Adjusting the steering wheel play of the VAZ 2107

Checking the steering play of the VAZ 2107

Large play in the VAZ 2107 steering wheel is a vague concept. Meanwhile, the permissible steering play has established standards. For “classics” it is 5 degrees. To check the backlash, a special device is used at the service station - a backlash meter. At home you can do without it. To do this you will need a ruler, chalk (or wire) and the help of a partner. Checking the amount of play is carried out as follows:

place the machine on a level surface;
check the tire pressure and inflate them if necessary;
align the steering wheel so that the wheels are directed parallel to the axis of the car;

Important: if the wheels are level, but the wheel spoke is skewed, then there may be a violation of the wheel alignment angles, and the presence of defects in the suspension and steering. The steering and suspension should be adjusted or repaired.

place the ruler so that it rests on the dashboard, touches the top of the headlight switch and, with the other end, touches the wheel rim;
smoothly rotate the steering wheel while your partner monitors the position of the front wheels;
as soon as the wheels begin to shift, stop turning the steering wheel;
make a chalk mark on the steering wheel opposite the ruler (or wrap the steering wheel with wire);
smoothly rotate the steering wheel in the other direction until your partner notices that the wheels have begun to turn;
make another mark on the steering wheel with chalk or wrap a second piece of wire around it;
measure the distance between the marks on the wheel rim.

A play of 5 degrees corresponds to a displacement of 17 mm with a steering wheel diameter of 40 centimeters.

Checking the steering gear.

After adjusting the steering gear of a VAZ 2107 car, axial displacement of the steering wheel is possible. It can be detected if the front wheels are placed in a straight position and at this moment you pull the steering wheel up, in which case the shaft will move.

In other cases, it will be enough to carry out maintenance of the steering system. These activities do not cause any particular difficulties and can be done by hand. The manufacturer’s specialists recommend monitoring the oil level and periodically changing it in the steering gearbox. There is no need to remove it from the car for this; all actions are carried out without disassembly.

The level is checked with a clean thin screwdriver. Using an 8 mm wrench, unscrew the plug and measure the presence of oil. Its level should be slightly below the filler hole. If the level is less, you need to add oil.

To replace, you first need to drain the old lubricant. This can be done by removing the gearbox cover, which is secured with four bolts. After the liquid has completely drained out, the lid is put back in place and a new one is added through the filling hole. At this point, the oil change in the steering system is considered complete.

In addition to monitoring lubrication, it is recommended to periodically check for play. If there is one, adjustment is made. For work, use a large flat screwdriver and a 19 mm wrench. It is advisable to find an assistant, as it is much faster to regulate with two people.

To carry out the process, you need to loosen the clamping nut with a wrench and gradually tighten the adjusting screw with a screwdriver. The assistant simultaneously checks the play while inside the car. After completing the adjustment, hold the screw with a screwdriver and fix its position with a lock nut.

If the procedure performed did not help eliminate the backlash, then this indicates that the worm pair is badly worn and requires repair. In such a situation, the problem is solved by replacing it. This work can be done independently, without the help of specialists.

Here it is already necessary to remove the gearbox from the VAZ-2107:

the tie rod ends of the system are disconnected - they are unpinned, and the nuts are twisted with a 22 mm wrench;
the clamp that secures the gearbox and column is released;
Unscrew the three bolts securing the gearbox to the body.

Causes of steering play in VAZ 2107

If you notice unacceptable play in the VAZ 2107 steering wheel, the reasons may be as follows:

The central nut securing the steering wheel to the axle is not tightened;
the nut securing the steering column to the gearbox is loosened;
The worm gear of the steering mechanism is not adjusted;
the steering pendulum bushings are worn out;
The tie rods are damaged or their ends are worn.

All of these problems require immediate intervention. Otherwise, the steering mechanism may fail and the car will lose control.

Eliminating play in the steering

First of all, the check should begin with the universal joint and its screws. Turn the adjusting screw to the required value. Afterwards, check again for the presence and amount of play. If the results are unsatisfactory, do the work again.

If this does not help, then the cause of the breakdown lies elsewhere. The next step is to drive the car into the inspection hole. The problem of play may lie in the steering rod joints. Most likely, these parts are worn out and there is a need to replace them or firmly fix them. You should also check the fastening of the steering rods and tighten them if necessary.

How to remove steering play on a VAZ 2107

You should begin work by checking the tightness of the threaded connections of the steering mechanism and the condition of the steering rods (tips). Bent rods or worn tie rod joints must be replaced. To do this, you will have to use a puller and a 22mm wrench. You should not try to align the rods or repair the ends. For safety reasons, these parts should always be replaced with new ones. Next, you should check the condition of the pendulum and the adjustment of the worm gear. Worn pendulum bushings must be replaced with new ones. To do this, you need to unscrew the steering rods from it (use a 22mm wrench and a puller) and remove the pendulum from the car by unscrewing the mounting bolts. Clamp the pendulum in a vice, remove the cotter pin and unscrew the adjusting nut. Once the nut is unscrewed, you can disassemble the pendulum and replace the worn bushings with new ones. When assembling the pendulum, it is necessary to tighten the adjusting nut so that its bipod rotates with a force of 1-2 kilograms. If all parts are replaced or in good condition, and the threaded connections are tightened, the VAZ 2107 steering play is adjusted by adjusting the steering gearbox. To do this, you will need a 19 mm wrench and a powerful slotted screwdriver. The adjustment is carried out as follows:

align the wheels, setting them in a position corresponding to straight-line movement;
clean the steering gear cover from dirt and oil stains;
remove the protective cap from the adjusting screw;
Using a 19mm wrench, loosen the locknut securing the adjusting screw;
Use a screwdriver to tighten the adjusting screw, reducing the backlash of the steering gear;
tighten the locknut while holding the adjusting screw with a screwdriver;
check whether the steering wheel rotates easily and whether the play is within acceptable limits;
repeat the adjustment if necessary.

In this way, you can adjust the play of the VAZ 2107 steering wheel in accordance with the limits established by the manufacturer.

The level is checked with a clean thin screwdriver. Using an 8 mm wrench, unscrew the plug and measure the presence of oil. Its level should be slightly below the filler hole. If the level is less, you need to add oil.

Adjusting the steering wheel play on a VAZ 2101-VAZ 2107

Welcome! Steering wheel play is a fairly common problem in almost all cars, especially cars of the “Classic” family. Backlash can occur for various reasons, ranging from a banal collision with a bump and ending with a malfunction in the steering system itself, so in order to remove the backlash you will have to make an effort that you will appreciate in the future.

Note! To adjust the backlash you will need to stock up on: A screwdriver and also a wrench set to “17”!

What can cause backlash? In fact, it occurs for various reasons, some of which were described above. But if play occurs, this may be to blame: A loose or heavily worn fastening of the steering mechanism, as well as the pendulum arm and the steering rods themselves.

Note! Before sinning on all these items of the steering mechanism, it is first recommended to check and, if possible, correct the increased gap that can be found in the engagement of the roller with the worm of the steering mechanism - we will do this adjustment!

How to adjust play, also known as free play at the steering wheel on a VAZ 2101-VAZ 2107?

Note! It is better to do the work with an assistant, as it is much easier and more convenient!

1) First, remove the protective cap that covers the column adjustment screw.

2) Then loosen the adjusting screw nut (Indicated by the red arrow) using a 17mm wrench. The nut must be loosened until the washer located under this nut can be lifted (Indicated by a blue arrow).

Next, when the nut is loosened, ask your assistant to sit behind the wheel of your car and sharply turn the steering wheel in different directions several times, while using a screwdriver, screw in the adjusting screw, which is indicated by the green arrow.

Note! Do this until the play at the steering wheel is within normal limits. Also, do not over-tighten the adjusting screw, otherwise the steering wheel may become very difficult to turn!

3) Next, completely tighten the adjusting screw nut, which is indicated by the red arrow, and while screwing, use a screwdriver to hold the screw itself from turning it.

Note! After the completed operations, check the free play of the steering wheel; if the steering wheel is difficult to turn, then slightly loosen the adjusting screw by loosening the nut. If, after completing the work, the steering play remains the same or has moved but not significantly, and if turning the steering wheel is accompanied by squeaking and clicking, then have it repaired at a car repair shop or replace the steering mechanism with a new one!

The steering mechanism is a very delicate thing and therefore it is not recommended to repair it yourself, because if assembled incorrectly, the mechanism can jam on the road and therefore the car will stop responding to steering movements!

If you don’t know how to check the steering wheel play, then read the article entitled: “Checking the free play of the steering wheel on a VAZ”!

Question? How do you adjust the free play of the steering wheel? (Write your answer in the comments)

Additional video clip: You can watch more detailed adjustment of the steering wheel free play in the video clip located just below:

vaz-russia.com

Further repairs will not be a problem.

You only need to follow a few rules:

the worm pair is changed simultaneously, as a set;
after assembly/disassembly, adjustments need to be made;
Do not use old oil, but replace it with new lubricant.

After the repair is completed, the gearbox is assembled and mounted in the reverse order.

Steering is present in all cars, regardless of class and year of manufacture. The device must always be in good condition and any changes to it are prohibited. The VAZ 2107 and other classic Zhiguli models are equipped with a worm-type steering column, which requires periodic inspection and sometimes repair.

DIY steering column repair

By repairing the steering column we mean repairing the VAZ 2107 steering gear. During the operation of the steering gear, various types of malfunctions arise: from a harmless steering creaking to a complete failure of the steering.

Of course, squeaks can be eliminated by replacing outdated trim panel elements and replacing faulty switch blocks.

To prevent rapid wear of the steering gear mechanism, it is necessary to monitor the oil level and maintain it at normal levels. But in cases where the trouble has already occurred, but everything worked out, it is necessary to replace the VAZ steering column with your own hands.

1. Place the car on a level surface, put the wheels straight and lock the steering wheel.

2. Remove the steering shaft from the steering mechanism; it is clamped directly into the column.

3. Take a fairly strong wrench or wrench and remove the nut used to secure the steering column.

4. Now the most unpleasant procedure - unscrew the three bolts that secure the column to the body. It is called unpleasant because of the inconvenient location of the bolts, since the distance between the nuts and the body is not enough for comfortable dismantling.

5. Once the 3 bolts are removed, the column should move to the side, but will still be attached to the tie rod splines. Knocking it off them is quite a difficult task and is done either with strong jerks using an installation tool, or by pushing with your feet.

6. After dismantling the old column, clean the area for installing the new column and carry out installation in reverse assembly sequence.

Note. When installing a new VAZ steering column, make sure that it is filled with special oil. Using the gearbox without oil is strictly prohibited!

That's all you need to know about the steering column. Do not forget that its correct and timely maintenance and repair is the key to safety on the road.

Steering mechanism VAZ 2107 - brief description

The steering mechanism of the VAZ “Seven” has a rather complex design, which ensures reliable vehicle control in different driving situations. The steering wheel is endowed with good information content, which eliminates driver fatigue when traveling long distances. There are some difficulties when turning the steering wheel while the car is stationary. However, as soon as the car starts moving, the steering becomes less rigid and control improves.

The steering mechanism has one nuance - a slight play, which is normal. This is explained by the considerable number of parts in the gearbox and the presence of rods. After modernization, the VAZ 2107 began to be equipped with a safety column, which has a composite shaft. Its design consists of two cardan-type joints, which allow the shaft to fold in the event of an accident. In this way, injury to the driver is avoided.

Device

The steering system on the VAZ 2107 is quite reliable. With its help, a sufficient level of controllability is achieved. Of course, the comfort of the car cannot be compared with modern models, but in general, this model is comfortable to drive.

Control is carried out by transmitting force from the steering column to the wheels. This happens through a gearbox with a worm gear. The steering column itself on the VAZ 2107 is composite. It consists of two parts connected by a universal joint. This allows it to fold up in the event of an accident, and leads to less injury.

The gearbox has an aluminum housing attached to the left side member (in some export versions to the right side). The body contains a globoidal worm. It is combined with a double-ridge roller. The gear ratio of this gearbox does not exceed 16.4. This allows the force to be transmitted as accurately as possible. The design also includes 2 ball bearings. They allow you to avoid increased wear of elements. Worm mechanisms are very sensitive to friction, so the gearbox contains gear lubricant. It must be checked regularly and added if necessary.

The steering mechanism also includes the following elements:

Middle tie rod;
Pendulum arm;
2 lateral (short) pulls.

The middle link is connected directly to the gearbox. This is a fairly reliable structural element. Failures of the long tie rod are rare. A pendulum lever is attached to it on the right. It ensures the stability of the entire system. Small tie rods have ball joints at the ends. This allows you to transfer force to the steering knuckle as efficiently as possible and without heavy loads. These levers are prefabricated. Thanks to the screw thread, it is possible to adjust the wheel alignment angles. The service life of these parts is from 10 to 15 thousand kilometers. When replacing, the new rods are made similar in length to the parts removed.

Conclusion

. The steering on the Zhiguli has its own characteristics. At the same time, such solutions are practically not used on modern cars. Therefore, the question of how to remove steering play on a VAZ 2107 is not uncommon. In general, fixing the problem is not difficult. But, in some cases, the adjustment does not help, then the gearbox will have to be replaced.

Steering gear reducer design

Before you begin repairing the steering column, you need to familiarize yourself with its structure, as well as its operating principle. The design consists of the following main elements:

a unit designed to transmit force from turning the steering wheel to actuators;
steering column, which turns the wheels to the desired angle.

The steering mechanism consists of:

composite shaft with cardan transmission;
steering wheel;
worm type steering gear.

The design has the following components:

pendulum;
swing arms;
steering rods.

Since the outer rods have two parts, this allows the toe angle to be adjusted. The steering functions as follows:

The driver operates the steering wheel.
Through universal joints, the worm shaft is driven, through which the number of revolutions is reduced.
The worm rotates, which helps move the double-ridge roller.
The secondary shaft of the gearbox turns.
A bipod is mounted on the secondary shaft, which rotates and carries the steering rods with it.
Through these parts, force is applied to the levers, thereby turning the front wheels to the angle desired by the driver.

The bipod is a rod that connects the steering gearbox to the steering linkage.

Signs of a gearbox malfunction

As the vehicle is used, the steering column may develop problems that require repair. The most common of them are:

oil leak from the gearbox;
extraneous sounds in the mechanism;
It takes a lot of effort to turn the steering wheel.

Steering problems

The steering mechanism, like any other vehicle component, wears out and requires repair over time. To simplify the troubleshooting, there are certain signs that allow you to find out the nature of the breakdown and fix it in a short time.

Oil leak

On a classic, the problem of a “wet” steering gear is quite common. There can be many reasons for this:

oil seal wear;
leakage from under the gasket;
loosening of the fasteners that secure the mechanism cover;
Corrosion of the input shaft.

If the oil seal and gaskets can be replaced and the bolts tightened, then if the shaft is damaged, the part will have to be ground.

Tight steering wheel

Sometimes it happens that to turn the steering wheel it is necessary to apply noticeably more effort than usual. Several reasons can lead to this malfunction:

incorrect wheel alignment;
failure of one of the elements in the steering mechanism;
the gap between the worm and the roller is broken;
The pendulum axis fasteners are too tight.

One of the reasons for free play in the steering mechanism is wear on the shaft crosspieces. In addition to them, play appears in the gearbox itself. If the unit has a high mileage, then it is advisable to disassemble it, inspect the condition of all the elements, replace parts with high wear, and then carry out adjustments.

Knock and vibration

If you feel feedback on the steering wheel while driving, there can be many reasons for this phenomenon. Driving a vehicle in such a technical condition leads to rapid fatigue and reduces the level of safety. Therefore, the steering mechanism needs diagnostics.

Adjusting the steering column

Adjustment work on the steering gearbox on a VAZ 2107 is resorted to when the steering wheel becomes difficult to rotate, jamming occurs during rotation, or when the steering shaft moves along the axis with the wheels straight.

To adjust the steering column, you will need an assistant, as well as a 19-mm wrench and a flat-head screwdriver. The procedure is carried out in the following sequence:

The machine is installed on a flat horizontal surface with the front wheels located in a straight line.
Open the hood and clean the steering gear from contamination. The adjustment screw is located on top of the crankcase cover and is protected by a plastic plug, which is pryed off with a screwdriver and removed.

Video: adjusting the VAZ 2107 steering unit

Video - How to adjust the steering column of a VAZ

During the operation of the VAZ 2107, troubles arise such as spontaneous changes in the direction of movement of the car after hitting bumps, bumps, holes and other unevenness of the road surface. In addition, a characteristic play in the steering wheel may appear. These problems indicate that the steering column needs to be adjusted. This concept refers to the adjustment of the VAZ 2107 steering gear.

It is worth saying that the problem of changing the direction of movement is typical for all “sevens” and this problem cannot be completely solved. However, by making adjustments you can achieve partial relief from this problem.

1. Place the car on a level surface. Make sure the wheels are straight.

2. Squeeze out the steering fingers using a special puller and disconnect the bipod.

3. Now you need to hold the steering wheel and shake the bipod. When performing this procedure, it is necessary to catch the gaps in the steering gear. With the bipod fixed, the angle of rotation of the steering wheel should not exceed 30 degrees, and if there is play, unscrew the adjusting nut on the gearbox and tighten the clamping screw. After this, tighten the nut again.

Note. Do not pinch the adjusting screw or strip the thread. A screw that is too tight can cause the steering wheel to turn stiff. This parameter is controlled by the standard force on the steering wheel - 25 kgf. This figure is controlled using a torque wrench with the fingers pressed in and the bipod installed.

Gearbox oil

To reduce friction of the internal elements of the steering column, GL-4, GL-5 transmission oil with a viscosity grade of SAE75W90, SAE80W90 or SAE85W90 is poured into the mechanism. In the old fashioned way, many car owners use TAD-17 oil for the unit in question. The filling volume of the gearbox on the VAZ 2107 is 0.215 liters.

Checking the oil level

To avoid premature failure of mechanism parts, it is necessary to periodically check the oil level and replace it. It is worth taking into account that the fluid from the gearbox, although slowly, leaks, and the leak occurs regardless of whether the column is new or old. The level check is performed as follows:

Use a 8 wrench to unscrew the filler plug.

How to change the oil in a gearbox

As for changing the oil in the steering device, this procedure should be carried out every year and a half. If the decision has been made to change the lubricant, you need to know how to perform the procedure. In addition to the new lubricant, you will need two syringes of the largest possible volume (purchased at the pharmacy) and a small piece of washer hose. The procedure is carried out in the following order:

Use a key to unscrew the filler plug, place a piece of tubing on the syringe, draw in the old oil and pour it into the prepared container.

Removing the gearbox

The design of the gearbox does not allow it to be repaired without removing it from the vehicle. In order to remove it, you must:

Disconnect the tie rod ends from the gearbox. First, they are uncoiled, then the nuts are unscrewed with a 22 wrench and the tips are pressed out using a special puller.
Unscrew the clamp securing the steering shaft to the gearbox.
Remove the three bolts that secure the gearbox to the car body.

The gearbox design should not cause any particular difficulties when repairing it. You just have to take into account that the worn elements, called the worm pair, are both replaced at the same time. After this, adjustments must be made.

Sources:

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