Two ways to replace front shock absorbers

During operation, the car suspension is subjected to serious loads, which lead to wear and breakage of a number of components. More often, damping components fail - shock absorbers, whose task is to dampen spring vibrations.

The consequences of faulty shock absorbers are serious - the car’s handling deteriorates greatly, and it begins to “float” on the road, especially after going over bumps, the braking distance increases, and all this is accompanied by strong knocking from the suspension. An additional sign of shock absorber failure is the appearance of oil smudges on the body.

Shock absorbers are non-repairable suspension elements, and in case of malfunction they are replaced. It is noteworthy that due to the greater load, the front shock absorbers wear out more often and require replacement.

The car uses several types of front independent suspension, differing in design, which affects the algorithm for replacing worn damper elements. But the most widespread is the MacPherson suspension; it is used on most passenger cars.

This type of suspension is structurally simple, but the technology for replacing shock absorbers in it is the most labor-intensive compared to other suspensions. This is due to the fact that the damping element in it is part of the shock-absorbing strut, which, in addition to the shock absorber, includes a spring, a housing, supports, and all this is assembled into a single structure. Therefore, a special tool is required for replacement.

Tools needed to complete the work

To replace the front shock absorbers in the MacPherson strut suspension you will need:

standard wrenches (open-end wrenches, socket wrenches, heads of standard sizes);
remover of ball joints and steering tips;
spring ties;
means for processing bolted joints (WD-40);
marker or center punch;
percussion instrument (hammer);
rags;

Shock absorbers must be replaced in pairs; replacing only one element is not allowed. Therefore, it is necessary to purchase two struts or shock absorbers and additional elements at once - anthers, bump stops.

Although the MacPherson suspension on different cars has the same design, there are always certain differences in design, which affects the work algorithm.

For example, let's look at the technology for replacing front shock absorbers on a VAZ-2110. Note that there are two ways to perform the work - by disconnecting the strut from the hub and removing the strut assembly with the steering knuckle.

What you need to know when reinstalling

Follow the same procedure in reverse order from the removal method you used, keeping in mind the following guidelines.

Reinstall the strut assembly or shock absorber and tighten the mounting bolts by hand.
Tighten all mounting bolts.
When installing the tie rod to the steering knuckle, tighten the fasteners.
Reinstall the wheels
Lower the vehicle and gradually tighten the wheel lock nuts in a crisscross pattern. Check your repair manual or vehicle owner's manual for torque specifications.
Tighten the upper strut mounting nuts.
Finally, if you replaced the front elements, do a wheel alignment.

Replacing front strut shock absorbers on a VAZ. 1st method

The first method is simpler, but it is not always used. Replacing shock absorbers using this technology is performed as follows:

We jack up the front of the car and remove the wheel.
Under the hood we find the plugs covering the fasteners of the strut to the body and remove them.
Loosen the nut holding the shock absorber rod in the upper support (under no circumstances should we twist it completely, otherwise the spring will “shoot”).
Loosen the three fastening nuts of the upper support.
Unscrew the nut and press out the tie rod end with a puller.
We remove the brake system line from the bracket.
Using a center punch or marker, we mark the position of the upper bolt securing the strut to the hub (this bolt is an adjustment bolt - it adjusts the mounting angles of the wheels, so it is important to mark it in order to position it correctly when assembling the suspension).
Tighten the nuts on the rack mounting bolts.
We knock out the bolts.
Using a downward movement, we pull the hub off the rack.
We unscrew the three fastening nuts of the strut to the body (under the hood).
We remove the stand.
We tighten the spring with ties.
Unscrew the shock absorber rod nut.
Remove the support and spring cup.
We remove the spring, remove the boot and bump stop.

The shock absorber is placed in the strut housing. Most car enthusiasts prefer to replace it together with the body assembly. A bump stop with a boot and a spring are installed on the new element and secured with an upper support. After this, the rack is installed in place.

But on a VAZ-2110 you can replace the shock absorber itself (it is often called a cartridge, cartridge, insert). In this case, it is necessary to further disassemble the rack and for this:

Using a hammer and chisel, knock the support washer off the body.
Using a special wrench, we unscrew the fixing nut, which is installed in the housing under the washer (if you don’t have a wrench, you can carefully unscrew it with the same hammer and chisel).
We remove the worn cartridge.
Installing a new element.
We fix the cartridge with a nut and fill the support washer.
We put the removed elements (spring, support, etc.) on the rack.
We install the rack on the car.

Before assembling the strut, be sure to bleed the new shock absorber. During the installation process, it is important to correctly install the adjusting bolt (according to the marks) and check the tightness of the bolt connections. After assembly, we carry out a similar operation on the other side.

Video: Replacing the front shock absorbers of a VAZ 2110

Additional recommendations

As you can see, the procedure for replacing racks is not very complicated if everything is done correctly. Here you need to be careful and follow safety precautions. The choice of the racks themselves must also be taken with full responsibility, because there are many non-original low-quality parts on the auto parts market . Experienced craftsmen recommend buying original spare parts or high-quality analogues from well-known manufacturers.

Selection of stabilizer struts

During the replacement process, it is advisable to evaluate the condition of other suspension elements in order to promptly identify and replace worn or damaged parts. All threaded connections must be treated with a special lubricant. This will make repair work easier in the future.

How to replace front stabilizer struts

2nd method for replacing VAZ front shock absorbers

The second method (removing the strut together with the hub) is more labor-intensive, but it is good because during disassembly the adjusting bolt is not affected, but in this case only the shock absorber changes, and the body remains the same.

A brief algorithm for replacing the front shock absorber of a VAZ-2110 using the second method is as follows:

Before starting work, loosen the nut holding the drive shaft in the hub;
Jack up the car and remove the wheel;
Loosen the nuts under the hood (shock absorber rod, upper support);
We unscrew the brake caliper, take it to the side and hang it (so that the rubber pipeline is not stretched);
Press out the tie rod end;
Unscrew the fastening bolts of the lower arm to the ball joint;
Unscrew the drive fixing nut;
Pull the hub off the drive shaft using a “pull towards” movement;
Unscrew the nuts of the upper support and remove the stand;

And then we disassemble the hub, change the cartridge, and put everything back together. After completing the replacement, it will not be superfluous to adjust the camber/toe angles.

This replacement technology was considered using the example of the VAZ-2110. But this algorithm is also suitable for other versions of the VAZ, ranging from 2108 to Lada Priora.

How to determine if shock absorbers are faulty

Experienced drivers determine the malfunction of shock absorbers by how the car behaves on the road. After all, a car with faulty shock absorbers already at a speed of just over 70 km/h begins to “float” on the road, and overcoming bumps is accompanied by dull sounds.

To evaluate the front or rear shock absorbers, you need to swing the front or rear of the car, respectively, with your hands several times, pressing down on the edge of the body, and release at the bottom of the stroke. If the shock absorbers are working properly, then the edge of the body will smoothly rise from the bottom to the top without swaying. If, having reached the top point, it does not stop, but continues to swing up and down, then the shock absorbers on this side of the body require replacement.

Do not underestimate this type of shock absorber diagnostics as an external inspection.

If oil is leaking from the shock absorber, of course it needs to be changed. A bent rod and loud sounds made by the shock absorber during operation should also make you think about replacing the unit with a working one.

Features of replacement work on a Ford Focus 3

As already noted, the general design of the MacPherson suspension is similar on different models, but differs in design. So, if you take a Ford Focus 3, then replacing the front shock absorbers on this car is done differently than on a VAZ. Below are the nuances of the operation on Ford Focus 3:

It is impossible to change only the shock absorber itself, and it is replaced together with the body. Therefore, the method of removing the strut together with the hub is not suitable for this car;
There is no adjustment bolt on the Ford, and the strut is attached to the hub with only one bolt connection.
The anti-roll bar strut is attached to the shock absorber strut, which is disconnected during disassembly.
In the process of removing the shock absorber strut, the ABS sensors should be removed from the hub (after first disconnecting the battery from the on-board network).
To pull the hub off the rack, after unscrewing the fasteners, loosen the eyes through which the bolt passes. This is done using a thin chisel, which is “driven” into the slot between the eyes with a hammer.

But otherwise, the technology for replacing the shock absorber is the same as described above - disconnect the hub from the strut, unscrew the bolts securing the upper support to the body. After dismantling the strut, we disassemble it, replace the shock absorber and body assembly, put everything back together and install the strut on the car.

Device Features

Many people equate the concepts of shock absorber and shock absorber strut. Some people think that it is a simple spring, while others correctly call all its components together as a shock absorber strut.

Where is the truth and where is the lie? We'll figure out.

Let's start with the fact that shock absorber struts are a suspension element necessary to connect two important components - the wheels of the car and the body itself. The support is connected to the damper and spring. By the way, the damper is considered the most important component of the shock absorber.

The shock absorber strut or simply AC performs several key functions:

holds the weight of the machine;
transfers the force of adhesion to the road surface to the body;
maintains optimal position of the body in relation to the wheels;
eliminates excess roll;
takes on lateral loads.

The price of struts is higher compared to shock absorbers, since their design is complex and higher quality materials are used in production. If you look at the design, speakers are produced with and without springs. Think carefully before you buy.

You need to choose new struts for Ford Focus, Renault Logan, Skoda Octavia, Kia Spectra, as well as cars like VAZ 2110, 2114 or Lada Granta and Priora based on the design features of the suspension and the available budget.

Theoretically, the front and rear struts can simply be called shock absorbers. But I don’t agree with this position. These elements are different from each other. If you can’t see it in the photos and videos, then I’ll tell you. Although the two elements are similar, the strut additionally has a support spring and a tie rod.

The rack includes the following elements:

Cylinders. They contain a piston and a special hydraulic fluid;
Hydraulic fluid. It can be represented by a mixture of gas and liquid, or simply a mixture of gases. It is needed to transmit forces between shock absorbers;
Stock. Holds the piston and is necessary for assembling pushing forces;
A piston equipped with a bypass valve. It moves inside the cylinder. Needed for smooth transmission of vibrations;
Oil seals. Sealant and sealant;
External body. Serves to house all the components of the shock absorber;
Fasteners. You understand, they are necessary to connect the shock absorbers to the car body.

Alas, even on cars like Kia Sportage, Chevrolet Cruze, Lacetti and Aveo, Renault Logan, various Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and Toyota models, like the domestic Kalina, it is not always possible to operate the car for a long time on the same racks without consequences. Over time, they wear out, break and become unusable.

It is important to notice in time when the speakers are showing signs of fatigue and need to be replaced.

Symptoms of Excessive Wear or Breakage

I will not describe what can happen if the left or right strut breaks. Nothing good will happen, I guarantee you that. Therefore, carefully monitor your car. Timely repair or replacement of racks will avoid problems.

The following characteristic signs indicate a malfunction of the front struts:

when moving, there is a creaking, clicking and knocking sound;
the car sways and continues to oscillate from side to side for a long time;
the car skids heavily when cornering;
braking requires a longer braking distance than usual;
the car “squats” when you accelerate or brake (the sensations are observed behind and in front, respectively);
the car clings to the road worse;
rubber wears unevenly;
Brake fluid is leaking from the shock absorbers;
the spring, supports or rod become corroded;
the noise level increases during acceleration (most likely, the bushing fasteners are damaged);
the body is deformed, the piston cannot move normally inside the cylinder;
The springs are positioned incorrectly, so the body of the car begins to oscillate when moving.

Wear and breakage of racks can occur due to poor quality of the elements themselves, improper installation, or the natural process of wear and aging of the elements.

I cannot say unequivocally which racks are best to buy if replacement is required. Much depends on the budget and the car itself. But the price now is the Kayaba brand, or, as it is correctly called, KYB. Positive reviews and reasonable prices make these racks a worthy choice. But it's up to you.