Replacing and selecting the front wheel bearing of a VAZ 2109 with your own hands

Wheel bearing diagnostics, causes and signs of failure

Let us briefly list the signs of this breakdown:

Noise when driving from the front (right or left), and when turning there is also a noise or howling.
Vibration in the interior is a sign that repairs are required, as the lubricant may have dried out or a lot of dirt has entered.
A grinding or crunching sound means that the front wheel bearing has already fallen apart.

Before jumping to conclusions, do a step-by-step diagnosis:

Jack up the side where there are characteristic signs, but before doing this, remove the wheel.
Rotate the disk by hand; if there is a “rolling” sound or other noise, a replacement is needed. When the product is in good working order, rotation is smooth, without jamming or noise.
Remove the brake disc, check the hub play by moving it by hand in the axial direction - if you feel the movement without measurements, then the front hub bearing needs to be replaced.

Advice:

Before disassembling the unit, try tightening the hub nut, then do the diagnostics again. There is a high probability that the noise will go away, but this will not last long, at least it will allow you to drive another 100-200 km.

Reasons for failure:

Not economical driving, over pits and potholes in the asphalt.
Frequent overheating of the mechanism.
Damage to the boot, contamination of the spare part from the inside.
Wear of the product according to the warranty service life (60 thousand km stated).
Malfunction of other elements (the brake disc is unbalanced, the rotating mechanism is worn out or the wheels are unbalanced, etc.).

Be sure to watch the video on how to check a wheel bearing:

How to check a wheel bearing

Bearing sizes

The article contains a photo of the VAZ-2108 front wheel bearings, as well as a drawing of a puller indicating all dimensions. Therefore, if you are in doubt whether you purchased the right roller, check the dimensions of the hub. The part number is 256907.

The dimensions of the element are:

The outer diameter of the holder is 64 mm.
Inner diameter – 34 mm.
Weight – 445 g.
Balls with a diameter of 9.525 mm are installed inside.
The total number of balls is 28.
The unit is designed to operate at rotation speeds above 6000 rpm.

In any car store, salespeople will be able to advise you on the best quality product.

Three ways to replace the front wheel bearing on a VAZ 2109 with your own hands

There are three popular methods that vary in speed and quality of replacement. Depending on your needs, choose the replacement option that suits you. Before performing any operations, familiarize yourself with the unit structure.

P.P.	Designation	Name
1	2108-3001014	Steering knuckle
2	2108-3001060	Inner anti-splash ring
3	2108-3001061	Dirt-proof steering knuckle ring
4	2108-3103032	Lane bearing retaining ring.
5	21080-3103020-02	Bearing 256907 front hub
6	2108-3103012	Hub
7	2108-3103061	Front hub mud ring
8	2108-3103079	Hub washer
9	2108-3103065	Hub cap
10	2108-3103068	O-ring for hub cap
11	2110-3103065	Hub cap
12	1/40442/71	Hub nut

Preparatory activities before replacement

Regardless of the chosen replacement option, you will need a minimum set of tools:

Large screwdriver.
Keys: 17, 13, 10.
Hexagon 10.
Hammer and chisel.
A long 30mm wrench or a 30mm socket with a knob.
Wheel puller for VAZ (photo).
Mandrels (or heads) for knocking out the old part from the hub.
Torque wrench.

We prepare the car, place it on a flat surface, you will also need bright lighting. You will complete all the work faster with an assistant, and also if you use an inspection hole (overpass). Put the car in first gear, and be sure to put chocks under the rear wheels.

Advice:

The first, more efficient and high-quality replacement option is recommended for work, since pressing in and out is carried out using a removable device, in a shock-free manner.

Nuances

In the process of reassembling the entire node, you must proceed as follows:

Press in the bearings;
Install retaining rings;
Collect your fists;
Mount new bearing components on them;
Mount the assembly on the hub;
Using a mandrel, you need to drive the hubs until they stop.

You can use a puller or press to press in bearing parts. But in no case should you use a hammer, since in this case cracking of the component will inevitably occur. The forces should be directed to the outer rings.

It should also be noted that double-row ball bearings are installed in the hubs, which do not require lubrication and adjustment measures.

Due to the lack of such care, the VAZ 2110 bearings will certainly be destroyed when removed from the hub, so this measure should only be resorted to for a complete replacement.

Replacing the front wheel bearing of a VAZ 2109 - first steps

Regardless of the replacement method, the initial operations will be similar:

Before putting the car on a jack, it is recommended to loosen the front hub nut.
Then loosen the front wheel mounts.

After removing the wheel, unbend the locknut collar.
Next, tighten the bolts that hold the caliper, top and bottom, one at a time.

Then use a screwdriver to straighten the pads in the caliper.
We hang the caliper or move it to the side. Further operations will follow, based on the specific replacement option.

How to adjust the differential preload of a VAZ 2114

It happens that the blocking begins to lag or does not work at all. The reason is that the preload decreases or disappears altogether. In this case, you should not rush to change the entire assembly; it is recommended to try to increase its value (preload) yourself. To do this, you need to select the required thickness of the adjusting ring and install it in the gearbox housing socket. The whole procedure is quite labor-intensive, so it is recommended to use the vehicle’s operating instructions.

Causes of malfunctions

Due to the design features of the differential and its operational purpose, destructive processes occur due to friction, force loads and other reasons. As a result, active wear of the unit and its elements occurs. The main causes of malfunctions are as follows:

Bearing wear and damage to their integrity;
Damage or wear of oil seals;
Insufficient amount of oil in the transmission, as well as its poor quality;
Other reasons.

The first signs of problems in the operation of the VAZ 2114 differential:

Increased noise in the bridge or box;
Oil leaks;
Bridge jamming;
Plays and knocks during inspection;
And other non-standard operation of the unit and its components.

If you observe abnormal operation of the differential mechanisms, the first thing that is recommended to do is to check all the connections of the unit for tightness and no oil leakage. If the integrity of connections and fastenings is not broken, and signs (noise or disruption of functionality) are present, dismantling and disassembling of the unit is required to identify and eliminate the causes.

How to remove a bearing on a VAZ 2109 using method No. 2 with removing the strut, but without using a puller

The entire structure is removed, along with the steering knuckle. The part is replaced directly on the rack (possibly with a removable device). There is no need to do a wheel alignment.

Execution order:

Unscrew and remove the steering tip as well.
After this, you will need to free the strut from the top bolts under the hood.
We also remove the strut assembly from the CV joint and disconnect it from the car.
Now we change the part using the methods described above. Either using a puller, or using mandrels to remove and then press in a new front wheel bearing

It is important to know:

It is not recommended to use impact methods, especially when installing a new part. Use the pressing options described in method No. 1 or No. 3.

More details about the operation are presented in the video:

Replacing the front bearing 2108-2110

Replacement

Having selected the set of front wheel bearings required for replacement, you can get to work.

For repairs, in addition to the standard set of tools, you will need special bearing mandrels. If they are not available, you can use a pipe of suitable diameter.

Dismantling works

By following the instructions and relying on video lessons, you can replace the front wheel bearing with your own hands.

Loosen the tension of the wheel bolts, remove the decorative plastic plug from the hub bearing and loosen the fastening nut.
Using a socket and lever, loosen the bearing mounting nut.
Raise the car with a jack, and then remove the wheels from the part of the front of the VAZ 2109 where you plan to replace the bearing.
Remove anything that might prevent you from removing the hub. These objects include the brake disc, fastening to the steering knuckle, ball joint, steering knuckle mounting bolts, and front strut fasteners. Dismantle it all and move on.
Completely unscrew the front hub nut, remove it and remove the thrust washer.
It is necessary to remove the hubs from the front strut bracket and remove it.
The hub has been dismantled, so you can press the damaged bearing out of it and put a serviceable unit in its place.
Place the hub in a vise or in any other way convenient for you.
Using a drift that fits the diameter, press the hub out of the inner race of the bearing.
In some cases, the outer part of the inner ring may remain on the hub. In such a situation, you cannot do without a puller. In general, it is better to work with a special tool. It will probably be found among your friends or neighbors in the garage.
Using the same drift, you need to remove the bearing from the steering knuckle. To do this work, you will have to remove the retaining rings in advance. They can be removed with any available tool, such as an awl. Although there are special clamps for such purposes.

This is interesting: Camshaft oil seal VAZ 2110 8 valves - how to replace it yourself

Accuracy is paramount

That's it, you managed to remove the hub bearing.
Carefully treat all dismantled parts using clean kerosene. Follow fire safety regulations.
Assess the condition of the hub itself. If there are signs of damage, defects, or chips on it, it should be replaced with a new one.
The new bearing is installed in place using a vice or press. In this case, force must be applied to the outer rings.
Using a tool such as a hammer to drive in a bearing is strictly prohibited, as this will lead to destruction of the new part.
After installing the front wheel bearing, perform the reassembly procedure
Don't forget to change the hub nut.
Once the assembly is fully assembled and the vehicle is lowered to the ground, only then should the mounting nuts be fully tightened.

Repairing the front hub when the bearing wears out or breaks is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Our instructions, supplemented by video tutorials, will help you complete the process yourself from start to finish.

Replacement with the rack not removed

This method will allow you to avoid subsequent collapse. Here you need to remove:

wheel together with disk;
caliper and the hub itself.

Replacement is carried out directly on the car, without removing the rack. Here you will have to work with a puller. The procedure is performed like this:

unscrew the bolts from the brake drum and remove it;
remove the ball joints;
pull out the CV joint from the front hub, and then remove it itself using a chisel;
the retaining ring is pulled out from the steering knuckle (it contains the outer part of the damaged bearing);
the puller is installed directly on the fist;
by tightening the bolt of the device, the part is pressed out;

When it completely leaves the axle, the protection is dismantled, then the hub is removed, from which the inner race is removed.

You can also remove the latter without a puller, but you will need a chisel for this. It’s also quite easy to score with a grinder and then split with a heavy hammer.

Installation

The inner surface of the fist is cleaned of dirt and lubricant (solid oil) is applied to it. The puller with the new bearing is installed in place and pressed into place. To make the process easier, it is recommended to first cool it thoroughly in the freezer.

A working unit is inserted into the fist as evenly as possible, trying to avoid distortion. After installing the bearing, put the hub back on and press it in if necessary. All other stages of work are carried out in reverse order.

The hub nut must be tightened using a torque wrench (the required force is 20 N*M).

Replacement without a puller with dismantling the rack

In this case, the entire structure must be completely removed from the car, including the steering knuckle. Replacement of a part that has become unusable is carried out directly at the rack. The advantage of this method is that there is no need to subsequently deal with wheel alignment.

All work is carried out in the following order:

the steering tip is removed;
the upper bolts holding the rack are unscrewed (they are located in the engine compartment);
then it is removed from the CV joint and pulled out of the car.

The bearing is replaced and the strut is mounted in place.

Replacement without dismantling the stand and puller

In this case, it is necessary to remove the entire rotating mechanism with the hub installed.
Then she is knocked out. Upon completion of the work, you will have to check the wheel alignment. The sequence of actions here looks like this:

the caliper is removed;
the bolts securing the rack are screwed together;
the rotating mechanism is removed;
the CV joint is then removed;
the drum is twisted from the hub;
dismantle the protection;
the fist, freed from other elements, is secured in a vice;
the hub is knocked out, and then the bearing is removed.

How to change a part on a VAZ 2109 using method No. 3 without removing the rack and without using a puller

The rotating mechanism assembled with the hub is dismantled. Then the hub itself is knocked out of the axle (possibly with a removable device or a press). It will be necessary to do a wheel alignment.

Execution order:

After dismantling the caliper, unscrew the two bolts securing the strut.
Just as described above, we dismantle the rotating mechanism from the ball joints and remove the CV joint. Then, on the table, unscrew the drum from the hub (or do this in advance).
Remove the protective cover.
We free the fist from unnecessary elements and clamp it in a vice.
We knock out the hub, and then the old wheel bearing, or use a vice, press or puller.
We install the new product, clamp the structure in a vice without distortions, as shown in the photo, and press it into place.

The process is shown in more detail in the video:

Replacing the front wheel bearing of a VAZ

Inspection of the hub and further actions

After removing the part, you must immediately check the condition of the trunnion. If it is seriously damaged, you will have to replace it too. For minor scratches and dirt, it is enough to remove everything with sandpaper. The front hub itself undergoes the same inspection. The presence of cracks and deep potholes indicates the impossibility of its further use. Minor scratches allow the part to be reused.

To remove the bearings, first remove the O-rings on both sides. Then there are the bearings themselves. A special mandrel, hammer and drift will help here. The main thing is not to distort the outer ring to avoid damage to the inner surface. Bearings are removed in a similar way when repairing the rear hub. When both bearings are removed, you need to clean and inspect the inner surface of the part.

If there is serious damage, a new spare part must be installed. If, as a result of an external inspection, it is determined that the cause of the malfunction was the bearings, and the hub itself does not have serious damage, then we install new bearings in the old part after cleaning and lubrication.

If necessary, we purchase a new hub into which we press both bearings. This is done using the same mandrel

Next, we reassemble the entire assembly in the reverse order, paying attention to the wear and performance of the remaining elements of the front suspension. You need to know that the procedure for removing and installing the rear hub is significantly different from the one suggested

If you have ABS, it is important not to forget to check the performance of the gear and install the sensor

Choosing a front wheel bearing for a VAZ 2109

The main task when replacing is to ensure a long service life. It’s no secret that the quality of the spare part plays a huge role, and how long the new part will serve you depends on it.

When choosing, be sure to know the exact marking (article or number) of the front bearing. The VAZ 2109 has a double-row angular contact ball type with thick lubricant inside, marking according to GOST - 256907С17 . Foreign equivalent - 309726DA.

Manufacturers of wheel bearings and their articles

No.	Manufacturer, country	Catalog number	Dimensions, mm	Price, rubles
1	Pilenga	PW-P 1307	346437	400
2	Torque, Finland	T-12106		500
3	Lada (original)	2108-3103020		400
4	ASP Mensan	BCR001		540
5	SPZ	2108-3104020		400

Read more about manufacturers and prices in the article on replacing front bearings on a VAZ 2110.

It is also useful to read and become familiar with the nuances regarding the dimensions of the part.

It is important to know:

To strengthen the suspension, as well as the reliability and durability of the car enthusiast, roller products are installed in the hub, the marking of which is 537907.

Manufacturers

Many motorists do not know which VAZ-2108 front wheel bearing to choose for their car. Now you can find several manufacturers on the market:

GPZ-23, Vologda, has the abbreviation VBF. The plant has earned the trust of motorists and is one of the best manufacturers of wheel bearings for domestic cars. Due to the relatively low cost, these parts are practically not counterfeited.
SPZ, Saratov - according to many experts, the bearings of this manufacturer are the most reliable, durable and high quality. And most importantly - the very low cost of parts.
GPZ-20, Kursk is no longer engaged in the production of wheel bearings, but you can find products in stores and warehouses.
Experts do not speak very well of the Samara SPZ-3. The cost of the bearings is very low, but the quality is not great, the service life is very short.

Some auto stores try not to deal with little-known companies that produce low-quality products. Therefore, on the shelves you can only find bearings from Saratov and Vologda.