Which shock absorbers are better to install on the VAZ-2114: choosing shock absorbers based on price and quality

Who, if not the driver, should take care of his steel horse - the car. Proper and timely care will ensure trouble-free operation of individual machine parts and quality driving on city roads. Unfortunately, in most cases the road surface has to wait for major repairs, and car enthusiasts have to deal with breakdowns with enviable regularity after driving through numerous potholes and potholes.

Drivers point out that the car’s suspension often suffers, regardless of whether the car is foreign or domestic. The most vulnerable elements are considered to be shock absorbers, which in the VAZ 2114 have to be changed frequently. In order for shock absorbers to last longer, it is necessary to approach the selection of this part of the car with special care.

How to choose shock absorbers for a VAZ 2114

First of all, let's decide on the option for using the racks. Remember: how do you drive a car, what roads do you travel on most often?

1. City highways allow the installation of oil struts on the VAZ 2114. They are traditional for all varieties of Samar. Oil shock absorbers provide soft and smooth passage of bumps.
2. If you don’t mind driving on the intercity highway and at the same time driving around the city, it is better to buy gas-oil shock absorbers. With them you don’t have to be afraid of small bumps and defects in the road; when accelerating, the car’s movement is more rigid.
3. Extreme sports enthusiasts know that they will not be able to do without gas struts. Only with gas devices can a car enthusiast experience all the delights of fast driving, including every bump. It is worth noting that gas struts have a negative impact on the car body.

Kinds

On the fourteenth you can install oil struts (or “comfortable”), gas-oil struts (the golden mean between comfort and sport) and gas struts (“sport”, which gives drive).

1. The first type is a good option for comfortable driving conditions. Taking into account the quality of domestic roads, especially those not paved, we obtain high energy intensity of the racks, smoothing out the perception of all irregularities. In fact, they are installed on the entire generation of Samar 2, the next line of VAZs (Granta, Kalina, etc.) are equipped with gas-oil resistant ones.
2. The second type is an average quality between a comfortable feel and a sporty ride. Sporty character means confidence at speed that the car goes smoothly, even though it feels every hitch on the track. This type of rack is better than the previous one: with oil racks, when you accelerate, you will feel how the car begins to rock; gas-oil engines are specifically designed to balance the body at speed, as they are more rigid in their design, but up to a certain speed limit.
3. The third type is a delight for avid racers and tuning enthusiasts. Gas struts are absolutely inconvenient for everyday movement around the city - every pebble will be felt, especially in winter, when the roads are sprinkled. Very sensitive design. If you only have to drive a car, it’s better to take gas ones. But, if you drive around the city, be aware that over time your interior will fall apart, a bunch of gaps and whistles will appear, and the wheels may become warped.

Four wheels - four racks. The front and rear pillars of the VAZ 2114 are different, just like on any Russian or foreign car. Therefore, it is not necessary to install racks of the same type on all 4 wheels.

• the rear version is a telescopic stand, with a rod attached to the bowl on a beam with space for a spring;
• front version - these racks are always lower than the rear ones, wider in diameter. The fasteners to the bowl are also different; there are steering knuckles.

The most famous manufacturers

1. Firstly, those that are installed standard at the factory. They are not very strong, after 20-30 thousand kilometers they die and require replacement.
2. Secondly, the racks are from the new generation of VAZs - they are native to the Priora. They are the same oil, but at the fourteenth the effect of a more rigid driving perception is obtained; they keep the car on the road more confidently. There is also a minus (by the way, it also applies to the original struts on the fourteenth) - there is no sound insulation, the bump stop will suffer.
3. The ss 20 model is an improved version of the previous oil models on Priora. There are practically no downsides, except for the fact that when replacing with these, you will need to take an additional support from the same company.
4. Plaza model - there are comfort, sport and super sport types. In fact, they are very good, but they are afraid of frost. If you take the standard, they freeze slightly and require rolling out. Manufacturers thought about this: they began to fill in the winter type of oil. Then the following problem arose: if you take the Plaza in the winter, the oil may leak after the first 20 thousand kilometers.
5. The pride of choice is Kayaba stands (KYB). Since they are very popular, they like to be counterfeited. Like the previous ones, they come in all types, but unlike competing manufacturers, they last longer and do not leak at every opportunity.

KYB

The taste and color of the racks are different. But they all tend to fall into disrepair. And the price for VAZ 2114 racks today is quite high. Therefore, there is a proposal to learn how to replace racks yourself. To replace, you need to purchase not only the racks themselves, but also their components: springs, rubber bands, etc. By the way, replacing the front struts on a VAZ 2114 will also require purchasing support bearings.

Racks SS20

Suspensions deserve special attention, which also do not lag behind imported manufacturers in sales volumes - drivers continue to support the domestic manufacturer, which makes shock absorbers in Samara.

Which racks are the best of all those available for purchase? Each is good in its own way and has a number of distinctive features. The Samara plant is a fairly serious enterprise that produces not only struts, but also other spare parts and parts for cars.

Racks made in Samara come in 4 types:

1. Highway - as you may have guessed, there is no question of a soft ride here. Shock absorbers are installed on cars that drive on highways; the products provide drivers with smooth entry and turns.
2. Standard – they work regardless of the weather conditions the car is in and can withstand the most severe temperature fluctuations. The rear suspension is matched to the front.
3. Comfort Optima - compared to Standard, the rigidity of these devices is 30% higher. Can be used for any driving style in any weather conditions.
4. Sports – suitable for extreme sports enthusiasts who are ready to drive at aggressive speeds and prefer sharp turns.

The best manufacturers

When deciding on manufacturers of racks for the VAZ 2114, it is better to pay attention to time-tested, high-level devices. Cooperate only with official dealers or sellers in whose integrity and honesty you are 100% confident.

So, there are front and rear struts; it is advisable to fix shock absorbers on both sides of a car of the same type and from the same manufacturer.

The most popular today are:

1. “Kayab” (KUV) is a gas-oil product. According to reviews from those who have already used the device, the car becomes moderately rigid, and bumps on the road are not audible at all. The car handles a variety of turns very well. This type of rack lasts for approximately 1 year, after which the product becomes decrepit and must be replaced.
2. Bilstein B4 is a mixture of gas and oil. They hold the road remarkably well, but much tougher than the previous manufacturer. It will faithfully serve as long as its predecessor. Experienced drivers do not recommend using a VAZ 2114 equipped with Bilstein B4 struts for everyday driving, because driving comfort will be too little. But for active trips into nature and extreme driving, this option is what you need.
3. ALKO – oil. Soft, smooth shock absorbers, lack of elasticity in the control of the VAZ 2114. Even after a year, motorists note the good condition of the devices of this vehicle. On forums, drivers often joke about these struts, calling them not suspensions, but a wooden stick. The products are very rough and make extraneous unpleasant sounds when turning. This is because the racks are designed for installation in sports car models. It is better to refrain from installing it on a VAZ 2114.
4. Bilstein B2 – oil. They are similar in quality and functional properties to the above-described “Kayab”, although they have a slightly higher degree of rigidity.

Which manufacturer is better is up to you to judge; we have only suggested some of the nuances of using different devices, tested empirically.

If we talk about cost, there are many variations here, prices change at the speed of light and vary in different stores, so indicating specific price ranges in this case is unethical, the information is inaccurate.

To give you a little idea of ​​how much money you will need to buy the right type of suspension, we draw your attention to the fact that the front products are more expensive than the rear counterparts. On average, the price for the former varies from 1000 to 1400 rubles. A direct supplier of European-level structures will require 3000-3500 rubles with delivery directly to you.

Rear installations in the standard version produced by a domestic plant will cost no more than 800-900 rubles. 2000-2500 rubles will have to be sacrificed to purchase elite pendants.

Possible faults

Among the most common malfunctions of struts on the VAZ 2114, a number of breakdowns are noted:

• extraneous noise has appeared, cracking in the area of ​​the brake pads;
• the compression buffer in the car is damaged or completely ruptured;
• oil leaks on the body;
• The rod in the shock absorber began to jam.

If you notice at least one of the indicated manifestations in your car, take the car to a service station. If the services of a car repair shop are currently too expensive, try to cope on your own. You can enlist the help of a friend who at least knows something about how machines work.

One way or another, it is advisable for every driver to be able to cope with minor problems on their own, because they can overtake you on the road far from home, as they say, it’s never too late to learn.

Possible malfunctions of the rear pillar and their causes

Noise and knocking in the car suspension. One of the possible breakdowns, indicated by noise in the suspension, could be:

• wear of the rubber bushings of the rear struts (rubber bands);
• breakage or settling of the strut spring;
• weakening or wear of the shock absorber eye bushings.

The car begins to drive sideways on the road - at speed the car deviates from the “course”, as a result, the driver needs to constantly direct the car, keeping the steering wheel at the ready. Possible reasons for this phenomenon:

• “breakdown” of the suspension due to the destruction of the compression stroke buffer;
• rear suspension overload;
• settlement or breakage of one of the suspension springs;
• displacement of the rear axle due to wear of the bushings of the suspension arms or deformation of the arms themselves.

Frequent breakdowns of the rear suspension. The causes are:

• failure of shock absorbers;
• upset or spring breakage.

In the damping system of a car suspension, the spring performs a return function and it has to withstand different loads and compensate for the pressure of the body on the wheels, as a result of which there are frequent cases of its damage and deformation.

Tools needed to replace struts

Let's say you decide to install shock absorbers on your VAZ yourself. So that you don’t have to be distracted later by getting or finding the necessary tools in the garage, prepare the entire set of special devices in advance. So, what devices will you need:

• standard jack;
• cotter pins, vices and puller;
• in repair work related to the racks of the VAZ 2114, a hammer and pliers will be useful;
• It’s great if you have a chisel at hand;
• you can’t do without open-end and ring wrenches for 13, 17, 19, 22, 24;
• a wrench designed to remove a wheel from a car.

If you have ever dealt with repairs or at least seen from the outside how VAZ 2115, 2108, 2109, 21099, 2113 are repaired, this will help you better navigate replacing shock absorbers on a VAZ 2114, because the process itself is identical. Moreover, all the parts of these cars exactly match the latest brand of domestic car.

AVERAGE COST

The price range on the market is quite high, so it is very difficult to determine more or less accurate prices. When choosing which front struts are better, we can say with confidence that they are more expensive than the rear ones. Their price will vary from 1000-1400 rubles for a design from the manufacturer’s factory to 3000-3500 rubles for designs made in Europe KYB or HOLA.

If you only need to replace the rear struts of a VAZ 2114, then they can be purchased a little cheaper. From 800-900 rubles for designs from the factory to 2000-2500 rubles for elite high-quality racks. Such spare parts always have an increased service life and, as a result, can serve twice as long as their domestic counterparts.

How to install shock absorbers on a VAZ 2114

It is better to once again make sure that the necessary spare parts and tools are fully equipped before installation. Assess how efficient they are. It is advisable to wash the settled dust particles on the rods with running water. Finally, we start replacing the racks.

1. Place the car on a level surface. The machine must stand firmly on the base and not wobble or move.
2. To prevent the VAZ 2114 from suddenly moving from its place, you need to put the handbrake on it, then jack up the car and secure the wheel restraints.
3. Remove 2 wheels from the part of the car where the old suspensions will be removed. It’s up to you to decide which new units are best mounted for a comfortable ride.
4. If the front products are to be replaced, release them from the safety mechanism.
5. Replacing rear products involves removing the protection in the upper fastening element.
6. Slightly loosen the rod nut and fasteners adjacent to the body.
7. Hold the pliers tightly in your hand, then use them to release and remove the cotter pin from the VAZ 2114.
8. Disconnect the steering rod.
9. Remove the hose involved in the braking process.
10. Through the arch, free yourself from the outdated type of shock absorber.
11. Dismantle the support bearing.
12. Carefully and slowly fold the new product, consisting of a spring and a bearing.
13. You can install shock absorbers by initiating the reverse procedure for installing the product.

"Plaza"

Behind this very pleasant name is the St. Petersburg Shock Absorber Plant. In itself, the fact that this is a domestic company speaks of production taking into account current standards. All products have the “QTK” stamp, which reduces the risk of defective parts reaching store shelves. All shock-absorbing struts produced by the plant are oil-based, which, however, does not reduce their quality. A total of 4 rack options are offered:

1. Soft-Drive is the softest shock absorber offered by the manufacturer; in terms of driving performance, they are practically no different from the original ones. The car will still rock, but their service life will be much longer;
2. Sport. The rigidity of these racks is almost 80% higher compared to the original ones. In this regard, they perfectly hold the road. But, when traveling over bumps, the movement will not seem too comfortable to you. This line includes shortened racks designed to lower the car;
3. The X-Drives are quite rigid and do a good job. The manufacturer recommends them for use in the northern regions of our country;
4. The standard is perhaps the toughest of the entire line. The disadvantage is that the oil freezes even in slight frost. It takes a considerable amount of time to “roll out” the car.

Kayaba

The products of this manufacturer are in great demand among drivers. It is these shock-absorbing struts that are considered the standard of quality. At the same time, there are plenty of fakes on the market, so always order products only from official dealers. The range of products produced is large. 3 models of racks are perfect for the “tenth family”:

1. EXCEL-G is a gas shock absorber strut. It uses nitrogen. As a result, the knot turns out to be quite soft. This will be appreciated by those who like a comfortable and not too fast ride;
2. Ultra SR are sports shock absorbers. With their help, the car holds the road perfectly. Possible use in conjunction with low profile tires. And also together with tires that have a radial tread pattern;
3. Premium is a hydraulic shock absorber. It is a complete analogue of the factory one. But, at the same time, it is made of higher quality materials. And what is typical, it lasts much longer.

SS20

This is probably one of the most popular domestic companies among lovers of our cars. After all, this company, located in Samara, produces a fairly wide range of products for tuning domestic cars. In addition, these shock absorbers have the best price-quality ratio. We will look at 4 options for racks. It should be added that all these shock absorbers are offered both in standard and shortened versions:

1. Highway, these are quite rigid racks. This indicator ensures optimal cornering at high speeds. This model is popular with buyers. Not very suitable for driving on dirt roads;
2. The standard ones are distinguished by good performance, both in the heat and in extreme cold. Perfect for car enthusiasts from regions with harsh climates;
3. Comfort Optima is the most popular rack of the entire line. This is due to their versatility. They are medium hard. Therefore, they are suitable for almost any road surface and driving style;
4. Sports are the toughest stances. They are practically not intended for driving around the city. But at the same time, they perfectly keep the car from swaying in the sharpest and most dangerous turns.

Conclusion. As you can see, the choice of shock absorber struts for the “tenth family” is not limited to factory parts. All proposed options have their own characteristics. Therefore, the final choice of which racks are best installed on the VAZ 2110, 2112, 2114 and 2115 must be made by each car owner independently. Paying attention, first of all, to your driving style. And also on the features of vehicle operation.

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Useful tips.

General recommendations:

• Before direct installation, we carefully inspect the purchased parts and treat them with kerosene. Broken and unusable elements are not needed for repairs;
• A number of professionals believe that the final tightening of bolts and nuts does not require the participation of a jack;
• The struts can be checked using the wheel alignment method. This method increases the service life and increases the comfort of the trip;
• There are special stands where you can check the result of the replacement. The price of the service is small. At the same time, one’s own skill and skill is tested;
• Don't worry if the support bearing doesn't come out with the strut when you remove it.

Popular question: how often do parts need to be replaced? There is no clear answer. Vehicle operating conditions, quality of spare parts and personal skills are key success factors. If a car owner likes to “pick up” potholes and pits, then the time for repairs will inevitably approach. It is also obvious that if there are “symptoms” of a malfunction (dull knocks, fluid leakage or spring deformation), then there is no need to hesitate.

The process is simple. You just need to know clearly what and when to do. A competent selection of tools and spare parts is half the battle, and step-by-step instructions that allow you to carry out repairs yourself will help you complete what you started. Take care of yourself and your car, because health and life are the most valuable things we have.

Step-by-step instruction.

Doing it yourself will work out cheaper. The sequence is as follows:

1. We prepare the place and tools. The surface on which the car is located must be level. A pit is desirable, but not required. Without it, work will be carried out in a lying position. To be on the safe side, install wheel chocks or chocks on the front wheels. To be sure, you can even turn up the speed;
2. Loosen and remove the wheel bolts. A 19mm wrench is required. Before direct repairs, all nuts can be treated with penetrating lubricant (WD-40, by the way, here are the recipes) - this saves time and effort;
3. We put a jack and lift the rear part of the VAZ 2114, after which we remove the wheels. We work with the jack carefully and carefully!;
4. Open the trunk and remove everything unnecessary. There is a rubber plug “hiding” under the shelf - remove it with a screwdriver. Behind the plug there is a rod with a tightened nut. You can unscrew it with a 17 mm L-shaped key and a special key for fixing the rod. If there is no key, then pliers will do; Next, remove the support washer (using a magnetic handle)

1. We unscrew the nut securing the shock absorber to the beam; you will need two 19mm open-end wrenches. Remove the bolt that secures the strut to the beam. If that doesn’t work, knock it out with a smaller bolt. Carefully remove the shock absorber from its seat and remove the entire rack (it may fall, be sure to support it).

1. Important: do not forget to remove the stuck insulating gasket (this often happens) from the inside of the glass, which is placed on the spring (see photo).

1. We remove the spring, remove the spacer sleeve and shock absorber cushion. Remove the cover from the casing. Remove the compression stroke buffer (bump stop) from the rod.

1. After this, we take a new rack with the rod fully extended (otherwise nothing will work) and put the casing, bump stop, cover, cushion and bushing on it. The spring and gasket are installed last. Advice: before installation, it is worth “bleeding” the shock absorbers, as this greatly increases their efficiency and service life. “Pumping” is carried out by turning the structure over. At the same time, the oil spreads throughout the spare part;

1. We install the new structure in reverse order. This can be difficult. There are situations when the stand simply “does not want to climb” into its rightful place. This can be corrected by lifting the beam with a jack;
2. We secure the rod with a nut and secure it with a gasket. Tighten all the nuts;
3. We put the wheels in their place and remove the jacks;
4. We repeat the above steps on the other side.

That's all. The withdrawal procedure was successful. Every step is important - there is no point in skipping even one. There are some removal features that you should become familiar with.

Analogs

In addition to original parts, there are also a number of analogues that are certified and recommended for use for the 2113-2115 family of cars.

Manufacturer's name Catalog number Price in rubles

Front

The front shock absorbers of the VAZ 2114 can also be replaced with analogues. The highest quality products in this category are:

• Trialli AH 01159
• Pilenga SH-P 2771–O

Both types of shock absorbers are more rigid, so the car’s ground clearance will increase slightly after installing “non-original” struts.

Rear

The rear pillar of the VAZ 2114 can also be used of a non-original type. If the machine will not be used in harsh conditions, then you can replace the standard racks with similar products from Trialli.

When operating a car in a sporty style, it is better to install special shock absorbers. The highest quality products in this category are shock absorbers from the company SS-20. Sports products from this manufacturer are represented by gas-filled models, and semi-sports products are represented by gas-oil models.

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