How to solve the problem on the Lada Vesta with a squeaking stabilizer

What they tried to do

Since the squeaking situation bothered everyone who encountered it, AvtoVAZ took corrective measures to eliminate it. The first attempt to get rid of the squeak was to apply a film with heat shrinkage to the stabilizer bar in the area of ​​the pillows. Then other pillows with a modified cut profile were supplied. But these actions did not give the desired effect, and the creaking appeared again.

The next step from the manufacturer was the supply of new stabilizer pads. They were made from a different material - polyurethane, not rubber. The color of the pillows was green. This technique turned out to be more effective than previous ones. But after a certain mileage, car owners again encountered creaking suspension.

In these cases, factory engineers ordered that the cushions be removed and a special silicone lubricant applied to them. But this did not lead to a final elimination of the problem, since the lubricant was washed out when water entered.

Many of those who wanted to solve this problem on their own installed stabilizer cushions from Chevrolet Niva, Kia Rio, Soul, Toyota. But in most cases, after some mileage, the hated creak appeared again. Many people wondered how to solve this problem?

How to get rid of creaking stabilizer bushings on Lada Vesta

There are two ways to eliminate the squeak:

• contacting a service station if the car is under factory warranty;
• Do-it-yourself repairs, regardless of whether there is a warranty.

Both methods do not guarantee the disappearance of the annoying sound. The reason lies in the material from which the bushing is made.

In most service stations with a defect using a metal-rubber aerosol. In the best case, they use a Litol type lubricant with the addition of a graphite base.

This “potion” lasts for several thousand miles, after which the sound returns.

The most effective and efficient way is to install non-standard seals from other car brands. It is advisable that the elastic bands are made of polyurethane.

In terms of dimensions and parameters, bushings from:

*price indicated as of 03/06/2019.

Solution found

In February 2022, an information letter was received from the plant for all official dealers. According to it, to completely eliminate the malfunction, you need to install a new type of stabilizer.

To manufacture a new stabilizer, VAZ turned to the famous German company Mubea. This is one of the leaders in the production of automotive components. Now we can hope that the squeaking problem will be eliminated completely. The stabilizer for the Lada Vesta is manufactured at one of the company’s factories in the Czech Republic. The design feature is non-removable bushings. They are installed on the rod using vulcanization technology.

Due to the rigid fixation of the bushings on the rod, they are prevented from turning during suspension operation. The bushings are non-removable, and now when they wear out, the stabilizer assembly will have to be replaced. But the production was carried out by a high-status German company, so we hope that the service life of the bushings will be long. The geometry of the stabilizer itself and its dimensions remain the same.

Front suspension device

First, let's look at the suspension design and the role of the anti-roll bar in it. The front suspension on the car is independent, with double-acting gas-filled struts complete with barrel springs. Here, for the first time for AVTOVAZ, a subframe appeared, on which the lower wishbones, two engine mounting points and the sensational anti-roll bar were located. It is the latter that we will talk about in this article.

Number six (6) is the anti-roll bar, the purpose of which is to eliminate roll when cornering. It is attached using a rubber-metal structure, which is the culprit of our creaking. When the stabilizer rotates, friction and creaking are generated inside the rubber bushing, which we hear. Below is a photo of the bushing that is installed at the factory.

As practice has shown, such a design feature appears after 1000-1500 km in only 60% of all purchased cars. When applying for a warranty, the dealer simply disassembles the mechanism, fills the bushings with PMS 400 lubricant (emulsion-based) and puts the unit back together. This “rework” is enough for 100-200 km, depending on how often you drive in wet weather.

How much does it cost to replace a stabilizer?

All work is performed on a lift from below the car. This takes 1 hour 30 minutes. Today the stabilizer can be purchased at a price of 3,400 rubles. The bracket costs 90 rubles. Work to replace the stabilizer along with adjusting the wheel geometry will cost 3,400 rubles.

According to the regulations, after replacing the stabilizer, it is necessary to check and adjust the wheel alignment. Do not be confused, on the Lada Vesta, as on most modern cars, only 1 wheel alignment parameter is adjusted at the wheel alignment stand. The camber is not adjustable, since it is determined by the geometry of the chassis parts and the body itself.

Fuse box and its housing: Renault brand, made in Romania

The fuse box comes entirely from the Logan model, as evidenced by the Renault logos on the body and the Romanian manufacturer Capirom. True, AvtoVAZ reported that in the near future the company will change its supplier to a local one - from the Samara region.

We didn’t have any questions regarding the unit itself, but during a scrupulous study by the electricians, a very interesting point emerged

Attention was drawn to two fuses that were not indicated either on the diagram or in the instructions. A study of the electrical circuit revealed that during a sudden voltage surge (for example, when lighting a Vesta with the engine running), these fuses may burn out, which will stop charging the battery

And what’s most insidious is that the driver of a discharged car will not know about it - no electrical “paths” to the dashboard (indicator lamps) could be found. Whether the reason will be revealed when connecting the standard diagnostic system in the absence of an error that pops up is also a question.

The controls also turned out to be imported - the steering rack is from the famous German brand ZF, but made in Malaysia. And the CV joints are provided by the British company GKN and made in Poland.

Replacement under warranty

Now for all Lada Vesta owners who are still under warranty, you can replace the old stabilizer with a new one. To do this, you need to contact the nearest official dealer who is authorized to carry out warranty repairs of the car. You need to have a warranty card and service book with you.

Equipment, competitors, pros and cons of the Lada Vesta car

One of the main conditions for repairs will be that the suspension is unchanged. That is, everything should remain in factory condition. Therefore, if you encounter a squeaking problem, contact your dealers.

This was an article on solving the problem of creaking suspension of Lada Vesta cars. If you liked the post, please mark it. If you have questions, write in the comments, we will try to answer. Thank you for visiting the channel, see you soon!

Independent work

In this case, there are several ways:

1. Bushing lubrication;
2. Replacement with analogues.

Bushing lubrication

If you choose this option, everything is done exactly the same as when contacting a dealership. However, car owners choose the lubricant themselves. Some people buy regular mastic, others use foreign lubricants, for example, Japanese ones.

Owners buy different lubricants

Be that as it may, these are only temporary measures, since mastic and other lubricants are still quickly washed out. It may last a little longer, but that doesn't solve the problem.

Replacement with analogues

According to reviews from owners, most often either bushings from Chevrolet Niva or components from KIA are used.

Bushings from Chevrolet Niva

Elements from this model are suitable for Lada Vesta, which can be bought at almost any car store. In addition, they can be ordered online using the following article numbers:

What's the matter?

The reason for the dissatisfaction of many Newsmakers is the creaking. It is no secret that the stabilizer bushings of the domestic model very soon begin to creak, and sometimes this happens almost immediately after purchase. There have been cases when the car did not have time to travel even 1,500 km, and some manage to drive without making noise for less than 1,000 km. As for the frequency of squeaking, surveys show that this happens in approximately 60% of cars.

Creaking is typical for many Vestas

This creak can be clearly heard in the video.

It is also worth noting that such a squeak is rarely heard constantly. Usually it appears and then disappears. In this case, the problem is extremely clear - the quality of the material or the manufacturing of the components is not high enough.

In this case, there are two solutions:

1. Contacting the dealer;
2. Independent work.

Under the hood

The main problems: chafing pipes, rattling engine lining, have already been fixed in new batches. In mine, I filed down the notch so that the breather would not rub. The engine mount is also knocking. The treatment is simple - spray with silicone grease, and temporarily listen to silence or change the pillow. The manual transmission is not quiet, and the robot's actuator dries out lubricant, and it begins to creak when the gas is pressed, especially in the heat.

The canister valve still clicks loudly - it’s better not to touch it, it won’t get any quieter. The lion's share of knocks on my Lada Vesta comes from the resonator and plastic pipe.

For the test, a piece of material was inserted for gluing sound insulation. You cannot completely remove the resonator - it is needed to dampen the sound. Although some people throw it away. It knocks because of the metal mounting bracket or pipe. It is frayed or installed loosely. The dealer contacted the factory - this is not a warranty issue. A new resonator with a pipe assembly in the cabin costs 1,500 rubles. They advised to wrap it with electrical tape. Draw your own conclusions about AvtoVAZ’s attitude towards consumers.

Order of Operations

Important! You can begin repairs if the stabilizer bar is not tense. To do this, the front wheels need to be hung or the weight of the car evenly distributed - on an inspection hole or overpass

The place where the work will be performed must be washed.

So, the car is lifted with two jacks or driven into a pit, now you can start working:

1. Clean the stabilizer bar fasteners from dirt.
2. Completely unscrew the stabilizer link fixing nut and move it to the side. The same procedure must be performed on the other side of the machine.
3. There is a cover on the steering system casing that protects it from contamination. It needs to be removed. To do this, five bolts are removed.
4. Now you can unscrew the two bolts securing the brackets.
5. The bracket or clamp is removed from its place.
6. Now you can remove the bushing.
7. The rod must be thoroughly wiped, and particles from the old bushing must be removed, especially at the fastening points. The operation is repeated for the second element.
8. The rod needs to be rubbed with lubricant so that the new parts can easily fit on it and move easily.
9. A new element is installed on the rack.
10. The bushing moves along the rod to the installation site.
11. On site, you need to accurately align the bushing along the axis of rotation and fit.
12. The same procedure will be repeated with the second bushing.
13. Next you need to do the assembly. It is performed in reverse order.

On a note! The manufacturer recommends carrying out routine maintenance every 25-30 thousand kilometers, but Russian climatic and road conditions make significant adjustments to the condition of car parts. Practice shows that bushings are changed much more often. If there is only a suspicion, you need to inspect the part. If defects are found, replace them immediately, since the car’s handling and road safety depend on it.