Shock absorbers in the car provide controllability and comfortable movement, smoothing out the impact of the suspension on uneven roads. There are a lot of products on the market from various manufacturers of racks that can be installed on domestic VAZ models.
A huge assortment is divided into naturally formed categories according to price and quality of products, and for the convenience of the reader, our review repeats this gradation. The rating of models is based not only on the characteristics of the manufacturer, but also on the experience of practical operation, which the owners kindly share in their reviews.
The best racks for VAZ economy class
The most inexpensive parts for your car are usually bought by people with limited financial resources. For them, the main thing is to patch up the car and go fishing or to the forest for mushrooms. Among the companies operating in the economy segment, there are several leaders.
4 SAAZ
The best domestic gas rack
Country Russia
Rating (2019): 4.5
The leading supplier of spare parts for conveyors of domestic automobile plants is SAAZ. The products of the Skopinsky auto-aggregate plant are well known to domestic motorists. The specialization of the enterprise has recently become the production of gas shock absorbers and stops, telescopic racks. The quality of products meets the requirements of Russian standards and the ISO 9001 system. The technological base is constantly updated, which allows us to successfully compete with foreign companies.
VAZ car owners who installed gas-filled racks note the excellent stability of the car at high speeds. You can go through sharp turns without any problems. So far, in the reviews there are many complaints about the reliability and durability of domestic racks.
3 Monroe
The optimum ratio of price and quality
A country: USA (manufactured in Belgium)
Rating (2019): 4.7
Despite the American origin of the brand, the products have been assembled on the European continent for a long time. The factory located in Belgium is famous for its quality control and it is almost impossible to purchase an original defective part. It is used on many American and European cars, as well as on domestic VAZs. Since the price of products is one of the most balanced, these shock absorbers are in demand in our country.
In the reviews, the owners express their complete satisfaction with the characteristics of MONROE. The range of models produced allows you to choose products in accordance with the preferences of the driver. The most popular among VAZ owners is the Reflex gas-oil strut series - they have better comfort, although they last less than Van-Magnum (they are designed for off-road and have a decent margin of safety, allowing them to operate more than 50 thousand km). Consumers who are faced with a discrepancy between the Monro racks and the declared characteristics, as a rule, purchased a cheap fake under the guise of a branded part. In the domestic market, counterfeiting is common, so the reliability of the supplier when choosing is important.
2 Fenox
Best price
Country: Belarus
Rating (2019): 4.8
The Belarusian concern FENOX Global Group unites a number of enterprises that specialize in the production of spare parts for cars. The first parts were made for VAZ cars. Oil racks are produced for timeless classics, Niva SUVs, eights and nines. The products are of reasonable price with good quality. The consumer is offered both front and rear shock absorbers. All parts are subjected to strict control at the factory, so you rarely hear about defective racks.
Domestic motorists note the good stability of cars when Belarusian shock absorbers are installed on them. The car behaves better on the road, allows you to take corners at a higher speed. Oil models perfectly withstand the test of the Russian winter. From frequent off-road driving, the service life may be limited to one year. Also, among the shortcomings, car owners note the rapid appearance of oil leaks.
1 DELPHI
The toughest oil rack
A country: Great Britain
Rating (2019): 4.8
The largest manufacturer of auto parts in the world is the British company Delphi Corporation. It is the main supplier of components for the General Motors conveyor. For domestic VAZ cars, the British made rigid oil shock absorbers. They allow you to experience pleasant emotions from sports driving, without fear of flying into a ditch. Front and rear racks are offered to owners of the VAZ-2110 model range. Products are manufactured on modern high-precision equipment, using innovative technologies and high-quality materials.
Consumers who managed to install British shock absorbers note the excellent stability of the car on the road. Harsh operating conditions in Russia significantly reduce the life of DELPHI racks. On average, motorists manage to drive about 200 thousand km, but knocks in the knots appear after a run of 150-170 thousand km.
The best racks in terms of price and quality
When choosing suspension struts, some car owners are looking for a middle ground. For a reasonable price, it is possible to supply durable front and rear shock absorbers. They behave well on asphalt, withstand the test of dirt and forest roads.
4 Tokiko
The most reliable stands
A country: Japan (manufactured in Taiwan)
Rating (2019): 4.6
The choice of manufacturers such as Lexus, Toyota (Camry and RAV-4 models) speaks in favor of this little-known manufacturer of car racks in the domestic market. The characteristics of the suspension kits provide better handling and stability of the car on the track. So, the owners who installed racks of this brand on their VAZ 2121 were more than satisfied with the result.
The reviews indicate the quality of work and high reliability that are incomparable with competitors. The car acquires excellent speed characteristics, and the level of driving safety also increases. There is one more advantage of the racks of this brand - due to the low popularity in the domestic market, the percentage of fake original products is much less than that of the closest competitor.
3 God
Quality build. Buyer's Choice
Country: Germany
Rating (2019): 4.8
The racks, which are made by the German company Boge, are included in the factory equipment of various brands of cars manufactured by Volkswagen AG and the Swedish safety standard Volvo. Based on this original product, you can fully trust and have no doubt - the quality of these shock absorbers is commendable.
The product line consists of five concept series, among which Turbo-Gas and Automatic should be highlighted. The latter are the most comfortable oil dampers capable of transforming the car's behavior on the road beyond recognition. True, for a greater effect, the front and rear struts should be changed immediately, but the result is worth it. As for the Turbo-Gas series, gas-oil shock absorbers are adapted to sports driving. The owners who installed Boge on their VAZs note in the reviews that the effect exceeded all expectations - the maneuverability and stability of the car became an order of magnitude higher.
2 BelMag
The best hydraulic strut
Country Russia
Rating (2019): 4.8
Until recently, a young enterprise from Magnitogorsk rented space for the production of auto parts. Today BelMag occupies a leading position in the country, working on its own industrial site. The range includes a wide range of suspension parts, steering gear, transmission, brake system. Deliveries are made to domestic automobile plants VAZ, GAZ, and are also exported. Front and rear hydraulic struts for passenger cars are reliable and durable. Thanks to an extensive dealer network, the products of this company can be purchased in the most remote regions of the country.
Consumers note the good work of shock absorbers on unpaved roads, the car gently goes over bumps and potholes. Excessive softness appears on the asphalt surface, which causes swaying at speeds of more than 90 km / h.
1 Kayaba
High quality and reliability
Country: Japan
Rating (2019): 4.9
One of the best brands, whose products are great for use on domestic cars, including VAZ. There is no doubt about the characteristics of the original racks - the company's supplies are provided not only by the international spare parts market, but also by up to 80% of Japanese assembly lines. The quality of products for assembly and supplied to the secondary market has no differences.
A series of racks are available for a comfortable and sporty ride. Gas-a-Just single-tube rear shocks are popular. They are reinforced and have a high margin of safety, which is an important selection criterion for VAZ owners. The MonoMax series, installed on the front suspension, radically changes the idea of the handling of domestic cars, increasing the steering sensitivity. Based on feedback from owners who prefer aggressive driving, the lightweight Kayaba Ultra SR struts are most effective in high-speed corners, while the Exel-G is great for everyday city driving.
The best racks of the premium segment
Shock absorbers for VAZ cars of the premium segment are distinguished by the highest quality and durable work. For their manufacture, selected materials are used, and the processing of parts and assembly of components is carried out on machines with software. The following manufacturers are included in our top.
4 Bilstein
Excellent performance
Country: Germany
Rating (2019): 4.7
Bilstein racks are positioned on the world market as components for elite cars, but in our country they are also installed on VAZ models. The quality of the products is at the highest level - the suspension kits of this company are used in the factory assembly of Subaru cars, which are distinguished by their reliability.
Before making a choice of one of the series of these racks offered on the market, it is better to take into account the experience of the owners. Drivers who installed Bilstein gas-oil shock absorbers on their VAZs complain in their reviews about the high rigidity of the kits, but at the same time the car received amazing stability in high-speed corners. For aggressive driving enthusiasts, the Sport (B-6) or Sprint (B-8) series are great, and for those who want a little comfort, the oil-damped strut series (B-2) should be chosen.
3 KONI
Buyer's Best Choice
Country: Holland
Rating (2019): 4.7
KONI suspension struts are considered among the best in the world. In Germany, where the lion's share of products is exported, a lifetime warranty is valid for the first buyer, which indicates the indisputable advantages of this brand. In the domestic market, one of the latest developments of the company is in demand - FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) racks, which can automatically change the mode of operation, depending on the nature of the ride.
Despite the fact that such a kit for domestic VAZ cars (2110-2112) is more than expensive, many owners go to such expenses, because the result exceeds all expectations - the dynamics and stability of the car changes dramatically to a level comparable to foreign cars. The feedback from drivers is dominated by positive assessments of the performance characteristics of KONI FSD. True, it is necessary to change all the racks at once. Installing only the front or rear kits will not give the desired effect.
2 SACHS
Long service life. Manufacturer's Warranty
Country: Germany
Rating (2019): 4.9
The largest European manufacturer of shock absorbers and clutches is the German company SACHS Handel GmbH. Production facilities are located in 17 countries of the world. It has more than 6000 types of spare parts in its assortment. The company gives a two-year warranty on all products. Thanks to such a responsible approach, such well-known auto concerns as Mercedes, VW, Volvo, BMW have become consumers. Manufacturers of suspension struts and the domestic auto industry did not ignore.
There are two versions to choose from. The standard blue striped shocks are from the SuperTouring series. For sporty riding, stiffer struts with a red Advantage stripe have been created. Those who put these gas shock absorbers on VAZ cars note the good stability of the car on any road. When buying, it is important not to buy a fake in the hope of saving some money.
1 FINWHALES
Most versatile stand
Country: Germany
Rating (2019): 5.0
The FINWHALE company is an integral part of the well-known German concern Grunntech GmbH. Auto parts of this company have been sold on the domestic market since 1998. It was possible to quickly gain popularity among domestic motorists due to high quality, thoughtful design and reasonable prices. Products under the Finval brand are produced at the most advanced factories in Europe. The main partners of the German company are many auto giants, from Volkswagen to General Motors.
Domestic car owners speak positively about the universal properties of Finval racks. It is enough to put this unit on the VAZ in order to subsequently change only cartridges (there are oil and gas cartridges).
It is worth paying attention to the fact that the front struts on the shock absorbers are made telescopic, and if it becomes necessary to replace them, the procedure can be performed both completely and partially, simply by disassembling it into parts. , you can consider an example of working with one of the racks, because the second is removed in a completely similar way. Do not forget that it is best to raise the car with a lift, but in the absence of it, perform the task on a flat surface.
Getting Started
Start loosening the nuts only after the car is fixed
Before starting work, it will be necessary to put the car on the handbrake and immediately after that, fix special props under its rear wheels. Find the rack rod and, constantly supporting it with one hand, insert the hex key there. Now begin to carefully loosen the nut with the second wrench, continuing to hold the structure further with the hexagon.
Find the brake hose, it is located on the Lada Granta rack bracket, and start unscrewing it from there along with the holder attached to it. Do not forget that when carrying out this work, you will definitely need to remove the brake hoses from this very holder. Using pliers on the steering end pin, press down on the retaining part of the cotter pin and carefully remove it. Only after that it is possible to unscrew the nut from it with a key of 17.
It is necessary to replace the racks only if you find a fluid leak, Lada showed a loss of ability to dampen vibrations. In addition, the rod in the car could be significantly deformed or the silent block was destroyed. Do not forget that the replacement of racks must be done comprehensively, even if you are sure that only one of them is faulty.
Tools needed for work:
- hex key size 6;
- wrench size 13, 17, 19, 22.
Removing the Grant Rack
If, during the repair of the rack on the Lada Grant, you come across the fact that an anti-lock braking system is installed on the brakes of your car, be sure to remove the sensor responsible for the frequency at which they rotate. Then proceed to disconnect the tie rod. This procedure must be performed together with the removal of the tip of the pivot arm of the uprights.
In order to avoid a significant violation of the angles at which the Lada wheels are installed, be sure to note exactly where the highest bolt and the same washer are located. The whole procedure can be done using an ordinary marker. This action will help you in the future to achieve the correct position of the bolt relative to the racks so that the Lada does not begin to lead to the side when moving.
The nuts for fastening the racks must be unscrewed carefully to prevent them from falling.
Unscrew the nut from the bolt that attaches the Lada Grant strut directly to the steering knuckle. Once you complete this procedure, start extracting it in such a way as to grab the eccentric washer at the same time. Now turn away the bottom nut of fastening of a rack. It is located in close proximity to the steering knuckle. Once you have disengaged the mount, remove the bolt. Disconnect the steering knuckle from the rack.
Next, take a look under the hood. In front of your eyes are three nuts, thanks to which the support is attached to the body. It is necessary to unscrew them consistently and carefully, holding the rack so that it does not fall in any case. All work is done using a key of 13. After unscrewing the nuts, we take out the rack.
We take the ties for the springs and install them on the spring, always opposite each other. After that, we evenly scroll the screws of the couplers until the spring begins to hang out. When it stops pressing on the support cups, using a 22 wrench, unscrew the stem nuts. When the nuts are unscrewed, you can disassemble the rack itself. We take out the support of the rack together with the bearing, remove the metal cup and the damper. Remains spring and anther with a chipper.
Installation of a rack on a car
When you have completed all the necessary steps, attach all the parts in reverse order. When performing this procedure, monitor the position of the upper rack.
A special arrow is drawn on it, which, after you have completed all the necessary actions, should be directed in the direction of the future movement of the car.
Extend and retract the rod several times by hand to make sure that the shock absorbers are in full working order, and if a malfunction is found, replace it as well.
Before, make sure that all marks are completely aligned with each other. Also be sure to check the angles at which the front wheels are mounted. If you are sure of a problem, perform a wheel alignment for more reliable operation of the car.
The selection of high-quality parts for car maintenance and repair is an important task for every motorist. In order for the restoration of the car to be of high quality and durable, it is better to use the most interesting options for parts with a sufficiently high quality. It is worth remembering that the reliability of spare parts depends on their service life, as well as the quality of operation. Unfortunately, the cost of parts also depends heavily on this factor. Today we will talk about the racks that are best used on the Lada Grant. Given the fact that factory suspension elements fail for a maximum of 50,000 kilometers, you have to look for something more interesting and non-standard. You can buy factory solutions again only under warranty, when you will be given a free replacement and will not take money directly for the racks.
Today you can buy shock absorber bushings from any manufacturer, including some of the most amazing brands from around the world. In this case, it is not necessary to change the rack assembly; you can make a constructor by placing an insert of a specific selected type. This will completely change the behavior of the car. The stock shock absorbers on the Grant are simply amazing - they behave exactly as the Lada 2110 drove back in 1998. There were no special changes in the suspension. At least with regard to the racks and the comfort of using the car. There are different brands and specific recommendations for rack types. Let's take a closer look at each aspect of purchasing new suspension parts. This will help you better serve the car and get the necessary features of the operation of transport.
Oil or gas-oil - the first question to be decided
If you take inexpensive racks that are made in Russia or China, then in fact there are no differences between oil and gas-oil. But when buying products of a great brand, you can notice a very tangible difference. In particular, gas-oil will be a very tough sports decision. Oil shock absorbers offer customers a number of specific advantages that will be important in the operation of vehicles:
- rather high ride comfort, which can be called a significant progress for Lada Granta, overcoming most of the pits without tangible effects in the car;
- low level of penetration, that is, you will not catch unpleasant sounds when the rack shows its long free play, no risk of breakage;
- a rather long stroke of the rod, it is possible to hang the wheels almost like an SUV, this helps on large bumps and a dirt road;
- your Lada Granta will not only become softer, but will also be able to transmit information about the road more energy-intensive, there are no annoying data, only the necessary details;
- the cost of oil shock absorbers is often somewhat lower than gas-oil ones, so they are bought by the vast majority of owners of domestic cars.
Of course, it all depends on the brand. You can buy an excellent Japanese version of the insert and get just lovely operating opportunities. There is an option to purchase a cheap Chinese rack and be completely disappointed in its operation. But for now, let's limit ourselves to making a decision on the type of shock absorber. It can be soft oil or sports gas oil type.
The manufacturer is one of the most difficult questions for the buyer
Buying unusual expensive shock absorbers is now becoming a necessity. In conditions of very tough competition and the global crisis in the automotive market, cheap companies are starting to produce spare parts worse and worse. Therefore, the products of some corporations have long ceased to be trustworthy and of high quality. It is worth highlighting the following brands as an ideal solution for Lada Granta when buying racks:
- KYB - you can combine liners separately with a stock rack and you get an almost complete Kayaba, shock absorbers are very durable and of high quality;
- Asomi is a fairly affordable brand, but much better than Chinese solutions, a perfectly acceptable solution if you choose an expensive series like Comfort PRO;
- SS20 - the company makes special racks for Grants, so they fit perfectly, quite adequate quality, but a lot of fakes and a number of shortcomings in movement;
- Demfi - not so durable, but quite affordable racks, which are also ideal for Lada Granta, quite high-quality performance, but you need a choice;
- Plaza is one of the cheapest options of more or less decent quality, but only some kits from the manufacturer please with reliability and endurance.
So there are not many chances to choose from brands. Of course, you can try Monroe racks or buy some racing solutions from France and Germany. But it will be too expensive. As well as Kayaba, but this solution is classic, and it fits just perfectly for Lada Granta. If you have enough money for a Japanese manufacturer, buy exactly its offers for your car.
Springs and strut supports Lada Granta - choose the best
Springs are better to put native. No manufacturer offers the same accuracy as VAZ in this case. There is only one reason for this - no one wants a spring manufacturer specifically for Grants, to do it efficiently and cheaply. Therefore, you have to give preference to stock solutions. As for the upper and ball bearings of the Lada Granta struts, you should pay attention to the following features:
- the upper supports of the front struts are most often installed by the Russian SS20, there are options for using more expensive solutions, but this purchase takes a long time;
- but it’s not easy to find the rear upper supports for shock absorbers, Asomi will help you here, but it’s better to contact the officials and buy what was originally in your car;
- VAZ ball joints are worthless and go for 20-30 thousand, so it’s better to buy Belmag or Forward, which are made in Russia and cost very affordable money;
- you can also pick up ball joints of the German Kraft type, but here you should beware of fakes, so always choose parts for price and quality with the master;
- any little things, such as fasteners, bolts, nuts and washers, it is better to buy factory ones, otherwise you may simply not assemble the car properly after disassembly.
There is an opinion that factory parts are always better than analog ones. But in the case of Lada Granta, this is not at all the case. Sometimes you can find quite adequate parts that fit the Granta from German and Japanese brands. And then it turns out to buy really wonderful additions and parts that last for years. However, any part has its own service life, and this must also be remembered.
Replacing racks and supports Lada Granta - a few important features
If the rear suspension is more or less clear, then there is always more mystery in the front. It is the front struts and supports that most often fail. Unless you are constantly pulling a trailer or towing negligent friends. The load on the front of the car is always increased, so you often have to work with the front suspension parts. On Grant, changing the front struts is not so simple:
- first you need to completely remove the rack and disassemble the lower parts of the chassis for subsequent installation on a new mechanism for dampening road irregularities;
- if the rack is assembled new, then there will be much less problems, you just need to install a new one in place of the old mechanism and assemble in the reverse order;
- if only the liner changes, it is worth completely disassembling the rack, removing the spring and removing the shock absorber, checking the degree of wear of all parts and the need to replace them;
- next, replace the strut liner, carry out technical checks right at the assembly site and assemble the shock absorber in its original position;
- this will be followed by installing the rack in place, assembling and rough diagnostics of all the nodes that you repaired, this will give complete confidence in the quality of work.
You need to get tools such as a set of keys and heads, a spring puller, a pry bar, pliers, screwdrivers and other handy tools. Otherwise, you will not be able to completely disassemble the part and carry out its normal restoration. Of course, there are certain difficulties in completing this process, so it’s better to take your Lada Granta to the service and complete all the work in a little over an hour. We offer you to look at the video of the process of replacing the rack on front-wheel drive VAZ cars:
Summing up
There are a number of features of the operation of Lada Granta on Russian roads. For some reason, a domestic car is not very suitable for our roads, it crashes and fails just instantly. Sometimes you come across a car with a good assembly, which does not show any character for 100,000 kilometers. But in most cases, Garnet justifies the title of the cheapest car in the Lada line. And when it comes to racks, the manufacturer saves a lot on these elements. The installation of low-quality suspension elements leads to the fact that more and more people, after buying Grants, repair it under warranty.
However, sometimes it is better to withdraw from the warranty and put in normal racks, supports and other parts. In this case, you will ensure the normal service of the suspension of your car and will be able to establish the normal operation of each node. It will take a certain budget, but it will be able to provide you with comfortable movement without any difficulties and problems. Of course, even the highest quality rack will eventually fail. But it can go far beyond 100 thousand kilometers. What brands of spare parts do you choose to repair the suspension of your Lada Granta car?
The shock absorber strut of the front suspension of a Lada Granta car consists of several elements. It should be disassembled in the case when it is necessary to replace one of the elements of the rack - either a shock absorber (cartridge), or a spring, an upper support, anther.
Below is a schematic diagram of all the components and elements of the front suspension strut.
Designations in the figure: 1-Shock absorber strut (chuck and glass assembly); 2-barrel spring; 3-nut of the rack rod; 4-limiting washer of the upper support; 5-upper rack support; 6-top support bearing and spring cup; 7-bottom spring gasket; 8-chipper (compression stroke buffer); 9-limiter of the compression stroke of the upper support; 10-protective shock absorber cover.
Usually, repairing the front shock absorber strut in a garage does not lead to a good result. In this regard, we will not consider the repair of the strut shock absorber itself. If it fails, replace it with a new one.
In order to disassemble this front suspension assembly, you will need tools (for compressing the spring) and a set of tools (keys "14", "22", hex key "6").
How to disassemble the rack on the Lada Granta
So, to disassemble the rack, follow all the steps below with illustrations. Work sequence| 6. | Now you can remove the upper shock absorber support. |  |
Checking the components and elements of the shock absorber strut
Check the body and shock absorber of the strut for cracks, damage. In case of detection of the latter, replace the rack. It is forbidden to carry out any repair welding work on it, as this may greatly affect further performance.Install the shock absorber strut in a vertical position and try several times, as shown in the photo, to lower and raise the strut rod from lock to lock.
The rod should move without noticeable dips or jumps, without jamming and without knocking. There should also be no signs of shock absorber oil leaking from the strut. If there are any of the above defects, the rack should be replaced.
Then inspect the compression stroke buffer and protective boot.
The parts must not be cracked or damaged, otherwise replace them.
Also inspect the top mount and shock strut bearing.
The bearing must not have axial play in the support housing, and there must be no grease leakage from under the protective rings. Check its rotation, it should be free of jams. Replace doubtful bearing with support.
The same goes for the strut springs. Inspect it for cracks, deformations. Replace it if necessary. 
It is also worth checking the threads on the bolts and nuts and replacing them with new ones as needed.
Assembly of a rack is made in an order, the return to dismantling.
