Swivel fist VAZ 2107
Content
It should be said right away that the suspension on domestic-made cars initially took into account all the road conditions in which the driver will have to operate his car. Therefore, all suspension elements on the VAZ are considered reliable and durable, however, one of the most "long-playing" suspension units is the steering knuckle. This node in the design of the VAZ 2107 rarely fails.
Swivel fist on the VAZ 2107: what is it for
Even the uninitiated can answer what a steering knuckle is: it is obvious that this is a mechanism that ensures the wheels turn when driving. The steering knuckle fixes the hub elements of the front row of wheels on the VAZ 2107 and is mounted on the upper and lower suspension arms.
As soon as the driver begins to turn the steering wheel in the cabin, the gear lever acts on the steering rods, which, in turn, pull the steering knuckle to the left or right side. Thus, the rotation of the front wheels in one direction or another is ensured.
The main purpose of the steering knuckle in the design of the VAZ 2107 is to quickly and without failures ensure that the front pair of wheels turns in the direction the driver needs.
Steering knuckle device
The mechanism itself is made of high-strength cast iron, and therefore has a long service life. As conceived by the designers, this unit must withstand serious loads and not “wedge” at the most crucial moment. It is worth emphasizing that on the VAZ 2107 the steering knuckle is indeed one of the most reliable elements: most drivers never change it throughout the entire period of operation of the car.
In the design of the front suspension of the “seven”, two steering knuckles are used at once - left and right. Accordingly, the elements have slight differences in fasteners, but in other respects they are completely identical:
- manufacturer - AvtoVAZ;
- weight - 1578 g;
- length - 200 mm;
- width - 145 mm;
- height - 90 mm.
The main elements of the steering knuckle are:
- The trunnion is the part of the axle on which the bearing is located. That is, the trunnion serves as a support for the rotational movement of the wheels.
- Pivot - the hinge rod of the swivel joint.
- A wheel steer limiter is a device that prevents the knuckle from turning to maximum due to the risk of loss of control.
Symptoms of a malfunction
As all owners of the VAZ 2107 note, the most common malfunction of the steering knuckle is its deformation - during many years of driving or after an accident. The driver can quickly identify this problem by the following "symptoms"
- the car "pulls" to the left or right when driving;
- tires on the front pair of wheels wear out very quickly;
- hub bearing play as a result of wear on the entire axle.
However, the departure of the car from a given trajectory and the rapid wear of tires may also indicate a violation of the balance of wheel alignment. Therefore, you will need to turn to specialists in order to find out for sure the root of all evil: is the steering knuckle deformed or is it just that the balance of the camber-toe angle is disturbed.
Steering knuckle repair
Repair of the steering knuckle is possible with little wear or minor damage. As a rule, if a node is seriously damaged after an accident, motorists simply change it to a new one.
Repair work is possible only after the complete removal of the steering knuckle from the car. The repair schedule looks like this:
- Clean the surface of the fist from dirt and dust, wipe it with a clean cloth, blow it with compressed air.
- Clean grooves for circlips.
- Inspect the steering knuckle after dismantling for signs of deformation and wear.
- Install a new retaining ring, press in the new bearing until it stops.
- If it is necessary to replace the trunnion, make it. If the trunnion and kingpin are heavily worn, it is recommended to replace the steering knuckle assembly.
Repair of the steering knuckle involves the replacement of retaining rings and bearings. In case of extensive damage, only replacement is recommended.
Replacing the steering knuckle
The replacement of the steering knuckle can be performed by the driver and independently. Before starting work, you will need to prepare the following tools and fixtures:
- standard set of wrenches;
- jack;
- balloon wrench;
- wheel chocks (or any other reliable wheel stops);
- puller for ball joints;
- WD-40 lubricant.
As soon as the steering knuckle is replaced, it will be necessary to add brake fluid to the system, as it will inevitably spill out during operation. Therefore, you need to take care of the brake fluid and a flexible hose for bleeding the system in advance.
Operating procedure
Replacing the steering knuckle with a VAZ 2107 is carried out in two stages: dismantling the old assembly and installing a new one. The algorithm of work is the following:
- Securely fix the car on a flat surface, using wheel chocks, bars or bricks for this.
- Raise the handbrake as far as it will go.
- Loosen the front wheel mounting bolts (left or right - depending on which fist needs to be changed).
- Jack up the edge of the car so that the wheel can be removed.
The jack is placed strictly under the car frame - Unscrew the fixing nuts with a balloon wrench and dismantle the wheel, roll it to the side.
- Find all the fasteners of the steering knuckle, spray them with WD-40 fluid.
- Unscrew the steering knuckle nut.
- Use a puller to undock this tip from the steering knuckle housing.
- Unscrew the bolt fixing the brake fluid supply hose (a small amount of this fluid will pour out).
- Place a stop under the lower control arm.As a stop, you can use bars, bricks and metal products
- Jack up the car a little - the lever should lie on the stop, while the suspension spring should be slightly reduced.
- Unscrew the nuts securing the lower and upper ball joints.
- Remove the ball joints from the knuckle with a puller.Ball joints can only be removed with a special puller - all other tools can damage the suspension elements
- Remove the steering knuckle.
Video: steering knuckle replacement
Immediately after dismantling, it is necessary to inspect the condition of the remaining suspension parts, including the brake caliper and bearing on the hub. If they do not have visible damage, you can use them in the work of a new fist. In the event that signs of wear and deformation are visible, and the bearing is leaking, it is necessary to replace both the caliper and the bearing together with the steering knuckle.
Installing a new fist is done in reverse order. It is important to bleed the brake system after replacement in order to get rid of the air that enters the brake circuit during dismantling.
Video: pumping the brakes
Thus, the steering knuckle on the VAZ 2107 will need to be completely replaced if it fails. Repair is advisable only in cases of minor damage and bearing play. Replacement work is not considered laborious, but the driver must be able to work with pullers and know all the safety rules when using this device.
