The body of a passenger car, including the Lada Priora, receives a shock load from the wheels through the shock absorber strut, and it is the support bearing that is needed to absorb and distribute this load. This device is the main and working unit of the upper shock absorber support, which is located in front. And it is this support that is necessary to connect the rack and the car body.
The support bearing has a specific design and consists of the following elements: thick rubber gaskets designed to protect the device from below and above; a rubber separator containing metal balls inside.
On the Lada Priora, popular in our country, the bearings we are considering are located in the so-called “cups” of the shock absorbers at the front. They are located above each of the wheels directly in the engine compartment.
Like any other working parts of the car, this bearing can also fail. In this material we propose to consider how to replace it yourself and without removing the rack.
List of main faults on Priora support bearing
The main sign that the support bearing in a Lada Priora has failed is a knocking sound that appears at the top of the strut. This usually happens while driving on uneven roads. This knocking indicates that the bearing itself is damaged or that the gaskets of the mechanism have been damaged/deformed.
What may cause the malfunction:
- Dirt/moisture has entered the structure.
- Dynamic load standards were exceeded.
- The service life has come to an end.
How can you determine that the bearing device in the Lada Priora has become unusable? You need to look into the engine compartment. There is a special protective cap on the “glass” of the rack that needs to be removed. Next, place your palm on the support and rock the car down/up. When the support bearing is definitely faulty, you should definitely hear a knocking noise, which will be additionally accompanied by vibration. A malfunction indicates that replacement is required, which, by the way, can be done with your own hands and without removing the rack.
Note that the bearing on the Lada Priora has a maximum service life of 100 thousand km, but if we take into account the poor quality of the road surface, and sometimes its complete absence, the wear of the device occurs much faster. That is why experts and experienced car owners recommend replacing them every 50 thousand km. It also needs to be replaced if a malfunction is detected.
Replacing the bearing in the support
Now that the shock absorber strut is fully accessible, the first thing you need to do is fix the spring in one position. This is why you need a retainer. Once the spring is secured in the compressed position, the support can be removed. Insert the hexagon into the end of the strut rod and unscrew the top nut by 22. That’s it, the top support cup is easily removed, and access to the bearing is completely open. You can safely install a new one.
By the way, the sales kit also includes new support washers, and even if the old ones look decent, they need replacement. The factory ones are the same diameter, but the new ones are usually different. The large washer is placed down. Apply plenty of good lubricant and you can reassemble everything in reverse order.
How much will it cost to replace a support bearing on a Priora?
The cost of the “support” for the LADA Priora model starts from 300 Russian. rub. This is exactly how much you will have to pay for an original spare part with catalog number 2170-2902821. However, you can also purchase more advanced spare parts from others, you can pay attention to “TRACK”, “SS-20” and also “FENOX” have proven themselves well. Their cost is more expensive, about 800 Russian. rub. for 1 piece
If you need to replace the entire upper support, you will have to pay an amount of 1200-3000 Russian. rub.
Support bearing for Priora - which one is better
The support bearing is a part of the upper support that ensures the rack rotates along the axis while the car is turning. This part is an important element in the front chassis, the choice of which should be taken with care.
Reliable products are produced by SKF, as well as a number of Russian bearing factories. We list the main manufacturers, catalog numbers and prices of support bearings for Priora:
Recommended journal bearing manufacturers, numbers and prices
No. | Manufacturer, country | Catalog number | Price, rubles |
1 | SKF, Sweden | VKD 35032 | 800 |
2 | VBF, Vologda | 1118-2902840 | 650 |
3 | SS20, Russia | SS10113 | 1100 |
4 | CS 240, trialli | 2190-2902840 | 404 |
5 | CJSC Lada-Image" | 390 |
It is important to know:
If the front strut mounts are also replaced, it is recommended to purchase only the following manufacturers: ss20 (ss20), ANVIS, Evolex and Acomi. If you are replacing only the bearing, then be sure to change the vibration and noise insulators for the springs. The link provides information on the dimensions of the support bearings.
Step-by-step instructions for replacing a support bearing
In a specialized car service, you will have to pay at least 500 Russian rubles for replacing the 1st “prop” with a LADA Priora. rub., however, the replacement can be done independently, the work does not take much time.
Step-by-step instruction:
- The car must be parked on a level surface.
- Use a jack to lift the side from which the replacement will take place.
- We dismantle the wheel.
- Using a 19" wrench, unscrew the steering tip nut.
- If you have a special puller for pressing out the tip pin, you can use it. If there is no puller, you can press it out using a hammer and a small pry bar. The main thing in this process is not to damage the thread of the finger.
- Using the same wrench, unscrew the 2 nuts that secure the strut in the so-called steering knuckle.
- We remove the lid from the “glass”, then you need to unscrew the 3 nuts that secure the upper support to this very “glass”.
- Pull out the shock absorber completely, as if from underneath.
- In order to unload the upper support, you need to compress the shock absorber spring using a pair of ties.
- 9" and 22" wrenches will help tighten the nut securing the support to the rack.
- We remove the support and disassemble it in order to remove the support bearing.
- All that is required is to replace the worn “support” with a new device.
- We attach the support to the shock absorber.
- Assembly is carried out in reverse order.
Experts recommend replacing the bearings on both sides at the same time, and only after that adjusting the angle of the front wheels of the car.
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Preparation for repair
Before you begin any repairs, you need to do some preparation. To do this, perform a few simple manipulations:
- Park the car (Priora or Ten, it doesn’t matter at all, the operating algorithm is the same for them) on a level surface.
- Fix the position of the car - place shoes under the rear wheels, squeeze the handbrake and engage first or reverse gear.
- Remove all the front wheel bolts from the threads (it is advisable to replace the bearings on both struts).
- Lift up the side on which you plan to replace the support bearing first.
- Remove the entire wheel.
At this point, the preparation stage can be considered complete; it is time to disassemble the suspension and replace worn elements. Pay attention to the condition of all boots - if they are damaged, be sure to replace them.
Basic faults
Wear of the VAZ-2114 bearing is the main reason for replacing it. A knock in the suspension, which is heard when driving on a bumpy road or when turning, should alert the driver. Checking the bearing is simple: you need to grab it with your hand and rock the car; a knock that may appear indicates the need for repairs.
The dirt that is abundant on the roads is one of the causes of defects in the mechanism. The support is practically not protected from it.
It is worth checking the condition of the supports at least after 20,000 km.
If the knocking does not go away, then think about this: a completely worn bearing can break completely, and this will lead to the strut breaking through the hood. Repair costs will be completely different.
Replacing a bearing is not that expensive - about 500 rubles per part, 1000 rubles for a replacement at a service station.
The most popular bearings are ss20. They perform best under relaxed driving conditions, although some drivers complain about their harshness.
For a more sporty driving style, with sharp stops and fast accelerations, Acomi bearings have proven themselves well.
Don’t skimp on spare parts; try to buy support bearings from a trusted manufacturer. When choosing, you need to rely on your own driving style and the characteristics of the road surface.
Removing the shock absorber strut and disassembling it
We remove and disassemble the shock absorber strut to replace the upper support, bearing, spring, and telescopic strut. The telescopic stand is non-removable and cannot be repaired. There are two options for removing the shock absorber strut. The first allows you to avoid subsequent adjustment of the steering wheel alignment angles, the second method requires less work, but after it requires adjustment of the steering wheel alignment angles. We replace the telescopic stand according to the second option. In the first option, remove the strut together with the steering knuckle, without loosening the nuts of the lower and upper (adjusting) bolts securing the strut to the steering knuckle. At the same time, we disconnect the tie rod end from the swing arm of the shock absorber strut (see “Replacing the outer tie rod end”), the ball joint from the steering knuckle (see “Removing the ball joint”), and remove the outer CV joint from the wheel hub (see “Removing front wheel drives"), and also remove the pad guide with the caliper and cylinder (see "Removing the front wheel brake disc")...
...and tie it with a cord to the holes in the wheel arch, making sure that the hose is not stretched. For ease of operation, remove the brake disc and brake disc shield (see “Removing the front wheel brake disc”). If the rack is supposed to be disassembled...
... use a 22mm wrench to loosen the rod nut, holding the rod from turning with a 6mm hexagon.
Using a socket or a 13mm wrench, unscrew the three nuts securing the upper strut support to the body...
...and remove the shock absorber strut along with the steering knuckle. To remove the shock absorber strut using the second method, disconnect the tie rod end from the swing arm of the shock absorber strut (see “Replacing the outer tie rod end”) and the front wheel brake hose from the holder on the strut (see “Replacing the front wheel brake hose”).
Use a center punch or paint to mark the location of the adjusting bolt.
...relative to the strut bracket. By aligning the marks during assembly, we will ensure that the deviation of the wheel camber angle from the original value will be insignificant.
Using a 19mm socket, unscrew the nuts of the bolts securing the strut to the steering knuckle, holding the bolts with a 17mm wrench. We remove or knock out the bolts with a soft metal drift.
Assembly of the unit
After dismantling the old Priora support bearing, a new one is installed in its place. Next, do the following:
- Screw the nut onto the rod.
- Release the spring and finally tighten the nut.
- Place the rack assembly in its place and attach the nuts to the three studs.
- Install the steering knuckle into the shock absorber strut in the same way as it was before - follow the marks.
- Install the bolts and tighten the nuts on them. Please note that the top bolt has an eccentric-shaped adjusting non-removable washer.
- Replace the tie rod end, tighten the nut and insert the cotter pin. Be sure to unclench its antennae so that it does not fall out during use.
- Tighten all threaded connections.
- Install the wheel and lower the car from the jack.
At this point the repair is completed; work is carried out on the second rack in a similar manner. There is nothing complicated about this, but it will require patience and the ability to work with keys. And if the support bearing suddenly knocks on a Priora, you know what to do. It is advisable to treat all threaded connections with a penetrating lubricant such as WD-40 or at least brake fluid before starting repairs.
The front suspension is an element that allows you to easily overcome road unevenness, eliminating jumps and vibrations. To ensure its normal functioning, many consumable parts are used.
For a Priora car, the support bearing acts as a support and ensures proper operation of the suspension. If it wears out, a number of certain inconveniences arise.
Damage to the element leads to crunching and rattling noises when overcoming uneven roads. Such phenomena partially affect the operation of the suspension itself. Correct replacement of the Priora support bearing should be carried out when one of these problems occurs. The work is done quite easily and even a novice motorist can do it.
Tips and tricks for motorists
1. Replacing the Priora support bearing without removing the strut is not recommended, in this case the installation of the new product will not occur correctly, which will affect the service life. 2. To prevent dirt and moisture from getting on new products, come up with additional protection for the “supports” under the hood. 3. If you find products in a closed steel case in retail outlets in the price range of 600 rubles - this is a reliable option, feel free to purchase and install. 4. Do not purchase open products where the balls are visible.