The silent blocks of the front levers perform very important function They dampen vibrations. These parts often fail, because they are subject to incredible loads, and they, in turn, must withstand all deformations. How to replace them in case of breakage?
What is the suspension arm bushing used for?
These parts are two metal bushings (inner and outer), and between them there is a rubber insert, which is most often made of polyurethane, so sometimes you can find such a thing as a "polyurethane silent block". It is this insert that plays essential role. The silent block of the suspension arm connects its elements In addition, such parts have found their wide application for mounting, and shock absorbers, and even the engine.
It is quite difficult to underestimate their role in the car, so you need to monitor their condition. In general, manufacturers usually give a guarantee for as much as one hundred thousand kilometers, but given the “wonderful” condition of our roads, you should not be guided by this figure, it is better to carry out a visual inspection at least after 50 thousand. Moreover, you can evaluate the condition of the rear silent blocks of the front levers on your own at home.
How to check the silent blocks of the front levers?
It is impossible for the rubber to peel off or swell from under the washers, its surface must be smooth, without cracks, it is also unacceptable big backlash, since the result of these malfunctions may be the destruction of the hinge seats, in which case it will be necessary to replace everything, and not individual parts. Understand what the front silent block lower arm out of order, you can uneven wear tires. It is possible that the car will also throw from side to side at speed, and this already poses an immediate danger to all road users.
Replacing the rear silent block of the front lever, of course, requires attention and accuracy, it would be nice to have some skills in this area. But, in principle, if there were no special problems with the mechanics, then it is quite possible to carry out the operation yourself and not go to expensive service stations. Of course, it’s worth starting with diagnosing the problem, for this it is necessary to hang both suspensions in turn with a jack and dismantle the wheels. If defects are found on their surface, then there is a direct road to a specialized store for new parts.
The biggest difficulty may arise with how to press the silent block into the lever, but this issue is completely solved.
Replacing the silent block of the front lever - how to do it right?
Now, in order about how the replacement process goes. First of all, you need to jack up your “iron horse” and remove the wheel. Next, you need to find on the front lever the bolt that secures the front silent block, and unscrew it. We also unscrew the fixing nut of the rear silent block. Now we pull the rack along with the lever; pulling it out, unscrew the bolts securing the lever to the ball joint and dismantle it. Next, you can proceed directly to the replacement, for this you should press out the rear silent block of the front lever with a small sledgehammer.
In order to press new part, you can also use special device to replace silent blocks, however, this does not mean that you need to immediately run to the store and purchase it, since in this case a hammer or a sledgehammer will again be a faithful assistant. Strictly in the reverse order, we assemble the lever. Next, we put in place all the dismantled elements of the car, while keeping in mind that the front silent block can only be tightened on a car removed from the jack. And in the end, do not forget to restore the wheel alignment.
The suspension of the car plays a unifying role between the body and the roadway. This is an ordered set of units and mechanisms that provide the necessary smoothness of the machine during movement.
Handling and maneuverability vehicle First of all, it depends on the serviceability and reliability of the suspension. Defective suspension components are a danger to the driver and passengers. According to statistics, every 5th accident was associated with a faulty car suspension.
One of the main elements of the vehicle suspension is the silent block. It is he who takes all the loads transmitted by the wheels of the car to the body of the vehicle. Due to it, the directional stability of the car is largely ensured.
What is a silent block?
The silent block also has another name - a rubber-metal hinge. It consists of 2 combined metal bushings separated by a strong elastic polyurethane insert.
Its primary task is to dampen vibrations in the joints of parts that occur during the movement of the machine. bumps pavement, pits and other obstacles transfer a large number of shock loads to the vehicle suspension. Up to 90% percent of them are taken over by the silent block.
The suspension of the car uses two types of rubber-metal hinges for the front and rear wheels. This allows you to evenly distribute the shock load along the entire length of the suspension. Additionally installed in the fastening elements of the gearbox and motor.
Service life of silent blocks
High-quality silent blocks, if properly installed, can be used even under the most adverse conditions for a long period of time. On average, the life of this suspension element ranges from 70 to 150 thousand kilometers.
The significant difference in the minimum and maximum period of use is due to the quality of the product. Cheap products made of low-quality material will not be able to withstand serious loads and will quickly stop working correctly.
Often the active operation of the machine in bad road conditions plays a significant role in reducing the life of silent blocks. First of all, this is driving on a dirt road or off-road.
Signs of malfunction of silent blocks
Bad condition highways with the active use of the machine creates an additional load on the suspension. As a result, the silent blocks that take the first hit begin to experience additional load.
The greatest load falls on the elements of the levers and suspension rods. For preventive purposes, experts recommend performing a health check of silent blocks every 50 thousand kilometers.
This will make it possible at an early stage to identify possible problems in the operation of the suspension and correctly replace the silent blocks. Often, if the car has not been subjected to a routine inspection for a long time, critical faults which have a serious impact on the safety of driving a machine.
Today, the following signs of a silent block malfunction can be distinguished:
- one way;
- Lateral tire wear;
- Violation exchange rate stability car when braking;
- Vibration of the body when the car is moving;
- External changes in the integrity of silent blocks;
- Suspension squeaks when the vehicle is moving;
- Increasing the "stiffness" of the suspension.
Each of these signs or they together indicate possible problem in the work of the silent block. Do not ignore them and continue to operate the machine.
Such a disregard for one's own safety can end very badly for the driver and passengers.
If a malfunction of one or a group of silent blocks is detected, you cannot hesitate. The vibration created by the machine during movement will not be damped by the rubber suspension elements and is transmitted to other parts that will begin to collapse.
Ignoring the penny operation of replacing the silent block can result in significant material costs. The greatest difficulty associated with the replacement of these elements is pressing. The operation requires the use of special equipment.
Of course, if the task is to save money at any cost, you can turn to garage craftsmen who perform the pressing of silent blocks on handicraft equipment. It must be remembered that the quality of work in this case is very low. A guarantee for the work performed is almost never given. All actions are performed at your own peril and risk.
If you need to properly replace the silent blocks, it is best to contact specialized automotive repair centers. Specialists will be able to quickly and efficiently perform all operations for the replacement of rubber-metal elements.
The cost of replacing the product consists of the price of the rubber element itself and its pressing. As a rule, the entire operation of replacing silent blocks does not take much time.
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Maintenance and repair of the chassis and suspension system is one of the main service operations, which is absolutely necessary to ensure safe operation car. Controllability, maneuverability, predictability of the trajectory of movement, others dynamic characteristics depend on the functional state of many nodes and parts, including silent blocks.
Silent blocks or rubber-metal hinges are parts used as elastic elements for fastening chassis assemblies and suspension parts. The main task assigned to this small part is to dampen shocks and vibrations that occur between the elements of the chassis and suspension parts. There are two types of silent blocks - front and rear. The first are installed between the front suspension units (stabilizers, levers, shock absorbers), and the second - on rear axle. It should be noted that silent blocks, as vibration isolators, are also used in the engine and gearbox mounting system.
Service life and signs of failure of silent blocks
All parts and elements of the car require constant inspection, timely maintenance and repair. Rubber-metal hinges are no exception. The service life of silent blocks is designed for approximately 100-150 thousand kilometers, but intensive operation of a car on roads with poor coverage significantly reduces the resource of these elements. The main signs that signal that silent blocks need to be replaced are:
- destruction (cracking) rubber bushings
- excessive play in the rubber-to-metal joint
- loss of directional stability (car wobbling from side to side)
- uneven lateral wear of tire treads
- squeaks and noise while driving
The functional state of the hinges of the front and rear suspension it is recommended to check at least once a year or every 50,000 km. It is worth considering the fact that a balanced and accurate driving style has a positive effect on the service life of all suspension and chassis parts without exception.
Replacement of silent blocks
Before the silent blocks are replaced, it is necessary to determine which specific joints require repair. To carry out diagnostics, the car is hung on a lift and the joints of the chassis and suspension elements are inspected for backlash and damage. Replacing damaged hinges is carried out using standard locksmith tools, a special tool for pressing silent blocks into regular seats, as well as a puller for tie rod ends and ball bearings.
The greatest difficulty is the replacement of silent blocks in the attachment points power unit and gearboxes. It is advisable to carry out this time-consuming operation exclusively at the station Maintenance, where there is all the necessary equipment and work is carried out by high-level professionals.
It is important to remember that after the silent blocks have been replaced or any other operation affecting the elements of the chassis and suspension, the camber-toe angles must be adjusted without fail.
How to replace the silent block with your own hands video
Driving a car on domestic roads entails a number of surprises, which eventually result in various running gear malfunctions car parts and suspension. The undercarriage of the car consists of components and parts that provide good handling, safety and comfort while driving. In the event of a malfunction of at least one component, a violation occurs in the operation of the chassis, which leads to various knocks and problems with the controllability of the car. Therefore, when the first signs of suspension malfunctions are detected, it should be carried out immediately.
I would like to note that malfunctions of the chassis can appear both suddenly, for example, after a car gets into a pit, or for some time. A characteristic knock may indicate the imminent release of a unit or part, which may intensify over time, and there may also be problems with driving a car.
How to determine the malfunction of the chassis and suspension of the car
If the vehicle pulls to the right or left while driving
The wheel alignment is broken or the tires are different. Also, this behavior of the car often causes unequal. If, after checking and eliminating the above reasons, the car still goes to the side, in this case the situation is complicated by the fact that one of the suspension parts and even deformation of the car body can be a problem. In any case, in order to identify the problem, it will be necessary complete diagnostics chassis.
Possible problems with the chassis or suspension of the car
- The front suspension arms are deformed;
- Damaged upper shock absorber support;
- The stiffness of the springs of the racks is different;
- The stabilizer bar has failed;
- Problems with brake mechanism wheels. The wheel is not completely released;
- Wheel bearing damaged or severely clamped;
- Parallelism of front and rear axles violated;
If the vehicle sways when cornering or braking
- Defective or out of order suspension struts (shock absorbers) or vehicle springs;
- Worn stabilizer bar bushings;
Vibration in chassis while driving
- Uneven or low tire pressure;
- Worn or pinched wheel bearings;
- The steering joints are worn;
- Loose wheel nuts
- Missing or incorrect wheel balancing;
- Damaged or deformed wheel disk;
Knocks and noises of the suspension while driving
- Weakened mounting racks or bars of anti-roll bars;
- Does not work, which means the shock absorber is out of order;
- Worn ball joints and steering tips;
- Damaged or out of order elements;
- Worn silent blocks of levers;
- Damaged or broken strut spring;
If the suspension breaks
- Disk or tire deformation;
- Inadmissible clearance in the wheel bearing;
- Non-working shock absorber, broken strut spring or damaged spring;
- Violation of the geometry (deformation) of the suspension arms, knuckle and axles of suspension arms;
If shock absorbers knock
- Deterioration of bushings of fastening of shock-absorbers;
- Shock absorber drip (a sign of its imminent failure);
- Worn shock absorber support;
- Weakening of the shock absorber to the vehicle suspension;
- Wheels wear unevenly;
- Not correct;
- broken;
- The brake system of the car is not working properly;
- Deformed suspension arm;
- The geometry of the car body is broken;
If there is a creak when cornering while braking
- Shock absorbers failed
- Broken stabilizer bar bushings;
And in the continuation of the material on the chassis and suspension of the car, watch the video
Silent blocks in a car can be found in almost every composite suspension or in the engine mount. Consider the purpose of silent blocks, when they should be changed and what they consist of.
More often they learn about their replacement when they fail, then they ask themselves what it is and what it is intended for. To understand everything, let's take a closer look at the silent block, its components and purpose.
What is a silent block for?
A rubber-to-metal joint or more commonly known as a silent block is designed to reduce vibrations in the suspension, but in some cars they are installed on the engine or other moving suspension mechanisms. The main purpose is to dampen vibrations and connect different parts of the suspension.
Similar silent blocks can be found in a car engine, gearbox, stabilizers, shock absorbers and lever mounts. During operation, silent blocks are subjected to heavy loads, as a result, you need to monitor them and change them to new ones in time. As practice shows, it is worth replacing after every 50 thousand kilometers.
At first glance, this is a small and insignificant detail, but digging deeper, you can understand that silent blocks affect the operation of the entire suspension at least. As a result of the wear of the silent block, the controllability of the car worsens, this is especially felt at high speed. Also a characteristic sign of a breakdown is an unpleasant creak, car roll and play in the steering wheel.
Components and location
The silent block consists of two metal bushings connected to each other by a rubber insert. Although the modern variety of silent blocks in appearance may be different. Depending on the location, it can be outside with a metal sleeve, or completely rubber.
Also, the silent block may differ in the structure of the rubber insert. Depending on the destination, the rubber insert can be solid, ribbed or with vibration damping. The latter, as a rule, are installed in the engine of a foreign car, to dampen the vibration transmitted from the unit to the car body.
Most silent blocks can be found in the front and rear suspension, more precisely in the levers. They are mainly designed to hold movable suspension mechanisms. The front silent blocks are located in the front lever, hence the name. It is they who have the most load, since they are responsible for the rotary and movable mechanisms of the car.
Rear silent blocks can be easily seen on the shock absorber mounts, in the rear suspension or on jet thrust. Wherever there is a body load on undercarriage, or docking of moving parts with non-moving mechanisms.
How to check the correctness
As a rule, silent blocks are capable of reaching a distance of up to 100 thousand kilometers, but experts recommend inspecting them after 50 thousand kilometers. It is quite simple to figure out whether the silent block has worn out, usually driving becomes sluggish, and turning the steering wheel is rather sluggish, with a long delay.
After the appearance of such symptoms, it is worth inspecting visually for damage. It is better to do all this in a viewing hole after washing the car. On clean and dry silent blocks, a crack, a breakthrough or a torn part of the rubber will be clearly visible. In order to understand where the malfunction is, you need to have an idea of \u200b\u200bwhat the new silent block looks like. When examining, it is also worth paying attention to the backlash, which, in fact, should be minimal or absent altogether.
Another reason to check the integrity of the silent blocks is the camber or wheel alignment. Initially, it will be smooth and meet all the necessary standards, but as the rubber-metal hinges fail, it will be noticeable to the eye even in the normal state of the car in the parking lot. In other words, you first need to determine the cause by the quality of management and visually.
We change the silent blocks of the car
As soon as one of the above reasons is discovered, it is worth immediately changing the silent block. It is not so easy to replace it yourself, so for the first time it is better to take an assistant who has experience in replacing such parts.
Replacing the front silent blocks is not so difficult, for this you need to raise the car on a jack and turn the steering wheel to change one by one. If it is possible to completely remove the front lever, then such a replacement procedure will be easier and much simpler. The replacement process itself is not as complicated as it seems at first glance, first consider the replacement on the front arm of the car.
To remove the old silent block, you need to warm up the eye of the lever well with hot air, so that the rubber part becomes soft. The side parts, they are the protrusions of the sleeve, are filed with a hacksaw to facilitate pressing out. Sometimes they lubricate the gap between the silent block and the eye engine oil, to speed up the withdrawal process.
It is best to use a special puller for pressing out. If there is no such puller for the silent block, then by clamping the eye of the lever with the help of an adapter with a diameter no larger than the silent block, we knock it out into reverse side. In this case, it is recommended to lubricate with engine oil to facilitate work. Installation or press fit, the process is simpler. Drivers with experience have their own ways.
Replacing silent blocks in front begins with:
- cleaning and preparing the eye, remove the resulting rust and burrs that could have formed during the extrusion process;
- the first way of pressing is directly on the mass of the fasteners of the front lever. We install it on the side to one of the fasteners, then on one side we install a washer of a larger diameter, and on the other side we install the coupling bolt of the silent block. Twisting and guiding the silent block, we tighten and thereby press it into the eye.
- the second option is to clamp the eyelet in a vise, install the silent block on top and press it in using a washer and bolt. From time to time, tapping on the bolt with a hammer.
In any of the pressing options, you need to be careful and look so that there is no damage to the rubber part of the silent block on the sharp edges of the eye.
If the rear silent blocks are being replaced, then the pressing process will be slightly different depending on the make and model of the car, although in modern machines the process is almost the same.
For example, pressing the silent blocks of the rear levers is carried out after installing the fasteners in place. It is necessary to install the rear suspension beam back on the car, insert the mounting bolts that are attached to the body, while trying on and installing silent blocks. Directing into the grooves, we lower the car and tighten the bolts, thereby, under the weight of the car, the silent blocks are pressed into the eye.
Everyone can say that there are other ways to replace and this is true. There is no specific replacement method, and everyone does as he pleases. It should be understood that pressing occurs under force and pressure. In the case when the new silent block easily went into the place of the old one, this should alert.
It is possible that:
- The eye of the lever or other part where the silent block is installed is damaged;
- A new silent block may turn out to be a fake or the wrong diameter;
- One of the bushings of the new silent block is damaged, then the elasticity of the part is lost, and the rubber part will quickly become unusable.
Therefore, the replacement of silent blocks of levers should not be postponed until later, and at the first manifestation of symptoms, it is worth repairing.
The cost of silent blocks of the lever
First of all, the price will depend on the material from which the silent block is made. Two types are recognized - these are rubber with metal bushings and polyurethane. Many drivers will say that polyurethane is much better, but also cost five times more than rubber. The reason for this difference is quite simple, polyurethane silent blocks are easier to change, pressing is easy and does not require much effort. In terms of service life on a car, they serve 5 times more than rubber ones.
By pricing policy A lot depends on the make and model of the car, as well as the year of manufacture. As an example, the silent block of the Mazda 626 engine mount will cost from 1200 rubles. On the Chevrolet Epica 2.0, for the rear upper arm it will cost about 1150 rubles per 1 piece. The price is indicated for rubber, polyurethane will be many times more expensive.
There is only one conclusion, if the car model is not expensive and you don’t operate it often, then it’s not worth installing expensive ones, but if it’s the other way around, and you will change it often (given the quality of our roads), then it’s better not to save on the quality of the material and install once, but high-quality . Thus, it will be possible to save money and time on the replacement process.
As soon as the first symptoms of failure of the silent blocks of the car appear or it is clear that the camber / toe-in is incorrect, do not rush to go to the service station to correct it. First, inspect the silent blocks for damage, and remember when the last time they were replaced.
Video of replacing the silent blocks of the front levers of the car: