NIVA Chevrolet replacement of front wheel bearings

How to determine the serviceability of a wheel bearing on a Lada 4×4?

Before replacing a bearing, you need to make sure it is faulty. One of the symptoms is a hum when driving on the highway, which changes when cornering. But the hubs on the Niva can be adjusted. If the car's mileage does not exceed 20-30 thousand kilometers, then the hub on the Chevrolet Niva simply needs to be adjusted. After several adjustments, adjustment is no longer acceptable and the faulty bearing must be replaced.

How to determine its malfunction? It is enough to do the following:

1. Hang up the wheel.
2. Grab the wheel with both hands and swing it in a vertical plane. Large play is a sign of a malfunction.
3. Spin the wheel by hand. It should spin for a while without making a sound. The presence of extraneous noise is a sign of a problem.

Wheel Bearing Maintenance

The front wheel bearings of the Chevrolet Niva experience constant loads during operation, even when driving on a flat road. In addition, the aggressive effects of moisture and dirt should be taken into account. All maintenance comes down to constant monitoring of the operation of moving parts. It is necessary to check as often as possible that there is no play in the wheel or extraneous noise when it rotates. Unfortunately, it is problematic to monitor the condition of the seals without partially disassembling the hub assembly, so all the necessary measures have to be taken during its direct assembly.

When pressing the outer race, you should use mandrels that prevent distortion. During the assembly process, grease is generously applied between the rings and the separator. It not only reduces friction, but also protects the rollers from dirt. There are two types of hubs available for the Chevrolet Niva. A conventional hub is installed with tapered bearings that need to be adjusted periodically

, and, if necessary, disassemble to replace the lubricant. The reinforced hub is installed with a double-row ball bearing.

The service life of such a bearing is significantly higher than that of a tapered one, however, the likelihood of the transfer case breaking under overload increases, while the standard hub is a kind of “fuse”.

Which bearing to choose?

The best wheel bearings for the Chevrolet Niva and short Niva can be selected from the list below:

• FINWHALE - price 450 rubles;
• AVTOVAZ - price 350 rubles;
• KOYO - price 800 rubles;

Also good companies are SKF and SNR.

Adjustable bearings should not be confused with the new type of double row bearings. They are different in width, price and article number. The catalog number of the wheel bearing on Niva is 2121310302010 . This number is the adjustable bearing.

Car "Niva"

“Niva” is perhaps one of the most popular SUVs, not only in Russia, but also abroad. Since the late seventies, this car began to be produced. The very first model was named VAZ-2121.

It was almost impossible for an ordinary resident of the Soviet Union to get this car: almost eighty percent went for export, and the remaining twenty were released one by one. At the price at that time, this model was second only to the Volga, that is, the car that was used by the state apparatus as the main car. In the West, there were real legends about the new SUV - it was valued even where there was its own auto industry (for example, France, Germany or England).

In the mid-eighties, Niva cars with Soviet racers inside took all three prizes at the Australian rally raid. Sales of the car soared: in Australia itself - twofold, in Europe - fourfold or more, depending on the country.

Indeed, this was a new word in the annals of the development of light SUVs, and it was written precisely by Soviet designers.

How to replace front bearings on a Chevrolet Niva?

To perform this procedure, you must complete the following procedures:

1. Hang up and remove the front wheel of the car. Also remove the protective cap of the hub nut:

2. Unscrew the nut 27 of the wheel bearing and unscrew it:

3. To prevent the hub from turning, you can fix it with a mounting tool:

4. Remove the brake caliper. To do this, you must first remove the pads. Then unscrew the caliper bracket and remove it. The caliper itself with the pistons can be suspended on a suspension spring or any other element. The main thing is not to damage the hoses:

5. Remove the hub with the brake disc:

6. Remove the cotter pin of the steering end nut:

7. Unscrew the nut 22 securing the steering tip to the steering knuckle:

8. Applying light blows to the tip and eye, knock it off the steering knuckle. Or use a puller:

9. We knock the ball joints off the steering knuckle. How to do this is described here. After this, take out the steering knuckle and remove the outer oil seal from the bearing:

10. Remove the thrust ring:

11. We take out the bearing itself:

12. We install a cylindrical stop under the steering knuckle, larger in diameter than the hub bearing on the Niva.

13. Knock out the bearing with a drift:

The photo below shows where the drift rests to remove the outer race of the Lada 4×4 wheel bearing:

15. Clean the old seat from dirt and rust. Press in the new bearing race. You can use the clip of an old part as a mandrel. To do this, you can clamp the parts in a vice and gradually press the part inside the steering knuckle or use a press:

You can use another mandrel:

16. The pressed-in clip looks like this:

17. Lubricate the holder well with lithol:

18. Lubricate the wheel bearing well with a portion of lithol and place it on the outer race:

19. Reassemble all the elements in the reverse order: install the steering knuckle on the Niva, secure the ball joints, steering end and caliper. Adjust the new bearing. This procedure is mandatory!

Symptoms of a problem

The following symptoms indicate that the wheel bearing has failed:

• The appearance of a specific crunch, clearly audible inside the cabin. This sound is made by balls that roll in a broken bearing.
• Vibration. It occurs when there is severe wear and is felt simultaneously in both the body part and the steering wheel. The appearance of vibration is an extremely dangerous sign that the wheel bearing can jam at any moment.
• Deviation of a car from a straight path while driving. This occurs due to the fact that the side of the car on which the hub bearing has failed becomes somewhat stuck (approximately the same picture is observed when the wheel alignment is not properly adjusted).

The appearance of at least one of the above symptoms indicates that the wheel bearing should be replaced immediately. This operation is not too complicated; it does not require deep technical knowledge or special tools, so even an inexperienced motorist can cope with it.

Adjusting the clearance in Niva hubs

After installing a new bearing, a new wheel nut should also be used. The wheel must be on the car.

Adjustment of the front hubs on the Niva and Chevy Niva is carried out as follows:

1. Screw the hub nut all the way and loosen slightly.
2. Checking the play. If it persists, tighten the nut.
3. We check the play again.
4. The procedure is carried out until the backlash disappears.
5. Use a sledgehammer to break a tire or drive a Niva a couple of meters.
6. A small backlash appears. We also tighten the nut and leave it barely noticeable.
7. Now the nut can be tightened.

Attention! You should drive the car for one day, after which, adjust the bearing again.

This is how wheel bearings are replaced and adjusted on Niva 2121, 21213, 21214, 2123 and Lada 4×4.

This is interesting

And as a conclusion, here are some interesting facts about Niva:

• in 1998, this car climbed under its own power to the base camp at the foot of Everest - which is 5200 meters above sea level; in 1999 - on a plateau in the Himalayas, to an altitude of 5726. This is a record to this day.
• “Niva” even visited the North Pole, as part of the world “Day of Parachutists” - the car was dropped by parachute, and after a successful landing the car started up and drove off. This happened in April 1998.

At the Russian polar station "Bellingshausen" this brand of car worked without sparing its horsepower for twelve years.

The main purpose of the wheel hub

The main task of the transmission is to transmit torque from the engine to the wheels. A shaft system is used for this. But if the wheel is connected directly to the drive shaft, then it will be structurally impossible to assemble a load-resistant platform.

Difficulties also arise when designing front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles. The front wheel must have two degrees of freedom, that is, it rotates and turns at the same time. The rear wheels should also rotate easily, giving the vehicle a smooth ride. The intermediate link between the drive shaft and the wheel is the hub.

The hub is made of durable metal and serves to transmit torque from the shaft to the wheel. To ensure rotation of the hub, rolling bearings are used. It has not yet been precisely established whether the hub belongs to a suspension or transmission part.

On the one hand, it ensures wheel rotation and vehicle braking. On the other hand, it participates in the transfer of torque.

Generator bearing: replacement recommendations

The following recommendations are given for replacing the Niva Chevrolet generator bearing:

• The first step is to remove the generator itself. First, the generator mounts are loosened, then the adjustment bolt is released. The next steps are to remove the belt and disconnect the ground from the battery. We are talking about the negative terminal. It is also necessary to disconnect the wires from the generator itself. The structure is removed through the lower part. Why does the mount itself unscrew?

• After this, the master begins to disassemble the generator. The first step is to remove the pulley. The owner will need a screwdriver to lock the rotor. The main thing is a careful approach to work. The pulley is unscrewed with the appropriate key. You will need to pull back the latches to remove the cover. The part is pulled towards itself. All connections with bolts are additionally processed. Then it will be easier to unscrew them.
• The next steps are to unscrew the screws and remove the voltage regulator unit. You also need to get rid of brushes for a while. The generator cover is disconnected from the starter, otherwise it will not be possible to gain access to the bearings themselves. The main thing is not to damage the winding during such work.
• After complete disassembly of the generator, access to the bearings becomes available. It remains to check the parts for any defects that have appeared, including cracks and chips. Do the parts rotate easily? Is there any play between them? The seats may suffer from wear, so they also need to be inspected.
• Next, you need to knock the bearing out of its seat. To do this, tap the surface with a small hammer. The blows must be strong, but careful, otherwise the result will not be achieved. A piece of pipe of the appropriate size will make an excellent stand. Removing the rear bearings is impossible unless a special puller is used.
• The properties of old and new parts must remain similar. The same attachment is used when pressing into the body. The anchor is where the rear bearing is installed.
• When reassembling, proceed in reverse order.

Below watch a video on how to disassemble and repair a Niva generator.

Import manufacturer, FAG (Germany)

The bearing of this standard size is made by the German manufacturer FAG. I circled three symbols on the bearing with red circles. The name of the manufacturer (FAG), at which plant the spare part was produced (Turkey) and the designation of the bearing according to the European classification (62208 2RS). Of course, this bearing is made of higher quality than the domestic one. This is confirmed both purely visually and tactilely when you pick it up, and by the rolling of the car after its installation. The advantage of this bearing is its service life and work with wheels of large diameters and discs of non-standard offset. The disadvantage is its price today. As of November 2018 – 1900 rubles per bearing. However, if you sort through a node based on the “sort through and forget” rule, then this is normal. On cars in which FAG bearings were installed in the hub assemblies and axle shafts, a drop in gasoline consumption of about a liter per hundred kilometers was repeatedly recorded. It is not difficult to calculate the further payback of bearings. Delivery of this item is carried out only upon order, with prepayment. Delivery time 2-3 weeks.

Bearing selection by manufacturer

Experienced car mechanics know that it is better to choose a bearing that is completely identical to what was before. It would be good if it was an item with the original box and logo. Such parts often correspond to their counterparts that were originally supplied to the assembly line. The price of the bearing is not always affordable, because they are produced in a limited batch for a batch of cars.

But there are other bearing models whose characteristics are in no way inferior to the original ones. And the cost of non-original bearings is lower only due to the use of a different brand. Here are just a few bearing suppliers that have become popular in today's automotive market.

1. SNR – French company;
2. SKF is one of the largest manufacturers in the world;
3. FAG is a German manufacturer, one of the largest companies;
4. NSK - from Japan;
5. NTN is another representative of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Manufacturers from Japan often deliver their parts directly to the assembly line. Therefore, practically nothing is known about them on the regular spare parts market. You can ignore the country of origin in the case of the companies mentioned above. It often lists one of many offices and branches around the world.

If a bearing manufacturer is allowed onto the assembly line, this is already confirmation that a strict selection process has been passed in the first stages. This means that the quality system meets the stringent requirements for manufacturers and their parts.

The most common and popular part numbers of Chevrolet Niva bearings

• The part number of the front wheel bearing is 2007108 (catalog number: 2121-3103020-10 , foreign equivalent: 32008 );
• The part number of the rear wheel bearing is 2403080 (catalog number: 6-180508AK2US9 , foreign equivalent: 62208.2RS );
• Clutch release bearing number - 21230160118000;
• The part number of the gearbox input shaft bearing is 50706 (foreign equivalent: 750706 );
• The generator bearing part number is 180201
  (foreign equivalent:
  6201-2RS
  ).