Front Wheel Drives — Checking Technical Condition (VAZ-2114)

The service life of the drive depends on the condition of its joints. Joints are quite durable, and if the car is used carefully, they can last more than 100 thousand km. As a rule, the outer joints of the drives fail earlier than the inner ones. The service life of the joints is reduced by: an active driving style, interference with the design of the car suspension (installation of spacers between the body and telescopic struts), but most of all - damage to their protective rubber covers. When the cover ruptures, water and dirt get into the internal cavity of the joint. As a result, the lubricant is washed out of the joint, accelerating its wear. Rupture of the protective cover can occur as a result of natural aging of the rubber and mechanical damage (when the car is moving in a deep rut; when the front wheels of the car "dig" into the ground, sand or icy snow; as a result of ice freezing or clay hardening on the outer hinge cover).

If the cover breaks under adverse conditions (dirt, dust, snow) the hinge can become unusable after several tens of kilometers. A damaged protective cover can be replaced if the malfunction is detected before the hinge fails. In this case, the hinge must be disassembled, washed and new grease must be applied (see "Outer drive joint - removal, replacement of protective cover and installation", "Inner drive joint - removal, replacement of protective cover and installation").

Wear of the outer joint may be indicated by clicking sounds in the area of the front wheel hub when driving in a sharp turn. As the joint wears, the clicking sounds will increase and will quickly develop into a constant crunch, even when driving straight. Untimely repairs will lead to the destruction of the joint.

Recommendation: The technical condition of the joints should be checked every 10-15 thousand km. It is best to combine this procedure with an oil change when the car is on a ramp or inspection pit.

To complete the work you will need an assistant, as well as an inspection pit or overpass.

Sequence of execution

1. Prepare the vehicle for work (see "Preparation for maintenance and repair"), hang the front wheels of the vehicle on stands and engage neutral gear.

2. We inspect the protective covers of the drive joints, make sure that they are intact and that there is no lubricant leakage from them.

3. Set the wheels in the direction of straight-line movement. Move and rotate the drive shafts in different directions by hand. This ensures that there is no play between the drive parts.

4. Rotate the front wheels by hand to check the drive shafts for any wobble.

5. By alternately turning the front wheels first one way, then the other and rotating them, we make sure that there are no extraneous sounds (knocks and crunches) in external and internal hinges.

Recommendations: A functioning hinge should not have any extraneous sounds during operation or play between parts. A faulty hinge should be replaced (either separately or the entire drive assembly). A torn cover should only be replaced if the hinge is intact.