Steering rack VAZ 2110 do-it-yourself repair and adjustment

Today we will talk about the situation when a knock appeared in the steering rack, the causes of this phenomenon and how to eliminate them.

The steering of a car is an extremely important component, since if it malfunctions, a catastrophic threat to life occurs, not only for the driver and all passengers, but also for surrounding traffic participants, including pedestrians. In general, there is something to be afraid of.

If you start to hear a foreign knock in the steering rack, then it’s time to take the control system seriously.

The design of the steering rack on the VAZ-2110

First, let's decide what we will regulate. The design of the rack is extremely simple. The hydraulic booster is not provided, so even with dismantling (which is not at all necessary), all the work will take an hour or an hour and a half.

Scheme and design.

The steering mechanism of the VAZ-2110 is a rack and pinion gearbox that converts the rotation of the steering shaft 27 into the movement of the rack 16 itself. Steering rods 5 and 7 are attached to the rack with bolts 6, which turn the racks with the steering knuckle. The contact point between the drive gear 21 and the rack 16 is most subject to load and, accordingly, wear .

When adjustment is necessary

between these parts , which leads to the appearance of symptoms indicating the need for adjustment:

• knocking in the steering rack when driving over bumps;
• increased steering wheel play;
• the steering wheel is too tight, the wheels do not align after turning;
• the rack “bites” periodically, this indicates critical wear of the rack or drive gear 21.

Clearances and adjustment

In these cases, it makes sense to try to adjust the gap between the rack and pinion in order to delay a major overhaul of the entire mechanism. And we will adjust the gap by pressing the adjusting nut 33 through the spring 32 and the rack stop 31, the rack to the gear.

To do this, we will need a special octagonal wrench for 17, which is sold at any auto store. You will also need several screwdrivers and a standard set of tools if we do not remove the rail from the car. Let's start making adjustments.

A key for tightening the steering rack on a VAZ-2110 car.

Wheels and chassis

The VAZ-2110 and the entire family, due to front-wheel drive, experience increased load on the front wheels. It is imperative to do balancing, as well as check the condition of the nuts, hub, and the chassis as a whole.

Quite often the wheel itself hits when braking. And not because of balancing, but because of broken bolts and holes. You can try to remove the wheel, move it one bolt forward in a circle, and check the result. Some people wrap one turn of electrical tape, this helps at least diagnose the problem. If the problem disappears for a short time, then the problem is with the disks and fasteners.

Steering rods, steering knuckles, ball joints, levers - all this needs to be tugged on the lift to check for play. Again, when driving, you should carefully listen to the operation of the suspension on turns or bumps. After the trip, check the same hubs by hand for heating.

In principle, the VAZ-2110 is such a car that if there is no steering wheel beat at speeds up to 90 km/h, then this is normal. Driving it at a higher speed is in any case dangerous, even if the chassis is in perfect condition - the issue here is the quality of the parts and the generally weak strength of the car.

If the steering wheel vibrates at a speed of 100-120 km/h, this does not mean that it is necessary to immediately balance the wheels on the car. Causes vary, although this is the most common reason. Most car owners believe that steering wheel wobble and car vibration occur due to wheel imbalance, but there may be other reasons.

The problem may arise that the steering wheel, as well as the car body, is the most popular and unpleasant problem. In addition, it most often appears unnoticed until our patience is exhausted by the fact that the steering wheel is already hitting too hard, and it affects the entire car. However, drivers quickly get used to this and do not rush to a car service or tire shop to resolve the issue.

But, usually at this moment people wonder what the vibration of the car means and why the steering wheel shakes. There are many reasons why your car and steering wheel vibrate. This problem can be sorted out without significant financial costs. Once the cause of the vibration is found, you may need to pay to have it repaired and solve the vibration problem. However, you should know that in the future this procedure will save us money, since without carrying out repairs, some suspension or steering components may fail.

To determine the cause of vibration occurring in the steering wheel or the entire vehicle, you will need to determine the vibration conditions. To do this, you need to drive along a highway with low traffic intensity at different speeds. In this case, it is necessary to monitor the runout and remember at what speeds this problem appears and at what speeds it disappears.

This usually happens like this: two speed intervals are identified at which vibration occurs - first at medium or low speed, and then the vibration disappears at higher speeds, or appears again at higher speeds. If the vibration is insignificant, then it appears only in one interval - at high speeds. Also, find out how the car's behavior changes during acceleration and deceleration, or whether the vibration disappears or increases as the acceleration changes at different speeds.

Let's look at the reasons why vibration occurs in the car body and transfers to the steering wheel.

We tighten the rail ourselves

We will carry out the work from under the car, so it is advisable to use an inspection hole or overpass. You can tighten the nut from under the hood, but this is extremely inconvenient and will take more time, we checked.

We install the car and secure it with the handbrake; just in case, we put wheel chocks under the rear wheels. Next we do this:

Remove the engine protection.

We extend the carrier so that it can be seen better.

This is the same nut.

This is what the plastic plug looks like.

You will have to try a little to get the wrench into the nut.

Video about adjusting the rack on a VAZ-2110 from under the hood

Dear Drivers, any mechanism in a car does not last forever, so when driving on an uneven road, at one fine moment a knock

which
feeds into the steering wheel
.
Or standing still, there may be a knock when turning the steering wheel
.
These are the first signs that it is time to repair the steering rack
.

The following signs will help you determine the condition of the steering rack:

1.Grip the steering shaft where it meets the rack and move it up and down. If there is a knock, then repair the rack housing (most often the reason is that the needle bearing is running without lubrication). 2. You can check the play of the bushing and the contact of the rack with the steering gear by grasping the joint of the steering rods from under the hood.

Malfunctions and their symptoms

There are not so many malfunctions that can occur with the mechanism itself. However, they can occur not only with it, but also with other steering elements - rods, ball joints, steering column.

Therefore, when they appear, all elements should be checked.

• An increase in the free play of the steering wheel may indicate wear of the gear sector due to dust and dirt getting inside the mechanism, as well as an increase in the gap between the rack and its stop. In this case, the engagement of the rack with the gear is reduced. Also, such a malfunction may indicate wear on the steering rod silent blocks or loosening of the ball joints in the steering knuckle;

• Knocks and noise from the steering when driving may indicate the appearance of a gap between the stop and the rack, or wear of the plastic bushing of the rack. A knock may also occur due to severe wear of the silent blocks of the rods, ball joints, or if the fastening of the gear shaft to the steering column shaft is loosened;

• Stiff steering usually indicates damage to the rack bushing or damage to the pinion shaft bearing. But ball joints and suspension strut bearings can also be to blame.

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Before starting repair work, you must first determine which element is faulty.

If the steering rods, ball joints and steering column do not cause suspicion, then you should look for the cause in the mechanism itself. But to do this it must be removed from the car.

How to eliminate backlash?

If you identify signs of a malfunction, do not despair; perhaps everything will cost you with minor repairs, especially since the rack itself very rarely fails. First, let's figure out whether there is play in the steering wheel and how to tighten the steering rack on a VAZ-2110 to get rid of it. First of all, open the hood and find the location of the column. We dismantle the engine elements that interfere with free access to it (air filter, air duct). Holding the steering rods with both hands, try to move the rack left and right. If play is detected, we get rid of it by adjusting the thrust nut.

Adjusting the VAZ-2110 steering rack is a fairly simple process, but this will require a special 17mm wrench with an octagonal head. Without this tool, work can not begin. If the key is at hand, go under the car and remove the engine protection. After this, move under the front of the car and find the location of the column. Remove the plastic plug from the thrust nut. Further adjustment of the VAZ-2110 steering rack is carried out by tightening this nut inside the column body. Rotate it 10-15 degrees, then check the amount of play. If necessary, repeat the procedure. It is important not to overtighten the thrust nut, otherwise the steering shaft will be difficult to rotate.

In addition, check the reliability of the tie rods. If necessary, tighten their fastening bolts.

Diagnostics

First you need to make sure there is a problem. To do this, you need to turn off the engine, having first placed the car on the inspection hole. Then you need to turn the steering wheel several times until it stops in one direction and the other.

At the same time, at least two people are needed to determine the malfunction. One will turn the steering wheel, the other will evaluate the work of the rack from below. This will allow you to check for any gaps in the hinges. If the knocking noise remains even after disconnecting the rods and levers, the unit will have to be replaced.

There can be many reasons why the steering rack knocks. Therefore, diagnostics plays a huge role in repairs. The most common knocking noises are the tie rod ends and rods. The main sign of a torn tip is a damaged boot. It is because of this that the ball joint becomes unusable. Diagnosing a broken rod is much more difficult.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to verify that the steering rack is knocking precisely because of traction, because if the car was purchased with mileage, then the previous owner could easily replace the torn spare part without bothering with more serious repairs.

Important! To understand that the steering rack is knocking precisely because of the traction, you need to remove the boot and check the traction for any play

In most cases, the reason why the steering rack knocks is the bushing. This is part number 7 in the picture. It does not have a rigid fixation and is pushed forward by a spring, which is adjusted by a bolt with a lock nut.

Important! Most service centers, instead of replacing only the bushing, offer to install a new unit. Most often, such a policy of service centers is associated with a banal desire to make money from a motorist

Indeed, there are parts that change only during assembly. But this is not the case. The bushing for Honda cars is available for public sale. Moreover, you can do it yourself if you have the drawings.

Most often, such a policy of service centers is associated with a banal desire to make money from the motorist. Indeed, there are parts that change only during assembly. But this is not the case. The bushing for Honda cars is available for public sale. Moreover, you can do it yourself if you have the drawings.

Noise when turning

If you hear a hum when the steering wheel is turned to its extreme (or close to it) position, it means that you need to check the condition of the hydraulic or electric booster and the components of its working system. In this case, a hum may occur even if the fluid level is normal. You need to check the condition of the pump blades (often, over time, the pump’s performance decreases), the condition of its bearings, and the tension of the drive belt.

Power steering fluid leak

Regular leakage is a reason to check the power steering system and its seals. In particular, if the car owner is forced to frequently add fluid to the system’s expansion tank. In this case, a concomitant symptom of a faulty steering rack will be a fluid leak from the line. It can drain directly onto the ground under the car (usually right under the expansion tank) or streaks can be seen on the steering linkage boots.

Often, when a liquid leaks, air enters the system (the system is “aired”). It can be seen by the bubbling liquid in the expansion tank. As stated above, the cause of the leak may be rust on the rack. To get rid of it in the future, it is advisable to use non-standard plastic clamps to tighten the anthers, and their metal counterparts, which provide a higher level of tightness.

Knock when driving in the front axle

In fact, such a knock may also indicate a malfunction in the vehicle’s chassis, so additional diagnostics must be performed. The knock can be either in the center or on the left or right side. In the best case, a knock may indicate a torn traction boot; in the worst case, it can indicate problems with the rods, levers or other elements.

To understand exactly why such a malfunction occurred, it is better to remove and disassemble the rack. After all, the most harmless thing may be a loose adjusting nut or wear of the bushing (when there is a knock on the right), but a more serious problem is wear of the worm pair.

Torn boot on traction

When checking the performance of the rack, it is necessary to pay attention to the integrity of the traction boot. Ideally, it should be intact and the rubber should be elastic

If it is torn and dirt has gotten inside, it must be replaced, lubricant must be added after removing dirt, moisture, and debris from the mechanisms.

Electric power steering rack

To localize faults in the electric steering rack, it is necessary to check the following elements.

Removing the steering column

If after adjustment the problem with the rack does not disappear, you will have to disassemble and repair it. But to do this it needs to be removed. There are two methods of dismantling: with and without tie rods. The latter method is preferable as it requires much less time. Before removing the steering rack on a VAZ-2110, the front part of the car needs to be jacked up on both sides. This is necessary in order to unload the traction.

In the cabin, in the area of ​​the pedal block, you need to unscrew the steering shaft cardan bolt. After this, we go to the engine compartment and unscrew the 2 bolts securing the rods, having previously bent the locking plate. Then you need to unscrew the 4 bolts securing the steering column to the car body. When this is done, remove the column and remove it through the opening of the left wheel arch.

What is a do-it-yourself VAZ-2110 steering rack repair?

Take care of your tools in advance. Here you will need two special keys: a 17 octagon and a 24 octagon, as well as bearing pullers. It is worth noting that repairing the VAZ-2110 steering rack involves replacing parts that are most susceptible to wear. These are bearings and a drive gear boot, a stop, retaining rings, a support sleeve, and seals. All these elements can be purchased as a set. There are three types of repair kits on sale:

• minimal, including a support sleeve, boot, retaining rings and seals;
• standard, which in addition to the listed parts includes bearings;
• complete, which also includes a new rack.

Repair

The first thing you will need to carry out your own repairs is a repair kit. They are available at almost any auto parts store. However, we strongly recommend that you buy only high-quality kits so that the result of your DIY repair lasts as long as possible.

What you need for work

The proposed kits are incomplete and complete. You will definitely need the following kit components:

• Needle bearing;
• A pair of rubber seals for the bushing;
• Support sleeve made of plastic;
• Set of gaskets;
• Spring;
• Retaining rings;
• Support bearing;
• Drive gear;
• Boot cover;
• Rail;
• Set of ties for the boot.

Repair kit Now that the kit is ready, the tools are available, and there is enough free time, you can get to work.

1. First, remove the boot, end caps and stops. As you disassemble elements, even the smallest and insignificant at first glance, be sure to evaluate their current condition. If necessary, all worn-out elements will be replaced with new ones taken from the repair kit.
2. Using an octagon, unscrew the screw plugs, which will allow you to remove the springs, retaining rings, and thrust bushings.
3. Remove the bearing and check if it has any play. The repair kit includes a new bearing, so if the old component is in satisfactory condition, it is better to replace it immediately. It’s not for nothing that you took on such a complex process to get everything done 50%.
4. Remove and inspect the drive gear. Next, you can completely remove the rail itself.
5. Be sure to replace the support shaft bushing, not forgetting about the rubber bands. They are also included in the kit.
6. Take your time to remove the rubber bands from the sleeve. First, insert the element into the crankcase, after which you can cut off the elastic with scissors or a sharp knife.
7. The most difficult step is replacing the needle bearing. To remove it, you will need a special key. But you can do without it. In this case, arm yourself with a 1.5 mm drill bit and a drill. Using a drill, make a hole in such a way as to loosen the end of the bearing. Use a punch to knock out the old bearing from the crankcase.
8. Before installing the new needle bearing, be sure to thoroughly clean the steering rack housing of accumulated debris and steel shavings from drilling.
9. The hole made cannot be left. To eliminate it, you can mix metal filings with superglue. This mixture will harden quickly and give an excellent result.
10. Lubricate literally everything that can be lubricated in the steering rack assembly. Experts advise using Litol 24 or other lubricants of similar quality. It wouldn't hurt to lubricate the CV joints.
11. Reassemble the unit by following the reverse sequence of dismantling.

If you don’t have a key to remove the needle, repairing the steering rack yourself allows you to significantly save on replacement, plus gain a lot of experience in performing far from the simplest work related to your VAZ 2109. But you can do it easier, without taking any risks, by contacting a trusted car service center.

Unit in a vice

Checking status

Having completed the repair, you should not think that now the steering rack will serve tens of thousands of kilometers and will no longer cause you trouble. Like many other components, the condition of the rack must be periodically monitored.

What to look for

Your actions

Mounting nuts and bolts

These fasteners are subject to vibration after repair as they are used. Therefore, it is recommended to check and tighten them every 250-300 kilometers.

You can check it a little less often, approximately every 500-1000 kilometers, depending on the operating conditions of your car. Due to different quality, some anthers can last quite a long time, while others will require replacement after 10 thousand kilometers. The choice is yours which parts to use

The rack itself should be constantly monitored

Listen to the behavior of the steering mechanism, pay attention to the above signs of malfunction. As part of a scheduled technical inspection, be sure to include a check of the steering racks in the list of activities.

The repair cannot be called complicated, but it takes a lot of time

Plus, it is extremely important to perform all operations as carefully and efficiently as possible. Otherwise, the result will not last long and you will soon have to interfere with the design of the VAZ 2109 steering unit again

Disassembling the steering column

We begin disassembling the control unit by removing the protective casing by cutting the plastic clamps. After this, use a special key of 17 to unscrew the thrust nut, take out the retaining ring, the spring and knock out the rack stop. Next, remove the boot and drive gear seal, remove the lock washer, and then use a 24mm wrench to unscrew the nut securing the ball bearing. We remove the gear. Now that there is nothing holding the rail in the case, we remove it through the right side of the case. We remove the needle bearing of the drive gear from its seat. To do this you will need a special puller. Check the drive gear bearings for play. If present, the bearings will have to be replaced.

The support sleeve must also be replaced. It has a cylindrical shape and is located inside the steering housing. The bushing is removed by prying it off with a screwdriver.

Assembly procedure

We begin repairing the VAZ-2110 steering rack by installing the needle bearing of the drive gear. The seat is first generously lubricated with a special lubricant such as “Fiol-1”. After this, we press a new ball bearing onto the drive gear shaft. Next, install the support sleeve from the repair kit inside the control unit housing. Now we fill the inner cavity of the column with lubricant and insert the steering rack into it.

We mount the drive gear and secure it with a locking ring and nut. We put a new boot on its shaft.

We install the stop with the seal in place, secure it with a stopper and a thrust nut. That's basically it. Now you need to adjust the control unit and put the protective cover on it.

Replacing the steering rack of a VAZ-2110

It is rare, but it happens that replacing consumables is not enough. The steering rack, although made of steel, is still subject to wear. Most often, the reason for this is the negligence of car owners who do not monitor the condition of the steering mechanism. In addition, the rack may also be damaged as a result of a traffic accident. But there is no need to despair here either. The VAZ-2110 steering rack is replaced according to the scheme described above. The only thing you need is to purchase a complete repair kit, which costs on average about 1,500 rubles.

Useful tips

Finally, here are some useful tips that will extend the life of the steering rack and other elements included in the control unit:

1. At least once a quarter, check the condition of the steering at a service station or yourself.
2. Pay attention to the condition of the steering column protective cover.
3. Try to limit driving on uneven surfaces, especially at high speeds.
4. Do not test the strength of the steering rack and the entire mechanism by moving away with the steering wheel turned all the way to the side.
5. If play or other signs of steering rack malfunction are detected, repair or replace it.

Ways to solve the problem

Whatever the reasons for the steering wheel beating, it is necessary to carry out high-quality diagnostics and eliminate the problems. This will make it possible to avoid expensive repairs, and most importantly, prevent accidents!

If the steering wheel shakes at low speed, proceed as follows:

• check the cleanliness of the wheel rims;
• check the balancing and fastening of bolts on the wheels;
• test discs for deformation;
• check the quality of rubber;
• diagnose the suspension;
• examine brake discs and drums;
• check the engine mounting;
• try the quality of the drive shaft.

Wheel rims are easier and faster to clean at a car wash. A stream of water will remove accumulated dirt. Hit the disc with some object, reducing the amplitude of vibrations of the steering wheel, in order to safely drive to the car wash or service station.

Have your balancing done at a tire shop. Balance all 4 wheels, especially if the steering wheel shakes at low speeds. At the same time, eliminate the deformation of the wheel rims and give them their initial shape on a straightening machine.

Replace defective tires. It will not be possible to restore it - you will have to buy new tires and mount them according to the canons of proper balancing.

The beating that occurs during braking can be eliminated at a service station. The machine grinds and restores the surface of the brake discs if the degree of wear is low.

It is better not to fix steering wheel wobble at speed yourself. Only car services will accurately determine the cause of the breakdown and eliminate it. Most workshops work with specific brands of cars; they have a better understanding of the specifics of the models, know the characteristic “sores” and are able to quickly recognize them.

Unfortunately, most car owners believe that car vibration and steering wheel wobble necessarily mean that they simply need to balance their car's wheels. But this is not always the case, although improper wheel balancing is one of the most common causes of such vibration on the steering wheel or the entire car.

The problem is that vibration of the steering wheel (as well as the entire car) is not only one of the most common, but also one of the most annoying problems. Moreover, it often creeps up on us gradually and unnoticed - until one fine day we begin to understand that the steering wheel is already hitting quite hard at speed or when braking, and it reverberates throughout the whole car, but we understand that we are already accustomed to it and That’s why we don’t rush to a specialized service or tire shop to fix the problem.

But, most likely, at this time you asked yourself the question, what does it mean if your car vibrates, what are the reasons for the steering wheel beating? And, despite the fact that there are a number of reasons for this, it will most likely be possible to sort out the problem without resorting to large expenditures of money. However, having established the cause of the beating, you may have to spend money on repairs and eliminating the causes of such vibration. We must also understand that in the long term this will give us significant savings due to the failure of certain steering or suspension elements.

To determine the cause, we first need to determine the specific conditions of vibration - drive along the highway (the more deserted it is, the better) at different speeds and feel the beat and measure at what speeds it starts and at what speeds it disappears (most often you will notice , that there are two ranges of occurrence of the beat: first at low or medium speed, then the vibration disappears at a higher speed, and then its reappearance at an even higher speed; however, if the vibration is very weak, then it can only be felt in one range - at high speeds). In addition, determine how the car behaves during acceleration and braking - vibration disappears or increases depending on acceleration at different speeds.

So, let's look at all the reasons why vibration appears throughout the car and the steering wheel hits: