We independently change the steering gear on the VAZ 2106

If the car at some point cannot turn in the right direction, then it cannot be called safe. This applies to all cars, and the VAZ 2106 is no exception. The steering system of the "six" is characterized by increased complexity. The heart of the system is the steering gear, which, like any other device, eventually becomes unusable. Fortunately, the motorist may well change it on their own. Let's figure out how it's done.

The device and principle of operation of the steering mechanism VAZ 2106

The design of the steering mechanism VAZ 2106 is very complex. However, it is she who allows the driver to confidently control the machine in a variety of situations. All elements of the control system are shown in the figure below.

The control system of the "six" is very complex and consists of many elements.

Here it should be said about the ease of control of the "six". To turn the steering wheel, the driver makes a minimum of effort. And therefore, less tired during long trips. The steering of the "six" has one more feature: backlash. It is very slight and does not indicate a malfunction of the steering system. The play of the steering wheel of the "six" is a common occurrence, it arises due to the abundance of various rods and small elements in the control system. Finally, in the latest models of the "sixes" they began to install safety steering columns, which could fold in case of a strong impact, increasing the driver's chances of staying alive in a serious accident. The VAZ 2106 steering mechanism works as follows:

1. The driver turns the steering wheel in the right direction.
2. In the steering gear, the worm shaft begins to move, driven by a system of hinges.
3. The gear connected to the worm shaft also starts to rotate and moves the double-ridged roller.
4. Under the action of the roller, the secondary shaft of the steering gear begins to rotate.
5. Bipods are attached to this shaft. Moving, they set in motion the main steering rods. Through these parts, the driver's effort is transmitted to the front wheels, which turn to the required angle.

Purpose of the steering gear VAZ 2106

The steering gearbox is an integral part of the Six control system. And its purpose is to ensure the timely turn of the steering wheels in the direction the driver needs.

Steering gearboxes of all "sixes" are made in steel cases obtained by casting

Thanks to the steering gear, the effort that the driver spends on turning the front wheels is significantly reduced. And finally, the gearbox allows you to reduce the number of revolutions of the steering wheel several times, which significantly increases the controllability of the car.

Steering gear device

All elements of the steering gear are in a sealed steel case, which is produced by casting. The main parts of the gearbox are the gear and the so-called worm. These parts are in constant engagement. Also in the body are a bipod shaft with bushings, several ball bearings and springs. There are also several oil seals and gaskets that prevent oil from leaking out of the case. You can learn more about the details of the "six" gearbox by looking at the figure.

The main link of the gearbox "six" is a worm gear

Signs of damage to the gearbox and other elements of the steering system

The steering gear on the VAZ 2106 very rarely fails alone. As a rule, the breakdown of the gearbox is preceded by the failure of several elements of the steering system, after which the gearbox itself breaks. That is why it is better to consider the problems of this system as a whole. We list the most famous signs of a breakdown of the control system on the "six":

• when turning the steering wheel, a characteristic rattle or loud creak is heard from under the steering column;
• the driver observes a constant leakage of lubricant from the gearbox;
• turning the steering wheel began to require more effort than before.

Now consider what exactly can be caused by the above signs and how to eliminate them.

Steering system noise

Here are the main causes of noise behind the steering column:

• on the bearings installed in the steering wheel hubs, the clearance has increased. Solution: adjustment of the clearance, and in case of heavy wear of the bearings - their complete replacement;
• the fastening nuts on the tie rod pins have loosened. It is these nuts that usually cause a loud squeak and rattle. Solution: tighten the nuts;
• the gap between the bushings and the pendulum arm of the steering system has increased. Solution: replace the bushings (and sometimes you have to change the bushing brackets if they are badly worn);
• worm bearings in the gearbox are worn out. A rattle when turning the wheels can also occur because of them. Solution: Replace bearings. And if the bearings are not worn out, it is necessary to adjust their clearances;
• loosening the fixing nuts on the swing arms. Solution: Tighten the nuts with the wheels of the car straight ahead.

Leakage of grease from the gearbox

Leakage of lubricant indicates a violation of the tightness of the device.

Oil leaks are clearly visible on the steering gear housing

Here’s how it happens:

• the seals on the bipod shaft or on the worm shaft are completely worn out. Solution: replace the seals (sets of these seals can be purchased at any parts store);
• the bolts holding the steering system housing cover loosened. Solution: tighten the bolts, and tighten them crosswise. That is, first the right bolt is tightened, then the left one, then the upper bolt, then the lower one, etc. Only such a tightening scheme can guarantee the tightness of the crankcase cover;
• damage to the sealing gasket under the crankcase cover. If the application of the above tightening scheme did not lead to anything, it means that the seal has worn out under the crankcase cover. Therefore, the cover will have to be removed and the sealing gasket replaced.

Steering wheel hard to turn

If the driver feels that it has become very difficult to turn the steering wheel, then this can happen for the following reasons:

• incorrect adjustment of the camber-convergence of the steering wheels. The solution is obvious: install the car on the stand and set the correct toe and camber angles;
• one or more parts of the steering system are deformed. Steering rods are usually deformed. And this happens due to external mechanical influences (flying off stones, regular driving on rough roads). Deformed traction will have to be removed and replaced with new ones;
• the gap between the worm and the roller in the steering gear has increased (or vice versa, decreased). Over time, any mechanical connection can loosen. And worm gears are no exception. To eliminate the problem, the roller gap is adjusted using a special bolt, then the gap is checked with a feeler gauge. The resulting figure is compared with the figure indicated in the operating instructions for the machine;
• the nut on the swingarm is too tight. A feature of this nut is that over time it does not weaken, like other fasteners, but rather tightens. This is due to the specific operating conditions of the pendulum arm. The solution is obvious: the nut should be slightly loosened.

How to change the steering gear on a VAZ 2106

The owners of the VAZ 2106 believe that the steering gears of the "sixes" are almost beyond repair. An exception is made only in case of wear of ball bearings, gaskets and seals. Then the car owner disassembles the gearbox and replaces the above parts with new ones. And in case of wear of the worm, gear or roller, there is only one solution: to replace the entire gearbox, since it is far from always possible to find, for example, a worm shaft from a “six” gearbox or a gear. The reason is simple: the car was discontinued a long time ago and spare parts for it become less and less every year. To remove the gearbox, we need the following tools:

• a set of socket heads and knobs;
• special puller for steering rod;
• set of spanner keys;
• new steering gear;
• rags.

Sequencing

Having prepared everything you need, the car should be driven onto a flyover (or into a viewing hole). The wheels of the machine should be securely fixed with shoes.

1. The left front wheel of the machine is jacked up and removed. Opens access to steering rods.
2. With the help of rags, the fingers on the steering rods are thoroughly cleaned of dirt.
3. The rods are disconnected from the gear bipod. To do this, the mounting cotter pins on the rods are removed, then the nuts are unscrewed with a spanner wrench. After that, using a puller, the rod fingers are squeezed out of the steering bipods.
   

   To remove the traction fingers, you will need a special puller
4. The gear shaft is attached to the intermediate shaft, which will need to be disconnected. This is done using a 13 open-end wrench. The intermediate shaft is moved to the side.
   

   The intermediate shaft of the gearbox rests on one bolt for 14
5. The gearbox itself is attached to the body with three 14 bolts. They are unscrewed with an open-end wrench, the gearbox is removed and replaced with a new one. After that, the steering system is reassembled.
   

   The steering gear rests on the body of the "six" on three bolts for 14

Video: change the steering gear on the "classic"

Replacing the steering column VAZ 2106

How to disassemble the steering gearbox "six"

If the driver decided not to change the gearbox on his "six", but only to replace the oil seals or bearings in it, then the gearbox will have to be disassembled almost completely. To do this, you need the following things:

• large socket head 30;
• puller for gear bipod;
• flat screwdriver;
• a hammer;
• vise.

Sequence of work

It should be said right away that the puller and vice are the main tools when disassembling the gearbox. Without them, it is better not to start disassembly, since nothing can replace these tools.

1. There is a fixing nut on the bipod of the gearbox. It is unscrewed with a wrench. After that, the gearbox is installed in a vice, a puller is put on the bipod as shown in the photo, and the pull is gently shifted by the puller from the shaft.
   

   To remove the thrust without a puller and a vice is indispensable
2. The plug is unscrewed from the oil filling hole. The oil from the gearbox housing is drained into some empty container. Then the adjustment nut is unscrewed from the gearbox, the lock washer under it is also removed.
   

   The upper cover of the gearbox is held on four bolts 13
3. There are 4 mounting bolts on the top cover of the gearbox. They are unscrewed with a key of 14. The cover is removed.
4. The traction shaft and its roller are removed from the gearbox.
   

   The traction shaft and roller are manually removed from the gearbox
5. Now the cover is removed from the worm gear. It is held on by four 14 bolts, under it there is a thin sealing gasket, which should also be carefully removed.
   

   The worm gear cover is held on by four 14 bolts, there is a gasket under it
6. The worm shaft no longer holds anything and it is carefully knocked out with a hammer from the gearbox housing along with ball bearings.
   

   You can knock out the worm shaft from the gearbox with a small hammer
7. There is a large rubber seal in the hole of the worm shaft. It is convenient to remove it with a regular flat screwdriver.
   

   To remove the seal, you need to pry it with a flat screwdriver
8. Using a hammer and a large 30 wrench, the second bearing of the worm shaft, located in the gearbox housing, is knocked out.
   

   As a mandrel for knocking out, you can use a key for 30
9. After that, all parts of the gearbox are inspected for breakdowns and mechanical wear. Worn parts are replaced with new ones, then the gearbox is assembled in the reverse order.

Video: we disassemble the steering gear of the "classics"

Dismantling the steering gear assembly of VAZ.

How to adjust steering gear

Steering gear adjustment may be required if the steering wheel has become very difficult to turn or a slight sticking is clearly felt when turning the steering wheel. Adjustment is carried out using a 19-mm open-end wrench and a flat screwdriver. In addition, for fine adjustment, you will definitely need the help of a partner.

1. The car is installed on smooth asphalt. The steering wheels are mounted straight.
2. The hood opens, the steering gear is cleaned of dirt with a piece of rags. On the crankcase cover of the gearbox is an adjusting screw with a lock nut. This screw is closed with a plastic cap, which will need to be pry off with a screwdriver and removed.
   

   Under the screw is a lock nut and a retaining ring.
3. The locknut on the screw is loosened with an open end wrench.
   

   To start adjusting the gearbox, you will have to loosen the locknut of the adjusting bolt
4. After that, the adjusting screw rotates first clockwise, then counterclockwise. At this time, the partner sitting in the cab turns the front wheels to the right several times, then to the left several times. It is necessary to achieve a situation where the jamming of the steering wheel will completely disappear, the wheel itself will turn without any extra effort, and its free play will be minimal. As soon as the partner is convinced that all of the above conditions are met, the adjustment stops and the locknut on the screw is tightened.
   

   To adjust the gearbox, it is better to use a large flat screwdriver.

Video: how to adjust the classic steering gear

How to adjust the steering column VAZ.

Filling oil in the steering gear

As mentioned above, the steering gear housing is sealed. Oil is poured inside, which can significantly reduce the friction of parts. For a VAZ gearbox, any oil of class GL5 or GL4 is suitable. The viscosity class must be SAE80-W90. Many owners of "sixes" fill in the old Soviet TAD17 oil, which also has an acceptable viscosity and is cheaper. To fill the gearbox completely, you need 0.22 liters of gear oil.

How to check the oil level in the steering gear

In order for the parts of the steering gear to serve as long as possible, the driver must periodically check the oil level in this device and add lubricant if necessary.

1. On the cover of the gearbox there is a hole for filling oil, closed with a stopper. The cork is unscrewed with an 8-mm open-end wrench.
   

   To unscrew the drain plug, you need a wrench for 8
2. A thin long screwdriver or oil dipstick is inserted into the hole until it stops. The oil must reach the lower edge of the oil drain hole.
   

   To check the oil level in the gearbox, you will need a thin screwdriver or dipstick
3. If the oil level is normal, the plug returns to its place, twists, and the oil leaks on the cover are wiped off with a rag. If the level is low, add oil.

Oil filling sequence

If the driver needs to add a little oil to the gearbox or change the oil completely, he will need an empty plastic bottle, a piece of plastic tubing and a medical syringe of the largest volume. It should also be noted here that the operating instructions for the machine say: the oil in the steering gear should be changed at intervals of once a year.

1. The oil plug on the gearbox cover is unscrewed. A plastic tube is put on the syringe. The other end of the tube is inserted into the drain hole of the reducer, the oil is drawn into a syringe and drained into an empty plastic bottle.
   

   It is convenient to drain the old oil into a plastic bottle cut in half
2. After complete draining, new oil is poured into the gearbox with the same syringe. Top up until oil starts to drip from the drain hole. After that, the plug is screwed into place, and the gearbox cover is carefully wiped with a rag.
   

   Three large oil syringes are usually enough to fill the gearbox.

Video: independently change the oil in the classic steering gear

Changing the oil in the steering gear on a VAZ 2107-2101

So, the steering gearbox on the "six" is a very important part. Not only the controllability of the car depends on its condition, but also the safety of the driver and passengers. Even a novice motorist can replace the gearbox. Special skills and knowledge are not required for this. You just need to be able to use wrenches and exactly follow the recommendations outlined above.