Replacement and selection of front wheel bearing for Niva Chevrolet | Non-adjustable, reinforced, double-row wheel bearing Chevrolet Niva

January 22, 2016 Lada.Online 222 837 12

The problem with standard Niva wheel bearings (VAZ 2121, 2131) is that they need to be constantly adjusted during vehicle operation. If this is not done in time, they will fail, creating a howl or hum when moving. You can save yourself from such problems by installing non-adjustable hubs or double-row bearings.

What is a non-adjustable bearing and why is it installed on a Chevrolet Niva?

The problem with standard wheel bearings is that they need to be constantly adjusted during vehicle operation.
If this is not done in time, they will fail, creating a howl or hum when moving. You can save yourself from such problems by installing non-adjustable hubs or double-row bearings. On sale you can find reinforced, non-adjustable hubs with double-row bearings. According to the manufacturer, this modernized unit has the following advantages:

1. there is no need to adjust (the bearing tightening is precisely set during its production);
2. no need for regular lubrication;
3. eliminates rotation of bearings on the hub;
4. eliminates wear of bearing seats on the steering knuckle and hub;
5. a ball bearing reduces friction in the hub assembly;
6. The service life of the hub is increased due to thickening

A good way to strengthen the suspension is to install non-adjustable double-row wheel roller bearings on the Niva instead of the standard ones. But there is one nuance - such products have a different outer diameter; there are 2 ways to solve this problem:

• 1) Boring the “native” fists for a double-row p/w;
• 2) Insert a set of spacers and fix both roller bearings, making them non-adjustable;
• 3) Buy and supply a ready-made kit.

For options 1 and 3, a SKF bearing marked SKF IVECO BTH-1024 C is suitable. For the second option, you need to purchase a special set of bushings, the installation of which is described in the video below.

Let's sum it up

The standard Niva hub unit is a headache for owners of a domestic SUV. For the safe use of a vehicle in conditions of increased impassability, it is important to strengthen the Niva’s hub assembly. If you know how to work with tools and have previously done car repairs, then this kind of modernization is definitely up to you.

Which way to choose to strengthen the hub assembly of an SUV is up to you to decide. It all depends on what financial costs you are willing to incur. Any of the proposed options will please you with an impeccable result.

Pressing out and dismantling old bearings

The removed assembly and steering knuckle do not require further disassembly. The only thing you need to do is remove the old oil seal using a regular flathead screwdriver, holding the hub assembly in a vice. It is not recommended to use them in the future; new ones are installed, just like the bearing.

Inside the fist, there are two tapered angular contact roller bearings. They are installed at random and form a hub unit.

1. To begin dismantling, it is enough to separate the brake disc mounts from the wheel turning mechanism.
2. Don't forget to remove the seals.
3. The small race of the inner bearing can be removed without any problems by hand.

1. Next, at the same time, using the adapter, you need to knock out the outer roller bearing race from the pipe, as shown in the photo below.
2. After separation, one ring with a separator remains on the hub, and the second remains inside the knuckle. The old clip is pulled off with a special puller equipped with grips.
3. The second part of the part is knocked out of the trunnion through a spacer made of soft metal in the form of a rod or carefully with a screwdriver.

1. The attachment is placed against the clip and light blows are applied, moving it in a circle.
2. After this, the old grease should be carefully removed from the cavity.

Chevy-Niva :: View topic - FAQ Wheel assembly with a double-row IVECO truck from Fogpro

Iveco bearing at NIVU

The quality of newly purchased analogues of standard bearings may similarly have an impact. Check after any dismantling. At this stage, everything is ready to complete the mounting of the fist and hub.

Try to place the calibration plate 56.3 between the shoulder pads, as indicated in the diagram. For experienced people it is purely advisory.

You can try to replace the cylinder sealing ring before running in. If the swing arm is removed from the bolts, then I leave it on the car.

They refused to use additional seals; they explained this to me by saying that the standard seals will retain water, but without them, water will come out when the wheel rotates. The price of this unit is rubles, complete with hubs. Boring a Chevrolet Niva fist for non-adjustable bearings Bored fist. Iveco bearing on the left and standard ones on the right.

Pressing the bearing into the fist. Retaining ring. Place the fist on the CV joint and rock it a little back and forth. If the bearing is pressed against the CV joint, then such marks will remain on the holder. If the CV joint race is clean, you can apply a little old grease from the old bearing. If there are no traces left, then slightly push down the CV joint boot with a stop and a hammer.

It may not allow the CV joint to adhere to the race and then may become wedged when tightened. If everything worked out, then when you put your fist on the bearings again, an imprint will appear.

DIY cable for flashing VAZ ECU

It will be an additional barrier against water penetration. Here it’s convenient for anyone and how it was filmed.

If the swing arm is removed from the bolts, then I leave it on the car. If the bolts become sour, I remove the fist along with the lever and then disassemble it using Feng Shui. If you removed the fist with the lever, it comes together with it. The old mud ones had a less functional design of protection compared to the new ones. Both ring options are not interchangeable in shape.

The VAZ hub is a technologically complex, expensive part!

Similar technologies and metals are used in landing gear parts in aircraft manufacturing. Naturally, prices for such analogues are sometimes more than 2 times lower than those of VAZ and are more attractive for trade and buyers. This naturally squeezed high-quality conveyor hubs out of the market, among which only 24-spline hubs remained!

Advantages of iveco non-adjustable bearings

The new modification of 2123 hubs for the installation of non-adjustable bearings is gaining popularity - it is convenient and practical, and if you have certain skills, you can do all the work yourself.

Also interesting: Niva Chevrolet colors catalog

The advantages of installing Iveco parts are obvious:

• long service life - about 100 thousand kilometers;
• the units can withstand high loads, which are three times higher than those of factory bearings;
• You can install wheels with a large offset on the car;
• the bearing does not need adjustment and does not require maintenance during the entire period of operation;
• you can do the alteration yourself.

If you decide to remake, immediately check the brake disc, CV joints and side seals of the front gearbox. When replacing them, you will have to disassemble the hubs again and press in bearings, which will become unusable.

Recommendations

Comments 43

Tell me, do your hubs themselves have 22 splines?

Yesterday I did the same. The hubs are from MVN and the fists are machined according to the same pattern with the rest. Slippers 32″ =). What’s interesting is that the original bearings ran on these 29″ wheels and the original factory hubs for almost 60k km. I adjusted it from time to time. Then I went to change the CV joints and saw a chipped inner race, well, I thought it was time to change it. Changed it to normal VBF. Since then I change it every three months =). The problem seems to be in the hub-inner race pair. At the factory, apparently mountains of hubs and bearings and on the conveyor allow a certain gap between them, the rest is rejected for spare parts =). In theory, if the hub has not yet died from wear, you take it and go to the store and start fitting the inner races until you find a normal fit. Who will let me do this? Well, as for the original wheels, everything said above is offset by the +58 offset and the original wheel diameter. If you have a 0 offset and a 32″ shoe, even a small gap with a sharp impact on the wheel easily breaks the rollers and inner race. Which is exactly what happened just two days ago. I got tired of all this and went to redo it the normal way. After installation, the looseness really disappears and the steering becomes clearer. There is no strained hum, now you can hear the whole transmission working hard =) We wax for 29″ + must-have slippers, or go and pick up the gaps on the soles.

Read more: Tire pressure for Skoda Octavia Tour

So far, during front suspension repairs, everything has been removed and put on without problems.

Sometimes you come across that you can’t then remove the hub without damaging the bearing? (Volgaavtoprom, etc.) how about this in this design

KORAM hubs are quite good in quality, I also liked them in the store, and in size too, I bought them 3 years ago. but when I came home and tried it on the grenades, I was shocked by the gap in the spline and soon sold it. because no amount of tightening will save you from displacement in the splines under alternating loads and additional transmission play. Then I bought hubs from MVN, there is no gap at all in the splines, but comments about quality are unnecessary.

Wow, I didn’t have any problems with this, apparently the Italians don’t shy away from selling defects either

This is no more a tribute to fashion. It’s like a raptor or Chinese miracle headlights. A waste of money that is never unnecessary. But the choice here is everyone’s. As they say, every hut has its own rattles.

In my opinion, it’s not a good comparison, the Raptor and the Vor are not the musculoskeletal system of a car, which should work as smoothly as possible, like a Kalashnikov assault rifle.

This is no more a tribute to fashion. It’s like a raptor or Chinese miracle headlights. A waste of money that is never unnecessary. But the choice here is everyone’s. As they say, every hut has its own rattles.

what the hell did you say

That my opinion does not fit into your consciousness. Read what is written carefully again. And please don’t show off your “wonderful upbringing.”

your opinion does not fit with common sense

You’d better check the clamps and hoses on your “miracle stove.” You’re healthy. Einstein sculpted there!

the stove works great, unlike your head

How is it that they feed well in the psychiatric hospital?

It seems to me, or has this article not been relevant for half a year now, if not more? And what kind of teapot do you have to be in order not to be able to adjust the wheel bearing?

I took it off my tongue. Another variation of “taz-gavno.” Moreover, it is crap solely due to the incompetence of the owner. Now from the factory the hub unit is on a double-row, but the archaic old design is much more repairable on a knee in the field.

Why now repair this unit in the field? If the goal is maintainability, then a Russian wooden cart is just right - I tied a stick to the wheel with a belt from a rituz and everything worked again

How to choose a replacement part and bearing number

Once you are convinced that the bearings need to be repaired, you should select a hub bearing in the retail chain based on three main criteria (by default, single-row tapered roller bearings are installed - the new kit must have a nut):

1. Chevrolet Niva front hub part number: 2007108 (catalog number - 2121-3103020-10, bearing according to GOST - 2007108, foreign equivalent according to ISO - 32008).
2. You need to buy two roller bearings in the kit.
3. Dimensions of the Chevrolet Niva front hub bearings: height – 19 mm, internal diameter – 40 mm, external diameter – 68 mm.
4. The cost of a new set of parts for the hub, including double-row bearings, as well as suitable manufacturers, are presented in the table below.

How to change a wheel bearing in a field

The steps to replace the front bearing after removing the nut can be divided into 4 stages:

1. Removing and disconnecting the steering knuckle and brake drum along with the hinges, from the strut and CV joint.
2. Pressing out old parts.
3. Pressing in new wheel bearings (two for each wheel).
4. We put the unit back together and tighten the nut and adjust the gap.

For repairs, you will need a standard set of plumbing tools. We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the structure of the node.

Required set of tools for work:

• A 30mm socket wrench to loosen the nut;
• Screwdriver to unscrew the brake caliper;
• Set of sockets and ratchet;
• Round nose pliers;
• Hammer;
• Mandrel or pipe for pressing;
• Puller with claws (if possible);
• Puller with claws;
• Jack and vice;
• Torque wrench to properly tighten the hub nut.

We place the car on a flat surface, engage first gear, remove the handbrake, and put chocks under the wheels. This completes the preparation. Also, before repairing, it is necessary to study the location of the elements of the car’s chassis according to the diagram: (pay attention to the steering knuckle - position 27, bearing - position 9).

How to check the front wheel wheel bearing on a Chevy Niva

The failure of the unit is indicated by the appearance of a low hum from one of the wheels. The sound does not disappear when cornering and intensifies as the vehicle speed increases.

If you notice this, you should immediately carry out a diagnosis, since if the wheel bearing seizes while driving, the consequences and costs can be very high.

The upcoming replacement of the Niva Chevrolet front wheel bearing is determined as follows:

• the front wheel of the car is suspended with a jack;
• rotate it by hand and check the play.

Signs of bearing wear:

1. Extraneous noise and metallic knocking.
2. Noticeable play is checked by rocking the wheel perpendicular to its axis.
3. Vibration in the cabin when driving.

Before carrying out repairs, for clarity, watch the video of checking the front hub of a Chevrolet Niva:

Video: “Checking the front wheel bearing”

Video: “Signs of a bearing failure”

Symptoms of a problem

Bearing wear manifests itself as the following symptoms:

• Vibration of the front wheels, which can be reflected in the steering wheel or felt in the cabin.
• Knocking or crackling sounds in the front of the car when driving;
• Heating of the front wheels in the axle area.

If such manifestations occur, you need to check the condition of the wheel bearings. To do this, jack up the car and rock the wheel in different directions. Play and knocking in the bearing area indicates the need for replacement and adjustment. The malfunction may also manifest itself in the form of noise when the wheel rotates.

Separately, it is worth mentioning two problems that arise during the operation of the Chevrolet Niva:

1. The hubs get hot

It is important to understand that when braking, the kinetic energy of the car is converted into thermal energy. As a result, the brake discs and the hubs on which they are attached become very hot.

Heating of the part during movement, and not during braking, indicates wear of the bearing or its incorrect adjustment.

The second option is typical for adjustable hubs. The adjusting nut must be tightened with a force of 2 kgf*m. If you tighten it further, the tapered bearings will be too tight.

Their rotation will be difficult. Prolonged operation of the machine in this condition leads to bearing failure and wheel jamming.

2. The adjusting nut is unscrewed while moving. Sometimes this happens literally after 20-50 kilometers. The phenomenon is observed in three cases: the master forgot to tighten the nut, there was a misalignment between the bearing races, or play appeared in the coupling of the CV joint with the hub.

Installation

When the turning work is completed, we begin assembling the unit. Everything is simpler here - no adjustment is required, and the locknut is tightened “from the heart.” There is no need to worry about over-tightening the hub; it is almost impossible.

Stages of work:

• place the steering knuckle on a flat, hard surface;
• install the support washer and, using a head or steel pipe, carefully press the bearing into place;
• install the second support washer, then use the same tools to carefully hammer in the oil seal;
• repeat these works on the opposite side of the steering knuckle;
• put the steering knuckle on the hub and tighten the locknut to a torque of about 200 Nm or with moderate force;
• put on the wheel, rotate it and check the functionality of the bearing;
• We fasten the steering rack and ball joints.

During installation, installing an oil seal is not necessary, because the Iveco bearing is a closed type, dust and dirt do not penetrate there. However, to increase the service life of the unit, it is recommended to install at least the cheapest oil seals.

We carry out similar work on the opposite side of the car. After the installation is completed, we go and enjoy - now replacement may be required no earlier than after 100 thousand kilometers, and maybe later. The manufacturer provides the same warranty provided that the installation was carried out correctly.

And finally, if you contact a turner, do not forget to take the drawings with you. They are presented below:

Reworking the hub and installing a non-adjustable bearing

Such a hub, for an adjustable bearing, can be made from a standard part. It is necessary to bore the hole to the size of the bearing 50 microns (0.05 mm) for interference, and press it into the resulting mounting hole.

1. According to the instructions provided, we dismantle the old parts.
2. We grind the hub to the required diameter ourselves or order it from a turner in your city.
3. We press in a new double-row ball bearing, for example SKF IVECO BTH-1024 C.
4. Install the retaining ring.
5. We install a spacer (washer) of about 3.5 mm and a seal (the size of the washer is determined using additional measurements).
6. The process is complex, so it is recommended to watch it in video format.

Video: “Installing a non-adjustable bearing”

Video: “Installing reinforced bearings”

Table - recommended manufacturers, numbers and articles of wheel bearings

Parts of satisfactory quality last about 20 thousand km, mileage with high-quality products exceeds 30 thousand km. The most popular products from the Volzhsky and Samara plants are labeled SPZ-GROUP. The average price of a wheel bearing is 1000 rubles.

Installing new bearings in the steering knuckle

Manufacturers do not lubricate their bearings and rings very generously, so you will have to add the missing amount of grease yourself. Litol-24 in an amount of 40 g is suitable, apply lubricant to the separator and rollers before replacing the Niva front hub.

1. We insert a new outer race of the inner and outer roller bearing into the prepared hole of the steering knuckle. We press the clips on both sides, in the same way as they were installed at the factory.
2. Next, apply lubricant to the raceways and spread it in an even layer.

1. We insert the inner race and close it with an oil seal. Lightly press the boot with a mandrel of the required size. We do the same on the other side, install the clip and boot.

1. Now we insert the hub into the steering knuckle, namely into the holes of the installed roller bearings.
2. The hub must be inserted smoothly and without distortion. In some cases, depending on the actual mounting diameters, pressing through a press will be required. In this case, a spacer was used.

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Design Features

The product is a complex-shaped part that rotates on a pair of tapered roller bearings. Their outer diameter is pressed into the steering knuckle. The standard equipment of the Chevrolet Niva includes adjustable hubs. In it, the bearing clearance depends on the position of the adjusting nut.

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The latter is equipped with a fixation belt that prevents spontaneous loosening or tightening of the threaded connection. This mechanism requires adjustment during maintenance. An incorrectly adjusted unit wears out quickly:

• Excessive tightening torque makes it difficult for the wheel to rotate, leading to overheating and destruction of the bearings.
• A loose nut causes play and knocking noise in the bearings. Impact loads accelerate wear of the roller metal.

The drive axle shaft transmits torque to the hub due to the presence of splines on the inside of the central hole.

There are 22 of them in the standard design, and 24 in the reinforced design. The second, more durable type of design is equipped with double-row bearings from IVECO trucks. Reinforced hubs are used on VAZ 2121, 2123, 2131, 21213 and 21214.

Some owners re-equip their cars by equipping them with hub units themselves. This avoids damage in the form of broken splines. However, this modification is fraught with drawbacks. The strength of the standard hub is lower than that of the transfer mechanism parts. Therefore, it serves as a kind of “fuse” against overload.

The mounting design for the rear wheels of the Chevrolet Niva is radically different from the front. No hubs are used here. The wheel is attached to the flange of the axle shaft, which rotates in a special bearing.

Torque is transmitted from the rear axle gearbox to the wheels through a spline connection. However, in this case, the splines are cut not in the hub, but in the gears of the gearbox.