Choosing a clutch kit for a car: Luk, Kraft or Valeo

Our car enthusiasts are well familiar with the high quality of products manufactured by Kraft for cars. Many components are used in cars of both Russian production VAZ and GAZ, and cars of foreign companies. All parts are required to undergo multi-stage quality testing. Among domestic car enthusiasts, the Kraft branded clutch is in greatest demand.

All kits have their own identification number, guaranteeing control and service. All mechanisms are classified, which makes it possible to select them for any car.

Distinguishing Features

Clutch systems from the German company Kraft tech are manufactured in Turkey under license. If you want to completely forget about the problems with this unit, then by installing the kit from Kraft, you will not go wrong.

It has practically no disadvantages inherent in domestically produced clutch systems, and in many respects they are superior to most imported ones. First of all, it is necessary to note the exceptionally soft ride; you don’t have to worry that the system will overheat in traffic jams, since the flywheel is very reliable.

But there is one drawback - it is not a very reliable release bearing, despite the fact that it has been modified several times, its usual service life is 30-50 thousand kilometers.

In contrast, the average resource of the basket and disk is more than 120,000 kilometers. Some cars equipped with the proprietary Krafttech clutch system travel 130,000 kilometers or more without problems. It must be said right away that a lot here depends on the skills and driving style of the car owner. With skillful driving, a VAZ 21102 car with this clutch covers 200,000 kilometers and continues to be used further. Although there are also cases when the Kraft clutch was damaged and could not be repaired after just one day of use. The driver got stuck in a hole on a country road and, trying to get out, simply tore the clutch and motor. After dismantling the system, many were simply shocked when they saw a picture of a disk torn to shreds, most of the springs were either broken or bent.

Kraft clutch

The Krafttech clutch must be installed on a new flywheel.

The Kraft branded clutch set consists of:

• baskets;
• disk;
• release bearing;
• guide device;
• gloves

Without a doubt, the Kraft clutch system has a lot of advantages when compared with traditional systems:

1. The basket, made of high-quality stainless steel, has an extended service life.
2. The linings have special notches, the purpose of which is to remove friction products and provide excellent ventilation.
3. The price of the system is higher than domestic analogues, but significantly exceeds them in quality and convenience.

Clutch catalog

As stated earlier, the superior quality and technical properties of the company’s products allow Valeo to cooperate with leading automotive manufacturers. As a result, the manufacturer is engaged in the production of parts that are so popular among manufacturers of European, American, Russian and Japanese cars.

Not all clutch models are included in the presented catalogue. Their total number in the Valeo production line is hundreds. Therefore, we have listed those that, according to official data from company representatives, are the most popular in the international automobile market. Each catalog number corresponds to the number of products manufactured at the enterprise.

Video “Video review of the Kraft kit”

This video review provides a detailed overview of the Kraft clutch kit.

Before examining the question of which clutch is better for the VAZ 2114, you should first talk about the general principles of operation of this mechanism. The clutch, which is the subject of our conversation, operates on the friction principle (unlike a number of clutches on other machines that use hydraulics in their operation).

Its main design and operating features can be expressed as follows:

• a dry single-disc clutch is used;
• a pressure spring is involved in the process of disengaging the clutch;
• the driven disk has a built-in vibration damper;
• The cable-type drive has no gaps between the bearing and the petals of the diaphragm spring.

As for the sizes, the Samara model has a clutch with a clutch diameter of 19 cm, and Samara 2 - 20 cm. In addition, later types of clutches have special dampers that make it possible to suppress uneven loads when rotating the crankshaft not only at idle, but also under load .

When purchasing a clutch in a store, the first thing you should do is carefully examine the box (take into account the quality of the fonts, paint, and its material) - this will help you protect yourself from buying a fake at the very first stage of your choice.

Malfunctions of windshield wipers (wipers)

As you know, the working mechanism of the wipers was initially designed for a long service life. And breakdowns occur in parts, for the most part, due to the human factor - that is, improper operation.

Most often, wipers deteriorate in winter, when they freeze to the windshield, and the driver, being inattentive, turns on the glass cleaning mechanism. The load on wipers that are frozen turns out to be detrimental to the mechanism. And at the same time, both the motor itself and various mechanical parts can fail.

Which clutch to choose and how to do it?

Such an important issue as choosing a clutch for a VAZ 2114 requires a very serious approach. So, when you come to a car store to buy a new set, you should be careful - the number of fakes on the auto parts market is now very high (and clutch mechanisms are no exception). The first thing you need to pay attention to is the box.

If it is very “flimsy” and the fonts on it are not printed clearly, then it is better to refrain from purchasing. The same rule applies to boxes, the design of which can be erased with a finger - this is an obvious fake. If everything is in order at this stage of the purchase, then we move on to the next one - we evaluate the mechanism itself.

First, let's inspect the clutch disc. It must have the correct round shape, and its surface must be absolutely flat - without burrs, pits or chips. It is worth paying attention to the damper springs.

If the products are original, then they will always be either painted in some color or covered with colorless varnish. Even the manufacturers themselves advise checking originality in this way.

Having examined the disk, we move on to the bearing. To the question - which release bearing is better for the VAZ 2114, you can answer absolutely unequivocally - of course, steel!

But very often there are situations when even branded clutches have plastic bearings. This situation can be solved in two ways - refuse the purchase and purchase a kit from another company, or make a purchase and then replace the bearing with a standard one.

Leaving a clutch with a plastic bearing (even if it is made by a very well-known company) is not worth it. Over time, such bearings begin to wear out and make strange sounds while driving, or even completely fall apart.

Of course, you can generously lubricate the bearing, which will help to avoid rapid wear and noise for a short time, but this is not the best solution.

The last thing you will need to inspect before purchasing is the clutch basket. The alphanumeric codes on it should be clear and easily readable, and the paint should not rub off when touched. The petals of the basket should be even and located at the same levels.

If at least one of the petals turns out to be crooked, the car will constantly jerk, and strong vibration will be transmitted through the clutch pedal. That is why, if any defects are noticeable in the basket, you should immediately refuse the purchase, even if all other parts of the mechanism are of excellent quality.

Reasons for the wipers to operate when the SZ is turned on

ATTENTION! A completely simple way to reduce fuel consumption has been found! Don't believe me? An auto mechanic with 15 years of experience also didn’t believe it until he tried it. And now he saves 35,000 rubles a year on gasoline! Read more"

Whatever solution is chosen, you first need to find the reason for this “behavior” of the wipers. There are several of them. Let's look at the most common ones.

Closure

The first thing any motorist with any level of enlightenment will doubt is the wiring. There must be a short somewhere, he will think. Why does such a malfunction actually occur?

Short-term or long-term operation of the wipers when the ignition is turned on occurs in most cases due to a poor ground connection. To solve the problem, it is recommended to disconnect all points where the wiring comes into contact with ground and clean the terminals from oxidation and deposits. The terminals must then be tightened securely to avoid a recurrence of the situation in the future.

Mode switch

If the windshield wipers do not turn off during zero and intermittent operating modes, but function normally in accelerated mode, then this type of malfunction usually points to the switch. What can be done? Find the relay responsible for the wipers. For example, on some Toyota modifications the relay is installed directly inside the wiper switch. The device is collapsible, you can open it and see what the problem is. As a last resort, replace the relay.

You can completely disable the mode switch and remove it from the circuit. This will help disable the wipers, but after that they will only work in accelerated mode.

Useful video

You can get more information from the video below:

For anyone who has decided to start changing the clutch on their own, having already had experience in purchasing a kit for a Lada 2107 , it is unnecessary to give any advice. A novice motorist probably shouldn’t take on such a task, but experienced VAZ drivers usually have an established opinion on this matter. However, the supply of information can unexpectedly fail even an experienced car enthusiast, because technology does not stand still. Therefore, information based on research results and the experience of domestic car enthusiasts will come in handy.

Briefly about the Lada Samara torque transmission system

Before discussing which clutch is better on the VAZ 2114, it would be useful to consider the design features of the friction mechanism. The designers decided to abandon the classic hydraulic drive circuit for controlling the release fork, and developed a mechanical type drive based on a cable for front-wheel drive cars. Constructive nuances can be expressed in the following points:

• A single-disc dry clutch is a permanently closed type device.
• The shutdown process involves a diaphragm pressure spring.
• The driven disk is equipped with a torsional vibration damper.
• Cable clutch drive without gaps between the pressure spring petals and the bearing.

The Samara model is equipped with a clutch with a diameter of 190 mm (2109-1601085), Samara 2 has a clutch with a diameter of 200 mm (2110-1601085). New designs have softer dampers, which makes it possible to effectively smooth out uneven crankshaft rotation not only at idle, but also during load and engine braking. The owner can only determine which clutch is best to install on the VAZ 2114, and choose a high-quality kit from the mass of offers.

Subject to compliance with the operating rules, some copies work out their service life of up to 100-150 thousand km. If previously car owners preferred to buy exactly those clutch parts that had failed, in recent years there has been a change in priorities towards the purchase of kits. This is due to the increasing qualifications of our drivers; many have realized that comprehensive repairs are much more profitable financially.

Peculiarities

Clutch discs Valeo PHC, 832. 160. 801502 and other models have been produced for over 80 years. Valeo kits, produced by a company from Paris, are sometimes called “women’s” because their use provides softness during gear shifting and braking, as well as a smooth ride.

The manufacturer's products are characterized by a high service life. If no errors are made during installation of the kit, the service life of the system will be 150 thousand kilometers. During intensive use, Valeo clutches do not overheat.

We recommend: Features of ZIC 5W-30 motor oil: cost, reviews

Main advantages:

1. The latest technologies are used in the manufacture of clutch systems, which ultimately results in a high-quality, research-proven product.
2. Due to the high quality of the part, its use is allowed during the factory assembly of the vehicle.
3. The product comes with detailed instructions for installing the clutch. It details not only the steps that the car owner must follow, but also shows photographs.

User Boroda73rus talked about original Valeo clutches in his video.

Practice: which clutch is better to buy for a VAZ 2114 car and how to determine it?

When evaluating a friction clutch and its components, the experience of friends and acquaintances who have purchased them at least once is very useful. For example, a novice car enthusiast who decides to independently replace the clutch on a VAZ 2110 will certainly be helped by the recommendations of experienced motorists.

As practice shows, when purchasing a clutch kit, the owner is mainly concerned about the issue of fakes and defects. Therefore, let’s look at some interesting points separately.

Package

What do we immediately pay attention to when making any purchase? That's right, on the packaging. The same pattern applies here. The box itself and its quality are not evidence of a fake, but still two points should be paid attention to:

1. No self-respecting manufacturer will package their products in a flimsy box with crooked text and errors.
2. If the letters on the package are erased by the touch of a finger, then feel free to put it back and leave this store.

Solutions to the problem

You can fix this problem by following these simple steps:

• disconnect the battery;
• Unscrew the two nuts (M10) securing the mounting block;
• lifting the mounting block, disconnect all plugs suitable for it and disconnect the relay;
• disassemble the mounting block by unscrewing the fasteners;
• take out the main board and wipe it with gasoline;
• dry the main board;
• dry the wiper relay;
• assemble and install the mounting block in its place in the reverse order.

Mounting block VAZ 2114

Such an operation will allow the wipers to return to normal operating condition in a short period of time.

The second solution to the problem is to simply remove the relay and turn on the wipers directly. In this case, the wipers can be used, but they will only work in the upper position of the switch. After the fuse box has dried on its own (usually a couple of days is enough for this), the relay can be mounted in place.

Relay for wipers VAZ 2114

In rare cases, the cause of spontaneous activation may be a broken relay in which periodic contact closure occurs. It’s easy to check - just replace it with a new, similar one (which is very important). If the problem disappears, then it was the fault.

You can also check the relay using a multimeter by ringing its output legs according to the connection diagram (this must be done with the wipers in the “off” position on the steering column switch). If the multimeter shows that the circuit is closed, then it is time to replace the relay.

Wiper connection diagram

Driving style and clutch: choosing a set

Still haven't figured out what to buy to replace the coupling? Let's look at one more aspect - driving style, because each of us prefers to move in a manner unique to him. Conventionally, we divide the number of driving styles by four. Based on reviews and operational experience, we will try to create sets of companies that would correspond to a particular driving style. Thus, we will try to answer the question, which clutch is best installed on the VAZ 2114 and why.

Calm style

This driving style provides low revs, smooth shifting and the same acceleration. Products from the following brands are suitable here:

• Luk is a reliable kit that provides smooth and comfortable shifting without jerking.
• Valeo is a comfortable kit, it shows its best sides in traffic jams, there is a good reserve of torque.

Standard style

• KraftTech is a fairly comfortable set with an average service life.
• Sachs is a moderately tight clutch for such driving with a good reserve of torque, allowing you to ride in both an active and relaxed manner.
• VIS is a domestic product of good quality, but is sensitive to clutch control experience.

Dynamic style

Involves rapid acceleration and sharp gear changes with constant clutch throwing, which operates at high speeds most of the time. In this case, the following kits are suitable:

• Pilenga – use the kit not with metal ceramics. The stiffest clutch, in order to avoid jerking, you have to raise the speed and quickly release the clutch.
• Sachs is the best kit for this type of riding, moderately tight with minimal jerking.

Sport style

Based on the use of maximum acceleration, as well as sharp gear changes and regular clutch drop. As in the previous style, to the question of which clutch is best to install on a VAZ 2114 car, the answer will be to use the following kits:

• Pilenga - without ceramics! As mentioned, the clutch is stiff, resulting in a stiff pedal. However, in the end the driver gets instant traction.
• Sachs - according to many, the best choice for such riding, moderately tight with a good service life.

Most car enthusiasts choose the Sachs kit, but change the release bearing to a VAZ one, considering this option to be optimal for all cases. The recommendations are not binding and are the result of processing many opinions and reviews from our motorists.

Reviews

Car enthusiast Leonid Arkadyevich is upset because he purchased a fake Valeo clutch kit instead of the original.
To understand how high quality Valeo products are, it is better to read reviews of other consumers about the SS. Both positive and negative comments from motorists were selected especially for our readers.