Replacing the steering gear on a VAZ 2106 car

The steering gearbox is an important part of every vehicle. Thanks to this device, the wheels are adjusted. Being a worm-type mechanism, the steering gear has a large margin of safety. However, like any other mechanical device, it is subject to wear and tear. Therefore, there is a need to change it periodically.

Failure of the steering mechanism

When the gearbox finally fails, the ability to drive the vehicle is completely or significantly lost. How to timely determine the “quick end” of the steering mechanism of a VAZ 2106 car, so as not to encounter this at the most inopportune moment? There are several “warning lights” that indicate that the mechanism in question needs replacement.

Replacing a vehicle gearbox is not a particularly difficult task, but this does not mean that it does not require careful preliminary preparation. First of all, you need to decide on the tools that will be used for the removal: which ones are available and which ones need to be prepared or purchased.

In order to replace the steering mechanism on a VAZ 2106 car, you need to acquire a set of wrenches, pliers, pliers, and a device for pressing out the pins of ball joints. Without the latter, the replacement process will become quite noticeably more complicated, which may affect the quality of the work performed. Therefore, you should not save at the expense of your own safety and comfort.

Because due to poor installation of the control mechanisms of the VAZ 2106 car, they can fail at the most inopportune moment, which will expose the lives of the driver, passengers and other road users to unreasonable danger. Next, it is necessary to carry out a superficial inspection of the gearbox housing for damage and assess the external condition.

It is located in the engine compartment, under the main brake cylinder of the car. In case of significant contamination, it is advisable to clean it from dust, dirt and oil stains. This will increase the speed and convenience of replacement work.

Payment via WebMoney

After selecting payment via WebMoney, the payment system will launch, where you need to select the payment method: bank card or WebMoney wallet.

If you already have a WebMoney wallet, then you need to log into it and make a payment.

If you do not have a WebMoney wallet and you want to pay in another way, you need to select any of the methods that WebMoney offers and make the payment

After specifying payment details and confirming payment, payment for the goods will occur.

Official website of the WebMoney payment system https://www.webmoney.ru/

Removing and replacing the steering gear

Activities that are necessary to replace the steering mechanism of a vehicle:

1. Removing the steering wheel.
2. Disconnecting the steering shaft.
3. The middle and left side tie rods are disconnected from the bipod and moved to the sides.
4. Next, using two wrenches, unscrew 3 bolts that secure the steering gear to the car body. Before performing this procedure, it is necessary to remove the left fender liner.
5. After unscrewing the nuts, you need to remove the bolts. This should be done carefully so as not to lose washers and gaskets, the main purpose of which is to adjust the ratio of the two shafts.
6. The gaskets are removed (their locations must be marked, since they will be placed back when installing a new steering gear).
7. The gearbox is carefully lowered and should hang on the machine body.
8. Afterwards, through the top of the hood, the steering gear is removed.

The removed steering mechanism of the VAZ 2106 car must be completely cleaned of dirt. Work is also being carried out to clean the gearbox mounting area. If necessary, work is carried out to defect a section of the body if traces of corrosion or mechanical damage are detected.

It is unacceptable to ignore any, even insignificant in your opinion, problem with the mounting location of the steering gear, since in the future this may negate the work expended now. It is not recommended to leave damaged and suspicious areas of the body without proper care.

Payment via Portmone

After selecting payment through Portmone, the payment system will launch, where you need to select the payment method: bank card or Portmone account.

The price in the Portmone payment system is converted into dollars at the exchange rate of the Central Bank of the country where you are located.

If you have a bank card in a currency other than the dollar, then the money will be debited from the card at the rate of the Central Bank of your country at the time of the purchase.

After specifying payment details and confirming payment, payment for the goods will occur.

Official website of the Portmone payment system https://www.portmone.com

How to replace the steering gear, also known as the steering mechanism, on a VAZ 2101, VAZ 2102, VAZ 2103, VAZ 2106?

Note! Before starting the operation, remove the front driver's wheel from the car!

Removal: 1) First you will need to remove the steering shaft from the car. (For information on how to remove the steering shaft, read the article: “Replacing the shaft”)

2) Next, disconnect the middle and left side tie rods from the bipod, and after disconnecting, move both rods to the side. (For information on how to disconnect both rods, see the article: “Replacing steering rods on a VAZ”)

Note! You can watch another interesting way to disconnect rods in the video clip located at the very end of the article! (For disconnecting the rods or, as they say, knocking them out, see “0:00 to 5:10 min”)

3) Now take a wrench in your hands and, at the bottom of the car, use it to unscrew all the nuts of the bolts that secure the steering gear to the car body. (The operation is performed with the fender liners removed, so remove them if they are installed on your car)

Note! Unscrew the nuts carefully and use two wrenches, one of which will hold the bolt itself from turning, and with the other, unscrew the nuts themselves. There are washers underneath all of these nuts, so be careful not to lose them!

4) When the nuts are unscrewed, holding the steering mechanism itself with your hand, remove all the bolts and remove all the nuts, and then try to release the steering gear as it will hang on the car body.

Note! Adjusting shims can also be installed on the bolts, thanks to which the ratio of the two shafts is set, so if you have these shims, then be sure to mark them and when installing a new shaft, install them in the same places where they were before!

5) Then stand up and then move into the engine compartment of the car, and there remove the steering mechanism by grasping it with your hand and pulling it upward towards you.

Installation: 1) Installation of the new steering shaft is carried out in the reverse order of removal, but in order for the installation of the new shaft to be successful, you need to know a few things:

1. When you tighten all the bolts and nuts, do not tighten them all the way, just screw them on and that’s it.
2. After this, get into the car and turn the steering wheel first to the right by 2-3 turns, and then by the same amount to the left, thanks to which the shaft and the mechanism itself will take the correct position.
3. But after the operations have been completed, tighten all the bolts and nuts until they stop and then install all the remaining parts in the reverse order of removal.

Payment via Yandex Cashier

After selecting payment via Yandex, the Yandex Cashier payment system will launch, where you need to select a convenient payment method (bank card, QIWI, Yandex Money account, etc.)

After specifying payment details and confirming payment, payment for the goods will occur.

If you have a bank card in a currency other than the ruble, then the money will be debited from the card at the rate of the Central Bank of Russia at the time of the purchase.

This payment method is optimal for residents of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Official website of the Yandex Kassa payment system https://kassa.yandex.ru

Steering column VAZ 2106

The main purpose of the steering column is to transmit rotational motion from the steering wheel to the front wheels. All “classics” use structurally identical components. The mechanism is attached to the left side member with three bolts. There is a bolt on the top cover with which the gap between the roller and the worm is adjusted. The need to set the gap arises when a large backlash appears in the mechanism. The gearbox and steering wheel are connected to each other through an intermediate shaft, which is mounted on splines that prevent it from turning.

Steering column device

The steering gear housing has a worm shaft mounted on two bearings that do not have an inner race. Instead of an inner ring, special grooves are used at the ends of the worm. The required clearance in the bearings is set using spacers, which are located under the bottom cover. The exit of the worm shaft from the housing is sealed with a cuff. On the side of the spline connection on the shaft there is a recess for a bolt connecting the gearbox shaft to the shaft from the steering wheel. The worm is engaged with a special roller located on the axis and rotating with the help of a bearing. The bipod shaft at the exit from the body is also sealed with a cuff. A bipod is mounted on it in a certain position.

On the sixth model Zhiguli, the steering mechanism works in the following order:

1. The driver turns the steering wheel.
2. The force is transmitted through the shaft to the worm element, which reduces the number of revolutions.
3. When the worm rotates, a double-ridge roller moves.
4. A lever is installed on the bipod shaft, through which the steering rods are activated.
5. The steering linkage acts on the steering knuckles, which turn the front wheels in the desired direction and at the required angle.

Steering column problems

The appearance of problems in the steering mechanism can be judged by characteristic signs:

If any of the listed defects appear, repairs should not be delayed.

Creaks in the column

The appearance of squeaks can be caused by the following reasons:

• Excessive play in the hub bearings. To fix the problem, it is necessary to adjust the gap or replace the bearings;
• The tie rod pins have become loose. The way out of the situation is to tighten the nuts;
• large play between the pendulum and bushings. The malfunction is eliminated by replacing the bushings;
• wear of the worm shaft bearings can manifest itself in the form of squeaks when turning the wheels. To solve the problem, adjust the clearance in the bearings or replace them;
• The fastening of the swing arms has become loose. The way out of the situation is to tighten the nuts when setting the wheels straight.

Oil leak

Leakage of lubricant from the steering column on a “classic” is a fairly common occurrence. This is due to the following:

• damage (wear) of the oil seal on the shaft of the bipod or worm. The problem is solved by replacing the cuffs;
• loosening the bolts securing the crankcase cover. To eliminate leaks, tighten the bolts diagonally, which ensures the tightness of the connection;
• damage to the seal under the crankcase cover. The cover will need to be removed and the gasket replaced.

Stiff steering wheel rotation

There may be several reasons why the steering wheel turns slowly:

• Incorrect alignment of the front wheels. To fix the problem, you will have to visit a service station and carry out adjustment work;
• deformation of any part in the steering. Steering rods are usually subject to deformation, which is due to their low location and mechanical stress, for example, when hitting an obstacle. Curved rods must be replaced;
• Incorrect clearance between roller and worm. The required gap is set with a special bolt;
• tightly tighten the nut on the pendulum. The way out of the situation is to slightly loosen the fasteners.

Steering column repair

Repairing a gearbox, like any other unit, requires preparing tools and following step-by-step instructions.

Dismantling

Tools you will need:

• 17 and 30 mm head;
• long and powerful knob;
• mount;
• hammer;
• ratchet handle;
• regular open-end wrench 17.

The procedure for removing a node consists of the following steps:

We unscrew the bolt securing the shaft and steering column.

How to disassemble

The mechanism is disassembled for the purpose of troubleshooting parts and subsequent repairs. Tools you will need:

• large socket head 30 mm;
• 14 mm wrench or socket;
• puller for gearbox bipods;
• flat screwdriver;
• hammer;
• vice.

The procedure consists of the following steps:

We use a wrench to unscrew the nut that secures the bipod to the shaft, and then clamp the gearbox in a vice.

Unit repair

To troubleshoot parts, they are washed in diesel fuel or kerosene. After this, check the condition of the worm shaft and roller. They must not have any damage. The rotation of the ball bearings of the assembly must be free and without jamming. The structural elements of the bearings must be in good condition, i.e., be free of signs of wear, potholes and other defects. The presence of cracks in the gearbox housing is unacceptable. If parts with wear are identified, they are replaced with serviceable elements. The cuffs are changed during any repair work on the column.

Adjusting the steering column play

The need for adjustment arises after repair of the unit or when large play appears when turning the steering wheel. If the mechanism has a large free play, the wheels lag somewhat behind the movement of the steering wheel. To make the adjustment you will need:

• flat screwdriver;
• 19 mm wrench.

We align the steering wheel in the center, and then perform the following actions:

Using a 19 mm wrench, unscrew the nut located on top of the steering gearbox.

Video: adjusting the steering column play on a “classic”

Payment via PayPal

After selecting payment via PayPal, the PayPal payment system will launch, where you need to select the payment method: bank card or PayPal account.

If you already have a PayPal account, then you need to log into it and make a payment.

If you do not have a PayPal account and you want to pay using a bank card via PayPal, you need to click on the “Create an Account” button - shown with an arrow in the picture.

PayPal will then prompt you to select your country and provide your credit card information.

After specifying the information required to make the payment, you must click on the “Pay Now” button.

Official website of the PayPal payment system https://www.paypal.com

Pendulum VAZ 2106

A pendulum arm or simply a pendulum is a part that connects the steering rods and the steering gearbox. The product is located under the hood symmetrically to the steering gear and is mounted on the right side member.

Replacing the pendulum

Like other parts of the car, the swingarm is subject to wear and tear and sometimes requires repair or replacement. The following characteristic signs indicate that problems have arisen:

• when driving on uneven roads, knocking noises are heard;
• large play in the steering wheel.

When the pendulum breaks down, sometimes you have to exert a lot of force to rotate the steering wheel.

It should be taken into account that the listed symptoms can appear not only when there is a problem with the pendulum arm, but also when the assembly is loosely tightened or the adjusting nut is overtightened.

How to remove

For dismantling you will need:

• a set of open-end or ring wrenches;
• ball pin remover.

We perform the procedure in the following sequence:

1. Remove the right front wheel.
2. We unscrew the fastening of the rod fingers to the pendulum lever.

Pendulum repair

Repair of the unit comes down to replacing bushings or bearings (depending on the design).

Replacing bushings

Repairs are carried out using the following tools:

• 19 mm wrench;
• vice;
• new bushings;
• lubricant "Litol-24".

The repair sequence is as follows:

We clamp the pendulum in a vice. We take out the cotter pin and unscrew the fasteners.

Troubleshooting and assembly

After disassembling the pendulum, we check the condition of all parts. There should be no defects on the axle and lever (traces of wear, deformation). With high mileage of the car, bushings are subject to wear. Therefore, they have to be replaced with new ones. There should be no cracks or other damage on the bracket. The pendulum is assembled in the reverse order, with Litol-24 applied to the pendulum axis and the hole under it. The adjusting nut should be tightened so that the bipod rotates when a force of 1-2 kg is applied to its end. A dynamometer is used to determine the force.

Video: replacing the pendulum arm bushings on a “classic”

Replacing bearings

With high mileage of the car, the bearings in the pendulum begin to bite and jam, which requires their replacement. The tools you will need are the same as in the previous case, only instead of bushings you need bearings. Repair consists of the following steps:

We clamp the part in a vice and unscrew the adjusting nut, but not completely.

When assembling the pendulum, the bearings are pressed so that rotation is free, but without play.