We independently change the rear springs on the VAZ 2107

Every car has flaws. VAZ 2107 is no exception. The suspension on this car has never been soft and reliable. For this reason, drivers, having bought the "seven", have always tried to somehow make their lives easier by upgrading or completely replacing the springs in the suspension. The driver can perform such an operation independently. Let's try to figure out how it's done.

The purpose of the rear springs on the VAZ 2107

Rear springs are essential for a comfortable ride. They are the most important part of the suspension and successfully dampen the shaking that occurs when driving on rough roads. More springs do not allow the car to tip over when entering a very sharp turn. And finally, when driving on a flat road, the springs keep the car body at a constant height.

The rear spring on the VAZ 2107 is located far behind the wheel

Externally, the spring is a rod made of structural steel and twisted into a spiral. The suspension of the very first cars was equipped with springs. But now almost all cars have springs, because they take up less space in the body, and it is easier to maintain them. On the VAZ 2107, in addition to the springs, there are also shock absorbers, the main task of which is to dampen the vibrations resulting from the operation of the spring.

About the stiffness of car springs

Speaking about the purpose of springs, one cannot help but dwell on such an important characteristic as stiffness. It is customary for motorists to divide suspensions into “hard” and “soft”. Both types of suspensions are used on the VAZ 2107. And their use is due to the purpose of the machine.

The stiffness of the springs depends on many different parameters.

If the owner of the "seven" loves speed and prefers an aggressive driving style, he installs a rigid suspension that makes the car as stable as possible on steep turns. And if the driver is not used to rushing, then he should put a soft suspension that provides maximum comfort when driving on rough roads. The stiffness of the "seven" springs depends on the following parameters:

• spring bar diameter. With an increase in the diameter of the rod, the stiffness of the spring also increases;
• the diameter of the spring itself. The spring diameter is the diameter of the cylinder formed by the twisted spring rod. The larger this diameter, the softer the spring will be;
• number of turns. The more turns in the spring, the softer it is;
• form. Springs can be cylindrical, barrel-shaped and conical. Cylindrical are considered the most rigid, barrel-shaped are the softest, and conical ones occupy an intermediate position between cylindrical and barrel-shaped.

About the choice of springs

As mentioned above, the choice of springs should be based on the purpose of the vehicle. The one who drives fast puts hard springs, and the one who loves comfort puts soft ones. There is another situation in which replacement is indispensable: the springs can “get tired”. It's simple: over the years, the elasticity of any spring decreases. If this happens with the rear springs of the "seven", then the rear of the car begins to sag heavily, and the wheels, falling into a particularly deep hole, begin to touch the fender liner with a characteristic rattle. After that, the driver is simply obliged to install new rigid springs. Which ones to choose?

VAZ springs

If the springs are worn out, the best option would be to install a set of standard rear springs for the VAZ 2107. If for some reason it was not possible to purchase "native" springs, there is a second option: springs from the VAZ 2104. They are slightly stiffer than the "native" springs, and drivers who prefer an aggressive driving style will surely notice an improvement in the car's handling. More springs from the "four" are put by those who decided to transfer their "seven" to gas fuel. Gas cylinders are heavy, so the rear springs must be stiffer and their free play must be shorter. Finally, there is a third option: springs from the VAZ 2101. Today, it is far from always possible to purchase new springs from a “penny”, since the “penny” has long been discontinued. But if you still managed to get such springs, the suspension of the "seven" after their installation will become softer.

About springs from foreign cars

It is not recommended to install rear springs from foreign cars on the VAZ 2107. The fact is that the parameters of these springs do not even come close to the standard VAZ ones. Springs on foreign cars are designed for a different car weight, different body type, different shock absorbers, etc.

Installing springs from foreign cars on a VAZ 2107 is impractical

If the driver does decide to install them, he will have to seriously modify the suspension of the "seven" and will almost certainly have to change the rear shock absorbers, which will lead to additional costs. But even such measures do not guarantee the normal operation of the suspension. Therefore, drivers involved in tuning their "sevens" prefer not to mess with springs from foreign cars, doing well with the VAZ springs mentioned above.

On the modernization of springs VAZ 2107

The driver, trying to eliminate the “innate” suspension flaws or solve some specific problem, can resort to upgrading the rear springs either by shortening them or using spacers. Let's consider each case in more detail.

Spring spacers

Domestic roads have never been of good quality. And the VAZ 2107 has never been distinguished by high ground clearance. At some point, the driver gets tired of slowing down in front of each pit and he decides to increase the ground clearance of his car with the help of special spacers. They are small ring-shaped gaskets made of wear-resistant materials. Let's list the types of spacers.

1. Spacers mounted between turns. This is the easiest and most popular way to increase the ground clearance of a car without resorting to major upgrades. No special skills are required for the installation of interturn spacers. The wheels are jacked up in turn, hung out, and the springs are slightly stretched. After that, the spacer, previously moistened with soapy water, is installed between the turns. You can find these spacers at any auto parts store.
   

   The simplest spacers installed between the coils of the rear springs
2. Spring spacers. Installed directly under the rear and front springs. The increase in ground clearance in this case corresponds to the thickness of the spacer. Installing spring spacers is more difficult: you first have to remove the wheels, and then the springs themselves. It will not be easy for a novice driver to perform such an operation, therefore, one cannot do without the help of qualified mechanics. An important point: spring spacers show themselves perfectly only on new springs. But if the spring has lost its elasticity and “sat down”, it is not advisable to put a spring spacer under it, since the effect of the spacer will be zero. A smarter solution in this situation is to buy and install new springs and spacers.
   

   These spacers are mounted in thrust cups under the springs.
3. Adjustable spacers. These are the same spring spacers, but their design includes the possibility of changing the clearance using special bolts. These spacers are the best option for anyone who wants to increase the ground clearance of their "seven". But these spacers also have three disadvantages: they are difficult to install, they are expensive, and you can not find them everywhere.
   

   Adjustable spacers are the most comfortable and most expensive

About spacer materials

It is worth dwelling on the material of the spacers, because this is the most important moment that determines the reliability and durability of not only the springs, but the entire suspension. So, spacers are:

• aluminum;
• polyurethane;
• plastic.

Now a little more about each of these materials:

• polyurethane spacers are quite easy to install, but do not differ in durability. Their main trouble is that the spring strongly deforms them, and this happens in the shortest possible time. Especially if the driver constantly drives on rough roads. Over time, due to the deformation of the spacers, the damping bushings begin to touch the car body, seriously damaging it;
  

  Polyurethane spacers have never been durable
• aluminum spacers. They are more reliable than polyurethane and do not allow the bushings to touch the body. But they also have a drawback. Some aluminum spacers may contain steel elements that corrode easily. This is especially pronounced if the driver drives on roads that are often sprinkled with chemicals;
  

  Aluminum spacers are more reliable than polyurethane, but also more expensive
• wear-resistant plastic spacers. The best option. They wear out for a long time, practically do not deform, do not rust. The downside of plastic spacers is only one: high cost.
  

  The best spacers for the "seven", but their price is sometimes frankly overpriced

Learn more about replacing bushings on the rear stabilizer: https://bumper.guru/klassicheskie-modeli-vaz/hodovaya-chast/zadniy-stabilizator-na-vaz-2107.html

About the feasibility of installing spacers

The feasibility of installing spacers is a very controversial issue, discussions on which do not stop to this day. Spacers have many supporters and many opponents. If the driver comes to the car service and asks to install spacers, they are installed. But as a rule, first, experts try to dissuade the driver from this operation. Their arguments usually boil down to the following:

• after installing the spacers, the suspension arms will be permanently lowered by a few centimeters. This leads to a violation of the geometry of the entire suspension. Therefore, the suspension will work differently. There may be changes in the track width, in the handling of the machine, in the angles of the wheel axles, etc. Under normal conditions, all this will not be too noticeable. But in emergency situations, impaired controllability can lead to very sad consequences;
• installing spacers increases the load on the suspension. Shock absorbers wear out faster, as do silent blocks. Because the mating angles of the steering rods and drive wheel shafts change after installing the spacers.

The conclusion from all of the above is simple: the driver, before installing spacers, will have to carefully weigh the pros and cons and decide whether he really needs such an upgrade.

Shortened springs

Far from always, drivers seek to increase the clearance of the "seven". There are those who are trying to reduce ground clearance by installing shortened springs. Methods for this are used in a variety of ways.

Cutting coils from "native" springs

The most popular way to shorten the rear springs of the "seven" is to simply cut them off. This task is within the power of any experienced driver who has the skills to work with the so-called grinder. But even such a driver will need assistants.

Coils from the spring are usually cut with a grinder

There are two options for trimming springs: with spring removal and without removal. On the rear springs of the “sevens”, three lower turns are usually cut off. On the front - two. The difference in one turn is not accidental: the front of the car is heavier, because there is an engine, therefore, the car must be balanced. Shortened springs are placed in regular places, after which the car must be installed on a stand to adjust the alignment.

Experienced car owners can cut the coils without removing the spring from the car

The advantage of this method is its low cost. But there are also disadvantages. The main disadvantage is that with such a scheme, the first, supporting coils of the springs are cut off, on which the springs stand in their cups. As a result, the interaction of the spring and the cup deteriorates, the cup wears out faster, and the suspension can become much stiffer.

More about spring repair: https://bumper.guru/klassicheskie-modeli-vaz/hodovaya-chast/kakie-pruzhiny-luchshe-postavit-na-vaz-2107.html

Purchase and installation of short springs

Now on the auto parts market you can find a lot of shortened springs, suitable for the “seven” as well. These springs are shorter than the "native" by about 35-40 mm. A person who decides to install short springs should know: for the best result, you will also have to change the racks (as a rule, short springs come with racks, these are the so-called sports sets). It is better to install such a set in a car service, since there are not only qualified auto mechanics, but also stands for adjusting the alignment.

Short springs are usually sold in sets of 4.

Pluses after installing short springs: they do not “sit down” for a very long time, as they are subjected to special heat treatment and careful control. The regular rear springs of the "seven" will remain intact. If at some point the driver wants to install them back, there will be no problem with this. Of the minuses, it should be noted the high cost of springs and an increase in suspension stiffness.

Installing coilovers

Coilovers are adjustable damping springs. They are universal, since with their help you can not only reduce, but also increase the ground clearance of the "seven". You can put them on the car both with “native” shock absorbers and with shortened ones.

Installing coilovers is the best option for getting a full adjustable suspension

If the driver installs coilovers with “native” shock absorbers, then the savings are obvious: there is no need to purchase any new struts and engage in subsequent expensive suspension adjustments. And if the driver nevertheless decided to change the shock absorbers, then he will have at his disposal a full-fledged adjustable suspension, which he can adjust depending on the operating conditions of the car.

More about rear shock absorbers: https://bumper.guru/klassicheskie-modeli-vaz/hodovaya-chast/zamena-zadnih-amortizatorov-vaz-2107.html

Replacing the rear springs VAZ 2107

Before starting work, you should decide on consumables and tools. Here's what we'll need:

• jack;
• set of new springs;
• a hammer;
• set of open-end wrenches;
• end heads and collars.

Sequencing

The best conditions for replacing springs are a garage with a small lift, with which you can easily hang out the desired wheel. If there is no lift, you will have to do with an ordinary jack, although this is less convenient.

There are two more important points to note here. Springs are always changed in pairs. Never change just one spring. This will completely disrupt the suspension adjustment, and therefore, the car's handling will become completely unpredictable. In addition, the springs are not repairable. If the springs "sat down", this means that the properties of the steel from which they are made have completely changed. Even if the driver decides to slightly stretch the springs and put them back, this will not give any effect: the springs will “sit down” again due to metal fatigue. Therefore, the only rational option is to replace the "shrunken" springs.

1. The wheels of the car are securely fixed with the help of a hand brake and shoes. Then one of the rear wheels is jacked up and removed.
   

   To hang the wheels, it is better to use a lift, but if it is not available, a jack will do.
2. After that, the jack is installed under the lower suspension arm. The lever is raised by a jack by about 10 cm. This must be done in order for the spring to compress.
   

   Lower suspension arm to be jacked up to compress the spring
3. There are nuts in the luggage compartment that hold the shock absorber. They are unscrewed with an open-end wrench by 14, the shock absorber is removed (at the same time, it is worth carefully inspecting the shock absorber cups and silent blocks for wear and mechanical damage).
4. The next step is to remove the ball joint pin and suspension stabilizer. You can knock your finger out of the eye with a small hammer. If the finger is heavily rusted, coat it liberally with WD40 and wait 20 minutes for the compound to dissolve the rust.
5. The stabilizer is retracted to the side along with the thrust. Now the jack is lowered by 10 cm, as a result, the support pin comes out of the eye, and the spring is gradually unclenched. After that, the upper suspension arm should be fixed in its highest position. You can just tie it with a rope to the body.
6. The fully expanded spring is removed, replaced with a new one, after which the rear suspension of the VAZ 2107 is reassembled.
   

   The spring can be removed only after it is fully decompressed.

Video: remove the rear springs from the VAZ 2107

How to replace the rear springs of the VAZ-2101-07, tips in the process.

So, it is quite possible to change the rear springs on the "seven" in a garage. No special skills are required to carry out such a replacement. It is only necessary to follow the above recommendations and take your time.