Steering wheel VAZ 2106: dismantling and disassembly
Content
The steering wheel in any car is a tool that allows the driver to easily control his "iron horse". Of course, not only ease of maneuvering on the road, but also the safety of people in the cabin depends on the size of the steering wheel and its “obedience”.
Regular steering wheel VAZ 2106
The first generation VAZ 2106, which left the factory assembly line in 1976, became a turning point in the development of the entire domestic automotive industry. The model was successful by many standards, but it was not without significant shortcomings.
So, the steering wheel can be considered a big minus of the “six” (even by the standards of that time). It was made of cheap rubber, and therefore, in the process of driving, it constantly slipped out of the hands of the driver. In addition, the large diameter and very thin rim did not allow the driver to feel comfortable behind the wheel. On later models of the “sixes”, the designers eliminated the main drawback of the steering wheel and made it a little smaller in diameter and thicker for a comfortable grip with hands.
The steering wheel on the VAZ 2106 was made of plastic materials and metal elements. The cladding was made of low quality rubber, which caused major control problems. The size of the wheel itself is 350 mm in diameter.
What steering wheel can be put on the "six"
Like the entire line of VAZ “classics”, the “six” has the widest possibilities for tuning and replacing various units. For example, at the request of the driver, the factory steering wheel can be replaced with a similar part from any other VAZ model. The only limitation is that you will have to spend a lot of time on finalizing and adjusting the elements.
The steering wheel from the VAZ 2106 is considered as close as possible in size to 2108. The owners of the "sixes" themselves do not highly appreciate the feasibility of such a replacement: after all, it turns out that "the awl changes to soap." The most popular steering wheels from Niva, as they are designed for a longer service life and have already shown themselves well in different operating conditions.
IMHO, the hassle of setting the steering wheel from a chisel to a classic is not worth the time. It would be nice if the steering wheel was fashionable. I recently bought a steering wheel from Niva. Installed in 5 min.
A little about wooden rudders
The classic steering wheel on any car is made of plastic. However, the installation of a wooden steering wheel is considered a special chic among drivers - the interior of the car becomes more presentable.
However, it should be borne in mind that an expensive pleasure will not make the car more pliable to drive - on the contrary, a wooden steering wheel is not adapted for sensitive driving. Therefore, when choosing such a product, you should be more attentive to the rules of the road and drive carefully in ice and wet asphalt.
The cost of a wooden steering wheel on a VAZ 2106 starts at 4 rubles.
Sports steering wheel
Sports steering wheels are designed to give the cabin a special style, and the car - maneuverability in control. However, when choosing this type of steering wheel, you should be as careful as possible, because initially the “six” is not designed for racing and drifting, and therefore the sports steering wheel will not be able to guarantee the driver maximum safety during maneuvers.
If you want a small sports steering wheel, please, you just need to take well-known companies (ISOTTA, MOMO, SPARCO). The only negative is that the price bites.
The cost of a sports steering wheel starts at 1600 rubles.
How to remove the steering wheel from the "six"
Removing the steering wheel in the VAZ 2106 is very simple, but there are some nuances. The whole dismantling procedure will take several minutes: you need to follow clear rules, otherwise you can make mistakes.
The procedure for removing the steering wheel is the same for almost all cars that do not have airbags (the VAZ 2106 is not equipped with them). Some differences in dismantling can only be associated with the mounting parameters of the steering wheel elements, but this is not significant.
The steering wheel on the VAZ 2106 is fixed to the steering shaft by means of one large nut. Access to the fixing point can be obtained through a special hole that is available in the signal button (in the central part of the steering wheel itself).
As mentioned above, initially the “sixes” were equipped with thin steering wheels, later models with thick ones. Today, there are practically no old cars left, so let's consider the process of dismantling a thick steering wheel.
What tools are needed
Even a novice car owner can remove the steering wheel from the VAZ 2106. It is enough to have with you:
- a screwdriver with a thin flat blade;
- head 24 mm;
- head extension.
Dismantling procedure
Having prepared the necessary tools and making sure that nothing will distract from work, you can proceed to remove the steering wheel:
- Sit in the driver's seat in the cabin.
- Using a screwdriver, pry off the AvtoVAZ logo icon in the center of the steering wheel and remove it.
Under the AvtoVAZ logo there is a hole for access to the steering wheel nut - Disconnect the battery, as there is voltage in the steering wheel, and the contacts may close during operation.
- Using a 24 mm head and an extension cord, loosen the fastening nut through the hole formed. It does not make sense to completely unscrew the nut, otherwise the steering wheel may jump out sharply.The steering wheel nut is unscrewed with a 24 mm head, put on an extension
- After loosening the nut, you need to try to remove the steering wheel from the slot, pulling it with both hands towards you. If this does not work, you should forcefully apply several blows to the steering wheel from the back. It is important at the same time that the nut remains on the shaft and does not fly out with the steering wheel.If you can’t pull the steering wheel towards you, you need to hit it from the back side towards yourself
- As soon as the steering wheel is released from the slots fixing it and starts to move, the nut can be unscrewed to the end and pulled out. After that, the steering wheel itself will freely come out of the groove.
It is not uncommon for the steering wheel to be very difficult to remove. In such cases, you need to spray the place where the elements are fixed with WD-40 liquid and wait 5 minutes. Lubrication will make dismantling easier.
Take the trim off the steering wheel. The steering wheel itself is attached to the shaft with one nut. You unscrew (the first time it is better to unscrew the nut not completely), pull the steering wheel towards you, unscrew the nut to the end and remove the steering wheel. In general, as soon as you remove the steering wheel trim, everything will become clear and understandable. But I strongly advise against the steering wheel for 1000 rubles - you run the risk of being left with one rim in your hands when driving
The new steering wheel is mounted in the reverse order: first, the wheel is put on the splines of the shaft, and then tightened with a nut.
Video: steering wheel dismantling
How to disassemble the steering wheel yourself
Owners of the VAZ 2107 rarely disassemble the steering wheels - it is often easier to buy a new one than to repair the old one. In addition, cheap plastic does not always allow you to repair the steering wheel in a quality manner.
The steering wheel removed from the car can be disassembled quite quickly - this requires only a thin flat screwdriver:
- On the inside of the steering wheel, unscrew 6 screws - the holders of the signal button.There are screws on the back of the steering wheel that hold the horn button.
- Unscrew the 4 screws diagonally that secure the contact pins.
- Unscrew the 2 screws in the center of the steering wheel - they attach the button to the steering wheel through the bushings.
- Unscrew the 2 central bolts and remove the horn button.The signal button is removed from the steering wheel after unscrewing all the necessary fasteners
- Diagonal bolts can be left on the steering wheel - they are not responsible for anything.
Video: repair of a sound signal on a VAZ 2106
What does "correct steering position" mean?
A car enthusiast should know that when installing a steering wheel, there are specifics. So, the steering shaft has one double spline, so the new steering wheel can be installed strictly in one position - the correct one.
To quickly find this most “correct position”, you must:
- Initially, by turning the steering wheel, set the front wheels of the car so that they stand strictly straight.
- Set the widest opening between the steering wheel spokes directly in front of the dashboard in the “straight” position.
- The "correct position" is also determined by the fact that the entire panel of the car - each lamp and dials - should be clearly visible from the driver's seat.
Usually it is enough just to set the front wheelset straight in order to “catch” the “correct steering position” on the VAZ 2106.
The final point of checking after installing the steering wheel in place is the quality of the signal. If the sound works in any position of the steering wheel, then the procedure was performed correctly.
Thus, it is not difficult to remove the steering wheel from the VAZ 2106. It is much more important to follow all safety regulations and then install a new steering wheel without errors.
