How to eliminate play in the steering column. Steering rack: backlash and other malfunctions

During operation, the wheel mount loosens and play appears. Untimely elimination of this malfunction can lead to the failure of the bike at the most inopportune moment.

Factors leading to wheel runout

The main reasons for the appearance of backlash can be considered:

• significant wear of the installed bushing;
• damage to radius nuts that occurred on the ball raceways.

In these cases, defective parts simply need to be replaced. They can be easily purchased as separate spare parts from specialist shops.

• Wear of special notches with a sufficiently high relief, which are applied to the lock nuts at the factory and contribute to a closer contact of this product with the radius nut. Increasing the adhesion of the surface of the nuts reduces the likelihood of unwinding. Similar notches should be on the main nuts that attach the wheel to the bike. In this situation, it is recommended to change the nuts for new products.
• The preload between the radius nut and the lock nut is loosened. Needs to be tightened up quickly.
• When installing the wheel on the bike between the locknut and the rear chainstay (colloquially called "trousers"), there was an empty space that contributed to the runout. It is recommended to install a washer here, which will select the void.

Eliminate front wheel wobble

We remove the front wheel. We parse it. We wipe and remove the old grease from the raceways of the balls and bushings.

We put in a new grease and fix 9 balls in it (if they are in bulk) or 7 separator bearings.

Next, we screw the radius nut onto the axle, after which we install the axle into the sleeve, screw the radius nut from the opposite side. Then we align the ends of the threaded axle, remaining on both sides (they should be the same).

We wind the lock nuts, turning them with a notch to the radius nuts. Then, using the keys, we press them strongly. It is important not to forget to set the desired tension of the bearings (balls) correctly. In no case should they be pinched, on the one hand, and not allowed to be as extreme as the remaining wheel wobble, on the other.

When assembling the front wheel, the radius and lock nuts are first tightened from the side of the disc brake. Since it is inconvenient to do this from this side. The nuts are tightened with two wrenches. It is most convenient to use the Swedish key No. 1 for these purposes and a special thin open-end wrench designed to perform just such operations. Buying them is easy. But get the maximum possible pull-up.

Let's go to the other side of the wheel. We also set the tension of the balls and tighten the nuts. With a qualitatively tightened lock nut, the radius nut begins to rotate with it.

But sometimes situations arise when the nuts are overtightened. In this case, they need to be slightly loosened. To do this, turn the radius nut counterclockwise (use a thin open end wrench).
After setting the required tension, a control check is performed and the radius and lock nuts are tightened.

Check axle free play. The void gap formed between the “pants” and the locknut is filled with the installation of a washer of the required thickness, or one of the locknuts is changed (there are two of them on each side, of different thicknesses). Swap thick and thin nuts.
We install the assembled wheel in place and fix it with union nuts. We check the roll.

Removing rear wheel play

On the rear wheel, most often there is a ratchet bushing, much less often - for a cassette. So let's consider the first option.
The wheel is removed, disassembled, wiped, lubricated. Balls or bearings are installed. The axle with pre-screwed radius and lock nuts is put in place.

The ratchet is removed. On the side where it is installed, the radius and locknuts are tightened first. From the side of the disc brake - in the second turn. Do not forget to pre-set the tension of the bearings or balls.

During assembly, a situation often arises when, when the second pair of nuts is tightened, the balls relax. An assistant ("third hand") is required. If not, you can use a bicycle frame as such.

We put the ratchet in place. Check how easily it rotates. Fix in place with a clamping nut. We assemble in the same way as the front wheel.

The need for mandatory removal of the ratchet is due to the fact that without this it is impossible to service the sleeve. Since otherwise it is impossible to tighten the nuts located just below it with the required force and remove the radius nuts.

Voids when installing the wheel in place (in the "trousers") are also selected by installing a thick washer.

The installed wheel is pressed against the bicycle feather with a clamping nut (from the side of the ratchet) and strongly pressed. Only after this operation does it become possible to set the correct tension of the balls without outside help and to clamp the radius and lock nuts with high quality both from the side of the brake disc and from the side of the ratchet.

After that, the wheel is fixed with two nuts to the frame feather, then it is checked for ease of rotation and the absence of play.

Backlash is a term in mechanics that implies the presence of free play in an element of a mechanical system. It is a parameter by which one can judge the amount of movement of the node mentioned above in order to receive a response from another - controlled node.

In other words, the size of the backlash is characterized as the amount of rotation or displacement of the controlled element, which does not lead to any changes in the object.

In the case of a car, u is the steering angle at which the car continues to move in the same direction.

What is meant by total steering wheel play?

Another term that needs to be considered is "total backlash". It refers to the total angle, which starts at the extreme position of the steering wheel on one side, when the turn begins, to the opposite position, when the car starts moving in the other direction.

To understand the principles of operation of the total backlash, it is important to understand the design and operation of the control system. Based on the technical component, the principle of the backlash has the following form.

In the transmission of steering rods there is a rod, which is fixed with a small gap of one or two millimeters.

This distance is necessary to protect the steering gears from wear due to excessive friction.

The presence of a gap is a technological solution that allows you to keep the hook in the required position and not touch the surface of the teeth.

For the driver, this parameter represents the steering wheel free play, which allows to get more precise control of the car and to feel at what point the direction of the vehicle is changing.

In essence, this is the total distance that the steering wheel travels before the car goes to the left or right.

Many mistakenly consider this phenomenon to be negative and try to get rid of it. You should not do this, because steering play is the norm for every car. Another thing is that it must have a strictly defined value.

An interesting pattern can be traced here - the larger the dimensions of the car, the higher the backlash indicator.

In the process of measuring the total backlash, a number of conditions must be met:

• The front wheels are in a neutral position and are on a hard (asphalt or concrete) surface.
• Steering wheel tires are dry and clean.
• The car engine is running. This is true if the operation of the power steering is being tested.
• The tension of the power steering pump drive belt, as well as the level of the working fluid, must comply with the requirements approved by the manufacturer.

The total backlash is checked by measuring the angle of rotation of the control wheel between the fixed positions of the movement change to the left and right.

To obtain accurate parameters, the measurement is made from two or more times.

What is the beginning of the steering wheel turn?

In addition to the above, there is another term that you need to know about - the beginning of the turn of the steered wheel.

This parameter hides the angle of rotation of the wheel by 0.06 degrees with an error of 0.01 degrees in one direction and the other.

The parameter is measured when pushing away from the position of rectilinear motion.

Permissible backlash in cars

The SDA prescribes the normalized indicators of the total backlash for various cars. In addition, this parameter should not exceed the figures specified in the documentation for the operation of the machine.

If there are no special recommendations in the manufacturer's papers, the backlash should be as follows:

• For passenger cars, as well as bus and truck units made on their basis - 10;
• For buses - 20;
• For trucks -25 .

• For VAZ-2106, 2107, 2110, 21213 - 5;
• For Gazelle 3302 - 20 (passenger version) and 25 (truck).

Causes of a large backlash

An explanation for the increase in backlash can be changes in the design features of the steering, as well as the destruction of their elements.

The main reasons include:

Generally speaking, backlash occurs when there is a malfunction in the chain between the steering wheel and the wheels.

To find out the reason, it is necessary to go through the entire chain and identify “weak” points. The main thing is to make sure that we are talking about increased free play, and not about other problems.

Other causes of steering play include:

• Wear or incorrect adjustment of the engagement of the "worm" and the roller mechanism.
• Worn pendulum arm axle or bushings.
• Loose crankcase fasteners.

Signs of breakdown

As noted above, in order to effectively eliminate a malfunction, it must be diagnosed in a timely manner. To do this, it is enough to know the signs of play in the steering.

The main symptoms include:

• The appearance of a knock in the steering mechanism;
• Increased vibrations while driving;
• Creaking when turning the wheels;
• Deviation from the given trajectory with the direct position of the steering wheel.

When adjusting the steering play, you should take into account the manufacturer's recommendations and traffic rules.

The configured parameter should not exceed the upper limit, but it is also not worth underestimating the indicator.

Too little steering wheel play can lead to additional discomfort and poor vehicle handling.

At the same time, the appearance of a small backlash should not be ignored, because over time this parameter may increase, and then it will be more difficult to deal with the problem.

Yes, and it’s inconvenient to drive a car when you constantly have to “catch the road” and turn the steering wheel in one direction or the other.

Diagnosis of the problem and the instruments used

To determine if the parameter is within the norm, you need to do a little check.

To make sure there is a problem, you can use a special device - a backlash meter.

With it, you can check the total (total) play in the system.

One of the options for the device is K 524 M or ISL-M, which can be used by ordinary car owners and professionals at service stations.

With the help of a backlash meter, it is possible to determine the amount of free play in just three minutes, including taking into account the installation and removal of the device.

The algorithm of actions for diagnosing steering play is as follows:

• Start the engine (it should idle);
• Place the front wheels parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine. At the same time, make sure that the hydraulic booster is working;
• Turn the steering wheel in one direction and then in the other direction. At this moment, fix the moments when the front wheels begin to scroll in the required direction. The distance that the steering wheel travels between these gaps is called backlash (free play).

Such a check is considered an excellent option for drivers who need accurate and fast information.

It doesn't matter how the problem was diagnosed. If the play in the steering exceeds the norm, it must be eliminated.

How to troubleshoot: basic methods

To adjust the steering, you will need a standard set of tools that allow you to adjust the mount.

If a manual measurement or the K 524 M device showed an unsuitable result, it is worth doing the following:

• Try adjusting the screws that reinforce the universal joints. You can find these elements on the steering shaft.
• Set the required parameter using the hinge adjusting screw.
• Check the amount of play. If the free play remains above the norm, it is necessary to look for another reason.
• Tighten the adjusting nut on the steering rack (if provided), this will eliminate the gaps between the toothed bar and the drive gear, which may be the cause of the play.

The next step in the adjustment may be to adjust the tie rod joints.

It is more difficult to do this in a garage, because a flyover, a viewing hole or a lift will be required to complete the work.

With a high probability, you will see that the hinges are damaged, and this indicates the need to tighten the screws. In addition, it is worth stretching the tie rods.

If the backlash cannot be eliminated by the methods described above, there is only one solution left - to disassemble the steering mechanism and change the failed parts.

In the absence of the necessary experience and knowledge, you can contact experienced specialists at the service station.

The increased backlash of the VAZ 2107 steering wheel is a fairly common problem that is characteristic of the entire “classic” family. In most cases, you can fix the problem yourself, without resorting to complex expensive repairs. It is only important to correctly diagnose and localize the causes of play in the steering mechanism.

Checking the backlash of the steering wheel VAZ 2107

The large backlash of the steering wheel of the VAZ 2107 is a vague concept. Meanwhile, the allowable steering play has established standards. For the "classics" it is 5 degrees. To check the backlash, a special device is used at the service station - a backlash meter. At home, you can do without it. To do this, you need a ruler, chalk (or wire) and the help of a partner.
Checking the amount of backlash is carried out as follows:

• place the machine on a level surface;
• check the pressure in the tires, pump them up if necessary;
• set the steering wheel so that the wheels are parallel to the axis of the machine;

Important: if the wheels are straight and the wheel spoke is warped, then the wheel alignment angles may be violated, the suspension and steering may be defective. Steering and suspension should be adjusted or repaired.

• place the ruler so that it rests against the dashboard, touches the top of the headlight switch and, at the other end, the wheel rim;
• smoothly rotate the steering wheel while the partner monitors the position of the front wheels;
• as soon as the wheels begin to shift, stop the rotation of the steering wheel;
• make a chalk mark on the steering wheel opposite the ruler (or wrap the steering wheel with wire);
• smoothly rotate the steering wheel in the other direction until the partner notices that the wheels have begun to turn;
• put another mark on the steering wheel with chalk or wrap it with a second piece of wire;
• measure the distance between the marks on the wheel rim.

A play of 5 degrees corresponds to a displacement of 17 mm with a steering wheel diameter of 40 centimeters.

Causes of steering play VAZ 2107

If you notice an unacceptable backlash in the VAZ 2107 steering wheel, the reasons for it may be as follows:

• the central nut of fastening of a steering wheel on an axis is not tightened;
• the nut of fastening of a steering column to a reducer is weakened;
• the worm gear of the steering mechanism is not adjusted;
• worn bushings of the pendulum of the steering mechanism;
• steering rods are damaged or their tips are worn out.

All of these issues require immediate attention. Otherwise, the steering mechanism may fail and the machine will lose control.

How to remove steering play on a VAZ 2107

You should start work by checking the tightening of the threaded connections of the steering mechanism and the condition of the steering rods (tips). Bent tie rods or worn steering knuckles must be replaced. To do this, you will have to use a puller and a 22 wrench. Do not try to align the rods or repair the tips. For safety reasons, these parts should always be replaced with new ones.
Next, you should check the condition of the pendulum and the adjustment of the worm gear.
Worn pendulum bushings must be replaced with new ones. To do this, it is necessary to unscrew the steering rods from it (using a key for 22 and a puller) and dismantle the pendulum from the car by unscrewing the mounting bolts. Clamp the pendulum in a vise, remove the cotter pin and unscrew the adjusting nut. When the nut is unscrewed, you can disassemble the swingarm and replace the worn bushings with new ones. When assembling the pendulum, it is necessary to tighten the adjusting nut so that its bipod rotates with a force of 1-2 kilograms.
If all parts are replaced or in good condition, and the threaded connections are tightened, the backlash of the VAZ 2107 steering wheel is adjusted by adjusting the steering gear. To do this, you need a 19 key and a powerful slotted screwdriver. Adjustment is carried out as follows:

Thus, the play of the VAZ 2107 steering wheel can be adjusted in accordance with the limits set by the manufacturer.

Hello dear car enthusiasts! Tell me, if there were lever controls in the car, like in a tank, you would feel and call yourself a full-fledged driver. Most likely no.

And, since the steering of a car is the system without which we do not fully feel like drivers, then on the agenda: steering wheel repair.

The love of the driver to the steering wheel is postponed at our subconscious level. You can smile, but even in the "dream books" it is written: if you see that someone has broken off the steering wheel on your car, it means that you are completely at a loss. Therefore, we need to keep the steering of the car in perfect order and be able to repair the steering system within our competence.

Steering diagnostics - where to turn the steering wheel for repair

The signs of steering malfunctions that we will now give you are conditionally correct. You perfectly understand that an accurate diagnosis can only be made after opening ... the steering mechanism. And for this we need to know how to remove the steering wheel. But, first, about the signs of steering malfunctions.

• The steering wheel is “heavy” in both directions or during fast rotation - air has entered the power steering, there is not enough oil in the power steering reservoir, or a weak pulley, the steering rack housing has worn out, plus the adjustment may be broken.
• The steering wheel "heavy" in the center means wear on the rack housing.
• The “heavy” steering wheel only in one direction indicates the failure of the rack spools.
• Poor return of the steering wheel to the center position - this may be a malfunction in the chassis, a violation of the alignment of the wheels, wear of the cross of the steering column shaft or wear of the steering mechanism
• The main cause of steering vibration is, most often, impaired wheel balance.
• Steering wheel play means: when the steering wheel is rocked vertically, the bearings in the hubs are defective, when the steering wheel is rocked horizontally, it needs to be replaced. You will see the allowable steering wheel play in the manufacturer's manual for your car.
• A knock in the steering column when the steering wheel is rocking or while driving is a characteristic sign indicating steering play caused by an increase in the gap between the gear and.

Steering wheel play adjustment

So, since we are talking about steering wheel play. Steering wheel play is measured with a simple device - a backlash meter. Its arrow is fixed on the steering wheel, and the scale on the steering column.

Steering wheel play is the angle of free rotation of the steering wheel without movement (turning) of the front wheels. According to GOST RF, steering play is allowed up to 10 degrees. At the stands in the service, if you are too lazy to check the backlash yourself or there is no backlash meter, a steering backlash sensor is used - a steering angle sensor.

Steering Angle Sensor Replacement

Many models now have steering wheel angle sensors. If it fails, the sensor is replaced. In principle, this operation can be carried out independently.

First of all, you need to remove the steering wheel. How to remove the steering wheel will tell you the manual from the manufacturer for a specific car model.

Then remove the steering column cover, the combination switch block and the wiper switch. The housing of the combination switch is completely changed and try not to drop it, as the sensor is very sensitive to shock.

Steering adjustment on the example of a Volkswagen Polo

The purpose of the adjustment is to move the steering rack stop. Adjustment is made using the adjusting screw, which is located in the end cap of the steering mechanism.

• To access the adjusting screw, the car must be raised: onto a platform or onto a flyover.
• The wheels of the car are set straight and wiggle the steering wheel left and right should give you a knock in the steering.
• We screw in the adjusting screw, systematically swinging the steering wheel. The knock is gone, so you need to conduct a test drive.

If the steering wheel is difficult to return, the adjusting screw must be slightly loosened. And thus bring the steering to the desired parameter: there is no knock or obvious play and the steering wheel freely returns to its place. Steering adjustment should be carried out with an assistant.

Changing the direction of the car is the main purpose of steering. The mechanism ensures the movement of the car in a given direction.
The backlash of the VAZ 2109 steering wheel is an unpleasant source of knocks and uncontrollability of the car. How to eliminate the steering play in the VAZ 2109 with your own hands, this article suggests that you read this article.

Steering units of a car VAZ 2109

The main components of steering:

• steering mechanism. It increases and transmits a certain force to the drive for the steering wheel. This force is transmitted to the driver.

On the diagram:

• 1 - steering wheel.
• 2 - shaft with a drive gear at the end.
• 3 — .
• 4 - steering rods.
• 5 - rotary levers.
• 6 - drive wheels.

Turning the steering wheel by the driver rotates the gear, it causes the rack to move left or right. Then the rack transfers the force that comes to the steering wheel to its drive.

• Another steering unit is its drive. On the VAZ 2109, it is equipped with two rods that transmit force to the levers, leading to the rotation of the telescopic racks located on the wheel suspensions. Racks turn the wheels left or right.

Causes of backlash

If, while driving, the vehicle starts:

• Reacts to his actions with some delay.
• They are difficult to manage.
• The front wheels do not turn well with a sharp turn of the steering wheel when the car is stationary.

Such troubles indicate the presence of increased play in the steering wheel - a gap between the elements in the control system, the formation of which is associated with rotational movements.
The reasons due to which steering play appeared on the VAZ 2109 can be:

• Untimely or poor-quality lubrication causes wear of parts.
• Incorrectly adjusted or loosened fastening of the steering rods and elements of the steering mechanism.
• The pressure in the chambers of the front wheels has decreased or there is no air.
• Received the deformation of the steering rods.
• Driving at high speed on a bad road.
• Large variable loads.

Tip: The gap must be removed as soon as possible, otherwise it can lead to irreparable consequences. The steering wheel play of the VAZ 2109 should not be more than ten degrees. When checking the backlash on a vehicle with power steering, the engine must be running.

How to measure steering wheel play

The instruction indicates that in order to measure the backlash of the VAZ 21093 steering wheel, you need to purchase a backlash meter.
If not, then this operation can be carried out in a simple way:

• The front wheels are placed in the straight ahead position.

Tip: You need to pay attention to the position of the drive wheels. If it corresponds to a straight-line movement, but the steering wheel spokes are not in a horizontal position, then there is a violation in the angles of the wheels, there are defects in the suspension or steering.

• The ruler is installed so that its end rests against, the lever for switching the headlights is touched by its middle part, and the plane of the ruler touches the outer surface of the steering wheel rim, as shown in the photo.

• Without changing the position of the ruler, the steering wheel turns in either direction before the front wheels begin to turn.
• A mark is applied to the steering wheel rim in this position, the wire can be fixed.
• Without changing the position of the ruler, the steering wheel turns the other way until the front wheels begin to turn.
• A second mark is applied, the wire is fixed again.
• The distance between the marks along the rim is measured. Its value should not exceed the calculated value.

Backlash is converted into linear units (millimeters) using the formula:
L=(5°360°)hD, where
L - clearance in millimeters of the steering wheel;
h = 3.14;
D is the outer diameter of the rudder, mm. For a regular steering wheel, it is 400 millimeters.
Then L=(5°/360°)x3.14x400=17 (mm)
5 ° 360 ° - the optimal play of the steering wheel.

• If the distance L is greater, and it is not possible to bring it by adjustment, then it is necessary to carry out a further check of the steering in order to determine the reason why the free play has increased.

The backlash of the steering wheel up and down the VAZ 21093 appears due to a crack in the steering bracket. Therefore, to remove it, you need to replace or repair the bracket.
You may need to replace the screws that hold it in place. How to determine the steering play on a VAZ 2109 car can be clearly seen in the video.
If an increased gap is detected, faults must be found and eliminated.
For this:

• The reliability of fixation to the frame of the rudder crater on the steering wheel shaft is checked. If necessary, you need to fix them.
• The reliability of the steering wheel on the shaft is checked by rocking it perpendicular to the plane of rotation. In the presence of pitching, you need to tighten the nuts securing it.

Before the trip, it is imperative to check the car in order to avoid an emergency and victims later. No repair cost will be higher than the cost of a human life.
With unreliable and bad driving, a car can become a death machine when innocent people get hurt.