How do front control arm silent blocks work?

Easy replacement of the front suspension arm silent block

When repairing the chassis of front-wheel drive cars of the VAZ family (Samara, Priora, Kalina, Grants), quite often there is a need to replace the silent blocks of the front suspension arms. And if there are usually no problems with replacing the rear hinge of the extension (chamomile), an ordinary hammer and chisel is enough. There are many difficulties with pressing out and pressing in the silent blocks of the lever.

The easiest way is to take the car to a service station, pay the money and not worry about it. But, if you are reading this material, then most likely you will be doing the replacement personally and you want to do everything cheaply, with high quality and without extra effort.

What kind of tricks are not used:

• buy new levers with already pressed silent blocks and daisies (a rather low-budget option);
• they take their removed levers to a service station, where they change the silent blocks with a press;
• grind/buy various pullers;
• They are trying to make a replacement using improvised means.

All options are working and you can use whichever one you consider the most problem-free in your situation.
I’ll tell you about a way to replace the silent blocks of a lever without much expense or effort, but you’ll have to prepare a little. So, in addition to the usual tools, we will need:

1. Old front wheel bearing from Samara, Priora, Kalina or Granta. If you have been repairing your car yourself for several years, then most likely you already have it lying around somewhere. If not, then you can ask your neighbors in the garage, friends, and finally, at any car service center. Its cost is close to zero, so it will be given to you without any problems at one service or another.
2. Long bolt with nut. Preferably hardened, it will last longer. 15 centimeters long, 12 mm in diameter. There should be as many threads as possible. For our purposes, you can take a cylinder head bolt, classic suspension bolts, or in general any suitable bolts.
3. A pair of thick washers with a central hole for our bolt, one with an outer diameter of at least 40 mm, the second with a diameter of up to 30 mm.
4. Silicone grease or soap solution (or dishwashing liquid).

I won’t describe how to unscrew the lever from the car, since there are a lot of similar materials. And it doesn’t require any special knowledge or skills. Let's move on directly to replacing the silent blocks themselves.

Replacing the silent blocks of the front levers of the Lada Granta

Tool:

• Jack or ditch lift
• Open-end wrench 19 mm
• Open-end wrench 24 mm
• Straight box spanner 17 mm – 2 pcs.
• Straight box spanner 19 mm – 2 pcs.
• Curved box spanner 24 mm
• Ball joint puller
• Driver for socket attachment
• Torx wrench attachment E12
• Wheel chock (shoe) – 2 pcs.
• Punch
• Large hammer
• Bench vice
• Chisel

Parts and consumables:

• Silent block of the front suspension arm – 4 pcs.
• Soap solution

Notes:

Remove the lever from the car to replace it or replace the silent blocks of the lever. The work to remove the left and right front suspension arms is similar. Carry out the work on an inspection ditch or overpass.

Removing the front suspension arm

1. Disconnect the ball joint from the control arm as described in this article.

2. Unscrew the nut securing the brace to the front suspension arm and remove the washer as described here.

3. Unscrew the nut of the bolt securing the stabilizer bar to the arm and remove the bolt as described in this article.

4. Using two 19 mm spanners, unscrew the nut of the bolt securing the lever to the body.

5. Using a soft metal drift, knock out and remove the bolt, then move the lever out of the bracket and remove it.

Replacing the silent block of the front suspension arm

1. Place the lever from the silent block in a vice and, using attachments, press it out of the suspension arm.

2. Before pressing in, moisten the new silent block with soapy water.

3. Knock down the silent block of the extension with a chisel on both sides of the lever.

4. Pre-press new silent blocks in a vice and finally press them by striking a punch with a diameter of 8 mm through three windows in the rubber layer.

5. Install the lever in reverse order. Tighten the threaded connections of rubber-metal hinges after removing the jack or ditch lift.

The article is missing:

• Photos of parts and consumables
• High-quality photos of repairs

You can recognize problems in the front suspension system, and more specifically the silent blocks on the Lada Kalina, by the characteristic sounds it makes while driving. Thus, driving on an uneven road may be accompanied by various cracks, squeaks and other unpleasant noises. This situation not only causes great discomfort, but can also cause a more serious malfunction or cause an accident.

In the video, replacing the front arm silent block on a VAZ car:

Benefits and price

Based on just these two tables, it would seem that one can make a bold conclusion that polyurethane is clearly ahead of rubber, if you do not take into account its triple cost in relation to the same ITP 1357 rubber. For example, a set of polyurethane silent blocks for a classic VAZ for a stabilizer lateral stability costs at least a thousand rubles, and for mounting the front suspension arms for the Niva, the price of the kit will be from 1,400 rubles. That is, it’s a little expensive.

But here, not everything is so simple, since polyurethane, a two-component elastomer, has a number of advantages over rubber:

1. High degree of resistance to mechanical loads.
2. Resistance to aggressive liquids and gases, of which there is plenty in the car.
3. Resistance to high and low temperatures, and polyurethane does not change its characteristics from -45 to +85 degrees, which cannot be said about rubber.
4. This leads to a long service life of bushings, silent blocks and bump stops made of polyurethane, almost three times longer than the service life of rubber.
5. Resistance to deformation within certain limits, resistance to abrasion.

Operations for removing the front suspension arm of the Lada Granta

We hang the car, remove the wheel from the side where we will remove the lever. Remove the engine protection. We remove the ball joint, see the article “Removing the ball joint from the Lada Granta.” Holding the extension with a 24-mm open-end wrench, use a spanner of the same size to unscrew the extension nut.

Unscrew the bolt securing the link connecting the arm and the anti-roll bar. Often, if the bolts have not been changed or loosened for a long time, they can break. It is best to have spares before removing the lever.

Use a soft metal drift to knock out and remove the bolt. Do not damage the thread.

Using two 19mm wrenches, unscrew the nut of the bolt securing the lever to the body.

We remove (or knock out) the bolt and remove the lever from the bracket.

Remove the washer from the stretcher and remove the lever.

On the extension behind the large washer there are washers for adjusting the pitch angle of the rack's rotation axis (the photo shows three washers, there may be another number)

Clean up the washers and install them back in the same quantity. If the levers are removed from both sides, mark the washers so that they can be installed in their places.

• 
  Which silent blocks for Chevrolet Niva are better?

List of new spare parts and tool kit required for replacement

The domestic spare parts market offers a wide range of new parts of several types, with polyurethane and rubber filling, and to replace the front silent blocks on a VAZ 2107, the automaker recommends using the former, namely:

1. a set of polyurethane silent blocks for the upper arm (art. 2101 - 2904040);
2. a set of polyurethane silent blocks for the lower arm (art. 9RU01N);
3. upper front arm mounting bolt;
4. lower front arm mounting nuts.

Installation of new spare parts is carried out using standard tool kits and some specialized pullers, which significantly simplify the entire work process, namely:

• silent block remover for classic VAZ models;
• ball joint remover;
• open-end spanners with 13, 22 and 24 mm diameter;
• socket heads in a set from 10 to 24 mm and wrenches;
• hammer;
• medium mount;
• bottle WD – 40 for cleaning threaded connections;
• brush;
• gloves for hand safety.

The process of replacing the upper silent blocks on a VAZ 2107 is very different from the lower ones, both in terms of the volume of work performed and the cost in auto repair shops. Official service stations at the end of 2022 estimate this service at 1500-2000 rubles for the upper and lower levers, respectively, and private services at approximately 1300-1800 rubles.

Replacing silent blocks in the front suspension arm of a Lada Granta

To replace the silent block for attaching the Lada Granta lever, you will need a vice. We press out the silent block with a suitable piece of pipe. We moisten the new silent block with soapy water and press it into the lever, also using a piece of pipe of a suitable diameter.

We knock down the silent block of the extension installation with a chisel. There are two of them, on one side and the other.

Having removed from one side, remove in the same way from the second.

We press the new silent block in a vice...

...and finally press it, striking a punch with a diameter of 8 mm through three windows in the rubber layer. We carry out the assembly in the reverse order. Tightening the threaded connections of all rubber-to-metal hinges of the front suspension arm of the Lada Granta must be done when the car is standing on its wheels, on a flat surface.

Additional recommendations for replacing the ball joint

There are special stock Lada Granta ball joints for sale for sporty driving. They have increased strength. Many car owners recommend installing them. According to reviews, the service life of tuned supports is 20-30% longer than original ones.

The service life of the ball joint is directly proportional to the quality and quantity of lubricant under the boot. Therefore, it is recommended to remove the cuff and check the contents before installation. For fear of tearing the boot, car owners apply additional lubricant using a syringe, bending the rubber band on one side.

You can dismantle the ball joint without a puller. To do this, you will need to remove the lever with accompanying elements in the assembly.

If you do not have special tools, you can remove the support from the lever by knocking it out with a hammer. Strikes should be applied sharply and accurately. With this method of dismantling, the risk of damage to the lever and ball seat increases significantly. For this reason, experienced drivers still recommend purchasing a puller, the cost of which is from 500 to 1400 rubles.

vote

Article rating

Causes of knocking in the front suspension

In total, there are four main reasons why noises and squeaks can annoy the Lada Kalina car owner, and three of them can be eliminated independently and everything can be returned to a safe state.

1. The first reason why knocking occurs in the suspension is the poor quality of the road surface . A suspension that is in good working order can also produce some extraneous noise. If the noise disappears when you drive onto a good road, then everything is fine with your suspension, you can move on to the point below.
2. If knocking and simultaneous vibration occur in the steering wheel, the reason may lie in a faulty steering rack . If you can tighten the steering rack yourself, then it is better to entrust its repair or replacement to professionals.
3. The third reason is the front suspension strut spring that has lost its elasticity . Since the spring tone is significantly reduced, the suspension hits directly against the body. How to change the front struts, and along with it the spring, is described in detail in this article.
4. And the last reason is cracked silent blocks, which are simply necessary to thoroughly dampen knocks and vibrations that occur while driving. Read below for information on how to properly replace these front suspension elements.

Purpose

The silent block is designed in such a way as to reduce suspension vibrations. Sometimes these rubber-metal hinges are placed on the “engine” or other moving components. The weaker the vibrations, the more comfortable the ride.

During operation, parts experience severe loads. Over time, this leads to wear on the hinges. It is for this reason that you need to regularly check the condition of the elements in order to replace them on time. It is recommended to replace it every 50 thousand kilometers.

Silent blocks are small in size, but at the same time perform a large function. They directly affect the performance of the suspension. A “worn out” joint has a negative impact on vehicle control. When the driver moves at high speeds, he is acutely aware of the breakdown. As a rule, it manifests itself in the form of creaking, play in the steering wheel and periodic roll.

Ensuring vehicle stability by reducing deformation of suspension parts. Reducing noise in the car interior. Absorbing vibration or shock while driving off-road.

Rubber-metal hinges have another purpose: their flexibility makes it possible to reduce the requirements for precision fit of parts.

What is a puller for installing silent blocks?

This is what a RMSH puller looks like, which you can make yourself. In order to make it yourself, at home, you will need the following materials and tools:

• Bolt with nut. The diameter and pitch of the thread are at your discretion. If the thread is small, you will have to turn it longer, but it will work easier and smoother.
• We select a cylinder with a diameter such that the silent block fits into it.
• Washers. Some. One washer should tightly cover the cylinder hole. You can even weld the washer on one side. We take the remaining washers with a smaller diameter than the diameter of the silent block.

How difficult is the job?

Any novice craftsman can cope with such repairs; the silent block of the grant will be shown in the photo; it is not difficult at all. It is worth doing the work in the following sequence. You need to hold the stretcher with one key, and use the second to unscrew the nut. Now you need to unscrew the 3 bolts that secure the crab, after which replacing the silent blocks of the fret grant involves removing the brace.

The attractive price for the grant silent block will allow you to purchase parts without extra costs. When you try to remove the stretcher, the rubber part may fall out towards you. Please note that the part also has metal clips; you will also have to deal with them. To do this, you can use a screwdriver and a hammer, or take a drift; you can see the work on replacing silent blocks in the video grant.

How does the clutch work?

The clutch mechanism transmits torque to the gearbox. In general, it consists of a drive and the mechanism itself.

The drive is necessary to activate the clutch mechanism when you press the pedal. The drive consists of:

• pedals;
• clutch release cable;
• shutdown plugs.

Clutch mechanism

The clutch mechanism serves to transmit direct torque and consists of:

• pressure plate;
• crankcase and casing;
• master disk;
• driven disk, on which wear-resistant linings are located.

It disconnects from the engine when you press the pedal and smoothly connects when you release it.

Engine support cushions

The pillows contain rubber elements that wear out over time. Because of this, the car rattles when driving.

You need to open the hood and start the engine. Strong vibration indicates that the parts have become unusable. If the engine shakes or tilts more when you press the gas, it's time to change the elements.

You can check the integrity of the pillows yourself without visually. You need to try to shake the power unit. If the action can be performed without effort, it’s time to change the pillows.

You should not ignore such a breakdown; due to the force of vibration, various components are destroyed. When the part becomes unusable, the motor breaks off its mounts, and serious repairs will be required.

You can change the pillows yourself. Without work experience, you should contact the experts.

Lada Granta suspension diagnostics

To identify and eliminate the cause of the rattling, I decided to inspect the entire suspension of the Lada Grant for the presence of play and “tired” elements (bushings, rubber bands, etc.), since I thought that the problem lay somewhere there. So, let's begin.

Checking the front struts

The first thing I did was check the front struts. While rocking the car from side to side, I simultaneously kept one hand on one of the racks. If the knocks were coming from the front shock absorbers, I would have felt them. However, there were no knocks.

Shock absorber

How to replace the cabin filter on a Lada Granta

This element is a damping device. The shock absorber serves to reduce the range of vibrations of the car body. In other words, the element prevents spontaneous rocking. The work of the shock absorber is based on hydraulic resistance. Inside it there is a liquid of a certain viscosity. It moves through a special valve. Thus, the device absorbs sharp impacts while preserving vulnerable suspension parts. Therefore, the shock absorber is one of the most important components in the chassis. On our roads, this element lasts about 60-80 thousand kilometers. But this period may be shorter, even with careful driving. It is enough just to damage the protective boot, and all the dirt will accumulate in the rod seal.

Also note that the damping element changes in pairs. That is, in the event of a breakdown of the rear left shock absorber, the rear right shock absorber also changes. As for the front struts, they are more durable. Often they are replaced already assembled with a spring, since they fail no earlier than after 150-200 thousand kilometers.

Stabilizer struts for Lada Vesta. Signs and causes of malfunction

There are plenty of reasons for extraneous sounds emanating from the front suspension. This could be a loose steering rack on Vesta, worn shock absorber struts, ball joints, silent blocks of levers, or worn stabilizer bushings. At a mileage of 40-50 thousand km, sometimes less, the stabilizer struts may knock and this is easy to check. The stand knocks only in two cases:

• increased wear of the strut ball joints and the resulting play;
• ball joint jamming.

It is rare, but a break in the strut hinge occurs; in this case, the stabilizer loses one of its attachment points, which affects directional stability, controllability and the operation of the front suspension as a whole. The reasons for the failure of the rack are obvious:

• lack of lubrication in ball ends;
• boot damage;
• mechanical damage to the rack;
• defective or low-quality racks originally installed on the car, which is also not uncommon.

To check the condition of the rack, it is enough to shake the ball joints by hand in an unloaded state (the car is standing on a level surface without lateral roll). The backlash will be visible immediately, if there is any. You can more accurately determine the condition of the ball ends if you remove them from their mounting points, which, in fact, is equivalent to replacing the stabilizer struts.

Why do silent blocks fail and how often do they need to be replaced?

The malfunction is due to natural wear and tear of the materials. The working life of silent blocks ranges from 50 to 150 thousand km . mileage, so it is impossible to give clear recommendations on the frequency of their replacement. We only advise checking their condition at every opportunity - a visual inspection takes less than a minute.

The worse the operating conditions, the shorter the working life of the parts. If you often drive on bad roads and load your car to capacity, then the silent blocks will wear out faster.