Replacement of the Niva Chevrolet front wheel bearing and selection of non-adjustable, reinforced bearings

The Chevrolet Niva SUV (VAZ 2123) has proven itself to be a reliable car in off-road conditions. Despite the use of well-known Chevrolet brand parts in the design of the car, some chassis problems remained the same, inherited from the Soviet Niva. Such an important detail as the hub was not spared.

A broken car hub is usually a serious problem and should not be ignored. Therefore, if the check shows a malfunction, change it. How to replace the hub and its bearing on the Shnivy, see the photo report below.

A hub that is not repaired or not replaced in time can cause a serious accident due to self-jamming of the wheel while the car is moving, or due to the separation of the hub disk from the shaft.

How to check the front wheel wheel bearing on a Chevy Niva

The failure of the unit is indicated by the appearance of a low hum from one of the wheels. The sound does not disappear when cornering and intensifies as the vehicle speed increases.

If you notice this, you should immediately carry out a diagnosis, since if the wheel bearing seizes while driving, the consequences and costs can be very high.

The upcoming replacement of the Niva Chevrolet front wheel bearing is determined as follows:

• the front wheel of the car is suspended with a jack;
• rotate it by hand and check the play.

Signs of bearing wear:

1. Extraneous noise and metallic knocking.
2. Noticeable play is checked by rocking the wheel perpendicular to its axis.
3. Vibration in the cabin when driving.

Before carrying out repairs, for clarity, watch the video of checking the front hub of a Chevrolet Niva:

Video: “Checking the front wheel bearing”

Video: “Signs of a bearing failure”

Symptoms of a problem

Bearing wear manifests itself as the following symptoms:

• Vibration of the front wheels, which can be reflected in the steering wheel or felt in the cabin.
• Knocking or crackling sounds in the front of the car when driving;
• Heating of the front wheels in the axle area.

If such manifestations occur, you need to check the condition of the wheel bearings. To do this, jack up the car and rock the wheel in different directions. Play and knocking in the bearing area indicates the need for replacement and adjustment. The malfunction may also manifest itself in the form of noise when the wheel rotates.

1. The hubs get hot. It is important to understand that when braking, the kinetic energy of the car is converted into thermal energy. As a result, the brake discs and the hubs on which they are attached become very hot. Heating of the part during movement, and not during braking, indicates wear of the bearing or its incorrect adjustment.

The second option is typical for adjustable hubs. The adjusting nut must be tightened with a force of 2 kgf*m. If you tighten it further, the tapered bearings will be too tight.

Their rotation will be difficult. Prolonged operation of the machine in this condition leads to bearing failure and wheel jamming.

Also interesting: Steering design of Niva 2121, Niva 2131

2. The adjusting nut is unscrewed while moving. Sometimes this happens literally after 20-50 kilometers. The phenomenon is observed in three cases: the master forgot to tighten the nut, there was a misalignment between the bearing races, or play appeared in the coupling of the CV joint with the hub.

How to change a wheel bearing on a Niva

The steps to replace the front bearing after removing the nut can be divided into 4 stages:

1. Removing and disconnecting the steering knuckle and brake drum along with the hinges, from the strut and CV joint.
2. Pressing out old parts.
3. Pressing in new wheel bearings (two for each wheel).
4. We put the unit back together and tighten the nut and adjust the gap.

For repairs, you will need a standard set of plumbing tools. We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the structure of the node.

Required set of tools for work:

• A 30mm socket wrench to loosen the nut;
• Screwdriver to unscrew the brake caliper;
• Set of sockets and ratchet;
• Round nose pliers;
• Hammer;
• Mandrel or pipe for pressing;
• Puller with claws (if possible);
• Puller with claws;
• Jack and vice;
• Torque wrench to properly tighten the hub nut.

We place the car on a flat surface, engage first gear, remove the handbrake, and put chocks under the wheels. This completes the preparation. Also, before repairing, it is necessary to study the location of the elements of the car’s chassis according to the diagram: (pay attention to the steering knuckle - position 27, bearing - position 9).

Removing the front hub

The first stage begins with the following actions:

1. Loosen the wheel and hub nuts. You need to carefully remove the decorative cap, then lift the replacement side and lower it onto the stops. We place wheel chocks under the rear wheels.
2. We remove the front wheel using the well-known method, freeing it from the bolts. Next, you need to carefully remove the decorative cap.

1. Unscrew the hub nut. To do this, you need to unlock it with a screwdriver. Remove the cone washer and unscrew the ABS sensor (if equipped).

1. After that, the pads are removed and the caliper bolts are unscrewed, and the casing bolts are also unscrewed. The caliper itself, after being removed with wire, is attached to the upper arm.

Next, you need to remove the entire rotating mechanism from the CV joint splines along with the ball joints. To do this, several operations are performed:

1. Press out the steering rod ball pin using a puller, having first unscrewed the fasteners, as shown in the photo.
2. Unscrew the pin bolt on the top ball. supports and pull it out of the socket.

1. The lower ball joint must be disconnected from the lever by unscrewing 3 nuts.
2. Once all the joints are disconnected, you can safely remove the entire assembly and begin replacing the wheel bearing.

Shevik hub design

In order to understand the purpose of a wheel bearing, you need to find out what a hub is. So, this is a structural element of the car that connects the shaft to the wheel. Two tapered bearings are responsible for the operation of the hub, that is, its rotation on the shaft. The main feature of the hub is the ability to adjust the gap or the so-called backlash. But over time, when the car is used, the sliding mechanisms are susceptible to abrasion and this gap increases. Subsequently, this is reflected in the wheels; they begin to vibrate on the axle , which leads to their distortion and abrasion of the rubber. To fix the problem, it is necessary to replace the front wheel bearing.

Bearing design

The front wheel bearing consists of two roller cages (internal and external), which are installed in pairs.

The rollers play an important role in the design of this product. They cause “soft” friction between the wheel and the axle. During friction, the rollers are exposed to mechanical force and a large amount of thermal energy is released (the rollers are heated to extremely high temperatures of over 200 degrees). Not every metal can withstand such temperatures, so the hub rollers are made of special, ultra-strong alloy steel. More detailed information about the manufacturing process can be found on the Internet. If a separator with rollers is used in a dry state, they heat up to extreme temperatures and soon collapse (disintegrate). To reduce the effect of friction and remove the generated thermal energy, special lubricants are used.

Use only special lubricants for sliding mechanisms that are designed for normal operation at high temperatures.

The most common lubricant is Litol-24, which can withstand temperatures above 180 degrees. You cannot lubricate the product with Solidol lubricant, as it can withstand temperatures no higher than 100 degrees.

When to replace?

There are two reasons indicating that the sliding mechanism of the front structure of a Chevrolet Niva car needs to be replaced:

• knocking and increased play of the front wheel manifested in the form of rubber abrasion;
• hum or grinding noise from the front end.

To diagnose faults in more detail, it is necessary to disassemble the mechanism and check the serviceability of all parts. We will replace the front wheel separators with our own hands.

Replacing bearings

Replacement is carried out in stages:

1. Removing the front hub mechanism;
2. Removing the sliding mechanism;
3. Installation of new parts.
4. Assembly.

Therefore, we will perform all the actions in order on one front wheel of the SUV; on the second, the actions are similar.

1. The Niva Chevrolet car is placed on a flat surface and the front part is raised using a jack. The wheel is removed, and we begin to remove the hub.
2. The caliper with pads is disconnected. The process of removing it is described in other sections.
3. The adjusting nut of the mechanism is unscrewed from the axle.
4. All elements of the front wheel mechanism are removed. The hub is separated from the brake disc by knocking it out. (Detailed description of mechanism extraction will be provided in other articles).
5. Now let's move on to extracting the sliding mechanisms. Extract:
6. The outer bearing is removed from the brake disc using a puller.
7. The oil seal and ring plate are removed from the inside.
8. Let's move on to removing the inner bearing. To do this, we clamp the hub structure in a vice and knock out the separator structure from the back of the hole with a chisel.

Use the chisel carefully so as not to damage the hub groove. It is necessary to knock out with successive movements along the separator body.

Before installation, the seat must be cleaned and thoroughly lubricated.

Although wheel bearings have a long service life, like many parts, they are not designed to withstand strong mechanical impacts on the mechanism shaft. And this happens when you get into even a small hole or pothole. The part may not be damaged immediately, but a microcrack may appear on it, which will ultimately lead to a sad outcome. Therefore, control the movement of the car and always monitor its mechanisms.

Pressing out and dismantling old bearings

The removed assembly and steering knuckle do not require further disassembly. The only thing you need to do is remove the old oil seal using a regular flathead screwdriver, holding the hub assembly in a vice. It is not recommended to use them in the future; new ones are installed, just like the bearing.

Inside the fist, there are two tapered angular contact roller bearings. They are installed at random and form a hub unit.

1. To begin dismantling, it is enough to separate the brake disc mounts from the wheel turning mechanism.
2. Don't forget to remove the seals.
3. The small race of the inner bearing can be removed without any problems by hand.

1. Next, at the same time, using the adapter, you need to knock out the outer roller bearing race from the pipe, as shown in the photo below.
2. After separation, one ring with a separator remains on the hub, and the second remains inside the knuckle. The old clip is pulled off with a special puller equipped with grips.
3. The second part of the part is knocked out of the trunnion through a spacer made of soft metal in the form of a rod or carefully with a screwdriver.

1. The attachment is placed against the clip and light blows are applied, moving it in a circle.
2. After this, the old grease should be carefully removed from the cavity.

Let's sum it up

Taking into account the above information, it becomes clear that you can replace the wheel bearing of a Niva Chevrolet with your own hands in an ordinary garage. However, before starting work, you must have all the necessary tools, and also follow the instructions discussed above for dismantling and installing a new bearing. After replacement, it is also necessary to check the new bearings for extraneous sounds.

The Chevrolet Niva SUV (VAZ 2123) is reliable and, like no other car, is adapted to the realities of road conditions in Russia. Thanks to the arrangement of the hub, wheel bearing, brake drum, and wheel disk, a community of parts is created that can withstand heavy loads. The greatest pressure falls on the wheel bearing; in fact, it holds the entire mass of the car.

Unfortunately, even on such a car, harsh operating conditions have a sad effect on the components, especially the suspension. Therefore, sometimes the wheel bearing fails.

Installing new bearings in the steering knuckle

It is important to know:

Manufacturers do not lubricate their bearings and rings very generously, so you will have to add the missing amount of grease yourself. Litol-24 in an amount of 40 g is suitable, apply lubricant to the separator and rollers before replacing the Niva front hub.

1. We insert a new outer race of the inner and outer roller bearing into the prepared hole of the steering knuckle. We press the clips on both sides, in the same way as they were installed at the factory.
2. Next, apply lubricant to the raceways and spread it in an even layer.

1. We insert the inner race and close it with an oil seal. Lightly press the boot with a mandrel of the required size. We do the same on the other side, install the clip and boot.

1. Now we insert the hub into the steering knuckle, namely into the holes of the installed roller bearings.
2. The hub must be inserted smoothly and without distortion. In some cases, depending on the actual mounting diameters, pressing through a press will be required. In this case, a spacer was used.

1. Replacement is complete. We install the assembled unit in the reverse order. Read about adjustments below.

If there is no hydraulic press or puller, replace it using a hammer and a mandrel (or using an old ring). This option is not recommended, but is demonstrated in the video for your reference.

1. The outer race is inserted into the hub socket and driven without distortion through a wooden spacer.
2. For its final landing, you can take a pipe of a suitable diameter or a mandrel.
3. Then a separator is placed inside, and the assembly is assembled using the reverse algorithm.

Video: “Method of replacing a wheel bearing without a press”

The procedure for adjusting the bearing clearance:

1. After assembling the unit, tighten the locknut to a torque of 19.5 N.*M (or 1.95 kgf.m), turning the hub itself to the sides.
2. We loosen it back and tighten it to a torque of 6.8 N*M (or 0.68 kgf.m).
3. We check the gap according to the diagram, the limits are from 0.02 to 0.08 mm.
4. We lock the locknut by bending the edges.

It is important to know about the adjustments:

We recommend that you visually watch the adjustment process in the two videos presented below.

Video: “Adjusting wheel bearings”

Video: “Diagnostics of the gap in the hub assembly”

What is a non-adjustable bearing and why is it installed on a Chevrolet Niva

The problem with standard wheel bearings is that they need to be constantly adjusted during vehicle operation. If this is not done in time, they will fail, creating a howl or hum when moving. You can save yourself from such problems by installing non-adjustable hubs or double-row bearings.

On sale you can find reinforced, non-adjustable hubs with double-row bearings. According to the manufacturer, this modernized unit has the following advantages:

1. there is no need to adjust (the bearing tightening is precisely set during its production);
2. no need for regular lubrication;
3. eliminates rotation of bearings on the hub;
4. eliminates wear of bearing seats on the steering knuckle and hub;
5. a ball bearing reduces friction in the hub assembly;
6. The service life of the hub is increased due to thickening

A good way to strengthen the suspension is to install non-adjustable double-row wheel roller bearings on the Niva instead of the standard ones. But there is one nuance - such products have a different outer diameter; there are 2 ways to solve this problem:

• 1) Boring the “native” fists for a double-row p/w;
• 2) Insert a set of spacers and fix both roller bearings, making them non-adjustable;
• 3) Buy and supply a ready-made kit.

For options 1 and 3, a SKF bearing marked SKF IVECO BTH-1024 C is suitable. For the second option, you need to purchase a special set of bushings, the installation of which is described in the video below.

Video: “How to make non-adjustable bearings from adjustable bearings”

Reworking the hub and installing a non-adjustable bearing

Such a hub, for an adjustable bearing, can be made from a standard part. It is necessary to bore the hole to the size of the bearing +50 microns (0.05 mm) for interference, and press it into the resulting mounting hole.

1. According to the instructions provided, we dismantle the old parts.
2. We grind the hub to the required diameter ourselves or order it from a turner in your city.
3. We press in a new double-row ball bearing, for example SKF IVECO BTH-1024 C.
4. Install the retaining ring.
5. We install a spacer (washer) of about 3.5 mm and a seal (the size of the washer is determined using additional measurements).
6. The process is complex, so it is recommended to watch it in video format.

Video: “Installing a non-adjustable bearing”

Video: “Installing reinforced bearings”

Video: “Replacing an IVECO bearing”

Now let’s look at the question of choosing a suitable bearing for replacement, both in the case of a conventional replacement and for conversion to a double-row reinforced one.

How to choose a replacement part and bearing number

Once you are convinced that the bearings need to be repaired, you should select a hub bearing in the retail chain based on three main criteria (by default, single-row tapered roller bearings are installed - the new kit must have a nut):

1. Chevrolet Niva front hub part number: 2007108 (catalog number - 2121-3103020-10, bearing according to GOST - 2007108, foreign equivalent according to ISO - 32008).
2. You need to buy two roller bearings in the kit.
3. Dimensions of the Chevrolet Niva front hub bearings: height – 19 mm, internal diameter – 40 mm, external diameter – 68 mm.
4. The cost of a new set of parts for the hub, including double-row bearings, as well as suitable manufacturers, are presented in the table below.

Table - Recommended manufacturers, numbers and articles of hub bearings

It is important to know:

Parts of satisfactory quality last about 20 thousand km, mileage with high-quality products exceeds 30 thousand km. The most popular products from the Volzhsky and Samara plants are labeled SPZ-GROUP. The average price of a wheel bearing is 1000 rubles.