Self-diagnosis of the elastic coupling and outboard bearing of the cardan shaft VAZ 2107

VAZ 2107 refers to the type of rear-wheel drive vehicles. The transmission of torque from the gearbox to the rear axle gearbox is carried out by means of a cardan shaft. The shaft itself is considered a fairly reliable unit and can last for decades. However, some of its elements, such as an elastic coupling and an outboard bearing, require constant attention and periodic replacement.

Elastic coupling of the cardan shaft VAZ 2107

The cardan shaft VAZ 2107 consists of two parts (front and rear), interconnected by a swivel coupling (cross). This design allows you to avoid loads on the shaft during the movement, when the body and chassis of the car begin to “play”.

Cardan VAZ 2107 consists of front and rear shafts connected by a cross

The end of the rear shaft is connected to the axle gearbox, and the end of the front shaft is connected to the gearbox shaft. The connection with the gearbox is carried out through an elastic coupling, which is a kind of buffer for leveling shock and dynamic loads falling on the cardan shaft and the gearbox shaft.

Elastic coupling acts as a buffer, smoothing out dynamic loads

Flexible Coupling Location

The flexible coupling is located in the front lower part of the vehicle on the rear side of the gearbox. You can see it if you remove the engine protection and climb under the car. The coupling is easily recognizable due to its hexagonal shape.

The clutch is located on the rear side of the gearbox at the lower front of the vehicle.

Coupling design

The basis of the clutch is a pillow made of extra strong rubber. Along its circumference are six steel bushings fused into the rubber, through which the bolts connecting the cardan flanges and the gearbox output shaft pass. The coupling kit also includes a special tightening collar, which is put on it during installation or dismantling.

The elastic coupling consists of a rubber base and six steel bushings arranged around the circumference

Diagnosis of malfunctions of the elastic coupling

The clutch may fail as a result of:

• wear of metal bushings;
• export the hull;
• hull rupture.

In each of these cases, the malfunction will manifest itself in the form of body vibration and extraneous sounds coming from the gearbox.

It is possible to check the condition of the coupling only by inspecting it and evaluating the size of the play between the flanges of the gearbox shafts and cardan shafts. This is done in the following way.

1. The car is driven onto a flyover or viewing hole;
2. The engine protection is removed;
3. The coupling body is inspected and the condition of the bolted connection is assessed.
4. By loosening the cardan, the presence or absence of play is determined.

If signs of wear or mechanical damage are found on the coupling body (the body is partially or completely broken), the part must be replaced. A small backlash (subject to the integrity of the body) is eliminated by tightening the nuts of the connecting bolts. If the backlash is large, the elastic coupling will have to be changed to a new one.

Criteria for selecting a new coupling

Driveshaft couplings for the VAZ 2107 in Russia are produced under catalog numbers 2101-2202120 and 2101-2202120R. The retail price of a part, depending on the manufacturer, ranges from 400 to 600 rubles.

Table: technical characteristics of the elastic coupling of the cardan shaft VAZ 2107

Features	Indicators
Length, mm	140
Width	140
Height	35
Weight, g	780
Bending stiffness, Nm/deg	3,14
Torsional rigidity, Nm/deg	22,5
Rigidity at displacement along the axis, N/mm	98
Breaking load (not less than), N	4116
Cyclic durability, cycles	however 700000

Suspension bearing cardan shaft VAZ 2107

The outboard bearing (or intermediate support bearing) is designed to ensure uniform rotation of the propeller shaft during movement. In addition, it is an additional attachment point for the cardan and is included in the design of the intermediate (suspended) support. In fact, he himself is a support, as it comes complete with a bracket, with which it is attached to the bottom of the car through a transverse bracket.

The bearing design is based on an outer and inner race and seven steel balls.

Outboard bearing location

The bearing is mounted in front of the cross at the front end of the gimbal. It can be seen from the inspection hole in the axial recess of the bottom behind the exhaust pipe at its junction.

The outboard bearing VAZ 2107 is located in front of the cross on the front of the cardan shaft

Outboard bearing design

The outboard bearing is a conventional sealed type ball bearing. It consists of inner and outer races and seven steel balls. For mounting on the bearing housing there is a steel bracket with bolt holes.

Outboard bearing for easy mounting is equipped with a special bracket

Outboard bearing troubleshooting

The causes of outboard bearing failure are usually its wear or mechanical damage. The service life of the bearing is about 150 thousand kilometers. However, exposure to moisture, dirt, and stress caused by poor road conditions can significantly reduce it.

Signs of bearing wear are:

• slight vibration;
• hum emanating from the place of "suspension" of the cardan;
• shaft play.

It is quite difficult to accurately diagnose bearing failure - this will require dismantling the cardan shaft.

Outboard Bearing Selection Criteria

Outboard bearings for the VAZ 2107 in Russia are produced under catalog numbers 2101-2202080 and 2105-2202078. The requirements of GOST 6–180605 apply to them. Imported counterparts must comply with the requirements of ISO 62305.2RS. If there are no such designations on the packaging of a new part, it is most likely a fake, and it is better to refuse to buy it. The average retail price of a VAZ 2107 outboard bearing is 450–500 rubles. When choosing a manufacturer, it is better to give preference to the Vologda Bearing Plant. Bearings produced at VPZ are considered to be of the highest quality and durability.

Table: technical characteristics of the outboard bearing VAZ 2107

Features	Indicators
steel grade	SHK 15
Outer diameter, mm	62
Internal diameter, mm	25
Height, mm	24
Rated rotation load, rpm	7500
Load capacity static/dynamic, kN	11,4/22,5
Ball diameter, mm	11,5
Mass, g	325

Replacing the propeller shaft coupling VAZ 2107

The clutch is replaced on a flyover, lift or from a viewing hole. From the tools you will need:

• two wrench on 13;
• two wrench on 19;
• head or key for 27;
• set of heads;
• passages;
• chisel;
• a hammer;
• slotted screwdriver;
• awl;
• steel beard;
• round-nose pliers with thin curved ends;
• vise with workbench;
• special puller for bearings (preferably);
• grease type "Shrus".

To replace the clutch, do the following:

1. Locate the parking brake cable equalizer under the car. Remove the front cable spring with pliers.
   

   The front parking brake cable spring is removed using pliers.
2. Loosen the tension of the cable by unscrewing the adjusting and fixing nuts with two keys 13.
   

   To disconnect the cable, you need to unscrew the adjusting and fixing nuts with two 13 wrenches
3. Remove the equalizer and move the cable to the side.
   

   The equalizer is removed after the cable is disconnected.
4. With a hammer and a chisel, make marks near the axle gearbox at the junction of the cardan and the flange of the main gear gear. Since the cardan shaft is centered, it is highly undesirable to disturb the position of its elements relative to each other during assembly. Therefore, before dismantling work, appropriate marks should be applied so that during the subsequent installation of the cardan, all parts stand strictly in their original position.
5. Supporting the rear driveshaft with your hand, use a 13 wrench to unscrew the four nuts connecting the flanges.
   
   

   To disconnect the flanges with a 13 wrench, unscrew four nuts
6. Split flange.
   

   The shaft end must be supported by hand when disconnecting the flanges.
7. Use a hammer and chisel to make marks on the centering flange and the front of the universal joint.
   

   A hammer and chisel are used to mark the front of the shaft.
8. Using a thin slotted screwdriver or an awl, bend the four fixing antennae on the sealing clip located near the coupling.
   

   The antennae on the sealing clip are bent with a thin screwdriver or an awl
9. Move the holder with the seal in the opposite direction from the coupling .
10. Using a 13 wrench, unscrew the nuts securing the safety bracket.
    

    To remove the safety bracket, you need to unscrew the two nuts with a 13 wrench
11. Using a 13 wrench, unscrew the nuts of the cross member to which the intermediate support with the outboard bearing is attached. While holding the cardan, remove the cross member.
    

    The intermediate support bracket is attached with two nuts.
12. Move the cardan and remove its splined end from the flexible coupling.
13. Remove propeller shaft.
    

    To remove the cardan shaft, it must be moved back
14. Using a 13 wrench, unscrew the two nuts securing the gearbox cross member. The back of the box will move down along with the clutch.
    

    The crossbar is attached to the bottom of the VAZ 2107 with two nuts
15. Using two 19 wrenches, unscrew the three nuts on the bolts of the flexible coupling.
    

    To disconnect the coupling from the shaft, unscrew the nuts on the three bolts
16. Scrolling the gearbox shaft, using a hammer and a beard, carefully knock out the clutch mounting bolts one by one.
    

    To remove the bolts of the elastic coupling, they must be knocked out with a hammer and a beard, while scrolling the gearbox shaft
17. Pull off the body of the old coupling with the clamp that comes with the new coupling, and remove it together with the centering flange. Instead of a clamp, you can use a wide dense adhesive tape.
    

    Before removing the coupling, it is recommended to tighten its body with a clamp
18. Loosen clamp and remove flange.
19. Pull off the new coupling with a clamp and install it on the flange.
    

    Before installing a new coupling, it must also be tightened with a clamp.
20. Insert the bolts into the gearbox shaft flange.
    

    Before installing a new coupling, bolts must be inserted into the flange
21. Install the flanged coupling onto the gearbox shaft.
22. Tighten the nuts on the bolts securing the flexible coupling.
23. Remove the clamp from the clutch.
    

    After installing the coupling, the clamp must be removed
24. Install the cardan in accordance with the marks made earlier.
25. Connect the front parking brake cable and adjust it.

Video: replacing the elastic coupling VAZ 2107

Elastic coupling. How to remove and install. Vaz Classic.

Replacing the outboard bearing VAZ 2107

To replace the outboard bearing of the cardan shaft, you must:

1. Disconnect the handbrake cable and dismantle the cardan shaft in accordance with paragraphs. 1-13 instructions for replacing the flexible coupling.
2. Use round-nose pliers to remove the circlips of the needle bearings of the spider.
   

   The needle bearings of the spider are fixed with circlips
3. Select a head from the set, the size of which corresponds to the diameter of the bearings of the cross.
4. Using a socket and hammer, carefully knock out the needle bearings.
   

   Bearings can be knocked out with an appropriately sized socket and hammer
5. Clamp the universal joint in a vise and use a 27 wrench to unscrew the nut securing the hinge fork.
   

   To remove the hinge fork, you need to unscrew the fastening nut with a 27 wrench
6. Remove fork.
   

   You can remove the fork with a bearing puller or a chisel.
7. Using a 13 wrench, unscrew the two bolts securing the bearing to the cross member.
   

   The bearing is attached to the cross member with two bolts.
8. Using a special puller, remove the bearing from the splines of the shaft. If there is no puller, you can use a chisel and a hammer.
   

   To remove the bearing, you can use a hammer and chisel
9. Apply grease to the cardan shafts.
10. Place the bearing on the splines, being careful not to skew.
11. From the set, select a head corresponding to the diameter of the inner race of the bearing. With this head and a hammer, carefully stuff the bearing into the splines.
    

    To install the bearing, a head with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the inner race is used.
12. Install the fork and secure it with the nut.
13. Lubricate the cross bearings with grease.
    

    Bearings must be lubricated before installation.
14. Assemble the cross and press the bearings into the joints.
15. Assemble the cardan shaft strictly in accordance with the marks made earlier. After balancing, install the shaft on the car, following the steps in reverse order.

Video: replacing the outboard bearing VAZ 2107

Replacing the cross and outboard bearing VAZ CLASSIC No. 40.

Balancing the cardan shaft VAZ 2107

After disassembling and replacing any element, the cardan shaft must be balanced. This is done on a special stand, so for balancing it is easier to contact the nearest car service. Balancing itself consists in measuring and eliminating the imbalance on the three shaft bearings. Its permissible value at a shaft speed of 5500 rpm should not exceed 1,62 N * mm. The imbalance is eliminated by welding small weights (metal plates) onto the surface of the front cardan.

If vibration appears after the repair of the cardan shaft, you can try to balance it with your own hands. Naturally, there can be no question of any accuracy here, and the balancing itself will be only temporary. This is done in the following way.

1. Drive the vehicle onto an inspection pit or overpass.
2. Inspect the drive shaft.
3. Conditionally divide the front cardan into four sectors (if you imagine it in a section).
4. Find a small weight of 30-50 g and attach it to the front of the shaft with tape or tape.
5. Drive on a flat section of the road, paying attention to the vibration.
6. If the vibration persists or increases, move the weight to another sector and repeat the test process.

When the load is in place, the vibration should stop, unless, of course, it is due to an imbalance in the shaft.

Useful Tips

To increase the service life of the VAZ 2107 cardan shaft, a number of simple recommendations must be followed.

1. Do not allow excessive contamination of the cardan shaft connecting assemblies.
2. Systematically check the tightness of the fasteners and the presence of lubrication in the connecting nodes.
3. If the shaft is found to be faulty, do not delay the repair.
4. When buying spare parts for cardan, pay attention to the manufacturer and compliance with GOST or ISO requirements.
5. After repairing the cardan shaft, be sure to balance it at a service station.

Diagnosing a malfunction, repairing and replacing the outboard bearing and the elastic coupling of the VAZ 2107 driveshaft with your own hands is quite simple. This requires minimal locksmith skills, a standard set of tools and careful adherence to the recommendations of professionals.