Installing front strut struts on a VAZ 2114, which one is better to install and is it worth it?

What is the front strut brace on a VAZ 2114? This is a power element that is part of the body structure. Its task is to reduce the loads placed on the body if the shock absorbers are not doing their job. Additionally, the spacer allows you to avoid deformation of the corners after wheel alignment, increase vehicle controllability, and improve its stability on the road.

Installed spacer

In the end, we are talking about an element of safety and a means of increasing the life of the body of your car.

Today we will look at the spacers for the front pillars in more detail, we will study their tasks, the nuances of selection and installation on the VAZ 2114.

Why install

In fact, the body of the VAZ 2114 is quite rigid, so it allows you to drive at decent speeds on roads that are not of the highest quality. But the existing rigidity is not enough to keep the body intact during long-term use in such conditions.

Amplifier

If the stiffness is insufficient, the car's handling is characterized by sluggish response. In theory, the presence of a spacer or extension allows you to maneuver more confidently and take turns at speed. Also, the body will not be greatly deformed, and the effect of metal fatigue will be avoided. This is especially true for owners of the VAZ 2114, who regularly drive on roads that are not of the highest class.

To summarize, let's look at what exactly spacers will do.

1. They will increase the car's controllability when cornering.
2. They will reduce the likelihood of spontaneous transmission shutdown at the gearbox.
3. They will protect the engine from active displacements during maneuvering.
4. Maintains the integrity of the body and power unit.

Some note that it is not worth installing a spacer, since it significantly increases the noise level in the cabin. The statement is true, but partially. The noise level will indeed increase, but only slightly. In practice, it is impossible to feel the difference, since the increase will be no more than 0.5 decibels.

For reference, specially trained people are able to distinguish noise levels only starting from 1 decibel.

What problems does installation eliminate?

Domestic cars have a sad reputation as vehicles with low body rigidity, and many foreign cars also suffer from this. Installing rear strut struts is designed to reduce body torsion and increase resistance to vibrations. The effect will be most noticeable on cars that have been weakened by corrosion or have been in a serious accident. After installation, car enthusiasts note a decrease in roll when turning, a partial disappearance of squeaks of body elements, and noise from plastic interior panels.

It should be taken into account that in the event of even a small impact in the area of ​​one of the glasses, the deformation will be more strongly transmitted to the mating part of the body.

How to choose

Spacer kit

The front strut struts offered today for the VAZ 2114 can be of two types:

• Point-to-point;
• Three-point.

There is no difference between them as such, if you do not take into account the number of bolts for fixation - two and three, respectively.

Separately, it is worth noting the universal coupler, which has proven itself well among the owners of the “fourteenth” model from the domestic automaker.

According to other criteria, spacers are divided into:

• Adjustable;
• Unregulated.

To produce unregulated ones, manufacturers adhere to very strict rules and maintain certain geometric shapes and parameters.

You will need a special spacer if there is a 16-valve engine in the engine compartment of your VAZ 2114. The braces have an additional support for them, which replaces the upper support of the power unit.

As for the material of manufacture, it is better to choose aluminum spacers , but in extreme cases you can get by with steel ones. The thing is that in the event of a car collision, aluminum elements will simply break, and steel elements can seriously damage the racks themselves.

Spacer and extension for VAZ 2112

Spacers and braces are usually installed between the front pillars of the car, thereby giving rigidity and integrity to the car body. Let's look at the example of the VAZ 2112. In addition to the fact that the installation gave rigidity to the body, it also improved handling. The disadvantage of guy wires is that in the event of an accident, both posts are pulled away at once.

Installing a stretcher on a VAZ 2112 takes a minimum of time and effort. However, it is worth remembering that spacers must be purchased specifically for a given car model, in our case, for a VAZ 2112. Installing the device is very simple. We unscrew the nuts on the bolts of the strut stops in the engine compartment, install the brace and screw the nuts into place. If you are moving at low speed and are not maneuvering much, then the changes are unlikely to be felt. When driving at high speed and maneuvering, it becomes noticeable that the roll when turning is reduced, the steering becomes more obedient, and in general it seems that the car has become reliable. First of all, you need to park the car on a level area without slopes. The spacer should fit freely onto the studs of the upper strut supports. If there is a slight discrepancy of a few millimeters, then it is necessary to pull the car body in the right direction. If it is more, then you need an adjustable spacer. Additional engine support limits its maximum movement when braking, sharply moving the car away and when hitting bumps. Plus, this support is credited with the ability to prevent self-switching of gears in the gearbox. Installing the fourth support yourself will not be difficult. Moreover, with an eight-valve injection engine, then you will have to purchase a special bracket for moving the ignition module, which also has positive aspects; the ignition module rises slightly higher and, accordingly, away from road dust and moisture.

The rear suspension stabilizer is installed on the rear beam of any front-wheel drive VAZ cars, including the beam of the VAZ 2112, thereby increasing its angular stiffness, reducing the lateral roll of the car and improving wheel grip when cornering. In real life, if the rear wheel accidentally falls into a hole, it hangs out so much that when it collides with the edge of an obstacle, the rear shock absorber rod often breaks out. When a car passes a protruding obstacle, its shock absorber wears out, which also does not contribute to the durability of the latter. If the beam is reinforced with a stabilizer, this will not happen - the load will be redistributed between the wheels. It turns out that this additional part of the rear suspension is a kind of fuse for the shock absorbers. Many car enthusiasts can install a stabilizer on a car, but they will need to drive the car into a pit or overpass. The only difficulty is drilling eight holes in the rear beam. There is also a so-called anti-roll bar on sale, which differs from the standard one in the increased diameter of the steel rod.

Installation

Increasing body rigidity

Installing front strut struts on your VAZ 2114 yourself will not be difficult. This procedure does not require any special skills, so you can safely go to your own garage and get to work.

1. Remove the screws and washers from the shock absorber struts.
2. If your car has a motion sensor on the struts, it will also need to be removed. But be sure to remember the position in which it was at the time of dismantling.
3. Now secure the mounting bracket with the sensor directly under the plate. This must be done in such a way that the sensor is in its position before removal.
4. The front strut extension is placed on the studs. The same work is done on both sides.
5. The bolts are secured properly. Be sure to make sure the fasteners are properly tightened. In this matter, reliability plays a huge role. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to additionally verify the quality of the bolts used.

Pros and cons of stretching the front struts

Initially, the front strut brace was used on sports cars that were operated under extreme load conditions. It strengthened the body when driving off-road, jumping from springboards, and also increased the sensitivity of the steering wheel. But currently this accessory is actively used among Lada car enthusiasts (XRAY, Vesta, Largus, Granta, Priora, Kalina and even Niva 4x4). How the “glasses” shift while moving is shown in the video:

Advantages:

1. steering sensitivity increases when maneuvering (by increasing the angular rigidity of the body);
2. the vehicle's stability increases when moving in a straight line;
3. body deformation is reduced when cornering and on uneven roads (reduces the likelihood of cracks appearing on the body), and the stress at the attachment points of the front suspension supports is also reduced.

Flaws:

1. In the event of a side impact, the opposite pillar may also be damaged.

Manufacturers and prices

In fact, the cost of extensions for front struts suitable for a VAZ 2114 car may vary depending on many factors.

Serious differences in price may arise due to the materials used and the manufacturers of these elements. On average, you can purchase a structure for a price ranging from 800 to 3000 rubles. The difference, as you can see, is significant.

Therefore, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the most attractive options in terms of reliability and price, ideally suited to the design features of the body and pillars of the VAZ 2114.

In what cases is it necessary to change silent blocks on the top ten?

Typically, experienced drivers quickly determine the reasons for the failure of the elements in question. Firstly, while driving the vehicle, shocks will be felt in the suspension area. Secondly, in the absence of intervention, the silent block structures are destroyed, the angle of the wheels changes and the controllability of the vehicle worsens. If a motorist ignores these problems, then he will face expensive repairs in the future. Let's look at the signs of failure of silent blocks:

1. the appearance of tire squeaks while the vehicle is moving. Minor wear produces minimal noise;
2. You can hear a knocking noise right next to the wheels. This indicates that the fastening elements of the silent blocks are damaged;
3. Upon visual inspection, cracks are visible on the surface of the elements. This is evidence that the parts have lost their operational parameters and require replacement.

Replacing front silent blocks on a VAZ 2110

Often, beginners prefer to contact a car service to replace the silent blocks of the front control arms. And it’s completely in vain, because car repair shops charge quite a large amount for the service. Here it is necessary to emphasize that service stations do not always perform work at the proper level.

To carry out repairs, the motorist will need a special puller.

This tool is quite expensive and is required in exceptional cases. Therefore, it is advisable to borrow it from a familiar service station employee. There are many recommendations, instructions and even videos on the Internet that allow you to make the puller in question with your own hands. If there is free time, the motorist can make it using 2 tubes, washers and a special foot.

If you need to replace the silent blocks of the front levers of a VAZ 2110, you need to know that the beam design has two elements.

One silent block is located in the upper arm, and the second is located in the lower arm. Therefore, we will focus on replacing each element.

Replacing the extension

The braces on the car are designed to hold two opposing struts together. The main function of a device of this kind is to reduce the flexibility of these struts under conditions of sharp turning of the machine. Stretch bars increase the strength of the body, allow you to make corners as comfortably as possible and improve feedback between the car and the driver.

The main reason why car extensions break is that they were poorly (or poorly) made or installed. They must be both light and as strong as possible - which is why most high-quality products of this type are made of aluminum or carbon fiber (carbon fiber), but steel braces are also widely used today.

Disadvantages of the VAZ 2110 strut

There are no precisely confirmed deficiencies in such a spacer, and none have been identified at all. But some motorists argue that when hit to the side, both sides of the car will suffer. Of course, this may be what happens, but only in the design of the spacer there is a special hollow in the middle. And it is she who will bend and the blow will not be transferred to the opposite side. There are a lot of myths around this part, but there is one confirmed drawback. These are difficulties when filling brake fluid.