Bodywork in VAZ cars is very often associated with the replacement of front or rear side members. They can become unusable due to a collision in an accident or due to aging, due to insufficient care of the body. An equipped workshop is required to replace the side member.
Necessary
- 1. Body parts for replacement;
- 2. Semi-automatic welding machine with carbon dioxide supply;
- 3. Jacks, hydraulic racks;
- 4. A set of plumbing tools.
Instructions
Step 1
Almost always, a damaged side member will lead to a change in the geometry of the body. Due to the violation, the suspension may "go away", often there are violations of the dimensional proportions. Therefore, it is very important to "stretch" the body before replacing the side members.
Before starting the pulling, you will need to apply markings to the body, along which the damaged elements will be cut off. Body straightening can be done hydraulically in the garage. In this case, the bottom of the car is bursting from the floor and ceiling with the help of racks and jacks, and then pressure is exerted on the deformed section of the body. To the point of cuts, all elements must be of the correct shape, the door gaps must also maintain nominal values.
Step 2
Before starting work on replacing the spar with a VAZ, it is necessary to remove the fender of the car and install the car on the wheel chocks. In some cases, it may be necessary to hang one end of the vehicle on a jack to relieve stress on the metal structure.
You can cut off the old spar at the place of its attachment to the main body part. You can step back a little and leave the old weld seam as long as it is strong enough and not damaged by corrosion. The cutting line must be strictly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. After cutting, free access to the internal elements of the body is opened. Minor defects must be straightened with a hammer, the weld spot must be cleaned to a metallic sheen.
Step 3
The fitting of the spar must be carried out with great care. At least three joints should not have a gap of more than 2-3 millimeters between the parts to be joined. During the fitting, the position of the spar is set according to the control points, it is very important not to violate the linear dimensions and not to cut off excess metal.
Step 4
After fitting, the spar needs to be tacked by welding in two or three places, and then its size and position relative to the opposite part of the body must be adjusted. If both side members change, their position can be adjusted along the longitudinal lines of the car, guided by the manual for carrying out body welding.
Step 5
After the final alignment, the spar is completely scalded at the attachment points. In this case, it is necessary to rigidly fix the part so that it is not pulled by the cooling weld. Welding places are grinded with a grinder and seam defects are eliminated. Metal patches are applied from the bottom and inner sides and welded to strengthen the structure. The groove between the side member and the A-pillar glass must be sealed with a mastic-based sealant. All welds are cleaned of dirt and epoxy coated. After that, the body is ready for filler, primer and painting.
