Front and rear shock absorbers VAZ 2106: purpose, malfunctions, selection and replacement
Content
Suspension shock absorbers VAZ 2106, as in any other car, are an integral part on which not only comfortable movement depends, but also the safety of driving. The condition of these elements must be periodically monitored and checked for their performance.
Purpose and arrangement of shock absorbers VAZ 2106
In the design of the front and rear suspension of the VAZ "six" shock absorbers are used to dampen sharp vibrations. Since they, like other elements of the car, fail over time, therefore, it is worth dwelling on the signs of malfunctions, the selection and replacement of these suspension parts.
Shock absorber design
On the VAZ 2106, as a rule, two-pipe oil shock absorbers are installed. The difference between the front and rear dampers lies in the dimensions, the method of mounting the upper part and the presence of a buffer 37 at the front shock-absorbing element, which limits the movement during reverse movement. The design of the rear shock absorber is made of a tank 19 with a mounting ear, compression valves (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), a working cylinder 21, a rod 20 with a piston element, and a casing 22 with an eye. The tank 19 is a tubular steel element. An eye 1 is fixed in its lower part, and a thread for a nut 29 is made on top. The eye has a recess in which the body 2 is placed together with the valve discs. To the undercut, it is supported by the cylinder 21.
The cavity between the reservoir and the cylinder is filled with liquid. The working cylinder contains a rod 20 and a piston 10. The latter has valve channels - bypass and return. The bottom of the cylinder has a compression valve. In the valve body 2 there is a seat, to which the disks 3 and 4 are pressed. When the piston moves at a low frequency, the fluid pressure decreases through the cutout in the disk 4. The valve body has a groove and vertical channels from the bottom, and there are holes in the holder 7 that allow the fluid to pass from the working tank and vice versa. In the upper part of the cylinder there is a sleeve 23 with a sealing element 24, and the rod outlet is sealed with a cuff 26 and a clip 25. The parts that are located at the top of the cylinder are supported by a nut 29 with four key holes. Silent blocks 38 are installed in the shock absorber lugs.
dimensions
The depreciation elements of the front of the "six" are quite soft, which is especially felt when hitting a bump: the front of the car sways a lot. The softness of the rear shock absorbers is the same as the front ones. The only difference is that it doesn't feel that way here due to the lightness of the back. It is also worth noting that the dampers are not divided into right and left, since they are completely identical.
Table: dimensions of shock absorbers VAZ 2106
SKU | Rod diameter, mm | Case diameter, mm | Body height (excluding stem), mm | Rod stroke, mm |
2101–2905402 2101–2905402–022101–2905402–04 (перед) | 12 | 41 | 217 | 108 |
2101–2915402–02 2101–2915402–04 (зад) | 12,5 | 41 | 306 | 183 |
Principle of operation
The damping elements work based on the principle of creating a high resistance to body swing, which is ensured by forced passage of the working medium through the holes in the valves. When the element in question is compressed, the wheels of the machine move up, while the piston of the device goes down and squeezes the liquid from the bottom of the cylinder up through the spring element of the bypass valve. Part of the liquid flows into the tank. When the shock absorber rod moves smoothly, the force generated from the fluid will be small, and the working medium passes into the reservoir through the hole in the throttle disc.
Under the influence of the elastic elements of the suspension, the wheels return downward, which leads to the shock absorber stretching and the piston moving upward. At the same time, liquid pressure arises above the piston element, and a rarefaction occurs below it. Above the piston is liquid, under the influence of which the spring is compressed and the edges of the valve discs are bent, as a result of which it flows down the cylinder. When the piston element moves at a low frequency, little fluid pressure is created to depress the recoil valve discs, while creating resistance to the recoil stroke.
How are they attached
The dampers of the front end of the Zhiguli of the sixth model are attached to the lower levers by means of a bolted connection. The upper part of the product passes through the support cup and is fixed with a nut. To exclude a rigid connection of the shock absorber with the body, rubber cushions are used in the upper part.
The rear shock absorbers are located near the wheels. From above, they are fixed to the bottom of the body, and from below - to the corresponding bracket.
Shock absorber problems
When operating a car, it is important to know when the suspension shock absorbers fail, because the car's handling and safety depend on their serviceability. Malfunctions are indicated by characteristic signs that should be considered in more detail.
Oil leaks
You can determine that the damper has flowed by visually inspecting it. There will be noticeable traces of oil on the case, which indicates a violation of the tightness of the device. It is possible to drive a car with a leaky shock absorber, but it should be replaced in the near future, since the part is no longer able to provide sufficient elasticity when the body rolls. If you continue to operate the vehicle with a defective damper, then the remaining shock absorbers will be loaded with a load that they were not designed for. This will shorten their service life and require the replacement of all four elements. If smudges were noticed on several shock absorbers, then it is better not to use the car until they are replaced, because due to strong buildup, other suspension elements (silent blocks, rod bushings, etc.) will begin to fail.
Knocking while driving
Most often, shock absorbers knock due to leakage of the working fluid. If the damper is dry, then it is necessary to check its serviceability in a simple way. To do this, they press on the wing of the car from the side where the knock comes from, and then release it. The working part will ensure slow subsidence and return to its original state. If the shock absorber has become unusable, then the body will swing under the influence of the spring, quickly returning to its original position. If there are knocks of damping elements with a mileage of more than 50 thousand km, you should think about replacing them.
Video: checking the health of the VAZ 2106 shock absorber
Sluggish braking
When the shock absorbers fail, the wheels make poor contact with the road surface, which reduces traction. As a result, the tires slip for a short time, and braking becomes less effective, i.e. it takes longer for the car to slow down.
Pecks and pulls the car to the sides during braking
Violation of the damper due to wear of structural elements leads to incorrect operation of the mechanism. With a slight impact on the brake pedal or when turning the steering wheel, body buildup occurs. One of the main signs of shock absorber failure is pecking when braking or strong body roll when turning and the need for steering. Driving becomes unsafe.
Uneven tread wear
When brake performance is reduced, tire life is also reduced. This is explained by the fact that the wheels often jump and catch on the roadway. As a result, the tread wears unevenly and faster than with a good suspension. In addition, the wheel balance is disturbed, the load on the hub bearing increases. Therefore, the protector of all four wheels is recommended to be inspected periodically.
Poor road holding
With unstable behavior of the VAZ 2106 on the road, the cause may be not only faulty shock absorbers. It is necessary to inspect all suspension elements, check the reliability of their fixation. With severe wear on the bushings of the rear axle rods or if the rods themselves are damaged, the car can throw to the sides.
Breakage of the fastening ear
The mounting eye can be cut off both on the front and rear shock absorbers. Often this phenomenon occurs when mounting spacers under the springs to increase the clearance, as a result of which the damper stroke decreases and the mounting rings are torn off.
To avoid such an unpleasant situation, it is necessary to weld an additional eye on the shock absorber, for example, by cutting it off from the old product or using a special bracket.
Video: the reasons for the breakage of shock absorbers on the Zhiguli
Watch this video on YouTube
Replacing shock absorbers
Having found out that the shock absorbers of your "six" have served their purpose and need to be replaced, you need to know in what sequence to carry out this procedure. It is also worth considering that the dampers are changed in pairs, i.e. if the right element on one axis fails, then the left one must be replaced. Of course, if a shock absorber with low mileage breaks down (up to 1 thousand km), then only it can be replaced. As for the repair of the products in question, practically no one does this at home due to the complexity or impossibility of carrying out the work due to the lack of the necessary equipment. In addition, the designs of shock absorbers are not collapsible at all.
What to choose
It is not only when they break down that you have to think about the choice of damping devices for the front and rear suspension. Some owners of the VAZ 2106 and other classic Zhiguli are not satisfied with the soft suspension. For better vehicle stability, it is recommended to install shock absorbers from VAZ 21214 (SAAZ) on the front end. Often, original products are replaced with imported counterparts precisely because of excessive softness.
Table: analogues of the front shock absorbers VAZ 2106
Manufacturer | SKU | price, rub. |
KYB | 443122 (oil) | 700 |
KYB | 343097 (gas) | 1300 |
Fenox | A11001C3 | 700 |
SS20 | SS20177 | 1500 |
To improve the operation of the rear suspension, instead of standard shock absorbers, elements from the VAZ 2121 are installed. As in the case of the front end, there are foreign analogues for the back end.
Table: analogues of the rear shock absorbers "six"
Manufacturer | SKU | price, rub. |
KYB | 343098 | 1400 |
KYB | 443123 | 950 |
Fenox | A12175C3 | 700 |
QML | SA-1029 | 500 |
How to replace the front shock absorber
To dismantle the front shock absorbers, you need to prepare the keys for 6, 13 and 17. The process itself consists of the following steps:
- We open the hood and unscrew the fastening of the shock absorber rod with a key of 17, holding the axis from turning with a key of 6.To unscrew the upper fastener, hold the stem from turning and unscrew the nut with a 17 wrench
- Remove the nut, washer and rubber elements from the stem.Remove the washer and rubber cushion from the shock absorber rod
- We go down under the front end and with a key of 13 we unscrew the lower mount.From below, the shock absorber is attached to the lower arm through the bracket
- We dismantle the damper from the car, taking it out with the bracket through the hole in the lower arm.Having unscrewed the mount, we take out the shock absorber through the hole of the lower arm
- We hold the bolt from turning with one key, unscrew the nut with the other and remove the fasteners together with the bracket.We unscrew the fastening of the lever with the help of two keys for 17
- We put the new shock absorber in the reverse order, replacing the rubber pads.
When installing the damper, it is recommended to fully extend the rod, then put on a rubber cushion and insert it into the hole in the glass.
Video: replacing the front shock absorbers on the VAZ "classic"
Watch this video on YouTube
How to replace the rear shock absorber
To remove the rear damper, you will need the following tools and materials:
- key for 19 and a head with a ratchet and a knob;
- a hammer;
- WD-40 or any other penetrating lubricant.
We dismantle the elements in the following sequence:
- We install the car on a viewing hole and tighten the handbrake.
- Using two 19 wrenches, unscrew the lower damper mount.From below, the shock absorber is fastened with a 19 wrench bolt.
- We take out the bolt from the bushing and eyelet.
- We remove the spacer sleeve from the bracket.After pulling out the bolt, remove the spacer sleeve
- We take the shock absorber to the side, take out the bolt and remove the bushing from it.Remove the spacer from the bolt and remove the bolt itself.
- With a key of the same dimension, we turn off the upper mount.From above, the shock absorber is held on the stud with a nut.
- We remove the washer from the axle and the shock absorber itself with rubber bushings.After unscrewing the nut, remove the washer and shock absorber with rubber bushings
- Installation is carried out in the reverse order.
How to bleed shock absorbers
Shock absorbers must be bled before installation. This is done in order to bring them into working condition, since they are in a horizontal position during transportation and storage in warehouses. If the shock absorber is not pumped before installation, then during the operation of the car, the piston group of the device may fail. The bleeding procedure is mainly subjected to two-pipe dampers and do it as follows:
- We turn the new element upside down and gently squeeze it. Hold it in this position for a few seconds.Turning the shock absorber over, gently press the rod and hold it in this position for a few seconds
- We turn the device over and hold it in this position for a few more seconds, after which we extend the stem.We turn the shock absorber into working position and raise the rod
- We repeat the procedure several times.
It is not difficult to determine that the shock absorber is not prepared for operation: the rod will move jerkily during compression and tension. After pumping, such defects disappear.
The dampers of the front and rear suspension of the VAZ 2106 fail infrequently. However, the operation of the car on poor quality roads significantly reduces their service life. To find a malfunction of shock absorbers and carry out repairs will not require much effort and time. To do this, you need a minimum of tools, as well as familiarization and following step-by-step instructions.