where are the rear shock absorbers located? They are located next to the wheels and can be very easily seen by looking under the bottom of the car. The upper part of the shock absorber is attached to the bottom of the car, and the lower part is attached to the bracket. So that you can finally figure out where the rear shock absorber is located, look at the photo below, which shows the lower mount of the shock absorber to the bracket.

When do you need to change rear shock absorbers?

Note!> For more information about when the rear shock absorbers will need to be replaced, read the article entitled: “Checking shock absorbers for performance”!

How to check the status

To diagnose shock absorber struts, 3 methods are used: 1. Place the car on a level surface. Grasp the rear and front bumpers alternately and swing them forcefully. Serviceable shock absorbers will dampen vibrations in no more than the third time. 2. Using a vibration table, test and analyze the vibration graph according to the standard. Additionally, this method will allow you to identify problems with springs, silent blocks and other suspension elements. 3. Remove the lower mount of the rack, then manually bleed it. The compression of the rod should occur without jerking or excessive force.

How to change rear shock absorbers on a Chevrolet Niva with your own hands

Anyone can replace the rear shock absorber in Chevrolet Niva cars in 10 minutes. To do this, he will first need to do the preparatory work:

• Use a metal brush to clean the threads of the fasteners;

Replacing the rear shock absorbers of a Chevy Niva occurs in the following order:

1. Using a wrench, unscrew the bolt of the lower fastening of the device.
2. Using two spanners, unscrew the nut from the bolt on the upper shock absorber mount, holding it with your hand.
3. They take out the part.
4. The new shock absorber is installed in the reverse order.

Replacing the front suspension springs on a Chevrolet Niva may be necessary if they are severely sagging or mechanically damaged. Signs of spring settlement include:

1. Traces of collision of turns.
2. The difference in height between the rear and front of the car.
3. The front of the vehicle is skewed.
4. Suspension breakdowns on uneven surfaces.
5. Impaired smoothness.

To replace the front springs you will need two keys for “17”, two for “13” and one key for “24”, also a wrench for loosening the nuts on the car wheels and a jack. First, remove the wheel and loosen the lower arm axle nut using a wrench.

We unscrew the nut of the bolt that secures the shock absorber from below and pull out the bolt. Then unscrew two more bolts of the stabilizer pad bracket, and then remove the bracket. Raise the front suspension using a jack to release the compression stroke limiter. Next, unscrew the three ball joint mounting bolts and remove the bolts.

Then, slowly lowering the lever, you should release and remove the spring, after which we remove the upper and lower spring gaskets. If necessary, remove the compression stroke limiter. We install the springs in the reverse order.

Options

Characteristics based on the example of factory-installed products from SAAZ: 1) Front pillar size: • initial length (compressed) – 220 mm; • total length (when hanging) – 303.5 mm; • rod – 11 mm; • casing – 50 mm.

2) Rear shock absorber size: • initial length (compressed) – 310.5 mm; • total length (when hanging) – 429 mm; • the diameters of the rod and casing are similar to the front ones. You can clearly see the location of the racks in the drawings presented below.

What are the best shock absorbers to install?

Since native hydraulic (oil) ones are not comfortable - they are prone to swinging, breakdowns, rolls - Niva 21214 owners try to purchase products from foreign manufacturers: 1) Koni Special (gas) - unlike the original, they have a 10 mm longer maximum length in front and on the 70 mm - rear. They also have adjustable stiffness depending on the preferred driving style. They are characterized by increased rigidity and reduce the vehicle’s reaction time to steering movements. 2) Bilstein Sport (gas) - suitable for those who are not used to feeling sorry for their car. Extremely resistant to breakdown, forgives serious piloting errors. 3) Sachs Superturing (oil) – provide a balance between comfort and controllability, which allows you to feel the car well on the asphalt and not get tired when overcoming a grader. 4) KYB Excel-G (gas) – popular among lovers of comfortable driving on all types of surfaces. Resistant to frost and heat, reduces acoustic load. 5) BOGE Turbo24 (gas) - eliminate longitudinal rocking, allows you to receive 100% information about the road and just as accurately set the direction of movement. 6) Monroe Adventure (gas) – similar in characteristics to Sachs, but allow above average rolls, while willingly “swallowing” large potholes. It is worth considering that opinions about which rear and front shock absorbers are better are in most cases subjective. You can make an approximate conclusion by driving a car with the corresponding model of struts.

Shock absorbers for VAZ 2121/2131 Niva and LADA 4×4

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.

Advantages of using SS20 shock absorbers in cars of the NIVA and LADA 4×4 family

• the problem of body swaying is eliminated and “bouncing” is significantly reduced when the car bounces on uneven roads, driving becomes more comfortable;
• “breakdowns” of the suspension are prevented when driving at high speed on a road with large irregularities;
• there is a choice of characteristics: “Standard”, “Comfort-Optima”, “Highway” or “Sport”;
• stability of operation in difficult conditions (due to larger fluid volume and improved cooling) without reducing damping characteristics;
• increased resource;
• extended operating temperature range from -42 ˚С to +50 ˚С;
• unlimited mileage warranty;
• silent operation and stability of shock absorber characteristics throughout the entire service life.

Guarantee

• Description
• Buy

The Niva car (VAZ 2121) has been produced since 1977 and during this time has undergone several modifications. Now the name of the car is Lada 4x4, but its essence, as the most affordable of SUVs, has not changed. Over the years of production, the Niva car (VAZ 2121) has proven itself from the best side, and according to plans, it will live on the assembly line for several more years. However, it has a number of disadvantages. For example, insufficient stability of movement at high speed, bouncing and swaying of the body. These shortcomings are partly explained by the short wheelbase, but the main reason is the standard shock absorbers.

Front suspension shock absorbers for VAZ 2121, LADA 4×4

Rear suspension shock absorbers for VAZ 2121, LADA 4×4

The use of reinforced SS20 shock absorbers on the Niva with the “Standard”, “Comfort-Optima”, “Highway” or “Sport” settings will allow you to make your car suitable specifically for your operating conditions, and at the same time improve reliability.

The SS20 company offers front and rear reinforced shock absorbers for the Niva, which, unlike the standard shock absorbers of the VAZ 2121, have increased resistance during the rebound stroke, an increased diameter of the body and rod. The increased oil volume in the SS20 shock absorbers for the Niva allows you to move for a long time on rough roads without overheating the shock absorbers and without reducing their performance.

Standard - shock absorbers with the softest settings, an excellent solution for those who prefer a soft suspension, a smooth ride, and quiet movement. This shock absorber setting is suitable for everyday use, mainly in city conditions.

The “Comfort-Optima” modification has increased rebound valve settings, which solves the problem of body sway and significantly reduces “bumping” when the car bounces on uneven roads. SS20 shock absorbers for Niva and LADA 4x4 with “Comfort-Optima” settings are suitable primarily for urban use.

Shock absorbers “Highway” have an even greater rebound force compared to the “Comfort-Optima” series, and in addition, they have increased compression forces, which prevents suspension breakdowns when driving at speed on large bumps. Such settings are suitable primarily for suburban use on roads and moderate off-road conditions.

The highest rebound and compression forces and, accordingly, energy intensity are found in shock absorbers with “Sport” settings. These shock absorbers are suitable for fans of off-road racing, for the most severe operating conditions.

SS20 shock absorbers for Niva VAZ 2121 and LADA 4×4 have no internal knocks. Also, one of the features of SS20 shock absorbers is their high stability of parameters at low and high temperatures. The body of the SS20 shock absorbers is enlarged compared to standard shock absorbers, which not only allows for an increase in oil volume, but also the use of larger diameter pistons. This significantly reduces the specific loads on the elements of the valve system and increases their service life. The skirted pistons used in SS20 shock absorbers provide excellent sealing and stability of shock absorber performance with extended service life. The lower silent block of the front shock absorber has an original design that surpasses the factory one in reliability and damping capacity.

Replacing front shock absorbers

To perform repair operations you will need: • A jack (preferably hydraulic); • WD-40; • Hammer or sledgehammer; • Spanner 17 mm; • Socket head 19 mm; • Open-end wrench 6 mm; • Collar. Before removing the front shock absorber, it is advisable to treat the connections with a penetrating lubricant. Moreover, it is recommended to do this 15-20 minutes before the start of the main work. Lift the car in a convenient way until the wheel is completely free.

Unscrew the fastening from the top, holding the rod firmly with a 6 mm wrench.

Remove the washer by hand.

Remove the rubber damper.

By moving the rack downward, release the rod from the body bracket.

Move to the spring cup and use two 17mm socket wrenches to unscrew the lower mount.

Remove the shock absorber from its seat, first removing the bolt.

You can replace the front shock absorber with a new one in the reverse order. In this case, the final broaching is carried out with a naturally loaded axis.

Replacing rear shock absorbers

Provide unobstructed access to the rear axle using a jack, pit or lift.

Loosen the lower shock absorber mounting bolt from the 17 mm nuts using two spanners.

A hammer or sledge hammer may be needed to remove the bolt. To avoid damaging it, use a wooden block as a spacer. To make the process easier, pre-press the spring in a suitable manner.

As a result, you will have in your hands: a spacer sleeve, a bolt and a spacer washer.

Unscrew the upper fastening pin. Remove the washer and then the strut eye.

Please note that rubber bushings are installed at the top and bottom, which may not be available on the shock absorbers you purchase.

Replacing rear shock absorbers Niva 21213

This simple operation takes about half an hour on one side.
The photographs were taken when replacing springs on a VAZ-2131. The jack eyes on this example were used for attaching the hinged thresholds, which made the process somewhat more complicated. Usually a standard jack is sufficient for replacement.

Secure the car by placing stops at the front and rear under the front wheel on the side where the spring is being changed, and the other rear wheel:

Clean the nut of the lower shock absorber mounting bolt with a steel brush and pour it with “liquid wrench”:

Push out the bolt (you can use a hammer through a soft metal spacer), remove the spacer sleeve and spacer washer (shown by arrows in the right photo):

Jack up the car, place it on a stand and remove the wheel:

Usually the rear axle sags so much that the spring simply comes off. Remove the spring from the bottom cup, then lower it to remove it from the top support:

For the right wheel, it is convenient to remove the spring forward as the car moves (photo on the left), for the left wheel - backwards (right photo):

If the spring does not release, you need to press the brake drum with your body weight.

Use a screwdriver to stir up the dried dirt in the bottom cup and sweep it away with a brush:

Use a screwdriver to pry and remove the upper rubber gasket of the spring:

Insert the upper rubber gasket into the new spring, aligning the step in the gasket with the beginning of the first turn of the spring. Lubricate the inner surface of the gasket and its seat with engine oil:

Place the upper end of the spring onto the seat, then insert the lower end into the lower cup:

Turn the spring together with the upper gasket (it is more convenient to do this counterclockwise) so that the lower end falls into the recess under the lower coil in the cup:

Jack up the side of the axle so that the lower end of the shock absorber is against the eye (if you are using a standard jack, you can place a wooden block under the brake drum and lower the car):

Lubricate the bolt with graphite grease along its entire length and insert it into the shock absorber ear:

The surfaces of the spacer washer are different - flat (left) and convex (right):

Place the spacer washer on the bolt so that the convex side is directed towards the shock absorber ear, and the flat side is directed towards the bridge eye:

Insert the spacer into the bridge eye, insert the bolt all the way, screw on the nut and tighten it:

Jack up the car and put the wheel in place:

Alex835 warns: “When “hanging” the axle with the shock absorber removed, you must constantly monitor the flexible hose of the brake system running from the body to the axle. If you work carelessly, it can easily be torn.”

Update dated September 14, 2006, by Ivgeniy:

When I was changing the rear springs, I noticed the fact that when the axle was suspended on the left, the sorcerer's rod was bent. Therefore, before jacking up the car, I recommend first unscrewing the brake force regulator rod from the axle so as not to bend it.