Replacing the shock absorber and spring of the rear suspension on a VAZ 2113, 2114, 2115

On a VAZ-2115 car, the rear struts are replaced in case of mechanical damage to the unit or when the service life has been significantly exceeded. The shock absorbers must be replaced in pairs. If you install one new one and leave the second one alone, this will affect the ride. Even if one spring is working, it needs to be replaced - this is a prerequisite. The springs are changed in the same way.

troubleshooting

To identify damage to shock absorber struts and their elements, you need to perform the following steps:

1. Pay attention to the smoothness of the ride when driving, especially on uneven roads.
2. Take a closer look to see if the body is skewed on the rear side.
3. Look at the coils of the springs to see if there are any traces of impact on them. If so, the springs will need to be replaced. After all, if they break, the shock absorber will also not be able to work normally.
4. Press down on the left and right sides of the body, then release sharply. The body should swing a maximum of three times. If more, then the rack has become unusable and needs to be replaced.
5. If there are no signs of damage, carefully inspect the condition of the anthers. There should be no cracks or cuts on them. Otherwise, you will still have to remove the struts and replace the anthers.

Try to promptly replace all suspension components that have become unusable. After all, the slightest malfunction will lead to the car starting to pull to the side, and discomfort will be felt when driving over bumps.

Shock absorber: its role in suspension operation

An automobile shock absorber is a mechanism in the suspension of a car that serves to partially dampen the swaying (damping) that occurs during movement or completely absorb it.

Giving the car a smooth ride, shock absorbers act as protection for the car's chassis from overloads when driving on uneven roads and rough terrain. In the suspension, the shock absorber acts as an element to increase its elasticity along with the spring and torsion bar.

Shock absorbers are divided according to their types:

• gas single-pipe;
• gas two-pipe;
• oil two-pipe.

On the VAZ-2115 model, standard oil shock absorbers are installed at the factory. Later, when using the car, owners often replace them with gas ones, depending on their driving style.

There are 3 types of racks with different characteristics. You need to choose them based on the roads on which traffic occurs. Oil (hydraulic) – quite elastic. Designed for drivers who prefer a calm, measured ride or frequent trips on unpaved roads.

Gas shock absorbers are characterized by higher rigidity, and, as a rule, they are preferred by motorists who practice an aggressive, highway driving style. Such shock absorbers (gas) prevent swaying that occurs at high speeds and turns. Gas-oil shock absorbers combine the advantages and disadvantages of both types.

What tools are needed for repair?

When working, you will need the following set of tools and materials:

1. Spring tightening device.
2. Pliers.
3. Heads for “13”, “17”, “19”, as well as ring wrenches with the same dimensions.
4. Hammer.
5. Ratchet driver.
6. A device for unscrewing the nut from the shock absorber rod.

Penetrating lubricant WD-40 is a must; you can’t do without it, since the spring mounts are located in places where there is constantly high humidity. In addition, dirt and dust penetrate there, so the threads become dirty and the nuts are difficult to unscrew. Therefore, clean all elements in advance and treat them with penetrating lubricant.

Preparing for repairs

When replacing the rear struts of a VAZ-2115 with your own hands, you need to follow a certain sequence. Only in this case the repair will take place as quickly as possible. Rear struts are much easier to change than front struts - there are no steering ends, and there is no need to adjust the wheel camber and toe angles.

Vehicle preparation:

1. Place the car on a viewing hole or overpass.
2. Install wheel chocks under the front wheels.
3. Loosen the bolts securing both rear wheels.
4. Lift one side, completely unscrew the bolts, and place a reliable support under the body. Then do the same on the second side.
5. As a result, the suspension should be completely unloaded. You cannot work on a loaded suspension - it is dangerous.

You cannot place supports under the beam - in this case the suspension will be loaded. If you only need to replace the silent block of the VAZ-2115 rear pillar, then you only need to unscrew the lower fastening. There is no need to completely remove the assembly.

Order of Operations

Removing old shock absorbers and installing rear struts of the VAZ 2114 and other models can be done without an inspection hole or overpass - just jack up the car. But before you lift the car, you need to remove the assembly plugs located in the trunk. So:

1. You need to remove the trunk shelf, bend back the upholstery and use a screwdriver to pull out the plug. The rod nuts are located under them; they need to be unscrewed and the washer and plate removed.

Now you need to jack up the car. This is necessary so that the lower rack lock is accessible. This bolt is most often tight, so it is better to pre-coat it with a special lubricant. If after this you cannot unscrew the fastener, you need to knock it out with a smaller bolt.

Now you can remove the stand, be sure to support it - it may fall. It's easier to do this if you move the end towards the rear of the car

Note! After dismantling the stand, a rubber gasket remains in the glass. It needs to be removed because the material has lost its elasticity

A new spacer must be installed, which is purchased separately from the assembly.

Now you need to remove the spacer sleeve, shock absorber cushion and bushing, remove the cover from the casing, and remove the bump stop from the rod.

You can begin installing the new unit. The rod element must be fully extended. We install the bushing, cover, its cover, and bump stop on the rack. The spacer and spring are assembled after all other parts. On a note! It is advisable to bleed the shock absorbers before assembly. This will increase their functionality and service life. The procedure is performed by turning the device over. This will allow the oil to spread evenly throughout the entire assembly.

Installation is performed in reverse order.

Then all the above operations are repeated on the other side of the machine. Difficulties may arise during assembly:

• if the unit does not want to be placed in its normal place, you can use the jack beam;
• if the old parts have lost their integrity, they need to be replaced, if they are in order, wipe them with kerosene;
• if the support bearing comes out separately during dismantling, this is normal;
• to install the spacer without any problems, you need to glue it to the spring with masking tape;
• Some experts believe that when final tightening the fasteners, you first need to remove the car from the jack.

The sequential replacement of the rear struts of the VAZ 2114 can be seen in this video:

Removing the rack

After preparation, make sure that all threaded connections are treated with lubricant, the car is installed securely and will not fall during repairs. The step-by-step repair looks like this:

1. Remove the shield located in the luggage compartment that protects the upper mount of the shock absorber strut.
2. Remove the pad and support washer. All these steps do not need to be done if you only need to replace the silent blocks on the VAZ-2115.
3. Unscrew the nut that secures the shock absorber to the rear beam.
4. When removing the strut there is no need to compress the spring.
5. Lower the shock absorber and remove the lower cushion and support washer.
6. Slightly press the shock absorber rod down.
7. Remove the spring and protective cover, cover, bump stop.
8. Remove the shock absorber completely.
9. If there is no gasket on the spring, it should be at the top of the cup.

When replacing the rear struts on a VAZ-2115, it is imperative to install new gaskets, anthers and bump stops. Otherwise, the shock absorbers will not be able to work properly.

Replacement

Having decided on the choice of new racks, you can begin the procedure for replacing them. We recommend that you study training videos on replacing rear struts on a VAZ 2114, which allow you to carry out repairs competently and effectively even without experience in such a matter.

Remember - these elements cannot be repaired. The only correct solution is replacement. This procedure is performed as follows:

• Place the car on some flat surface. It could just be the floor in your garage;
• Raise the rear axle and be sure to put some kind of stoppers under the wheels so that the car does not suddenly jump off the jack;
• Remove those wheels where you plan to change the struts. The order of replacement does not play a big role, that is, you can start with either the left rear or the right rear wheel;
• The protection is removed from the top mount;
• Armed with a 13 mm wrench, slightly loosen your grip on the rod nut;
• Loosen the other nuts as well. This time the ones that hold the body;
• Take regular pliers and straighten the cotter pins. This will allow you to remove the old stand without any problems;
• There is also a nut on the steering rod, which should be removed without serious effort. Here you will need a 19 mm key;
• Remove the brake hose by unscrewing the nuts securing it;
• When unscrewing the steering knuckle elements, carefully remove your old strut through the arch;
• When installing a new element, simply proceed in the reverse order. There shouldn't be any problems when assembling the unit.

At this point, the procedure for replacing the rear struts can be considered complete. Now check the car in action, make sure that all previous problems are gone and the car behaves as you expected. Obviously, figuring out how to change the rear struts on a VAZ 2114 is not at all difficult. That’s why car owners often resolve such issues in their own garage. This fact does not force you to do everything yourself, since not everyone is given the opportunity to be an experienced auto mechanic. Don't be afraid to contact auto repair shops.

Do I need to change the spring?

A spring is a very durable element, but with prolonged use it can become unusable. Cracks appear, elasticity and length decrease. Diagnosing the condition is very simple:

1. Visually inspect the springs for cracks and deformations. If they occur, then the springs must be replaced.
2. Apply a load of 325 kg*s (or 3188 N). On export models of the car, the length will be 182 mm. For those produced for the domestic market, the length should be more than 201 mm. If less, then the spring must be replaced.

The springs that were installed on the VAZ-2115 are marked in the form of the letters A and B. The former are capable of working with higher loads. Be sure to install new springs with the same class.

What springs are best for VAZ 2114 and 2115? We select options for personal comfort

Many people are interested in which springs are best for VAZ 2114 and 2115. After all, there are quite a lot of offers on the market. At the same time, drivers do not always know what the features of each model are. This is a consequence of the high reliability of this suspension element. Stock springs can easily last 100-150 thousand kilometers. In this regard, not every owner in practice is faced with the need for replacement. Sometimes, people decide to change the characteristics of their original chassis. In this case, you also have to select other springs. The option should be selected based on your needs, as well as operating features.

Assembly of the unit

After purchasing all the new components, you only have to do a few simple steps:

1. Compress the spring using a puller. It must be installed in such a way as to engage at least three turns.
2. Install rubber pads on the spring; they can be secured with tape or tape.
3. Place the bump stop on the rod and the boot on top.
4. Install the rod into the hole in the body and tighten the nut.
5. Secure the lower part of the shock absorber to the rear beam by aligning the holes and inserting the bolt. Tighten the nut.

Check the tightness of all threaded connections. After a run of 50-100 km, it is recommended to re-tighten all the nuts. When replacing the rear struts of a VAZ-2115, use nuts with plastic bushings - they are much more reliable.

Selection of new

Look at different photos to see what the assembled rear pillar for a VAZ 2114 looks like. This will allow you to understand what you generally need to look for for this car.

The fourteenth model of the domestic automaker AvtoVAZ provides for the use of a telescopic rear pillar.

Kayaba kit

We will not rant about which ones to buy, with what characteristics, from what materials, and so on. We will simply offer you objectively the three best options.