How to replace the front strut support bearing

Front shock absorber strut support bearing - purpose, cost, replacement

In any passenger car, regardless of design, the suspension must provide a smooth ride, good handling, each element of the chassis plays its role, and there are no unnecessary spare parts.

The support bearing is a part of the front suspension, without which it is impossible to imagine a front-wheel drive car; if it were not there, the steering wheel would turn very tightly, with a terrible squeak, and it would be impossible to drive the car.

Why do you need a support bearing?

The question of why a support bearing is needed is asked by many novice car enthusiasts, but before you figure it out, you need to understand how shock absorber struts work and are installed.

Shock absorbers in a car are designed to ensure a smooth ride, smooth out shocks and vibrations when driving on uneven roads, bumps and potholes.

On front-wheel drive cars, the struts are attached to the body at the top, to the so-called “glasses”, and at the bottom they are connected to the steering knuckles.

The support bearing (PU) is often called the upper shock absorber support; this generally simple device plays a very important role in the suspension of the car, and if it is faulty, it will become difficult to drive the car. It is necessary to monitor the condition of the supports and replace them in a timely manner - we must not forget that traffic safety depends on them.

A typical OP consists of three parts:

an upper metal plate with fasteners (most often these are three studs);
lower base;
directly to the bearing itself.

The lower and upper plates are rigidly connected to each other, the bearing itself is usually pressed into the body of the support, and the design options for the OP can be different; each automaker uses its own design solutions. With the help of a support, the shock absorber strut is fixed to the body; due to the OP, the shock absorber rotates smoothly relative to the body, with no play.

What types of support bearings are there?

The upper shock absorber mounts on different car models can differ significantly in design and mounting;

with two or three studs;
with threads in the body of the cup for screwing in bolts.

To dampen oscillations and vibration, shock absorber cups often have a rubberized surface or separate elastic elements, and the bearing itself can be pressed out and replaced.

What other support bearings are there? There are car models on which the upper support is not attached to the body “glass” with studs or nuts; the shock absorber is held in place by the upper steel plate.

A wide metal washer is secured here with a nut screwed onto the shock absorber rod; to ensure a soft connection, a rubber spacer is placed under the plate (a similar design is found on the Chery Amulet car).

In some designs, the upper support consists of several parts; they may contain separate upper and lower cups, rubber buffers, and the bearing itself. When assembling the shock absorber strut, all parts are installed in a certain order; they must not be mixed up.

Front shock absorber support bearing faults

Like any parts in a car, OPs wear out and break over time; these suspension elements have their own service life. For each car model, the shock absorber supports have their own service life; on average, parts can last from 50 to 100 thousand kilometers without replacement. But for various reasons, support bearings can fail prematurely; the main causes of failure are:

driving a car on bad roads;
poorly performed repairs (for example, during installation the nuts were not fully tightened);
low quality of spare parts or defects, most often non-original parts are of poor quality;
destruction of the OP as a result of an impact (when hitting an obstacle or due to an accident);
ingress of dirt and moisture onto the parts of the “support”; on many car models these parts are not protected in any way.

To make sure that the upper support is faulty, it is necessary to carry out diagnostics; in general, checking the support bearing is not difficult, but it is better to diagnose the suspension together.

How to check the serviceability of the front strut support

The OP check is performed when the car is parked on a level surface; there is no need to hang the wheels. Diagnosis is carried out as follows:

one of the inspection participants in the front rocks the car up and down;
another person performs a visual inspection to see if there are any gaps.

Additionally, you can turn the steering wheel and observe the behavior of the shock absorbers, put your hand on the upper support while rotating the steering wheel or rocking the car - if there is play, you will feel it with your hand; clicks and squeaks may also be heard. Another diagnostic option is to grab the top cup protruding above the glass and try to rock it from side to side, in this case the play will also be noticeable.

Signs of a faulty support bearing may include:

knocking in the front suspension while the car is moving;
periodically occurring creaking while turning the steering wheel;
crunching, knocking from the front when driving on an uneven road, for example, when driving at a railway crossing;
tight turning steering wheel;
instability of the car on the highway.

It is possible to accurately identify the fault only by disassembling the shock absorber struts and performing a visual inspection of the parts.

Support bearing cost

The upper support of the front strut is a relatively inexpensive part; the cost of a spare part depends on the car model, brand, design features; it is no secret that car shops can sell the same spare parts at different prices.

The approximate price of a shock absorber bearing is from 150 to 2200 rubles; for prestigious foreign cars, parts usually cost significantly more; you can buy cheaper ones from non-original production.

As you can see, the range in prices for these spare parts is quite large; the most expensive bearings are sold for cars:

Mazda 3;
Toyota 4Runner/ Avensis;
Nissan Juke;
Honda CR-V;
Mercedes W204;
Lexus RX300;
BMW X6.

At a very affordable price you can purchase support bearings for such car models as:

Chevrolet Lacetti;
Daewoo Matiz;
Honda Fit;
Nissan Almera;
Chery Amulet;
Hyundai Accent.

Support bearings for Chinese and Korean cars are generally inexpensive; spare parts for brands such as BMW, Audi, Lexus, and many purely American cars are almost always more expensive.

Replacing the support bearing

Changing a support bearing is not very difficult, and almost every driver can do the job if he has the necessary tools and at least a little plumbing experience. It is more convenient to replace the OP in a pit or a car lift, but it is also possible to carry out repairs on a flat area, for example, in a garage or on the street near the house.

What kind of keys are required for repairs depends on the specific car model; in addition to combination and ring keys, sockets with collars, hexagons and sprockets are often used. To change the support bearing, it will be necessary to remove and disassemble the shock absorber strut, so in any case you will need:

hammer;
screwdrivers;
pliers;
mount;
set of spring ties;
remover of ball joints (steering rods).

Cars such as Mitsubishi, Renault or Chevrolet often require keys of non-standard sizes - 16, 18, 21 and 23.

How to change the support bearing on a VAZ-2115 car

To replace the OP without a lift, the car will have to be jacked up; before starting work, stops should be placed under the rear wheels. Next we perform the following steps:

unscrew the hub nut, for this purpose you will need a 30mm head with a wrench or pry bar (depending on the design of the head);
remove the front wheel on the side where the bearing will be replaced, hang the car on a jack, and install a stand under the threshold to secure it (you can use a wooden block);
Having pulled out the cotter pin with pliers, unscrew the nut holding the steering tip, using a puller, disconnect the tip from the shock absorber strut;
unscrew the two caliper bracket bolts (13 wrench), if necessary, hold the caliper guide with the “17” wrench;
move the caliper to the side on the brake hose;
disconnect the ball joint (two bolts) from the steering knuckle, move the assembly with the axle toward you, freeing the hub from the CV joint splines;
from above, under the hood, tighten the three nuts of the upper support (13 wrench);
Having removed the rack assembly, use zip ties to compress the spring evenly on both sides;
Having fixed the shock absorber rod in a stationary position with a special wrench, use a 22 mm head to unscrew the nut that holds the entire structure, including the support bearing;
Next, remove the old bearing from the rod, install a new bearing without removing the couplers, tighten the nut to 22 until it stops;
loosen and remove the ties and assemble.

Some car owners recommend using a gas wrench instead of a special wrench to hold the shock absorber rod, but this is not recommended; you can scratch the mirror surface, and then the shock absorber will leak.

Since many VAZ models have an identical suspension design, exactly the same as on the VAZ-2115, replacement is carried out on cars 2108-09-099, 2110-11-12, 2113-14. Due to the fact that with this sequence of operations the steering knuckle is not disconnected from the shock absorber strut, wheel alignment is not necessary after repair.

Some Tips for Replacing the Front Shock Absorber Upper Mount

When disassembling, the hub nut should be loosened before you remove the wheel; if the car is already suspended on a jack, it will not be easy to move it.
If you do not have a ball joint and tie rod remover, the steering tip can be knocked out by hitting the joint joint with a heavy hammer, the blows must be sharp and precise.

Even if the tip seriously “boils” in the connection, after several attempts it will still come off.
To make it more convenient to disassemble the shock absorber strut after removal, you can immediately (while the shock absorber is still on the car) loosen the shock absorber rod nut.
To make the nuts and bolts easier to turn off during the next repair, it is recommended to treat the fasteners and threads with graphite lubricant during assembly.
When removing the shock absorber assembly with the hub and steering knuckle, it is a good idea to check the condition of all suspension parts on this side of the wheel.

Such diagnostics will save your money and time, because it is often discovered that along with a defective support bearing, for example, a shock absorber is also faulty, or the outer CV joint has a large amount of play.
You need to compress the spring with ties gradually, squeezing the coils little by little on one side and the other.

The spring is compressed until the upper support begins to rotate freely; too much compression of the coils is not required, and in general it is unsafe.

In general, replacing the support bearings on the front struts is quite simple; to make a replacement, you don’t have to go to a car service center; you can do the work yourself.

Source: https://avtobrands.ru/opornyj-podshipnik-perednej-amortizatornoj-stojki-naznachenie-stoimost-zamena/

How to determine the malfunction and replace the support and support bearing of the front shock absorber strut

In a MacPherson strut suspension system, support bearings play a key role. They are the connecting link between the front suspension and the car body.

The quality of driving, comfort and traffic safety directly depend on the condition of these elements. Sometimes there comes a time when it is necessary to determine possible malfunctions of these elements in the rack.

We will talk about how to diagnose and, if necessary, replace them.

Support bearing mechanism design

In fact, the weight of the front of the car (including the engine) rests on this unit. When the front wheels turn, the bearing experiences lateral loads, which accelerates its wear.

A typical arrangement of support bearings can be seen in the diagram:

Diagram of support elements

Even a minor malfunction or critical wear of a bearing immediately affects the operation of the suspension and steering.

Symptoms of malfunction: shock absorber knocks, creaks, etc.

Since the bearing has a mechanical connection with the support cups of the struts, the slightest play immediately produces characteristic knocks in the body.
Turning the steering wheel becomes difficult, this is especially noticeable on cars without power steering.
When turning, you can hear a creaking sound in the area of the support cups.

Checking serviceability: do-it-yourself diagnostics

A more detailed check can be done using the assistant:

Open the hood and have a helper turn the steering wheel (if you have power steering, start the engine). When you place your hand on the support, you will feel impacts and clicks. The fault can be more accurately determined using a car stethoscope.
If you don’t have a car stethoscope, a regular medical stethoscope will do.
Rock the car from side to side with the help of a partner. A faulty support will make knocking noises.

Replacing the front strut support and bearing

The work is carried out in a garage. The presence of a pit or lift is not necessary.

What tools are needed to replace

Socket wrench with curved handle.
Special head for disassembling racks. Select a head after consulting with a consultant, all tools are different
Long head (candle).
Special key for the rod.
The usual kit is a ratchet with a set of heads to match the size of the fastener.
Torque wrench.
Tie for strut springs.

How to withdraw and change

First, we completely dismantle the rack. First of all, you need to unscrew the upper shock absorber rod using two keys.
A special key can also be used for dismantling
The lower part of the rack is removed in the traditional way or simply removed from the support bowl. To do this, the car is raised with a jack. Then the support is removed.
If the support bearing is faulty, it makes sense to inspect the entire shock absorber assembly.
If damage to any of the elements is visible, it requires replacement
After dismantling the rack with support, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the seat from dirt and check the mechanism for corrosion damage. Then you need to clean the metal from corrosion (if any), treat it with a rust converter and paint it.
The old support, especially if damaged, cannot be repaired, so it is replaced with a new one.
Evaluate the performance of the unit; perhaps it can be partially repaired
Then the rack is assembled without removing the spring ties, and the updated unit is installed in place.
The ties are not removed until the end of the work
After securing the strut to the lower control arm, carefully lift the assembly using a jack. It is better to perform this operation with an assistant. One mechanic lifts the jack, and the second makes sure that the mounting studs on the support are aligned.
You can do the opposite - raise the car body, leaving the suspension with the wheel on the ground. Then install and secure the support. Then slowly lower the jack, while simultaneously centering the shock absorber rod in the support seat. This installation allows for a more natural placement of the assembly in the socket.
After the final shrinkage of the rod in the hole of the support, tighten the fastening nuts. When indicating tightening torque values in the instructions, use a torque wrench.
Don’t forget to remove the strut spring tie after securing all the elements. Upon completion of the repair, before driving on public roads, it is necessary to conduct a test drive on an empty road: this way you need to check the functionality of the steering and the absence of extraneous noise in the suspension.

Replacing a bearing with a separate element

If the support itself is in order, and the fault concerns only the bearing, it can be replaced separately. To do this, remove the rack with the support (the process is described above) and deal with it separately.

Having disassembled the support (the design is different for everyone, but the principle is approximately the same), we inspect the bearing. As a rule, the balls are worn unevenly, there are burrs on the holder, and the seals are damaged.

It is possible that the problem can be solved with little blood

Although journal bearings can usually be disassembled and individual components can be accessed, there is no point in repairing them.

It is hardly profitable to tinker with the component parts of the support bearing, trying to repair them

Firstly, the bearing itself separately from the support is not that expensive.

Secondly, this is a critical unit, so replacing balls or seals using a makeshift method will not lead to anything good. Therefore, it is a clear replacement.

It is safest to replace the entire bearing

How to carry out work on an Opel Astra (video)

Repair of shock absorber strut support

If it turns out that the bearing is in order, and the cause of the knocking lies in the wear of the damper or other element that is not a critical component of the structure, the support can be repaired.

How to restore a bearing: reconstruction of the pillow on video

In this case, we see a working rubber cushion, which simply changed size during use. Shrinkage can be compensated for by installing a machine-made gasket.

It will not be possible to return the support to 100% performance, but you will ensure a mileage of several thousand kilometers, and without any visible problems in comfort and safety.

Despite the fact that the shock absorber strut support is a critical component, its functionality can be restored without contacting service. Depending on the severity of the damage, you choose between installing a new unit, replacing worn components, or repairing it. The decision depends on your qualifications and the cost of components.

Source: https://carnovato.ru/zamena-opornogo-podshipnika-stojki-amortizatora-kogda-nuzhna-i-kak-sdelat/

Front strut support bearing. Types, malfunctions, replacement, manufacturers

The support bearing of the front shock absorber strut of the car serves to provide a movable connection between the shock absorber and the car body itself. That is, it is located in the upper part of the strut, between the upper cup of the shock-absorbing spring and the support.

Structurally, the unit is a type of rolling bearing. However, its peculiarity is the large thickness of the outer ring. In this case, cylindrical rollers serve as rolling bodies. They are located perpendicular to each other, and are also separated from each other. This design of the device makes it possible to accept loads from any side.

What we will tell you about

Why do you need a support bearing?

Support bearing operation

The main task of the support bearing is to allow the shock absorber to rotate freely in the support . Regardless of the type of support bearing design, it is always located just above the front spring, and the shock absorber rod passes through its central cavity.

The shock absorber body is attached to the car body exactly in the place where the support bearing is mounted. It provides a movable connection between the shock absorber and the car body . Therefore, during operation, the bearing experiences not only radial, but also axial loads.

Types of support bearings

Depending on the design, today there are several types of support bearings. Among them:

Types of support bearings

With integrated outer or inner ring . It is mounted using the mounting holes provided on the housing, that is, there is no need to use clamping flanges for this.
With detachable inner ring . The design implies that the outer ring is connected to the housing. As a rule, such a support bearing is used in cases where the accuracy of rotation of the outer rings is important.
With detachable outer ring . That is, the opposite of the previous one. In this case, the outer ring is separated and the inner ring is connected to the body. This type of bearing is used when precision rotation of the inner ring is required.
Single-split . Here the design involves dividing the outer ring at one point. This solution provides increased rigidity. This type of bearing is used in cases where it is necessary to ensure rotation of the outer ring with sufficient accuracy.

Regardless of its design, dirt and sand still penetrate inside along with moisture and are the main destructive factors, along with strong impacts on the suspension.

The service life of the shock absorber support bearing is designed for no more than 100 thousand km.

Signs of worn bearings are two main factors - the presence of a knock when turning the steering wheel in the area of the front wheel arches (also in some cases felt on the steering wheel), as well as deterioration in vehicle controllability. However, in some cases the knock from the struts may not be felt. It depends on their design.

Worn support bearing

For example, on a VAZ-2110 car, the inner race of the support bearing acts as a bushing through which the shock absorber rod passes.

When the bearing is worn enough, its housing allows play, which causes the shock absorber rod to deviate from the axis. Because of this, the alignment angles are violated. Malfunctions can be identified by rocking the machine.

Detailed instructions for checking the support bearing can be found in the supplementary material.

The main sign of a malfunction is the need to constantly steer when driving on a straight road. Due to a violation of the camber angle, the wear of the shock absorber support increases by approximately 15...20%. Tire treads, connecting and steering rods, and their ends also wear out additionally.

If the tasks of the bearing include only rotation of the strut (that is, it does not interact with the shock absorber), then in this case, violation of the wheel alignment angles does not occur, since the shock absorber rod is held by a bushing that is pressed into the rubber damper of the structure (for example, on a Lada Priora”, “Kalina”, Nissan X-Trail). However, this still affects the car's handling, although to a lesser extent. Such a bearing will begin to knock when it fails. Moreover, knocks will often be felt even on the steering wheel. In this case, it will not be possible to diagnose a bearing failure by simply rocking the machine .

OP work problems and their consequences

Support bearing operation

The support bearing of the shock absorber strut is subjected to harsh use. Especially when driving on uneven roads, turning at high speed, or the driver not complying with the speed limit. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the design of many bearings (but not all) does not provide protection against the ingress of dust, moisture and dirt.

Accordingly, over time, an abrasive mass forms in them, which accelerates the wear of their mechanism. If the design of your bearings provides for protective caps, but they are not in place (they were lost), be sure to order new ones. This way you will extend the life of the bearing.

Also, do not forget to put grease in the bearing , we will talk about this later.

It is recommended to check the condition of the support bearings every 20 thousand kilometers, unless otherwise specified by the vehicle manufacturer.

Thus, the main reasons for the failure of support bearings are the following:

OP diagram

Natural wear of the part . As stated above, support bearings must be replaced at least every 100 thousand kilometers of the vehicle (usually more often, given the state of domestic roads).
Abrupt driving style and failure to comply with speed limits. If the driver drives through potholes or turns at high speed, the load on the entire suspension of the car, and the support bearing in particular, increases significantly. And this leads to its excessive wear.
Low quality parts . If you decide to save money and buy a low-quality fake, then there is a high probability that the bearing will not last as long as indicated on its packaging.
Operating conditions of the machine . Depending on the conditions the machine is designed for and how it is used, support bearing failure may occur much earlier than predicted by the manufacturer.

When performing repair work on the shock absorber, shock absorber strut and other related parts, we recommend that you add grease to the support bearing. This will increase its service life and also reduce the load on all the elements listed above.

Support bearing lubrication

At its core, a journal bearing is a rolling bearing. In order to reduce the load on it during operation, as well as to extend its service life, various lubricants are used. To lubricate support bearings, plastic types are most often used. Lubricants are designed to improve the performance characteristics of bearings. In particular:

increase bearing life and extend its service life;
reduce the load on the suspension components (not only directly on the bearing, but also other elements - steering, axle, steering and connecting rods, ends, and so on);
increase the car’s controllability (prevent it from decreasing during operation).

Each type of lubricant has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is necessary to choose one or another lubricant, taking into account the following factors:

specific loads that act on the support bearing (vehicle weight, operating conditions);
the likelihood of moisture entering/into the unit;
normal and maximum operating temperatures for which the bearing is designed;
material from which the mating working surfaces are made (metal-metal, metal-plastic, plastic-plastic, metal-rubber);
nature of friction force.

In our country, the following popular lubricants for journal bearings are:

LITOL 24. This simple, proven and cheap lubricant is perfect for placing in a support bearing as one of the many types of bearings for which the mentioned lubricant is intended.
Various lubricants for CV joints. You will find detailed information about popular brands, their advantages and disadvantages in the additional material.
Lithium greases with the addition of molybdenum disulfide. There are a lot of such compositions. One of the popular brands is Liqui Moly LM47. However, remember that such lubricants are sensitive to moisture, so they can only be used in support bearings that have protective caps .
Also, many car enthusiasts use one of the following lubricants - Chevron Multipurpose Grease “Black Pearl Grease EP 2”, Chevron Multipurpose Grease “Delo Heavy Duty EP 2”, Chevron Multipurpose Grease “Delo Grease EP NLGI 2”.

Owners of Ford Focus cars of all generations are strongly recommended to check the presence of grease in new and used support bearings. Therefore, if the slightest crunching noise appears, be sure to check the condition of the bearing and fill it with grease.

However, in any case, even with the use of lubricant, each bearing has its own limited resource. As a rule, replacing the support bearing is carried out together with replacing the shock absorber, if such a need arises.

Replacing the support bearing

Replacing OP

If a bearing fails completely or partially, no one is involved in repairing it, since there is simply nothing to repair. However, you can get rid of the knocking noise that so often bothers car owners.

In particular, during operation the damper rubber “sags” and a backlash is formed. As a result, a knock occurs.

You can see how you can get rid of this problem using the example of the VAZ 2110 in the following video.

The support bearing is installed on vehicles with MacPherson strut front suspension.

Accordingly, the process of replacing it is identical in most cases, with the exception of minor differences in the implementation of some components of individual car models.

There are two replacement methods - with complete dismantling of the rack assembly or with partial removal of the upper part of the rack assembly. As a rule, they use the first option, which we will describe in more detail.

If replacing the OP is possible without dismantling the rack, then the work is easy. You just need to remove the cup along with the old bearing and replace it with a new one. When the design and location of the support bearing does not allow this, then to perform the work you will need metalworking tools, as well as a jack, wrenches and spring ties.

Be sure to have spring ties because without them you will not be able to remove the old journal bearing.

The algorithm for replacing the support bearing when removing the strut and disassembling the shock absorber is as follows:

Loosen the support mounting nuts (usually there are three of them, located under the hood).
Jack up the car on the side where you plan to change the bearing and remove the wheel.
Unscrew the hub nut (usually it is pinned, so it is necessary to use an impact tool).
Undo the lower rack fastening and loosen the lower fastening nut a little.
Disconnect the brake caliper and then move it to the side; there is no need to disconnect the brake hose.
Using a crowbar or pry bar, remove the lower rack mounting from the seat.
Remove the strut from the vehicle body assembly.
Using the existing ties, tighten the springs, after which you need to disassemble the shock absorber strut.
After this, the immediate procedure for replacing the bearing is carried out.
Reassembling the system is carried out in the reverse order.

Replacement of OP without camber for VAZ 2108-21099, 2113-2115.

Replacing the OP with a VAZ 2110

Which support bearing to choose

Finally, a few words about which bearings are best to use. First of all, you need to understand that everything depends on the model of your car. Therefore, it is impossible to give clear recommendations. Accordingly, you need to build on the information provided by the manufacturer of your car.

As a rule, what is currently sold is not the support bearings themselves, but an assembled kit consisting of a support and the bearing itself.

Popular bearing manufacturers:

SM is a Chinese brand founded in 2005. Belongs to the middle price segment. In addition to bearings, other spare parts for various machines are also produced.
RYTSON is a similar brand to the previous one. The products are manufactured in China.
SNR is a world-famous French company that produces various bearings.
SKF is the world's largest manufacturer of bearings for cars and other equipment.
FAG is a company located in Germany. The products are distinguished by their quality and reliability.
NSK, NTN, Kouo are three similar manufacturers from Japan. Provide a wide variety and quality of manufactured bearings.

When choosing, you need to understand that it makes no sense to overpay for an expensive part. Especially if you own a budget car. However, it’s not worth saving either. It is best to choose bearings from the middle price category. You can find reviews and recommendations for choosing an OP at the end of the article about checking support bearings, the link to which we provided above.

Conclusion

The support bearing is a small but important part of the suspension.

Its failure can lead to unpleasant consequences in the form of deterioration in vehicle controllability and increased load on other, more expensive components.

Therefore, remember that it is easier and cheaper to replace this inexpensive part than to wait for more expensive car suspension components to fail. Do not neglect this and carry out timely diagnosis and replacement of the OP.

Did not find an answer to your question?

Ask in the comments. We will definitely answer!

Source: https://etlib.ru/blog/501-opornyj-podshipnik-amortizatsionnoj-stojki

Car front strut support bearing

Albert

Support bearing and its purpose...

Greetings, car enthusiasts, on the autoblog RtiIvaz.ru! Today we will talk about the front strut support bearing and its purpose on a car.

Let's first analyze its device...

Here is a picture of a thrust bearing. In its upper part there are three studs for its fastening and one central fastening through the inside of the support.

This video was created to explain the essence of installing a support bearing, the purpose of which for some reason most car enthusiasts forget. They only know the purpose of shock absorbers and springs, although the support is an equally important element in the car’s suspension.

In this video we will look at where the support is located, how it is attached and works, in general, all the necessary information about the upper support on car models with MacPherson suspension.

Let's look at the design and operation of a MacPherson strut in a simple drawing. As you can see from the picture in the video, the stand is a pipe with welded support cups for attaching the spring. Inside there is a cartridge - a rubber “cupcake” shock absorber.

At the bottom of the rack there is a mount for connecting the support with the steering knuckle. A bearing is installed in the upper part of the rack, serving as an upper support. The support connects the body mudguard to the suspension through a shock absorber strut.

There are three holes in the mudguard cup, into which the upper support studs enter, onto which nuts are screwed on top for fastening.

Thanks to the ball bearing, the MacPherson strut together with the fist can rotate in one direction or another, repeating the movement of the wheel. Consequently, if the upper support did not have a bearing, then the stand, like the wheel, could hardly turn left or right.

Now let's look at the cross-section of the support to better understand the principle of its operation on the car.

The support consists of three parts...

The upper part, where there are three studs for its fastening and the lower part of the support. Inside there is the support ball bearing itself.

The shock absorber rod passes through the inner race of the ball bearing, at the end of which there is a thread for attaching the rod. A nut is screwed onto the protruding part of the rod and tightened to the prescribed torque.

Struct assembly diagram for Kalina car

Scheme for assembling struts for Granta vehicles

The video above (see pictures) shows:

• Attaching the upper part of the rack to the body mudguard;

• The stand itself is disassembled with a spring and upper support;

• Support bearing (there are several types).

The purpose of the support bearing...

The upper support serves to smooth out the loads coming from the wheels through the shock absorber onto the car body and distribute them evenly.

Support bearing wear

With use, the support bearing wears out and grinds, squeaks, knocks, and the most dangerous thing is when play appears. All this is reflected in the condition of the rack itself and the entire wheel assembly.

So, if you lift the car on a lift and move the wheel sideways, right/left, you will notice a large free play of the entire assembly, which will tell us that the support bearing requires replacement.

If you look from above, where the shock absorber rod is attached, you will notice its movement from side to side. You can also place your hand on the top of the shock absorber where the rod nut is located. In this place the play is clearly felt.

When the bearing balls wear out, the load on the front suspension elements increases and the vehicle's handling deteriorates. Consequently, all this negatively affects overall traffic safety.

Replacing the rack support

To replace the support bearing, the strut must be removed from the car, disassembled, after compressing the spring with special ties. The faulty support is removed, a new one is installed, the rod fastening nut is tightened, the ties are removed and the stand is installed on the car.

After replacing the supports, it is recommended to check the wheel alignment on a stand to check the wheel alignment angles.

That's all, write comments. Goodbye!

Source: https://www.rtiivaz.ru/2017/03/opornyj-podshipnik-perednej-stojki/

Replacing the front strut support bearing

As is easy to understand from the name, the support bearing serves as a kind of support. The front strut support bearing is needed in a car to dampen vibrations that occur in the suspension spring when driving and ensure reliable operation.

The support bearings used in the front shock absorber are designed for its movable connection with the body. The front support is an important part of the chassis of a vehicle, which is an elastic unit made of rubber-metal.

The main task of the front supports is to provide primary isolation from noise and vibration of the body.

The front support bearing provides softness, elasticity in the axial direction and rigidity in the radial direction. This prevents negative kinematic changes and absorption of loads on the body.

Considering that it accounts for a significant part of the load on the car, I always monitor its condition with special care. It is important not to miss the first signs of damage.

Why is this a big deal? If only because a bearing failure leads to a disruption in the wheel alignment mechanism.

Which, as is known, affects driving safety, contributes to faster wear of the shock absorber strut.

If the support bearing is faulty, a knocking noise is typical when turning the steering wheel. It can also occur when overcoming small obstacles.

I noticed an uncharacteristic metallic sound as I passed a speed bump. The knocking was not constant, disappeared from time to time, but then resumed again. In the cold season, the characteristic knocking sound is more distinct. Actually, from my own experience I know that it is worth checking the condition after every 20 thousand kilometers of the car.

The check has never caused me any difficulties - the process is quite simple. I grab the support with my hand and rock the car slightly. If you hear an uncharacteristic knock, the part has become faulty and should be replaced.

If you are not sure of a breakdown, you can remove the protective caps and press the upper part of the A-pillar rod with your fingers, while rocking the car by the wing.

With these actions, if the bearing is worn out, a distinct knock will be heard and play will be felt. If there is someone to ask for help, then this person can be placed on the steering wheel and asked to put their hands on the coil of the front spring and turn the steering wheel.

In case of wear, a click will be heard and there will be a noticeable impact in the palm. Those who do not notice the knock until the last minute and do not check the serviceability of the support will be in for an unpleasant surprise.

Its breakdown in this case will cost a tidy sum, because in addition to everything else, you will also have to change the hood (the pillar will pierce it).

When I first noticed that the support bearing was knocking, I must admit, I was confused. I assumed that it could be repaired, but as it turned out, it was only possible to replace the faulty part. This job took me only an hour of time, not counting the search for the necessary parts and tools.

I learned that there are several methods by which you can determine whether it is necessary to replace the support bearings (after all, knocking and clicking noises when the car is running may not occur due to bearing failure).

The main signs are vibrations that occur during vertical rocking of the car and decay much more slowly than during normal operation, as well as the inability of the car body to return smoothly after pressing on the hood.

One of the most reliable ways to determine the need for replacement, of course, is bench diagnostics, carried out using special equipment. But this procedure will require a visit to a service station and financial costs. You can change the bearing yourself in several ways, and even without resorting to outside help.

Yes, the procedure is difficult, but not impossible and quite doable on your own. Its complexity lies in the design features of the support bearings. Since they are very vulnerable elements of the mechanism, which are located in the internal support housing. Often the bearing is looped into a cup. In fact, it is not sold without it.

So, the first method is to remove the entire rack with the levers, brake disc, and steering wheel cap attached to it. This will prevent you from changing the wheel alignment settings. The second method involves removing the strut only after disconnecting the steering cam from it. But in this case it is necessary to remove the adjusting bolt.

After replacing the support bearing, I advise you to adjust the wheel alignment for normal operation of the car mechanism.

But, if you do not unscrew the alignment bolts (using the first method), this can be avoided.

Before starting work, I stock up on the necessary tools: a puller for the steering tip, a set of keys, a spring tie, a jack, a hammer and, of course, a new support bearing.

In any case, I determined that several sequential actions should be followed:

I remove the wheels, brake pads, caliper. Be sure to provide reliable support.
I disconnect and remove the stand. Make a notch on the top bolt so that the wheel alignment settings are preserved during reassembly.
I remove the support from the rack using a puller.

If it is not at hand, you can use a crowbar inserted at the break as a lever.
Having removed the support, I check it for mechanical damage, cracks and breaks.
Having disassembled the rack, removing the spring from it, I change the bearing (you can install a new support).
I put everything back together in exactly the reverse order.

In most cases, there is no need to disassemble the strut. But it is still possible in order to check the serviceability and the need to replace the bump stop, spring, boot, shock absorber. As you can see, replacing a support bearing is not an extremely difficult task.

It is enough to have a little theoretical knowledge, and practical skills will come as the replacement is carried out.

The recording shows a quick way to replace a support bearing with your own hands.

Source: http://ymp3.ru/avtoremont-i-tyuning/delaem-zamenu-opornogo-podshipnika-perednej-stojki