A detailed procedure with step-by-step photographs will help you replace the steering shaft bearings.
One of the most common breakdowns encountered by users of any vehicle is steering wheel knocking. There may be several reasons for this. It is better to first check the car for a breakdown, rather than immediately go to a service station, where even for the diagnosis itself, you will be charged a decent amount of money. You need to make sure that your wheels are set correctly, then check for dirt or pebbles between the wheels. If the first inspection has not yielded any results, then the problem is most likely in the bearings, which need to be replaced as soon as possible.
How to properly replace the steering shaft bearings
You can carry out all the necessary work personally if you are more or less versed in the design of your vehicle, or then seek help from specialists who will solve your problem within a short period of time. However, you should take into account the fact that this operation will cost a significant amount of money, which can hit your pocket. Moreover, there is nothing super complicated in it to turn to experts. Therefore, it will be much better and faster to do everything yourself, you just need to be patient and have the necessary tools.
Replacing the steering shaft bearings on a VAZ 2110 car consists of several steps that must be performed in the sequence in which they are given below:
1. First you need to disconnect the battery on your vehicle to prevent short circuiting. It is enough only to remove one terminal with a minus sign "-".
2. Next, you need to remove the steering wheel from your car. To do this, turn the ignition key and turn the steering wheel 90 degrees to either side. You will see several nuts with which the steering wheel is attached to the shaft. Using a special wrench, unscrew the nuts, then slowly and carefully begin to remove the steering wheel. This is done so that in some car models there is a spring-loaded system in the steering wheel, from which you can even get injured.
3.Using a special wrench, unscrew the nuts in the place where the steering column switches are attached, after which their bases must be moved towards the driver's seat.
4. Locate the wire that is connected to the oil pressure switch and remove it.
5. Locate the wiring blocks that go to your vehicle's horn, disconnect them, and then remove the paddle switch base from them. 6. Take the ignition key by turning it to the first mark so that the steering shaft is unlocked.
7. In the wiring harness, you need to find the wire that fits the ignition switch, then disconnect it, if possible, or have a bite with pliers.
8. The shear head bolts, with which the steering deck is attached, can be replaced with conventional M6 bolts with a length of 20 mm.
9. Unscrew two nuts each with shear head bolts, then remove the spring and special washers. Broken bolt heads can be drilled out or unscrewed with a screwdriver and hammer.
10. Carefully remove the steering column by pulling it towards you and then sharply lowering it down. Then you should unscrew the bolt securing the propeller shaft to the steering shaft.
11. Remove the bolt and remove the column assembly, while removing the thrust bushing from the shaft.
12. Remove the shaft with bearings from the pipe. It is advised to press it out in the direction of the steering wheel attachment.
13.First of all, the front bearing (from the steering wheel side) is removed from the shaft.
14. If you find that the steering shaft is damaged, you need to replace it with a new one.
15. Then proceed with the removal of the rear bearing. It can be pressed out with a hammer and punch.
16. Before reassembling the new bearings, make sure that they rotate easily on the desired axis. Plastic bearing sleeves must be free from defects.
17. Press the rear bearing all the way into the pipe collar using a suitable drift, applying force only to the outer ring of the bearing. The bearing is mounted on a plastic sleeve, which has a wide flange on one side. When installing the bearing, it is the wide flange of the bushing that must point outward.
18. The front bearing bushings must point towards the shaft.
19. Fit the shaft into the pipe. Make sure the rear end of the steering shaft fits into the rear bearing.
20. Fit the bearings well into the desired rings.
21. Install the steering column. Place the thrust sleeve on the shaft with the larger diameter side.
22. When using special washers, make sure they are installed with the part that protrudes - "a", in the opposite direction from the bolt itself.
23. When installing the base of the steering column switches, before tightening the bolt of its fastening, adjust the position of the base on the steering column. To do this, install the bottom cover and slide the base so that the screw holes in the cover and the base line up. Then carefully remove the cover and tighten the base fixing bolt. Install the steering wheel, then check your vehicle for no knocking while driving.
Now you are convinced that there is nothing difficult in replacing the steering shaft bearings, so do not be afraid to repair your vehicle yourself.
