Driving a car with faulty shock absorbers is fraught with rapid wear of tires, hub bearings, suspension parts, and, in addition, can cost you your life due to a significant increase in braking distances.
Car suspension, shock absorbers
Since the invention of the first automobiles, their design has been constantly improved and complicated. Initially, the cars had dependent spring suspensions, but gradually the manufacturers added additional elements, both mechanical and hydraulic, pneumatic and even electrical. This has made it possible at present to make the trip by car the most comfortable, as well as to increase its handling and safety.
Shock absorbers play an important role in the suspension of vehicles. They were invented in the last century and made a splash in the automotive industry. When riding, they dampen vibrations on uneven roads and provide better traction.
Shock absorbers resource, replacement conditions
But, like any part and mechanism of a car, shock absorbers have their own exhaustive resource. The average figure is from 30 to 50 thousand km of car mileage, and more they serve extremely rarely. In fact, a lot depends on the shock absorber manufacturer, workmanship, and riding style. To check them, it is recommended either to contact service workers, or to perform a number of simple actions yourself.
The struts must be replaced if you find oil leaks on them, knocks in the suspension when driving (provided that all other suspension parts are normal). You can also do this test: shake the car and make sure that the shock absorbers dampen the vibrations. True, the last steps can only reveal completely non-working details.
Replacing the rear struts with a VAZ 2109
So, you found that on your domestic VAZ 2109 it's time to replace the rear struts. If you are not going to trust the professionals from the car service, prepare the necessary tools in advance, a jack, and, of course, you should purchase new stands. They are changed only in pairs, since they must be identical on the same axis. In addition, you may need new "consumables" to replace the old ones, namely, a set of upper bushings or buffers.
Initially, from the top from the side of the trunk, you must remove the cap from the rack. Then two keys are used - one unscrews the nut, the other holds the stem of the rack so that it does not rotate. The next step is to unscrew the nut from the bottom of the shock absorber at the point of its attachment to the rear beam bracket. To completely dismantle the shock absorber, the rear beam is pushed downwards, which makes it possible to remove it.
Then it is necessary to remove the rubber gasket from the cup of the upper strut mount, the shock absorber boot from the spring and the buffer. If the integrity of the rubber parts of the shock absorber is broken, they should be replaced.
After completing the above steps, you can start assembling and installing the new shock absorber. To do this, the stem is completely pulled out on the shock absorber and the buffer, boot and metal cover are fixed on it. Also, the nut is immediately screwed onto the stem. The shock absorber is attached to the rear beam bracket and a spring is put on it. Further, with any available wrench, resting on the nut, the rack stem is pulled out to its full length. When the stem comes out, the nut is unscrewed.
In order to compress the spring, a jack is installed under the rear beam. Slowly lifting it will tighten the spring; all that remains is to direct the shock absorber rod into the mounting hole and fix it with a nut. The second rear shock absorber changes in the same order.
