How to replace a Chevrolet Niva wheel bearing yourself: what you need to know

How to determine the serviceability of a wheel bearing on a Lada 4×4?

Before replacing a bearing, you need to make sure it is faulty. One of the symptoms is a hum when driving on the highway, which changes when cornering. But the hubs on the Niva can be adjusted. If the car's mileage does not exceed 20-30 thousand kilometers, then the hub on the Chevrolet Niva simply needs to be adjusted. After several adjustments, adjustment is no longer acceptable and the faulty bearing must be replaced.

How to determine its malfunction? It is enough to do the following:

1. Hang up the wheel.
2. Grab the wheel with both hands and swing it in a vertical plane. Large play is a sign of a malfunction.
3. Spin the wheel by hand. It should spin for a while without making a sound. The presence of extraneous noise is a sign of a problem.

What signs indicate bearing failure?

The Niva's radial and axial loads are taken by the rear shaft axle bearing. Other parts have their own problems, but the symptoms of a malfunction remain approximately the same in almost all situations:

1. Extraneous noises, metallic knocks;
2. The appearance of backlashes. It is easy to check when the wheels swing perpendicular to the bearing axis;
3. Vibration while driving inside the cabin;

As soon as the driver hears one of the characteristic sounds of bearing wear, it is recommended to immediately go for repairs. Most often, Chevrolet Niva wheel bearings fail. An SUV is more likely to experience axle loads.

Which bearing to choose?

The best wheel bearings for the Chevrolet Niva and short Niva can be selected from the list below:

• FINWHALE - price 450 rubles;
• AVTOVAZ - price 350 rubles;
• KOYO - price 800 rubles;

Also good companies are SKF and SNR.

Adjustable bearings should not be confused with the new type of double row bearings. They are different in width, price and article number. The catalog number of the wheel bearing on Niva is 2121310302010 . This number is the adjustable bearing.

Release bearing: replacement recommendations

Removing the gearbox is a mandatory step for those who are interested in replacing a Chevrolet Niva release bearing that has failed. The work is labor-intensive, because you have to remove the drive shaft. It's good to have an assistant.

The following procedure is relevant when replacing the clutch mechanism:

1. Installing the car on the inspection hole and removing parts;
2. Removing the gearbox;
3. If it is necessary to replace the bearing, the part is pulled out. Its base must be disengaged from the fork. The plug is removed from the structure, then the part is easy to remove.

The main difficulties are associated with removing the gearbox. Replacing a bearing is an operation that takes no more than 10 minutes. Before installing a new part, it is recommended to lubricate it thoroughly. The quality of the material used determines how durable the structure will be in the future.

How to replace front bearings on a Chevrolet Niva?

To perform this procedure, you must complete the following procedures:

1. Hang up and remove the front wheel of the car. Also remove the protective cap of the hub nut:

2. Unscrew the nut 27 of the wheel bearing and unscrew it:

3. To prevent the hub from turning, you can fix it with a mounting tool:

4. Remove the brake caliper. To do this, you must first remove the pads. Then unscrew the caliper bracket and remove it. The caliper itself with the pistons can be suspended on a suspension spring or any other element. The main thing is not to damage the hoses:

5. Remove the hub with the brake disc:

6. Remove the cotter pin of the steering end nut:

7. Unscrew the nut 22 securing the steering tip to the steering knuckle:

8. Applying light blows to the tip and eye, knock it off the steering knuckle. Or use a puller:

9. We knock the ball joints off the steering knuckle. How to do this is described here. After this, take out the steering knuckle and remove the outer oil seal from the bearing:

10. Remove the thrust ring:

11. We take out the bearing itself:

12. We install a cylindrical stop under the steering knuckle, larger in diameter than the hub bearing on the Niva.

13. Knock out the bearing with a drift:

The photo below shows where the drift rests to remove the outer race of the Lada 4×4 wheel bearing:

15. Clean the old seat from dirt and rust. Press in the new bearing race. You can use the clip of an old part as a mandrel. To do this, you can clamp the parts in a vice and gradually press the part inside the steering knuckle or use a press:

You can use another mandrel:

16. The pressed-in clip looks like this:

17. Lubricate the holder well with lithol:

18. Lubricate the wheel bearing well with a portion of lithol and place it on the outer race:

19. Reassemble all the elements in the reverse order: install the steering knuckle on the Niva, secure the ball joints, steering end and caliper. Adjust the new bearing. This procedure is mandatory!

Adjusting the clearance in Niva hubs

After installing a new bearing, a new wheel nut should also be used. The wheel must be on the car.

Adjustment of the front hubs on the Niva and Chevy Niva is carried out as follows:

1. Screw the hub nut all the way and loosen slightly.
2. Checking the play. If it persists, tighten the nut.
3. We check the play again.
4. The procedure is carried out until the backlash disappears.
5. Use a sledgehammer to break a tire or drive a Niva a couple of meters.
6. A small backlash appears. We also tighten the nut and leave it barely noticeable.
7. Now the nut can be tightened.

Attention! You should drive the car for one day, after which, adjust the bearing again.

This is how wheel bearings are replaced and adjusted on Niva 2121, 21213, 21214, 2123 and Lada 4×4.

Adjusting the wheel bearing

To work, you will need an indicator and a torque wrench.

To prepare for adjusting the wheel bearing, you must perform the following operations:

• Secure the indicator by resting its leg on the hub near the adjusting nut.
• Place spanners on the studs and secure them with nuts.
• Rotate the hub and move it axially. (Screwed spanners are used as handles).
• Measure the amount of axial movement (clearance) of the hub, guided by the indicator readings.
• If the stroke exceeds 0.15 mm, adjust the play.

The adjustment is carried out as follows:

Important: when tightening, it is necessary to rotate the hub in different directions.

• Loosen the nut and tighten again with a torque of 0.7 kgf*m.
• Loosen the tension by turning the key 20-25 degrees counterclockwise.
• Check hub play.
• Make sure that the indicator readings correspond to the norm (0.02-0.08 mm).
• Lock the nut by pressing its edge into the groove of the outer CV joint.

You can adjust the hub play without using a torque wrench. To do this you need:

• Tighten the nut tightly.
• Rotate the wheel a few turns.
• Check the play.
• If necessary, loosen or tighten the nut slightly.
• Continue until the free play of the hub is within 0.02-0.08 mm.
• Lock the nut collar.

Video instructions for adjusting the wheel bearing

You can install IVECO non-adjustable bearings on Chevy Niva. To do this, you need to buy the appropriate hubs or remake the old ones. For the rework you will need a jig boring machine. In addition to boring the mounting hole, you will have to make spacer rings. Drawings of parts are provided at the link.

Attention! Rework makes sense only if you have turning skills and free access to the machine. Otherwise, it is easier and cheaper to buy ready-made hubs for non-adjustable bearings.

The design of the rear wheel mounting of the Chevrolet Niva is very different. However, they also use bearings that need periodic replacement. They are replaced either together with the axle shafts or separately. The second option is much cheaper, but requires good metalworking skills and a torch to heat the metal.

To work you will need:

• Jack, wheel wrench, chisel, hammer.
• Standard set of screwdrivers and wrenches.
• Axle puller.
• Gas (gasoline) burner or muffle furnace.
• Repair kit including bearing, oil seal and retaining ring.
• A pipe with a diameter of 40-45 mm, the length of which exceeds the size of the axle shaft.

Replacement of bearings is carried out as follows:

• Place the machine on a level surface.
• Place wheel chocks or bricks under the front wheels.
• Jack up the car.
• Remove the wheel.
• Place a support under the rear axle.
• Unscrew the brake drum mount.
• Dismantle the part.
• Unscrew the nuts holding the bearing.
• Load the rear axle by lowering it onto the stand.
• Pull out the axle shaft using a puller.
• Hang the brake mechanism on a wire.
• Knock down the retaining ring using a chisel, hammer and grinder.
• Crack the bearing races using a chisel.
• Remove rust and dirt from the seating surface.
• Put the new bearing in place.
• Heat the locking ring to 200-250 degrees (dark red color) and hammer it into the seat with a pipe
• Replace the oil seal.

Assembly is performed in the reverse order of disassembly. The bearing does not need adjustment.

The Chevrolet Niva SUV (VAZ 2123) is reliable and, like no other car, is adapted to the realities of road conditions in Russia. Thanks to the arrangement of the hub, wheel bearing, brake drum, and wheel disk, a community of parts is created that can withstand heavy loads. The greatest pressure falls on the wheel bearing; in fact, it holds the entire mass of the car.

Unfortunately, even on such a car, harsh operating conditions have a sad effect on the components, especially the suspension. Therefore, sometimes the wheel bearing fails.