Replacing the hub on a Chevrolet Niva. Photos, instructions on how to change the hub on a Niva Chevrolet

The Chevrolet Niva deservedly enjoys great popularity both among city residents and among off-road enthusiasts. It is one of the few that allows you to drive over the most rugged terrain.

In this case, from time to time there is a need to replace some parts, including wheel bearings. This part performs an important function: it ensures smooth running of the wheels, minimizes friction, and ensures free rotation of the wheel relative to the axis. Bearings are installed on each wheel.

When this part wears out, the wheel becomes misaligned. As a result, severe wear of the rubber appears on one side. If the defect is not corrected in time, this can lead to wheel jamming as a result of bearing scattering. At high speed, this means loss of steering control - the car can fly off the road or into oncoming traffic.

Replacing the front wheel bearings of a Niva Chevrolet is done a little more often, as on other SUVs, which is explained by the operating conditions of such vehicles. Severe road conditions lead to excessive load on the car suspension, so it is necessary to periodically diagnose the condition of the car and, if problems arise, make a timely replacement, without waiting for the period recommended by the manufacturer.

Signs of malfunction:

• the appearance of extraneous sounds - a crunching sound that can be heard while moving from the passenger compartment. This sound is produced by balls that move in the broken walls of the bearing.
• vibration is a harbinger of bearing seizure. This is a very important sign, it is quite difficult not to notice it, since it is felt throughout the body and radiates into the steering wheel.
• The car pulls a little to the side. This may be caused by the need to perform a wheel alignment. But also the deviation from the course may be due to the fact that the bearing jams a little and it stops the wheel.

The appearance of even one of these signs requires immediate inspection and, if necessary, replacement of the Niva Chevrolet wheel bearing. This work is quite simple, so even a novice car enthusiast can do it.

Chevrolet Niva wheel bearings: signs of malfunctions and causes of failure

So, the hub allows the car wheel to rotate. The part itself is quite durable and rarely fails.

In turn, a bearing is installed inside the hub. This part is most susceptible to overload and periodically fails, requiring replacement.

In fact, wheel bearings on a Chevrolet Niva provide mechanical connection, alignment and free rotation of the vehicle's wheel hubs on the axle. The hub on a Chevrolet Niva, together with the bearing, retaining rings, nuts and other elements included in the hub assembly, bears the entire weight of the car.

It turns out that although the hub itself is quite wear-resistant, the wheel bearings, experiencing enormous loads, wear out faster. In turn, wear of a part depends on many factors:

• high mileage (70-80 thousand km);
• active operation of the vehicle in off-road conditions (driving the vehicle on bad roads);
• uneven pressing of the bearing during repair (part misalignment);
• loss of tightness (destruction of rubber or plastic casings, water and dirt entering the bearing lubrication);

As a rule, certain signs of malfunction indicate that Chevrolet Niva wheel bearings need to be replaced. However, the symptoms cannot be ignored.

If the hub allows the wheel to rotate, the bearing secures the entire structure to the suspension. Bearing failure can lead to undesirable consequences. When the first signs of breakdown appear, it is necessary to immediately begin repairing and replacing worn parts.

Main symptoms of malfunctions:

• while the car is moving, extraneous noises appear (crunching, humming, metallic knocking) - destruction of the bearing walls;
• While driving, the car begins to pull to the side, vibration appears in the cabin, noticeable on the steering wheel and along the body (wheel bearing wedging;
• the appearance of play in relation to the bearing axis (the wheels swing perpendicularly), indicating wear and other defects.

Choosing a new bearing.

A new part is selected based on the conditions in which the car will be used. For most situations, Niva 2121 bearings manufactured at the VAZ plant are suitable. If the car is used mainly for off-road driving, it is better to use more durable elements. Parts produced by Triali have very good performance.

During production, this vehicle is equipped with double-row bearings. They have a longer service life and do not require additional lubrication.

Unregulated

As a rule, the Niva has a standard adjustable hub, which requires periodic adjustment. But in order to get rid of this inconvenience, non-adjustable hubs for the Chevrolet Niva were developed, which have such positive qualities as:

1. No maintenance required. They don't need to be adjusted
2. The bearing in the device does not rotate
3. It is filled with special lubricant from the factory, so there is no need to lubricate it.
4. Due to the fact that the work occurs thanks to the ball bearing in the unit, friction is reduced
5. There is no wear on the seat in the rotary cam
6. Not adjustable as it is tightened from the factory
7. No need to change the bearing
8. Long service life which is equal to 100-120 thousand kilometers

Therefore, thanks to all the positive characteristics listed above, many car owners change the standard part to a non-adjustable one.

It is also worth noting that the non-adjustable part can be produced as a reinforced Niva Chevrolet hub, which solves the problem of wear of the oil seals on the steering knuckle. It is best to choose companies such as VolgaAvtoprom, IVECO, OmegaInterAuto.

The main disadvantage of this unit is its high price, but by installing this part you can forget about the problems that appear in the standard element. By installing a reinforced version of your SUV, the cross-country ability will increase and reliability will increase, and having a standard set of tools, you can make an independent replacement without any problems.

Stages of replacing a wheel bearing on a Niva.

Raise the front of the car with a jack so that the front wheels do not touch the ground. If the right or left side is not raised completely, the stabilizer will put pressure on the machine and this can become a serious obstacle.

• Place chocks under the rear wheels.
• remove the hub nut cap using a screwdriver.
• put the wheel back in place

• it is necessary to loosen the hub nut. First you need to loosen it a little; for this you can use a piece of pipe to apply sufficient force.
• Remove the wheel and use a screwdriver to release the pads.

• After this, the mounting bolts on the caliper are removed. Before this, you need to straighten the locking tendrils. The caliper rises up. To ensure that the brake hose does not interfere with operation, you can attach it to the spring.

• The brake disc is selected using a hammer. To do this, you need to tap a little around the perimeter.
• In order to remove the finger you need a special puller. The location of the adjusting bolt is marked on the steering rod. When the finger is pressed out, the rod is retracted to the side.
• The fasteners are removed from the steering knuckle.

• The nut securing the hub is unscrewed. It is better to remove the support washer using a screwdriver.
• The fist is unscrewed from the CV joint.

• The hub is removed using a puller. In this case, the steering knuckle must be secured in a vice

• The retaining rings are removed, after which the bearing can be pressed out. A special puller is also used for this.
• All spare parts must be cleaned of dirt using a rag. After this, the outer retaining ring is installed into the fist. You can press it in using an old ring or mandrel. It is not recommended to hammer the bearing, as this can lead to microcracks and rapid destruction.

• After this, the inner ring of the bearing is installed and the hub is pressed into it.
• Then install all parts in reverse order.

The operation to replace the front wheel bearing of a Niva Chevrolet requires compliance with some nuances. When installing the steering rod, the adjustment bolt is installed according to the marks made during preparatory work. Be sure to replace the hub nut with a new one. The nut is tightened only after the car is lowered to the ground. A torque wrench must be used when tightening the nut.

Front hub design on Niva Chevrolet

The hub on a car is the element that connects the wheel and the drive shaft. It has two bearings, which reduce the friction force when rotating on the shaft.

Diagram of hub assembly.

A special feature of the hub is that the play gap can be adjusted.

This gap may increase over time and due to wear and tear of parts. In this case, the wheels begin to vibrate on the axles, which is the cause of premature tire wear . To correct the situation, the wheel bearings should be changed in a timely manner.

Hub assembly on steering knuckle

When is it necessary to change a wheel bearing?

With such lifting, the load on the wheel bearings will be increased.

There are two reasons that may indicate that the bearings need to be changed . This:

1. Increased wheel play and knocking in the hub area.
2. Grinding or humming noise in the hub area.

To more accurately determine the breakdown, you should disassemble the mechanism and inspect it.

How to diagnose a broken hub

Surely every driver has at least once encountered a situation when, while driving, a so-called crackling noise is heard. The sound can appear at speeds of 40 km/h and above. Using a car with such a sign is fraught not only with danger to the life of the driver and passengers, but also with serious consequences for the car itself. Most likely, you will notice a hum in a loaded car when turning.

Finding out which wheel bearing is worn out is quite simple: if there is noise from the wheel when turning to the right, the left bearing should be replaced. Similarly, if a hum occurs when turning left, pay attention to the right bearing.

There are several stages of wheel bearing wear:

• hum when turning;
• hum during normal driving with a loaded car;
• hum when driving an empty car;
• constant hum that increases during turns;
• a strong hum, accompanied by crunching, grinding and unregulated movements of the car from side to side.

The period of time between the first and fifth stages with moderate driving can be up to 5 years. It is recommended to replace the part as soon as possible so as not to put the car and the driver’s life at risk.

What could have caused the Niva Chevrolet bearing to fail:

• in 70% of cases, breakdown occurs due to unsuitable lubricant: its quality, excess or shortage may well damage the part;
• it happens that various contaminants and moisture penetrate deep into the bearing;
• this is the cause of failure in 18% of cases;
• There is also a possibility of incorrect assembly of parts, which entails excessive load and overheating.

What are the risks of driving a car with a damaged wheel bearing? There is a considerable possibility of the wheel jamming, which can end in disaster when driving at high speed. It is quite possible to lose control of the car due to the wheel “moving to the side”. Spreading brake pads is also a possible consequence.

Symptoms of a problem

Bearing wear manifests itself as the following symptoms:

• Vibration of the front wheels, which can be reflected in the steering wheel or felt in the cabin.
• Knocking or crackling sounds in the front of the car when driving;
• Heating of the front wheels in the axle area.

If such manifestations occur, you need to check the condition of the wheel bearings. To do this, jack up the car and rock the wheel in different directions. Play and knocking in the bearing area indicates the need for replacement and adjustment. The malfunction may also manifest itself in the form of noise when the wheel rotates.

1. The hubs get hot. It is important to understand that when braking, the kinetic energy of the car is converted into thermal energy. As a result, the brake discs and the hubs on which they are attached become very hot. Heating of the part during movement, and not during braking, indicates wear of the bearing or its incorrect adjustment.

The second option is typical for adjustable hubs. The adjusting nut must be tightened with a force of 2 kgf*m. If you tighten it further, the tapered bearings will be too tight.

Their rotation will be difficult. Prolonged operation of the machine in this condition leads to bearing failure and wheel jamming.

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2. The adjusting nut is unscrewed while moving. Sometimes this happens literally after 20-50 kilometers. The phenomenon is observed in three cases: the master forgot to tighten the nut, there was a misalignment between the bearing races, or play appeared in the coupling of the CV joint with the hub.