The legendary Niva is an all-wheel drive vehicle. This ensures unprecedented road holding and reliability comparable to expensive high-performance cars. With the exception of updated versions under the Chevrolet brand, the traditional Niva has always had a rather modest design, but this did not prevent it from being the undisputed leader among car owners who prefer high-end car platforms.
What distinguishes the Niva's chassis from other all-wheel drive vehicles is the transmission of torque to two axles at once without disabling the axles, which significantly affects cross-country ability while simultaneously reducing the influence of critical loads on the transmission. This same quality makes this legendary Russian SUV very uneconomical in terms of fuel consumption.
Nivov transmission units
The developed Niva transmission turned out to be so successful and efficient that it later became a prototype for the Vitara. This made the new model more adaptable to difficult roads. Niva transmission units can easily meet the requirements of any engine up to 2 liters, so if you want to upgrade, think about the fact that each car has its own capabilities. Many advantages are due precisely to the circuit and design of the transmission.
Niva transmission and its components:
- front-wheel drive;
- front axle;
- wheel grip;
- manual transmission;
- driveshaft (front);
- shaft (intermediate);
- transfer case;
- shift lever;
- center differential and locking lever;
- wheel differentials;
- driveshaft (rear);
- rear axle;
- rear drive.
The design implies the following states:
- unlocked differential;
- locked differential;
- low gear when engaged;
- neutral position;
- top gear engaged.
Removing the Niva transfer case
To repair the transfer case on a VAZ 21213 (21214), the unit must first be removed. We carry out removal in the following order:
- Repair of transfer case on Niva 21213, how to center it, do-it-yourself adjustment
- in the cabin we dismantle the plastic lining of the gearbox and gearbox levers;
- unscrew the knobs of the transfer case shift levers, remove the casing under them;
- disconnect the speedometer cable, for RK 21214 you will need to additionally disconnect the speed sensor;
- we unscrew the bolts with nuts securing the elastic coupling of the front and rear propeller shafts; in order to remove the bolts, the cardan shafts must be turned - they are removed one at a time in one specific position of the shaft;
- We install a jack (or other support) under the transfer case and mark the places where the side supports of the RC were attached. This is done in order to minimize the alignment of the transfer case during installation;
- unscrew the 4 nuts securing the gearbox to the gearbox;
- unscrew the 4 fastenings of the RC supports to the car body;
- Now all that remains is to dismantle the transfer case.
Features of the Nivov design
The features of the Nivov transmission include the presence of a center differential that connects the rear and front axles. As a result, the wheels can rotate not only at different angles, but also at different angular speeds, which significantly affects controllability in impassable roads.
The center differential is located in the transfer case and is similar in design to the cross-axle differential.
The key difference between the Niva’s center differential is the ability to lock when driveshafts rotate with the same characteristics. The center differential is manually locked only in difficult terrain conditions, when you need to overcome a large hole, rut or snow drift without slipping.
In practice, mechanical locking, although somewhat inconvenient, turns out to be better than the modern electromagnetic clutch used for these purposes. For example, the Renault Duster is not so easy to cope with the task in harsh off-road conditions, since the digital control unit can provide limited torque transmission. However, this effect will not be observed in a Niva with a mechanical lock.
Leaving the center differential locked will not only cause increased wear, but will also significantly reduce the vehicle's handling. The activated differential lock mode will be indicated by a lit indicator on the Niva dashboard. Please note that locking will not prevent one wheel from losing traction.
To overcome difficult areas, the transmission allows the use of a low gear with a high gear ratio (2.135); in the highest gear, the parameter is 1.2 and is intended for driving in normal conditions. The transfer case indicates different high and low gear modes. The lower one is turned on before entering a snowy area, unsteady soils, hills, and when a towed load is connected. The low gear compensates for the lack of power of the Niva’s “strong” engine and allows you to overcome difficult areas that only powerful cars can do.
Types of blocking
There are three of them: manual (forced), automatic (self-locking differential) and partial.
- The driver turns on the manual locking himself when he finds himself on rough terrain. It's simple: a switch is pressed in the cabin, after which a special limiting unit begins to operate, preventing torque from being distributed to the drive wheels depending on the path they travel. The advantages of such a lock are obvious: the driver himself decides when to engage the limiting mechanism, and the rest of the time this device does not work and, accordingly, does not wear out. There are also disadvantages: to lock the differential manually, the driver will have to take his mind off the controls. And he gets distracted in extremely difficult road conditions. The driver should also not forget to disable the lock when he is on a flat road. If you don't do this, you can break the differential itself. And finally, you will have to install not only the limiter itself, but also the system that will operate it, which is associated with certain technical difficulties.
An example of forced differential locking on VAZ and Niva cars
An example of a finished lock on a VAZ from Val-racing
Modified versions
The Niva's standard transmission, for all its advantages, often causes uncomfortable noise in the cabin. This is generally related to the design, but using engineering developments, you can modernize it and make the car much quieter.
This approach has already been applied in VAZ-21213 cars; as a result, even at a speed of 100 km/h you don’t feel any unpleasant noise, you can talk calmly and hear your interlocutor without effort. For these purposes, a number of modernization methods have been used: from unloading the floor near the transfer case and manual transmission mounts, reducing the load on shaft bearings to smoothing out peak torques under conditions of increasing loads on the transmission. The effect is achieved by changing the mounting location of the front axle gearbox, which in the modernized version is suspended at a distance from the engine on rubber supports. This approach makes it possible to reduce to a minimum the reactive torque in the longitudinal-vertical direction and the noise level at speed.
The noise in the modernized Niva transmission is comparable to that of a Zhiguli. It becomes more comfortable to be in the car when driving off-road. Upgrade costs are negligible; modification requires only the master's understanding of the design itself and a little time.
How to Replace a CV Joint on a Niva ~ SIS26.RU
Changing the inner and outer CV joints on a Chevrolet Niva with your own hands: choosing a grenade
A grenade on a car is a constant velocity joint. How to quickly and easily change the automatic transmission oil in a Chevrolet Cruze yourself? Read about this and much more on our website! Details about replacing the internal grenade on a VAZ-2114. How to replace the CV joint on a VAZ-2114. The knot received this name because it looks like a military knot. It can also be called CV joint. With its help, torque is transmitted from the engine to the wheel in a car at different angles of rotation of the drive wheel.
What is a CV joint (grenade)
Internal grenade on Shniva
This part appeared at a time when manufacturers began producing cars with front-wheel drive. Initially, torque was transmitted to the drive wheel using a conventional cardan. Antifreeze is running out on Vectra b. How I changed the antifreeze in replace the antifreeze,. At the same time, the service life of the hinge was short, since it was constantly working under load. This problem gave impetus to the invention of a special unit (CV joint), which could transmit torque to the wheels at different angles of rotation.
CV joint on Niva Chevrolet
With its help, torque is transmitted from the engine to the drive wheels. It's mostly front-wheel drive. Due to the CV joint, torque is transmitted uniformly, taking into account the fact that the wheel is at a different angle relative to the car.
On a Chevrolet, a grenade can be:
Like all other parts in the car, this unit has its own specific service life. Therefore, every Niva owner sooner or later is faced with the need to replace the CV joint.
Reasons for grenade failure
One of the reasons for the failure of the CV joint is a breakthrough of the boot and the ingress of dirt.
The CV joint can fail for the following reasons:
Replacement of the front left outer and inner CV joint at the Niva
Replacement of the front left outer and inner CV joint at the Niva
Help the project. Replacement of the front left outer and inner CV joint at the Niva.
How to change CV joint boots on Niva yourself
Grenade replacement
Right inner CV joint close up, you can see the article number and markings
This unit consists of parts that are constantly in motion. As a result, they may burst or wear out, requiring replacement.
The device can only be repaired if the owner of the car has identified damage to the boot in time, and therefore foreign substances have not yet managed to get inside the mechanism.
But this happens quite rarely, since it is almost impossible to detect damage to the boot in time. It should also be said that the cost of the CV joint is not high, and therefore it can be purchased if necessary.
Troubleshooting
You can determine the malfunction of the grenade yourself. How to replace the rear struts on a Lada Kalina: photo. To do this, while the car is moving, turn the steering wheel in any direction until it stops. How to replace the ignition switch on a hundred/44? Take off. In this case, the driver will hear a crunching sound in the area of the front wheel. In this case, you need to replace the hinge.
During the repair process, it is important to determine whether it is necessary to change both hinges or one, because such work is recommended to be carried out only in a comprehensive manner
Video on how to determine if a grenade is faulty
Changing a grenade on a Niva Chevrolet with your own hands
To replace a grenade, you must first remove the old one. In the process, you will have to dismantle the axle shaft along with the CV joint (you can find a disassembly video on the Internet). Then the car owner must perform the following actions:
- Clamp the removed assembly in a vice.
- Remove the old boot.
Installing a new hinge
Install the axle with CV joint on the car in the reverse order
Video about replacing a grenade on a Niva Chevrolet using a reverse hammer
Recommendations: strengthening the industrial shaft
Currently, many Niva Chevrolet owners are tuning the engine of their car, as a result of which its power increases, and therefore the load on the cardans and CV joints increases several times.
To avoid such trouble, experts recommend strengthening the shafts.
Conclusion
Knowing the features of the CV joint and how you can identify its malfunction or replace it, you can cope with such work on your own, having a little experience in this work.
A very informative article, but I would like to add that the wear and tear is caused by our favorite roads with potholes. You can put a standard one on the inner CV joint for a couple of hours in acid and like Niva 32 years old. All. By the way, yesterday some dude rushed over a speed bump at a speed of about 60 km/h in a Chevrolet car and I clearly saw something falling off his pan)
Yes, it’s better to change two hinges at once, for some reason they wear out more in the summer than in the winter in spring and autumn, maybe the heat has something to do with it.
Transmission VAZ 21213, VAZ 21310 (Niva)
Cars of the VAZ 2121, 21213, 21310 family and their modifications have permanent all-wheel drive. This means that while driving, torque is transmitted to any wheel of the car. In reality, it turns out that only one wheel is driving. This is the wheel that is easier to rotate at a given moment in time. Depending on the nature of the road, it becomes easier for one or the other wheel to rotate. Therefore, the driving wheel of the car changes depending on road conditions. The drive wheel can be either front or rear, right or left.
