Replacing Lada Granta struts with your own hands. Recommendations from professionals

The suspension of the Lada Granta is represented by a telescopic hydraulic shock absorber strut, a spring, a bump stop, a silent block (for the rear row), a support bearing, and a bowl.

Taking into account the quality of the road surface and the peculiarities of climatic temperatures, the service life of suspension elements of domestic transport hardly exceeds the mark of 65 - 75 thousand km. Rare cases within 100,000 km are rather an exception.

Replacing Lada Granta struts with your own hands. Recommendations from professionals

The suspension of the Lada Granta is represented by a telescopic hydraulic shock absorber strut, a spring, a bump stop, a silent block (for the rear row), a support bearing, and a bowl.

Taking into account the quality of the road surface and the peculiarities of climatic temperatures, the service life of suspension elements of domestic transport hardly exceeds the mark of 65 - 75 thousand km. Rare cases within 100,000 km are rather an exception.

Helical adjustable suspension

A shock absorber in a car suspension is used as a damping element that reduces the amplitude of vibrations. There are many suspension options, and one of them is shown in the photo.

Each of the elements, spring and shock absorber, being components of the suspension, serve for specific purposes. But in some cases, they are structurally performed in the form of a single unit. This combination is known as a screw suspension, one of the variants of such a device is shown in the photo.

It has already been mentioned that this combination is called adjustable suspension. One of the options for its manufacture is to cut a thread directly on the shock absorber and attach support washers to it, between which the spring is located. This results in a new single rack that replaces the existing one.

The structure of the front shock absorbers

Grant front struts ( oil type ):

• stock;
• compensation chamber;
• piston with baffle valve;
• main camera;
• compression valve

Gas type:

• stock;
• piston with valves;
• separating piston;
• gas.

Typical signs of faulty Lada Granta struts

• the car bounces slightly on uneven surfaces;
• difficulties in driving at medium and high speeds;
• vibrations, beating in the steering wheel when overcoming road obstacles;
• knocking, creaking in the front suspension area;
• decreased ground clearance, sagging springs, roll to one side;
• the piston is filled with oil;
• When you press the wing once, the car continues to swing for some time.

additional information

However, adjustable suspension has not only advantages, it also has disadvantages.

1. Coilovers require careful maintenance and monitoring. In most cases, there are no seals on the rods to prevent dust and dirt from entering the body. And this leads to rapid wear of the bushings, which will result in knocking and jamming of the rod.
2. Such a suspension must be adjusted for certain conditions, for example, driving on gravel or asphalt. If the coilovers are set to one surface, but you have to move differently, then this is fraught with shaking and the possibility of damage to the suspension. So, on asphalt it should work with short strokes, on gravel - with long strokes. If the suspension is not configured correctly, it will not follow the road profile, resulting in poor handling.
3. Significant shaking when driving does not indicate that the suspension is working, but that it does not correspond to the driving conditions.

Coilovers allow you to change the characteristics of the existing suspension on your car. However, it must be designed for specific driving conditions and may not work equally well on different surfaces. So the use of such elements in a car must be treated with caution and the consequences of their use must be fully understood. » alt=»»>

Catalog articles for factory front/rear struts of Lada Granta

Standard dimensions of the front struts: rod diameter 220 mm, body diameter 520 mm, rod free play 1700 mm, height 3450 mm. Grant rear struts: rod diameter 125 mm, cylinder body 425 mm, weight 2.00 kg, oil volume 0.56 liters.

The specified shock absorber articles are intended for installation on Lada Granta of all modifications starting from 2011: 21906-40, 21911-40, 21917-42, 21917-41, 21901-41.

Note to the driver. For the Lada Granta Sport, other struts are available, with a shortened rod stroke. Gas is used instead of oil filler. Catalog number: A190291500440.

Subtleties when installing a suspension element

1. We begin to assemble the suspension element using the reverse dismantling process algorithm.
2. Before direct installation, we recommend checking the shock absorber. To do this, you need to press the rod all the way and observe its behavior. If the pressing force is high, and the rod subsequently slowly (without delay) returns to the extended position. This indicates the serviceability of the element.
3. A special mark, which the manufacturer kindly applied to the surface of the product, will help you install the front struts correctly. The direction of the mark should be oriented along the direction of the Lada Granta car.
4. Having reached the correct location of the marks, feel free to assemble the shock-absorbing unit, following the well-known sequence of actions.

Analogues of the front / rear pillars of the VAZ-2190. Price

*prices as of September 19, 2018.

Overview of the main shock absorber manufacturers

By default, hydraulic ones from SAAZ (Skopovsky Automobile Plant) are installed from the factory. They are not particularly distinguished by their quality, but with moderate use they can last up to 60,000 km.

1. Kayaba : Japanese, characterized by high quality, reliability, and long service life. When purchasing, be careful, as some of the products are made in China.
2. ASOMI: domestic manufacturer for GAZ, VAZ, LADA models. One year warranty from the date of installation. Judge the quality for yourself.
3. SS (SS): also a domestic manufacturer of racks for VAZs. Quality guarantee for two years, according to the owners' reviews, they are not bad, a little harsh.

In general, all shock absorbers are divided into three categories:

The differences in the categories are insignificant and unnoticeable for the average driver. The kit comes with a warranty card and operating instructions.

Reviews

Related link:

We select tires and wheels for the Lada Granta

Conclusion

Based on the information provided, the owners formed an opinion on the effectiveness of using domestic and foreign analogues of suspension elements. The most optimal option in terms of price-quality ratio is gas-oil. Gas engines, despite a number of advantages, are not adapted for driving over rough terrain. Please take this into account when purchasing. What to do if the struts on the Grant are broken - replace them with new ones, or in the worst case, bleed them.

Sequence of actions when replacing the front shock absorbers of a Lada Granta with your own hands

We prepare a set of tools, rags, WD-40 fluid, a set of new racks, and other components for related repairs.

• We place the car within the perimeter of the repair area, jack it up, and secure the rear row of wheels with wheel chocks;
• We remove the wheel, disconnect the tie rod end, the ball joint;
• We loosen the rod (key to “9”), while holding the main nut to “22”;
• With a key set to “13”, unscrew the three nuts securing the upper support;
• In order to minimize the violation of the camber angle - wheel toe, we use a chisel to mark the relative placement of the steering knuckle and the bracket;
• Unscrew the bolts at the bottom of the fastening (key set to “17”);
• We remove the Grant shock absorber assembly;
• Use a puller to compress the spring several turns.

We replace the Granta racks and assemble the elements in the reverse order. At the same time, we carry out troubleshooting and replace worn-out consumables with new ones (anthers, bumpers). Don’t forget to visit a service station and have your wheel alignment adjusted. Otherwise, the tires will wear out faster. Motorists at a number of service stations prefer replacing the shock absorber assembly, as opposed to partial repairs. The cost of the service is a third less than the price of a new rack, but no one guarantees the serviceability of the accompanying elements. Ultimately, the cost of purchasing consumables will increase.

Advantages of coilover suspension

• These suspension elements are designed taking into account various workloads and are therefore made from high quality materials.
• Inexpensive coilovers for adjusting suspension stiffness and ground clearance do not require special skills or equipment for installation.
• The car's suspension can be quickly adjusted literally before every trip.
• It is possible to retrofit existing racks, and, if necessary, switch back to a standard suspension.
• When used carefully, coilovers retain their performance characteristics for a long time and do not break.

Disadvantages of adjustable shock absorbers

• To guarantee quality and performance, it is necessary to buy models from trusted manufacturers. And the cost of even moderately functional products in this case is comparable to high-quality analogues for a standard suspension.
• When adjusting coilovers, it is often necessary to additionally work with the wheel alignment.
• Adjusting the suspension can negatively affect maneuverability, handling, and behavior on uneven, wet or slippery roads. All this additionally affects fuel consumption and wear of other components and parts of the car.
• When installed on standard suspension struts, the latter wear out quickly.

Thus, with reasonable installation and thoughtful tuning, coilover suspension makes driving more comfortable, easier and more confident, and also allows you to give it the necessary sporty look. The main thing is to choose the right part for installation, not to skimp on quality and to ensure that its operation does not actually deteriorate the driving performance of the car.

Algorithm for self-replacement of rear struts of Lada Granta

A common reason for replacing a rear shock absorber is oil leakage from the cylinder, depressurization, loss of integrity, or seal defects. Less common spring sagging. Tools: open-end wrenches “17, 19”, a set of new struts, WD fluid – 40.

• We fix the front wheels with wheel chocks and engage first gear;
• We fold the back row of seats for ease of maintenance;
• We pry off the rubber plug of the rear glass and remove it;
• Unscrew the upper shock absorber fixing nut;
• Jack up the rear wheel and remove it;
• We hang the side of the car at such a height that the beam has free movement;
• Unscrew the lower fastening, remove the eye from the seat;
• Remove the shock absorber assembly;
• Using a crab puller, compress the spring and remove the boot.

Replacing the Lada Grant strut with a new one, assembling the parts in the reverse order. When moving the rod in the upper position, it will be difficult to get into the hole; an assistant may be needed.

Replacing support bearings without removing the strut

1. Jack up the car and remove the wheel;
2. Using a crab puller, compress the spring several turns;
3. In the engine compartment, unscrew the three nuts securing the support bowl to the glass;
4. Unscrew the steering tip and unscrew the nut;
5. Lower the shock absorber assembly down;
6. We remove the support bowl and replace the Granta strut bearing.

The repair is completed by reassembling in the reverse order.

Grant strut spacer. For what. What is the price

In order to increase the service life of the glasses in the engine compartment and to prevent an increase in the angle of inclination of the pillars, the structure is reinforced with a metal beam. The ends are attached to support bowls and connected to each other by a metal pipe. This is the simplest design. Modernized versions have a different layout. But this is not for everyone.

General information about the suspension

To better understand what a coilover is, you must first turn to the most common shock absorber. Its device is shown in the photo below.

Any shock absorber is a cylinder filled with liquid (usually oil) in which a piston moves. The principle of operation of the device is the flow of liquid from one volume to another when the piston moves in one direction or another under the influence of a changing load.

How to find out when it’s time to change the shock absorbers on a Grant

Every car owner should know what the signs of a malfunction of this part look like, since it affects the controllability of the car, and therefore traffic safety.

When the strut stops working, the car body begins to sway when driving over bumps. This is especially noticeable at high speed when overtaking.

When rocking, the wheels may temporarily lose traction with the road surface, and when changing the trajectory of movement, this is fraught with a sudden skid. Therefore, if such symptoms are detected, you should immediately check the shock absorbers. A visual sign of a malfunction is oil leaks on the rack.

There are other symptoms:

1. Dull knocks in the suspension when driving through potholes.
2. When cornering, the body rolls more than usual.
3. Increased braking distance - due to a large roll, the body leans forward and forces the car to move further by inertia.
4. "Seasickness". Many passengers feel ill when moving, although they did not have such symptoms before.
5. When rocking the car with your hands, it undergoes vibrations for some time.

After identifying faulty racks, it is necessary to replace them. Driving with faulty shock absorbers is dangerous.

What are coilovers

Coilover installation kit.

Coilovers are a traditional element of sports car suspension. The name of this part is formed by the English words coil and over, which literally means “spring around”.

A coilover is a shock absorber that allows you to adjust the spring stiffness and ground clearance of the car by compressing or decompressing it. Essentially, this is a rod-stand on which a spring is placed, moving relative to it.

On sports cars, helical suspension appeared due to the need to quickly change the stiffness and height of the suspension. The ability to quickly change these parameters and improve the car’s handling has become an integral feature of such a discipline as rallying, where before each start the technical team carries out almost jewelry calibration of the car.

In sports tuning, coilovers are installed on cars to adjust the clearance, stiffness and damping characteristics. The convenience is that to change the height of the suspension you do not need to disassemble it - the shock absorber struts are simply twisted a little, and you're done.

How to choose struts for Lada Granta

Before selecting the necessary parts, you need to know the article numbers. You can find them out from the following table:

The main difference between gas-oil and oil struts on Grant:

• Oil shock absorbers are more rigid. Used when good controllability is required. Such struts reduce roll in corners and better keep the car on the road. Show excellent performance on smooth asphalt. Useless off-road.
• Gas-filled - suitable for comfortable driving on uneven surfaces. They absorb road irregularities perfectly, but deteriorate handling when driving at low speeds. They are not able to dampen serious rolls and sway.

Which manufacturer should you choose?

Many drivers wonder whether the brand of shock absorbers affects their quality. In this case, we must remember that even a part purchased from a reputable manufacturer is not fully functional. This is the specificity of shock absorbers. However, branded products usually have a longer service life and are equipped with technological solutions that improve driving comfort. The products of the following companies are highly recognized by customers:

1. Bilstein;
2. Delphi;
3. Kayaba;
4. Monroe;
5. Motocraft;
6. Sachs.

How to replace shock absorbers on a Lada Granta

It is worth noting that replacement of racks is carried out only in pairs. Changing shock absorbers one at a time is incorrect and impractical. Otherwise, it will negatively affect the wheel alignment angles.

Preparatory work

First of all, you need to acquire the necessary tools - you will need sockets, a ratchet, and open-end wrenches.

To change the front struts, you will need a clamp for the suspension springs. An inspection hole or lift is not required for this procedure. The most important thing is a high-quality and serviceable tool.

Before installation, new racks must be “bleeded” to remove air from the internal cavity that gets there during transportation. Otherwise, the shock absorber will not last long.

Once everything you need is prepared, you can begin replacing faulty elements.

How to change the front struts on a Grant

To do this, follow the following procedure:

1. Remove the front wheel.
2. Unscrew the steering end nut and use a puller to remove the last pin from the strut eye.
3. Unscrew the fastening of the strut to the steering knuckle.
4. From above, unscrew the three nuts securing the shock absorber to the glass.

Next, you need to remove the strut from the car, tighten the spring using a tie and unscrew the nut on the rod from above. Remove the support bearing housing, suspension spring and transfer it all to the new shock absorber.

Reassemble in reverse order.

After replacing the struts, be sure to adjust the front wheel alignment.

How to replace rear shock absorbers on Lada Granta

Replacing rear struts is much easier than replacing front struts. To do this, you need to hang the rear wheel, remove it and unscrew two fasteners:

1. In the lower part.
2. From the salon side.

After this, remove the old shock absorber. It will come out along with the spring, which will be stretched due to the unloading of the rear part.

After installing the new shock absorber, you need to fix it on the lower eye, then lower the car so that the spring is compressed.

Push the rear of the car with your own weight several times so that the spring is in place and tighten the upper fastening nut.

Let's sum it up

There are a number of features of operating the Lada Granta on Russian roads. For some reason, a domestic car is not very suitable for our roads; it crashes and fails instantly. Sometimes you come across a well-built car that doesn’t show any character after 100,000 kilometers. But in most cases, the Garnet justifies the title of the cheapest car in the Lada line. And when it comes to racks, the manufacturer saves a lot on these elements. The installation of low-quality suspension elements leads to the fact that more and more people, after purchasing Grants, repair it under warranty.

However, sometimes it is better to cancel the warranty and install normal racks, supports and other parts. In this case, you will ensure the normal service of your car’s suspension and will be able to establish normal operation of each unit. This will take a certain budget, but can provide you with comfortable movement without any particular difficulties or problems. Of course, even the best quality rack will eventually fail. But it can travel far beyond 100 thousand kilometers. What brands of spare parts do you choose to repair the suspension of your Lada Granta?