Non-adjustable hubs on the Chevrolet Niva: overview, diagram, device and reviews

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Any car is not only a trip, but also a repair. This article talks about how to properly install non-adjustable hubs on the Chevrolet Niva.

Car "Niva"

"Niva" is perhaps one of the most popular SUVs, not only in Russia but also abroad. Since the end of the seventies, this car began to be produced by the AvtoVAZ company. The very first model was named VAZ-2121.

It was almost impossible for a simple resident of the Soviet Union to get this car: almost eighty percent were exported, and the remaining twenty were released in turn. At the price at that time, this model was second only to the Volga, that is, the car that the state apparatus used as the main car. In the West, real legends circulated about the new SUV - it was appreciated even where it had its own auto industry (for example, France, Germany or England).

In the mid-eighties, Niva cars with Soviet racers inside took all three prizes in the Australian rally-raid. car salessoared: in Australia itself - twice, in Europe - four or more, depending on the country.

Indeed, this was a new word in the annals of the development of light off-road vehicles, and it was written precisely by Soviet designers.

First changes and Lada 4x4

Since the mid-nineties, or rather since 1995, they began to make changes to the design of the car. Firstly, if earlier the car had a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder 73-horsepower gasoline engine, now the volume has been increased to 1.7. The manual gearbox now had five steps instead of the previous four. Secondly, they changed the dashboard, installed more comfortable seats in the cabin, replaced the rear lights with more modern ones in order to try to look closer to the Western car industry.

In 2006 "Niva" was officially renamed into "Lada" 4x4, and the models coming for export were called "Lada Taiga" 4x4 - this is how the car is now called in European countries. Externally and internally, if the car has changed, it is insignificant: new mirrors appeared - more, they changed the indicators and instruments on the panel. Released in 2015, a new car model called "Lada 4x4 Urban", which is considered "luxury", has not received any major changes - except perhaps new bumpers, power windows and air conditioning in the cabin.

Chevrolet Niva: creation and reviews

In general, AvtoVAZ tried to come up with a car to replace the Niva back in the late eighties. It wasit is quite logical that you won’t last long on the glory of a new SUV at that time, and in order to “not lose face”, a replacement was necessary. But at first the project remained only in paper form.

In 1998, a sample of the VAZ-2123 was presented, which was considered "the very replacement." But until 2002, mass production was not established.

In 2002, the license for this model, and at the same time the Niva brand, were sold to the General Motors concern. The technicians of this company made about a thousand different changes to the appearance and "stuffing" of the SUV, which made it possible to consider the new car as an independent and independent model from now on. In September 2002, a conveyor was launched, from which the Niva Chevrolet car began to roll.

In 2009, the design of the car has changed.

According to those who bought this car, it was still the same AvtoVAZ, and even attempts to intervene and achieve changes for the better in terms of electronics and design did not bring good results. But, as the car owners note, this did not affect the off-road qualities - the Niva is still passable in impassable conditions.

What is a hub

The front hub is the part of the suspension on which the car's wheels are attached. Bearings are installed inside this part so that the car rides smoothly. The strength of the hub itself, and hence the reliability of the wheel fastening, depends on the diameter of the so-called hub disk. Usually sizemanufacturers make such a disk a little larger than the diameter of the installation hole - so that there is no skew.

Pads and axle shaft flanges are attached to the front hub. Thus, it is possible to securely fasten the rim and ensure smooth rotation of the wheel. All parts of this design are made of cast iron or other alloys, on machine tools. The front hubs are attached to the car using parts such as bearings. Like any part, they wear out, which leads to breakdowns. Having already tried to fundamentally solve this problem, manufacturers of various brands of machines install non-adjustable wheel bearings. Niva Chevrolet is one of these brands. Now let's take a closer look.

Niva non-adjustable hubs

Any car has weaknesses. In this case, these are the front hubs, which previously had to be periodically adjusted for normal operation, which, of course, could not but affect the reviews of car owners. That is why the designers created an unregulated hub for the Chevrolet Niva in order to avoid unnecessary fuss in terms of repairing the car.

In general, independent adjustment of bearings is almost impossible, due to the very complex design. Also, do not over tighten the bearings. And besides this, there are a whole bunch of difficulties that are difficult to solve without the intervention of masters. It was in order to make life easier for motorists that unregulated hubs were installed on the Niva. Feedback from those who have already purchased a car with this innovation can be summarized in a specific list:

• no need to deal with constant minor repairs and maintenance of this part, whether it be lubrication or adjustment;
• bearing won't turn on hub;
• no need to constantly lubricate the hub, and even suffer, choosing a better lubricant;
• no friction occurs;
• there will be no need to replace the bearing.

A whole bunch of pluses if this mechanism is installed on the car. But now a reinforced unregulated hub is being produced for the Niva. But if the car owner is confident in his abilities, then everything can be done by hand.

Niva non-adjustable hubs: homemade

If outwardly, the difference looks like this:

This is if everything is turned on the machine, with the help of masters. This "thickening" is more reliable.

The article contains drawings according to which you can make non-adjustable hubs for the Niva with your own hands.

This requires things such as a double-row bearing from the car "Moskvich" 2141 and retaining rings (two pieces) from the same car.

We take the drawings and go with them to the masters, whose task is to bore the hub for fitting new bearings, grind the steering knuckles and make all the details according to the given schematics.

After making all the parts, it is necessary to press in the double row bearing and assemble everything in the reverse order.

The hub nut is already tightened as much as possible, because there will be no need to adjust - you have an unregulated front hub ("Niva") ready.

If you strictly follow all the recommendations, then your "Niva" will run, no longer requiring "climb and move".

And the final diagram is already an illustration of the final assembly of a non-adjustable hub.

And if you buy

Of course, you can not suffer, not look for parts from Moskvich, but just go to the store and buy what you need to install non-adjustable hubs on the Niva.

This hub assembly, if purchased, should consist of fists with pressed bearings, hubs and anthers - each item should be two pieces. You need to know how many splines the hub has on your car so that you don’t make a mistake when buying new ones. Specifically for "Niva", there are kits that go for twenty-two and twenty-four slots.

It is best, of course, to install non-adjustable hubs on the Niva at any service center. But if there is enough knowledge and experience, the driver can handle it himself. It is advisable, when installing new parts, to use new nuts and studs. And also - lubricate all the elements of the mechanism to prevent them from souring. Before you install the caliper, it is best to clean it, because it affects the course of your car's pads.

What might put off this option is the price. It is very high for the hub assembly, even in car markets, where prices are always slightly lower than in stores, for example, in AvtoVAZ stores, where there are parts for the Chevrolet Niva car. An unregulated front hub costs about three thousand rubles and more.

Summary

The non-adjustable hub on the Chevrolet Niva is a very important detail. It makes car trips more comfortable. Nevertheless, the hub assembly, which is factory, especially from old models, is not to the liking of very many who have a Chevrolet Niva car. The non-adjustable hub is the absence of unnecessary noise, hum and the ability to concentrate all your attention on the road.

This is interesting

And as a conclusion, some interesting facts about Niva:

• in 1998, this car under its own power climbed to the base camp at the foot of Everest - and this is 5200 meters above sea level; in 1999 - on a plateau in the Himalayas, at a height of 5726. This is a record to this day.
• "Niva"she even visited the North Pole, as part of the world "Paratroopers' Day" - the car was dropped by parachute, and after a successful landing, the car started up and drove off. It happened in April 1998.

At the Russian polar station "Bellingshausen" this brand of car worked without sparing its horsepower for twelve years.