VAZ 21213 “Niva” is one of the most successful and significant developments for the Volzhsky Automobile Plant. We can say that Niva is the most significant model in the entire history of the domestic automotive industry. Initially, this car was characterized as a passenger car with 4x4 all-wheel drive. What secrets does this model hide, what's under the hood and how long has it been around? About all this and more - further in our article.
Production history
Serial production of the VAZ Niva 21213 began in 1977. The most eminent design engineers of the USSR were involved in the development of this SUV. Probably, it was the unity of all the actions of the design bureau workers that made it possible to create a car characterized by high cross-country ability, light weight and unpretentious maintenance.
VAZ Niva 21213 is the first car in the history of the domestic automotive industry that was created specifically for off-road driving, traveling to the most inaccessible places, as well as for fishing and hunting trips. All this was facilitated not only by all-wheel drive and a powerful gasoline engine for those times, but also by a practical body layout - the folding rear seat made it possible to place various household goods weighing up to several hundred kilograms inside the Niva.
Domestic Range Rover?
What does the domestic Rover have in common with the British Rover? At first glance, absolutely nothing. However, you just have to take a closer look at the technical part, and everything will become clear. The fact is that the Niva used a non-disconnectable drive on all four wheels with a transfer case and a locking center differential. This is exactly what the British Range Rover had in the 70s. Thanks to such equipment, the domestic SUV could easily overcome fords, ravines and other off-road conditions. At that time, the new Soviet jeep had no analogues in terms of cross-country ability and comfort.
About the SUV body
It is worth saying that initially the VAZ Niva 21213 was not all-metal. The first experimental modifications of the SUV in question had an open body, the roof of which was covered with a tarpaulin (a kind of all-terrain convertible). However, only models with a solid metal body, which we now see on the streets, entered mass production.
Equipment and comfort
At first glance, the VAZ Niva 21213 is the Volga analogue of the Ural UAZ 469 model. Yes, in terms of driving performance and cross-country ability they are almost Siamese twins, but inside they are completely different. The front row of seats has headrests, the backrest is adjustable in length and angle, the rear row folds to increase luggage space. Upon request, the Niva was equipped with a rear window washer and cleaner, as well as an electric window heater. By today's standards, the equipment of the Volga SUV is almost ascetic, but in the 70s they did not even dream of such luxurious things.
Soul mates!
One of the most significant features of this car was that the bulk of the parts and assemblies were “thrown over” from passenger models of the same VAZ (mainly “six”). So, on the basis of Soviet engineers, the engine, rear axle and gearbox were designed.
VAZ Niva 21213: technical specifications
Initially, the car was equipped with a 4-cylinder carburetor engine with a volume of 1.6 liters. Next came new modifications, as a result of which a 1.3-liter engine was added to the line of power plants, but it was not particularly popular among car enthusiasts.
As for the gearbox, the Niva was equipped with a four-speed manual gearbox with synchronizers in the forward gear. A little later, the SUV began to be equipped with a more advanced transmission - 5 steps. Don’t forget about the transfer case, which allowed the SUV to overcome any off-road conditions. The two-stage transfer case with center differential had a forced lock. consisted of cardan shafts of the rear and front axles, as well as an intermediate shaft.
The suspension also had its own technical features. The front was independent, on wishbones with hydraulic shock absorbers, springs and a stabilizer bar, which prevented the car from tipping over when cornering. The rear suspension is dependent, with coil springs, one transverse rod and four longitudinal ones. Like the front one, it was equipped with several hydraulic shock absorbers.
The first modernization of a domestic SUV
Oddly enough, the first modernized Niva model went into mass production only 16 years later. Moreover, practically nothing has changed in the technical part of the car - all the parts and assemblies are from 1977! The exception was the new internal combustion engine, but more on that a little later.
The main changes affected only the external appearance of the Niva. The new modification is distinguished by a more elongated body and slightly modified brake lights at the rear. By the way, the trunk lid could now only be opened from the passenger compartment. The bumper remains metal, but is now painted light gray. In general, the exterior of the car is not particularly sophisticated or cool. However, today's off-road tuning of the VAZ 21213 (Niva), which consists of installing snorkels, new wheels and other units, can significantly modernize the appearance of the car.
Inside, the changes were also minimal - the seats and instrument panel became similar to Ladovian ones (from the VAZ 2108). What do the owners say? According to reviews, the Niva 21213 became more comfortable after modernization, but the designers still could not avoid the old shortcomings (distortions of the back and constant noise inside).
And now about the technical part. Since the beginning of 1993, the modernized version of the Niva has been equipped with a new gasoline engine with an increased displacement - up to 1.7 liters. For the first time, a contactless ignition system was used on an SUV. The carburetor was also changed. The braking system has been improved. The main gear of the gearbox now has a gear ratio of 3.9. The muffler has also undergone minor changes. Now its body is not welded, as before, but rolled (like the Lada of the eighth model).
As practice shows, new improvements in the internal combustion engine and transmission system have made it possible to significantly reduce fuel consumption on the VAZ Niva 21213 SUV. So, per “hundred” the car spends about 13 liters in the city and up to 11 liters on the highway.
Export versions of the Niva had central fuel injection and were equipped with a non-disconnectable wheel drive with a center differential and a transfer case with a reduction row. At the request of the customer, the car could be equipped with a French diesel engine from Peugeot with a displacement of 1.9 liters. But, unfortunately, these were only isolated cases.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that today there are many competitors for the Niva 2121, this SUV still was, is and will be the best friend of hunters, fishermen and simply off-road enthusiasts. Thanks to the almost complete absence of electronics, the VAZ 2121 is, perhaps, the only jeep that can conquer any section of the road without problems (with the exception of its Ural counterparts of the UAZ brand).
Is it worth buying a used Niva?When creating the first SUVs, almost no manufacturer thought about such a component as comfort. And why would this be, if the main consumers of such machines then were the armed forces. But over time, many people thought about developing a car that combines the high cross-country ability of an SUV and the comfort of a family sedan. It is gratifying that our country was one of the pioneers in this
The history of the creation of the domestic SUV that is still produced today began in the summer of 1970. Chairman of the Council of Ministers Alexey Nikolaevich Kosygin paid a visit to the newly launched Volzhsky Automobile Plant. Then the question arose about the possibility of creating a comfortable 4x4 vehicle designed for agricultural workers. At that time, one phrase from a high official was enough to start work on an all-wheel drive vehicle. And not only at VAZ. Many automobile factories of the USSR presented their projects. It cannot be said that the birth of a compact all-terrain vehicle was simple. Only seven years after Kosygin’s visit, on April 5, 1977, serial production of the VAZ2121 began. But the result was impressive. Suffice it to say that the design of the car turned out to be so innovative for that time that many of the ideas used on it subsequently migrated to models from the world's leading manufacturers, and the Niva itself still remains the most popular SUV in Russia.
Body and interior
Unlike the vast majority of all-terrain vehicles thirty years ago, the Niva does not have a supporting frame. Its role is performed directly by the power structure of the body. Like all products from domestic manufacturers, its corrosion resistance leaves much to be desired. Therefore, thrifty owners perceive annual anti-corrosion treatment of their car as inevitable, akin to trips to scheduled maintenance.
However, even if this rule is followed, few people succeed in delaying the formation of through holes in the thresholds for a long time. In addition, it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the ventilation holes in the lower edges of the doors and thresholds (if they are clogged with dirt or anticorrosive compounds, then moisture begins to accumulate in the internal cavities of these parts, which significantly accelerates the corrosion process). When a car is frequently exposed to domestic anti-icing reagents, the side members in the front part of the car rust very quickly, and traces of corrosion in the places where body parts are welded may appear already in the first year of operation. But perhaps the most vulnerable spot is the part of the floor in the area where the transfer case is mounted. If not properly treated, it simply rots. Vibrations from the transmission contribute no less to the destruction of this area. Therefore, many experienced “field workers”, who often leave hard surfaces, reinforce this place with an additional sheet of iron. The pre-restyling version of the Niva with the factory index 2121 had a short trunk door: its lower edge is one of the fastest rotting places in the car. On the updated model 21213, the cargo compartment door opening was lowered to the rear bumper, and the corrosion resistance of the third door was slightly increased. By the way, if on the VAZ-2121 it can only be opened from the outside, then on the modernized version it can be opened exclusively from the interior using a handle located at the rear left passenger’s knee.
An interesting feature in the body design for those who often use the Niva as a tow truck. If the front towing eye is screwed directly to the side member and can withstand heavy loads, the rear one is attached to the joint of three body parts, so there are cases when, under heavy loads, it was torn out along with part of the elements of the body itself
Engine
The first production VAZ-2121 was equipped with a 1.6-liter carburetor engine, inherited from the VAZ-2106. The engine had an overhead camshaft drive via a multi-row roller chain. In general, the power unit is considered quite reliable and unpretentious. A little later, for countries where the tax depends on engine size, a version with a 1.3-liter engine was prepared. In our country, such specimens are practically never found. After modernization in 1994, the car, which received the index 21213, began to be equipped with a 1.7-liter carburetor engine with a contactless ignition system. Compared to its predecessor’s unit, it had noticeably better low-end traction, but was more prone to detonation when consuming low-quality fuel. The VAZ-2131 was equipped with 1.8 liter engines.
On all carburetor versions, the cooling system used a radiator fan mechanically driven from the crankshaft. A significant disadvantage of this scheme is the insufficient air flow to the radiator when the engine is idling. Therefore, in traffic jams, especially in hot weather, the operating temperature very quickly rises above the critical value. The result is banal overheating, which, if not prevented in time, can lead to serious engine repairs. This problem was eliminated only with the advent of the VAZ-21214, which installed two electric fans. These cars do not have frequent problems with overheating. In addition, the engine of this version received an injection system instead of a carburetor. Both central GM and multi-point Bosch were used. The gas distribution system was also slightly reworked, using hydraulic lash compensators in the valve drive. On the one hand, this innovation helped to get rid of the frequent procedure for adjusting them, and on the other, the engine became more demanding on the quality of the oil.
Expert opinion
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The most common engine malfunctions on the Niva are: the timing chain tensioners and dampers fail, after major repairs the fourth cylinder partition becomes thinner, and the engine begins to overheat. On machines 2121 and 21213, a mechanically driven fan was installed, so the engine often overheats at idle speed.
Regarding the transmission: fifth gear often “flies out”, since the load on the gearbox designed for the VAZ-2106 is much higher here. The clutch usually withstands 40–50 thousand km, but when doing off-road work it can be burned out in one day. The elastic shaft coupling wears out over time, resulting in significantly increased vibrations. Crosses require regular maintenance.
The ball joints in the front suspension also last 40–50 thousand. The upper right rear silent block, located next to the exhaust system, overheats and fails faster than others. Sometimes the support axis of the front lower arm bends and has to be strengthened. The wear of steering rods is influenced by driving style - for “racers” they fail earlier.
Transmission
The highlight of the car is permanent all-wheel drive. From the very first Niva to this day, the scheme has not changed. A symmetrical free differential is used as a mechanism that distributes torque between the axles. To increase cross-country ability, it has the ability to force lock. In addition, as befits a serious SUV, the transfer case has a reduction range.
Torque from the transfer case to the drive axles is transmitted through shafts that have two universal joints. The main disadvantage of the Niva transmission is increased vibrations. If on a well-adjusted and serviceable car they are almost not felt, then with the slightest imbalance in one of the elements responsible for transmitting torque, the comfort in the cabin noticeably deteriorates. There are plenty of reasons for the appearance of vibrations - a soured crosspiece in the cardan, a biting CV joint in the shaft, broken spline joints, as well as a misalignment of the transfer case. Sometimes, during long-term operation with such a malfunction, the eyes on the housing of this unit may burst. True, due to the fact that they are not cast together with the body, replacing them is not particularly difficult.
Due to the unification of the car's design with the VAZ passenger cars produced at that time, the housing of the original transfer case is spaced with the gearbox housing, borrowed from the classic Zhiguli. Until 1994, an elastic compensating clutch and a cardan joint were used as an intermediate shaft between the transfer case and the gearbox. After 1994, the output shaft of the gearbox and the input shaft of the transfer case began to be connected by a drive shaft, in which the cross was replaced with a CV joint. Thanks to this solution, it was possible to slightly reduce vibrations. By the way, recently many owners have begun to use a shaft from a Chevrolet Niva with a more effective torsional vibration damper.
On many copies that have not been used outside the asphalt, the transfer case control mechanism may become sour. Since 1999, gears with fine-module teeth began to be used, as a result of which it was possible to significantly reduce the noise from the operation of the transmission. Starting with model 21213, a five-speed manual transmission began to be installed instead of a four-speed one. By the way, if the “four-stage” was considered an almost eternal unit, then problems arose with the addition of another stage. Due to oil starvation of the fifth gear gear block, their teeth crumble over time, and the housing in the place where this gear operates may crack. Sometimes this happens after only 30 thousand km. Repairs will cost about 4,000 rubles.
The constant velocity joints in the front wheel drive are quite reliable. However, with frequent off-road forays, their anthers quickly wear out and tear. Therefore, they need to be closely monitored, otherwise breakdown is inevitable.
The rear axle is a continuous beam, which usually does not cause any special problems. By the way, if you still have to repair it, you must remember that the parts of this unit on modern and pre-restyling versions are not interchangeable.
Chassis
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Good handling on hard surfaces and decent ride smoothness are ensured by independent front and dependent rear spring suspensions. The weak point in the front is the ball joints, which sometimes do not last even 40 thousand km. The springs practically do not sag, keeping the ground clearance unchanged for almost the entire life of the car. With careful operation, there are no problems with shock absorbers, which can sometimes last more than 100 thousand km. The bipods of the steering gear and the pendulum arm of the worm steering mechanism of cars produced before 1994 differ from those installed later. At the same time, the effort on the steering wheel of the latter is noticeably less, but the turning circle is larger. When modernizing the pendulum arms, plastic bushings were replaced with plain bearings, although the former are considered more reliable. The steering shaft has also changed: on the VAZ-21213, instead of a solid one, they began to use an injury-proof one, consisting of several parts. The bearings in the hubs of both the front and rear wheels do not cause any particular problems, but periodic adjustment of the clearances by tightening the wheel nuts is required.
Brake system
Regardless of the year of manufacture, the car was equipped with front disc and rear drum brakes. The system includes one circuit acting on the front wheels, the second - on all wheels. Front brake pads most often need to be replaced after 20–30 thousand km, and rear brake pads after 60–70 thousand km. When replacing the front ones, it is recommended to clean and lubricate the caliper guides, as they can become sour over time. The brake mechanisms of the rear wheels of cars of the first years of production require constant clearance adjustment. Cars produced in 1994 do not need this operation, since the working cylinders from the VAZ-2101 were replaced with those used on the VAZ-2105 model. At the same time, the vacuum booster was replaced with a more powerful one from the VAZ-2108. Brake fluid is replaced every 20–30 thousand km or every two years, whichever comes first.
And other diseases...
The traditional disease of the Niva is the same as that of all classic Zhigulis - frequent leaks of the cabin heater tap. A car can be cured of it only by replacing the factory product with ceramics, which is considered more reliable and durable.
Due to the rather primitive design of electrical equipment, there are practically no serious problems with it. And the biggest troubles in an electrical circuit arise from oxidized contacts due to poor wiring.
All fuses are grouped in two blocks located on the left under the instrument panel. It is very important that due to the simplicity of the design, transmitting and receiving electricity from another vehicle does not pose any problems.
In conclusion, I would like to say that, despite a lot of shortcomings (the main ones, by the way, are far from being a design miscalculation), the Niva has been on the assembly line for four decades and, apparently, is not going to retire in the near future. And who else can offer such a car at a very affordable price?
As for congenital and acquired diseases, in our native country they have long ago and quite successfully learned to deal with them even in the most mediocre car service center.
Main technical characteristics of Niva
| Modifications | VAZ-2121 | VAZ-21211 | VAZ-21213 | VAZ-21214 | VAZ-2131 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEOMETRICAL PARAMETERS | ||||||
| Length x width x height, mm | 3720x1680x1640 | 3720x1680x1640 | 3720x1680x1640 | 3720x1680x1640 | 4220x1680x1640 | |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2200 | 2200 | 2200 | 2200 | 2700 | |
| Track front/rear, mm | 1430/1400 | 1430/1400 | 1430/1400 | 1430/1400 | 1430/1400 | |
| Ground clearance, mm | 220 | 220 | 220 | 220 | 220 | |
| Turning diameter, m | 11,0 | 11,0 | N.d. | N.d. | N.d. | |
| Entry angle, degrees | N.d. | N.d. | N.d. | N.d. | N.d. | |
| Departure angle, degrees | N.d. | N.d. | N.d. | N.d. | N.d. | |
| Ramp angle, deg. | N.d. | N.d. | N.d. | N.d. | N.d. | |
| Standard tires | 175/80 R16 | 175/80 R16 | 175/80 R16 | 175/80 R16 | 175/80 R16 | |
| TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | ||||||
| Engine | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.7i | 1.8 | 1.8i |
| Engine displacement, cm 3 | 1570 | 1290 | 1690 | 1690 | 1774 | 1774 |
| Location/number cylinders | Inline/4 | Inline/4 | Inline/4 | Inline/4 | Inline/4 | Inline/4 |
| Power, kW (hp)/rpm | 58,8(80)/5400 | 46,8(63,6)/5600 | 58(78,9)/5200 | 59,5(81,1)/5000 | 60,5(82,3)/5200 | 62,3(85)/5000 |
| Torque, Nm/rpm | 121,6/3000 | 92/3400 | 127/3200-3400 | 127,5/4000 | 139/3200 | |
| Transmission | 4 manual gearbox | 4 manual gearbox | 5 manual gearbox | 5 manual gearbox | 5 manual gearbox | 5 manual gearbox |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 132 | 125 | 137 | 142 | 135 | 142 |
| Acceleration time, s | 23,0 | 26,0 | 19,0 | 17,0 | 22,0 | 17,0 |
| Fuel consumption city/highway, l per 100 km | N.d. | 12,7* | 12,1/9,0 | 11,0* | 11,1* | 10,8* |
| Curb weight, kg | 1150 | 1150 | 1210 | 1210 | 1370 | 1370 |
| Total weight, kg | 1550 | 1550 | 1610 | 1610 | 1870 | 1870 |
| Fuel/tank capacity, l | 45/Ai-92 | 45/Ai-92 | 42/Ai-92 | 42/Ai-92 | 84/Ai-92 | 84/Ai-92 |
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Approximate prices for spare parts*, rub.
* For modification with a 3-door body (after restyling in 1994)
All off-road enthusiasts purchase all-wheel drive off-road vehicles to overcome various obstacles. All-wheel drive is a system for distributing speed and power along two axles of the vehicle. Cars equipped with all-wheel drive have permanent or plug-in all-wheel drive. To ensure the transfer of angular velocity to all wheels, a transfer case is installed in cars of this type. This is exactly what the next article will be about.
What is a transfer case in a car?
The transfer case is a mechanism that distributes the torque coming from the engine to the drive mechanisms, that is, differentials. Most often, a transfer case is used in off-road vehicles, as well as in some sports cars, which increases their stability on the road.
In SUVs, the transfer case performs the following functions:
- Distributes torque between axles, which ensures better vehicle cross-country ability, and this is how the full potential of the engine is fully realized. The possibility of occurrence of such a phenomenon as power circulation is automatically eliminated.
- Increases torque on the drive wheels using a downshift, which helps drivers overcome serious off-road obstacles.
- Provides a stable position and movement of the car at low speed when all the torque is used.
What types of transfer cases are there?
Transfer cases can be divided into several types:
- By switching positions:
- Non-switchable. A car with permanent all-wheel drive, without the ability to turn it off;
- Connectable. In this case, if necessary, you can connect an auxiliary axle, while one of the axes will always be the leading one, the other being the connected one;
- Equal. With such a transfer case, any axle can be the driving axle, depending on the choice.
- By control system:
- Automatic transfer case control. All shifts occur automatically using a torque converter or servo drive. All decisions about the need for any switching are made by the electronic control unit. Such a system can also be called electronic all-wheel drive. The main advantage is that the electronics correctly distribute the torque between all wheels. But the disadvantage is that everything depends on electronics and hydraulics, and such a system also adds extra weight to the car.
- Semi-automatic The main difference from an automatic is that the driver can intervene at any time in controlling the all-wheel drive through various buttons on the panel. This allows the driver to independently choose the driving mode depending on the situation and need, namely, connect or disable all-wheel drive at a certain moment.
- Manual or mechanical. The main control of the mechanism is a lever located in the car interior near the gear shift lever.
The main advantage of such a system is its reliability, as well as the absence of the risk of failure of the electronics. But the downside is that you cannot switch modes on the go; to do this, you first have to come to a complete stop.
Razdatka on Niva 21213: main faults and their elimination
The Niva has excellent off-road potential, and that is why it becomes an indispensable assistant when foraying into the wilderness. But, as with any car, problems can also occur with a domestic SUV.
Like any mechanism, the transfer case also fails, and this can be easily determined by the following symptoms:
- Delays when turning on the front axle, its abrupt shutdown. This situation can only happen in the case of early modifications with a demultiplier. All Niva cars have permanent all-wheel drive, but many craftsmen upgrade their cars, after which they have the ability to disable the front axle.
- Constant overheating under load. A possible reason will be a low oil level, if this is the reason, then the oil needs to be added, if not, then it is caused by increased friction of the parts.
- Increased gearbox oil consumption. The reason is any leak due to wear of the seals, poorly tightened crankcase bolts, or simply a drain plug that is not fully tightened.
- Loosening of the transfer case and gearbox. Leads to strong vibrations in the cabin. It may be related to the fastening of mechanisms or the alignment of the transfer case.
- Vibrations can also be caused by damaged transmission mounts; this issue can be resolved by simply replacing broken parts.
- Loosening of the flange bolts, as well as its wear. It can be solved by replacing or tightening the bolts, or in the worst case, by purchasing an intermediate shaft. This breakdown leads to noise and vibration, initially only when the car starts from a standstill, later it turns into a constant hum at speeds over 80 kilometers per hour.
- Jamming of the propeller shaft joints. Breakage occurs due to drying out of the elements; to fix it, you will have to renew the lubricant using a syringe. If re-syringing does not help, then you will have to replace the entire part.
- Similarly, the CV joint can jam, this happens either due to lack of lubrication or due to deformation. In case of severe wear, you will have to buy the entire intermediate shaft; if the problem was only with lubricant, you can simply replace it.
- Cardan play can be resolved by replacement.
- Wear of the differential can lead to noise and crackling when cornering; only replacing the differential will correct this reason.
- Also, a possible cause of noise when cornering is often the satellites and their difficult movement. This is due to burrs, which can be removed with a needle file.
- Often it is not the transfer case itself that fails, but the lever, rod and fork, which prevent full control of the unit. Also, these parts can simply jam; to do this, they must be cleaned of dirt or, in case of severe wear, replaced.
How to remove the transfer case from a Niva
There is nothing complicated in removing and repairing a range multiplier; anyone with the necessary tools can carry out this procedure. The main difficulty of this car is that the transfer case is not attached directly to the gearbox itself, like in modern SUVs; in the Niva they are connected using intermediate shafts.
Dismantling the unit itself is quite simple; to do this, the car is driven into an inspection hole. All levers in the cabin are set to the neutral position. Then the plastic casing is removed from the tunnel, and all covers and handles are removed. Then the hatch is unscrewed, which provides access to the transfer case. The speedometer sensor is also removed, after which the driveshafts are disconnected. In the end, all that remains is to unscrew a few fasteners of the box itself, and then remove it. After the mechanism is removed, you can begin to disassemble it to further replace worn parts. In general, installation occurs in the reverse order, but it is worth paying attention to the centering of the transfer case with the gearbox, that is, you need to ensure that the flange of the gearbox drive shaft is mated with the intermediate shaft of the transfer case, after which you can tighten the mounting bolts of the range itself.
DIY transfer case repair Niva 21213 (video)
Bottom line
The Niva has permanent all-wheel drive, and the car itself is inexpensive. And that is why, from the point of view of reliability and price, it is the best suited for outdoor enthusiasts. Servicing the all-wheel drive of this car will cost symbolic money, however, the design of the mechanism itself is quite reliable for such a price.
Every decent SUV should have a transfer case in its design. The VAZ 2121 Niva, like a decent SUV, also has a radio on board, but not all owners use it correctly, and we’re not even talking about the device. In order to at least a little dispel the aura of mystery around the dispenser, we tried to describe its structure and operating features.
Razdatka Niva - device and diagram
Everything that you see in the drawing is called a transfer case with a range. It is easier to understand how it works if you consider its purpose and features of operation.
Despite this, we have presented a diagram available in open sources that fully describes the design of the transfer case.
Why such difficulties? Build a second gearbox to increase torque output? Exactly. Everything will become clearer when we consider the purpose of the VAZ 2121 transfer case. Everything seems to be simple - the transfer case is needed in order to correctly distribute torque between the driving axles of the car. But not only for this. Another important function of the transfer case is to increase the torque output. Scientifically, this is called a demultiplier.
That is, we can highlight the following important functions of the distributor:
- distribution of torque between the axles of the car;
- center differential lock;
- the ability to disable one of the drive axles;
- the ability to mount a power take-off to ensure the operation of additional equipment;
- increasing torque on the drive wheels by engaging a lower gear.
Operating procedure of the VAZ 2121 transfer case
When the car is moving on a flat, dry road, the traction of the wheels with the road surface is satisfactory and there is no need to use additional functions of the steering wheel. The rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted evenly to the front and rear axles. Thus, the amount of torque transmitted to each of the axles directly depends on the load on each of them.
...and a gasket.
We remove the rear axle drive shaft from the rear cover and disassemble it in the same way as the front crankcase shaft of the VAZ 2131.
Rear axle drive shaft parts and rear cover.
Using a 13mm wrench, unscrew the two nuts securing the gearshift lever bracket to the transfer case housing...
...and remove the gear shift bracket with the lever.
We disconnect the gear shift lever from the bracket in the same way as removing the differential lock lever.
Having finally unscrewed the drive shaft flange nut...
...remove the flange.
Use a 13mm wrench to unscrew the three nuts...
...and remove the front drive shaft bearing cover.
The connection is sealed with a gasket.
Using a 10mm wrench, unscrew the four nuts securing the hatch.
Remove the hatch and gasket.
Remove the lever spring from the gearshift fork rod and slide the rod cover.
Inside the hatch, use a 10mm spanner to unscrew the bolt securing the fork to the rod.
To prevent the ball and spring from popping out,...
...cover the hole with your finger and gradually pull out the rod using pliers.
In this case, the retainer ball falls out through the side hole of the crankcase.
Remove the retainer spring with tweezers.
By pulling the rod further, we remove the gear shift fork...
...and a spacer plastic bushing.
We take out the rod.
The rods of the differential lock fork and gear shift fork of the VAZ 2121 are sealed with rubber rings. We will show their removal using the example of a gear shift fork rod ring.
Prying it with a screwdriver...
...take out the rubber sealing ring.
Unlock the nuts of the rear bearings of the drive and intermediate shafts of the VAZ 2131.
Using a 27mm spanner, unscrew one of the nuts, holding the shafts from turning by holding the other nut with a wrench or socket of the same size.
Remove the nut and washer.
We insert the propeller shaft mounting bolts into the holes of the flange and put the flange on the splines of the drive shaft of the VAZ 2121 transfer case.
We unscrew the second nut, holding the shafts from turning with a mounting blade inserted between the bolts.
Remove the nut and washer. Remove the drive shaft flange.
Remove the thrust ring of the front drive shaft bearing.
Using a 13mm wrench, unscrew the three remaining nuts securing the front cover of the transfer case.
The remaining nuts of this cover were removed when dismantling the front drive shaft bearing cover, the front axle drive housing and the gear shift lever bracket.
Remove the front cover of the VAZ 2131 transfer case with differential.
Remove the gasket from the transfer case housing studs.
Using pliers, remove the mounting ring of the front bearing of the differential housing.
We disconnect the Niva 2121 differential and the front cover of the transfer case.
We remove (or knock out through a soft metal drift) the outer ring of the front bearing of the intermediate shaft from the front cover socket.
Using pliers we open the retaining ring of the front bearing of the differential housing...
...and remove it.
Remove the spring washer.
We install a suitable stop for the puller screw in the hole in the front housing of the Niva 2131 differential...
...and a three-legged puller...
...press the front bearing.
If necessary, remove the rear bearing Niva 2121 in the same way.
We put marks on the front and rear differential housings so that during assembly we do not disturb the balancing of the unit.
Clamping the differential housing in a vice with soft metal jaws,...
...using a 17-mm spanner, unscrew the six bolts holding the driven gear and the front and rear differential housings together.
Separate the front and rear differential housings.
In this case, the driven gear remains on the front housing.
We knock it off the body through a soft metal drift.
Disconnect the driven gear and the front differential housing.
Remove the support washer from the front axle drive gear...
...and take out the gear itself.
Using pliers, open the retaining ring of the satellite axis and remove it.
Remove the spring washer of the Niva 2131 satellite axis.
Hooking the pliers onto another retaining ring, remove the satellite axis.
Remove the support washer and satellite from the rear differential housing.
Having taken out the second satellite and its washer, we remove the rear axle drive gear.
To remove the primary and intermediate shafts...
... using pliers, remove the adjusting ring of the rear bearing of the drive shaft.
Similarly, we dismantle the rear bearing ring of the intermediate shaft.
We remove the drive shaft from the crankcase...
... and the intermediate shaft.
We clamp the splined part of the drive shaft in a vice with soft metal jaw linings...
...and, hooking the paws of the puller onto the gearshift clutch...
...remove the rear bearing, bushing, low gear and clutch.
Remove the clutch hub and high gear from the shaft.
Use a puller to compress the front drive shaft bearing.
Using a screwdriver, remove the rollers from the front bearing of the intermediate shaft...
...and remove the separator.
We clamp the Niva 2121 intermediate shaft in a vice with soft metal jaw linings.
Using two mounting blades, we press the inner ring of the front bearing...
...and remove it.
We remove the rear intermediate shaft bearing in the same way as the front drive shaft bearing.
We assemble the Niva 2131 transfer case in the reverse order.
When assembling the center differential, we align the marks on its housings.
We install the spring washer on the satellite axis from the side of the blind hole at the end of the axis.
We press on suitable pipe sections...
...inner ring of the front bearing of the intermediate shaft,...
…front axle drive shaft bearing (the pipe rests on the inner ring)…
...and differential bearings.
In the same way, we press on the rear axle drive shaft bearing, the rear intermediate shaft bearing, and the front and rear drive shaft bearings.
We install the drive and intermediate shafts into the transfer case housing at the same time.
Lubricate all sealing gaskets with a thin layer of silicone sealant.
Having tightened the nuts of the rear bearings of the drive and intermediate shafts to the specified torque, we lock the nuts by pressing their shoulders into the grooves of the shaft shanks.
After assembly, fill in oil (see Changing the oil).
Stud fastening unit:
1 - crankcase;
2 - bushing;
3 - the remaining part of the boss;
4 - hairpin
Repair of transfer case housing stud fastening
In the Niva 2121 transfer case, the right (long) boss sometimes bursts, into which a special pin is pressed, securing the box to the bracket. For repairs, you can machine a bushing from duralumin, as shown in the figure, file down all the ribs on the remaining part of the boss and file its outer diameter to fit the bush tightly. Having installed the fastening pin into the hole, you need to press the bushing all the way and weld it around the perimeter to the box body.
Transfer gearbox VAZ 2121, Niva 2131
- - Dispenser device
- - Design features of the transfer case
- - Causes of transfer case vibration
- - Changing the oil in the transfer case
- - Replacement of transfer case seals
- - Speedometer gear housing
- - Transfer case suspension bracket
- - Differential lock lamp switch
- - Removing and installing the transfer case
- - Disassembly and assembly of the transfer case
Units and transmission device VAZ 2121, VAZ 2131
Maintenance and operation of the Niva 2121 box. Repair instructions for the cardan, axle and wheel drive Niva 2131.
1:1094 2:10498
Today, probably, every Nivavod has heard and knows about the wonderful “know-how” - Anti-vibration transfer case handles from niva-komfort.ru
New tuning transfer case levers are assembled according to the type of gearbox lever. These are no longer just metal rods, but levers with “stuffing” containing anti-resonance bushings, which absorb vibration and noise - that’s what I write about them on the website.
I found mentions of the ShNiv clutch on the Internet and then looked for information on this topic.
rod that needs to be replaced
this one no longer fits
At the service station I tried to persuade the mechanic to screw it to the car - he completely refused. He doesn’t repair gearboxes, let alone RK!, but I persuaded him. While the checkpoint was being removed/installed, this device was also screwed into the “heap” - nothing complicated. What was more surprising was how I could previously switch the control gear when the old levers were removed - they practically did not move on their axes at all!
The new lever came out into the cabin in a slightly wrong place, we took aim and had to remove the steering wheel again (it had not yet been screwed to the gearbox and the cardan shafts had not been attached) to bend the lever “in place” - we hit it the first time! (thanks to the master, he has a “diamond eye”) and put everything back in place.
I ran to the store and bought a rubber cover for the gearshift lever (an original part) - it fit very well on the base of the new shift lever, and “nailed” the bottom of the cover with a tunnel cover, setting it into one of the holes for the old levers. And I plugged the second hole “temporarily” with a piece of paralon.
The most interesting thing is the anti-vibration handles! When I installed the backstage, I didn’t think about it at all. It seemed to me that everything was standard and there was nothing special about the fact that I would install a set of bushings from the gearbox and a cut-off gearbox lever on the gearbox - and I did everything that way.
As a result, I “killed several birds with one stone” at once:
- one lever on the switchgear while maintaining its functionality;
- smooth, soft shifting like in ShNiva;
- the handle of the lever RK from ShNiva (instead of “clown” balls);
- “anti-vibration” handle, one instead of two.
Two years later, I learned about branded miracle pens and was happy that it cost me $20 instead of $65. for the yellow "invention".
The impressions from the installation are the most positive - I recommend it to everyone! Doing it yourself, if you have welding, will not be difficult, and the result is superior to everything.
Well, now in more detail:
1) If you want quiet levers, you can do this:
But we will go the other way, by remaking the lever according to the principle of a Niva-Chevrolet gearbox or RK. Everyone knows that there are already ready-made yellow levers:
The issue price without delivery is 2000 rubles, which is not at all budgetary. Therefore, after reading articles on D2 and NivaFAQ, I decided to do it myself:
We're going to the store to look for repairs. set of gearbox scenes from Volga or Gazelle. Everywhere they offer these boxes:
Lots of unnecessary stuff included
The price is 380-420 rubles per piece, taking into account that you need two, and also the tubes themselves, which are put on top of the drawstring. As a result, it turns out to be a little more than 1000 rubles, which also did not suit me and I decided to go to the market.
On the market everything is simpler and there is more choice, you can buy separately only the drawstring and separately only the tube without the ball (handle) and the lower elastic band (boot).
As a result we get:
17:1901 17:2068
I’ll show you an example of a locking lever that has a slight bend to the left.
Before welding:
We get:
19:1184 19:1384
Ready lever
You can use RK lever tubes from a Chevrolet Niva, but they are less common and more expensive.
Expenses:
- 2x Gazelle/Volga gearbox 200r
- 2x Classic gearshift lever tube 160r
- 2x Rem. gearbox set for VAZ 2101-07 40r
Total: 400 rub.
Time and money well spent, a very useful improvement in the field:
- Solves 90% of the howling from the transfer case
- Vibration is no longer transmitted to the levers
- Soft start, very reminiscent of a gearbox
After complete soundproofing, I noticed that there was a lot of noise coming from the RK levers. On the Internet I came across “tuned” handles, assembled according to the type of gearbox rocker, but the price did not suit me (2t.r.)! You can make these pens yourself.
We will need:
1.
5-speed gearshift lever. Gazelle lower part (devil) (3302-1702140) 2 pcs.
2.
Gear shift lever VAZ
(you can use the RK Shniv lever, but I didn’t find it, it’s not available anywhere)
I used 1 lever from a gazelle (it’s the cheapest), and the second lever was a shift lever from a VAZ gearbox, lying in the garage.
3. R/C scenes VAZ-2101, Volga, Gazelle 2pcs
I did everything with the transfer case removed, because I went through the box and changed the clutch
1. Cut off the excess part from the gear shift lever
cut a centimeter higher from the end of the narrowing
2. We cut off the original RK lever at the point where the bend begins to maintain the tilt of the handle
3. Weld the cut parts
4. We cut the gearshift lever below 1 cm from the thickening
5. cut off the lever on the transfer case leaving 2 cm and weld the cut gearbox lever to it
6. We insert the repair kit into the resulting handle and put it on the transfer case.
We do the same with the second handle and get
Also, with the units removed, I coated the tunnel with Barrier anti-noise mastic.
Washed and degreased first
Here's what happened:
http://www.4wd.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=16617, https://www.drive2.ru/l/393589/, https://www.drive2.ru/l/4812485/, https://www.drive2.ru/l/2534985/
36:1764 70097
Transfer case with drive
|
1 – differential lock clutch fork; |
34 – intermediate shaft; |
NOTE
In order to reduce noise levels, since 2002, the manufacturer has been installing transfer cases with fine-module gears on Niva cars. The production of transfer cases with large-module gears at OJSC AvtoVAZ has been discontinued. Externally, the modernized transfer cases are no different from those produced previously and, when assembled, are completely interchangeable with them.
The transfer case is used to change the amount of torque and distribute it between the front and rear axles. The box has two gears with ratios of 1.200 and 2.135. The front and rear axles are constantly driven and connected by a center differential, which redistributes torque between them depending on the resistance to wheel movement. To increase the vehicle's cross-country ability, the differential can be blocked, and the front and rear drive shafts become rigidly connected to each other (their rotation speeds are equal).
The transfer case is attached to the body floor on two rubber-metal brackets. To adjust its position relative to the intermediate shaft flange, the holes in the brackets are made oval, and adjusting shims can be installed between them and the body. The procedure for centering the box is described in the section Eliminating vibration of the transfer case.
The transfer case housing parts are cast from aluminum alloy and connected to each other with studs and nuts. There is a hatch in the upper part of the crankcase, closed with a stamped steel cover. The front cover is centered on the crankcase using two locating pins. There are cardboard gaskets between the covers and the crankcase (during repairs, you can use a sealant gasket instead). All shafts (including the speedometer drive shaft), as well as the gear shift fork and differential lock rods, are sealed with oil seals. There are two holes in the front cover - a filler hole (also known as a control hole) and a drain hole.
The drive shaft is mounted on two ball bearings in the sockets of the front cover and crankcase. The front bearing inner race is sandwiched between the shaft shoulder and the thrust ring by a self-locking shaft flange nut. The rear bearing inner race is sandwiched between the shaft shoulder and the thrust washer by a nut at the rear end of the shaft. The nut is locked by pressing its edge into the grooves on the shaft. The drive shaft is secured against axial displacement by an adjusting ring in a groove on the outer ring of the rear bearing and clamped between the crankcase and the rear cover.
There are two drive gears on the drive shaft. The front (large) is the highest gear; it rotates freely on a heat-treated shaft journal. The rear (smaller) gear - the lowest gear - rotates freely on a heat-treated bushing mounted on the shaft with tension. The gears have two crowns. The helical (large) rings are in constant mesh with the corresponding gears of the intermediate shaft, and the gear shift clutch is connected to the spur (small) gears when the gear is engaged. The clutch moves along a hub that is rigidly seated on the shaft splines between the drive gears. In the middle position of the clutch, both gears are turned off (“neutral”) and torque from the engine is not transmitted to the wheels.
The intermediate shaft is a block of two helical gears that are in constant mesh with the drive shaft gears. The front gear is also in mesh with the driven gear mounted on the differential housing.
The intermediate shaft rotates in two bearings: the front one is roller, the rear one is ball bearings. The shaft is secured against axial displacement by an adjusting ring in the groove of the outer ring of the rear bearing, which is sandwiched between the crankcase and the rear cover (the same as that of the drive shaft). A steel drive gear for the speedometer drive is pressed into the front end of the shaft. The driven gear of the speedometer drive is plastic, mounted on a shaft rotating in the sleeve of the speedometer drive housing. The housing is mounted on the front cover of the transfer case.
On a VAZ-21214 car with distributed fuel injection, in addition to the mechanical speedometer drive, a speed sensor is installed on the transfer case.
The front axle drive shaft rests at its front end on a ball bearing in the front axle drive housing, mounted on the front cover of the transfer case. The inner ring of the bearing is sandwiched between the shaft shoulder and the thrust ring by a self-locking shaft flange nut. The bearing is secured against axial displacement by a retaining ring that fits into a groove in the front axle drive housing. The rear splined end of the shaft is connected to the drive gear of the front differential axle. The spur gear on the shaft serves to lock the differential. The design and installation of the rear axle drive shaft is similar, but it does not have a gear.
The differential housing is detachable, both parts are connected by six bolts. The same bolts also secure the driven gear to the differential housing. The latter is mounted on two ball bearings. The inner race of the front bearing is held from displacement by a spacer spring washer resting on a retaining ring in a groove in the differential housing. The groove on the outer bearing race includes a mounting ring, sandwiched between the transfer case front cover and the front axle drive housing. Thus, the differential housing is held against axial displacement by the front bearing; the rear bearing is not fixed. The front of the differential housing has splines along which the locking clutch moves. When the lock is engaged, the clutch is connected to the gear on the front axle drive shaft, connecting it to the differential housing.
In the holes of the differential housing there is a pinion axis, held by two retaining rings. Under one of the rings there is a spring washer that prevents axial movement of the satellite axis. The satellites (bevel gears) located on the axle are in constant mesh with the axle drive gears. Support washers are installed between the differential housing and the satellites. Their thickness is selected so that the axial clearance of the axle drive gears does not exceed 0.10 mm, and the moment of resistance to rotation is 14.7 N.m.
Transfer case control– manual, with mechanical lever drive. The driver uses the rear lever to change gears, and the front lever to engage the differential lock. The design of the gearbox control drives is similar. The lever swings in the longitudinal direction on an axis installed in the bracket eyes in front of the transfer case. To reduce friction, plastic bushings are inserted into the hole in the lever. The lower end of the lever fits into the groove of the rod and is fixed with a figured spring. The other end of the rod is connected to the fork of the corresponding clutch (gear shift or differential lock) and is secured with a bolt. The rod at the exit from the box is sealed with an oil seal and protected from dust by a rubber corrugated cover. To fix the drive in the selected position, a ball lock is used - a spring-loaded ball fits into the grooves on the rods. There are three of them on the gear shift rod - for “neutral”, high and low gears; on the differential lock rod there are two (“on” and “off”). A switch is screwed into the front axle drive cover, which closes the warning lamp circuit when the differential lock is engaged.
The Niva car became the first Soviet SUV to use an all-wheel drive transmission. A characteristic feature of the car is the center differential locking mechanism. There is an opinion among motorists that this mechanism serves to connect the front axle. However, the front-wheel drive Niva is always connected. You can figure out what drive the Niva has after studying the design of this unit.
Niva drive device
The chassis of the car is made on the principle of permanent all-wheel drive - it is transmitted from the power unit to all 4 wheels. This scheme improves the performance of the car when driving in off-road conditions, while simultaneously reducing the load on transmission parts.
The Chevrolet Niva drive consists of the following components:
- Gearbox.
- Transfer case.
- A pair of drive and cardan shafts.
- Front and rear axle gearboxes.
The transfer case is designed to distribute torque between the drive axles of the vehicle. The car is equipped with a two-speed transfer case, which provides:
- stable running of the machine when driving at low speed and at high engine speeds;
- power distribution between drive axles, depending on road grip.
The differential is one of the most important elements of the transmission. Its main purpose is to distribute traction force, and, if necessary, ensure rotation of two consumers at different angular speeds. The Chevrolet Niva drive transmission has three differentials:
- One for each axle (interwheel) - enable the wheels of the same axle to rotate at different speeds.
- The third (interaxle action) - transmits power from the power unit to both axles of the vehicle. It also allows the shafts to operate at different angular speeds, depending on operating conditions, which significantly improves controllability.
A pair of cardan shafts (CV joint or cross design) provide connection between the transfer case and the drive axle gearboxes. Both car shafts have the same design - they are interchangeable.
The front and rear axles transmit force from the transfer case to the drive wheels through external and internal angular velocity joints.
The principle of operation of all-wheel drive on a Chevrolet Niva
In normal mode, the Chevrolet Niva operates in high gear with the differential unlocked. Torque is transmitted from the power unit, through the gearbox and intermediate shaft, to a two-stage transfer case gearbox. A center differential is installed in the transfer case housing. It links the front and rear axles, allowing them to rotate at different speeds, depending on road conditions and direction of travel.
How does all-wheel drive work on a Niva with a locked differential?
When all-wheel drive is engaged, both cardan shafts are secured with a locking clutch. This promotes uniform transmission of traction force to both axles of the vehicle. Due to this, the vehicle's cross-country ability increases, but controllability deteriorates.
Advice: It is not recommended to use the lock mode on roads with good grip, as this will lead to accelerated tire wear, increased load on transmission parts and components, and will also increase fuel consumption.
How to turn on all-wheel drive
Since the drive on the Niva is constantly all-wheel drive, the question of how to turn on the all-wheel drive on the Niva Chevrolet means how to turn on the center differential lock.
You need to use blocking in the following cases:
- when driving in difficult terrain where there is a danger of wheel slipping;
- when there is a lack of engine thrust;
- when driving on a road covered with snow or ice.
Important: Blocking is useless when the car is hung diagonally, when one wheel on different axles begins to slip. This is due to the design feature of the transmission. In this case, you need to act according to the situation - dig up or pour under the hanging wheels.
The main component of the axle locking mechanism is the transfer case. The transfer case is controlled by one six-position lever. The longitudinal stroke provides higher and lower gear rows. Transverse - responsible for locking the center differential. When the lever is in lock mode, a yellow icon lights up on the instrument panel. There are no synchronizers in the design of the transfer case, therefore, when you try to engage the speed range or lock, the gears clash tooth to tooth. To switch, you just need to move the car forward or backward and then everything will switch.
Test Drive
What is permanent all-wheel drive?
And then why is there a lever in the field? differential lock"? The answer is for driving on really bad roads, as well as in the complete absence of them. After all, the presence of three differentials (two axles and a center differential) means that it is enough to lose traction on one wheel (dirt, ice, hanging in the air) and it will happen immediately will begin to rotate at quadruple speed and all other wheels will remain stationary (although they may have good grip.) A locked center differential no longer transmits equal moments, but equal speeds - thus, two wheels will always transmit torque, one on each axle. And the car will stop only if they both lose traction - for example, when hanging diagonally (two wheels diagonally on hills and the remaining two hanging in the air) or dumping one side into some ditch or snow.Further improvement in cross-country ability is possible by also locking the axle differentials, but unfortunately for the Niva there is no such serial version, only a variety of amateur modifications (up to the point of welding tightly one of the differentials - then the car completely loses the ability to drive normally on the roads).
Niva is a tank! But light and shallow-floating
Namely, the Niva is still a compromise between a road car and an SUV. Of course, you can ride it to Everest and storm the expanses of the Siberian taiga - but it’s better not to do that. Take pity on your equipment and it will live much longer. This is not a military Ural, you can’t load 10 tons on it and jump from a 5-meter cliff - the suspension is still almost like a classic Lada, albeit reinforced. You shouldn’t dive into a ford after a T-80 tank either, the factory depth of the ford is only 60 cm (and it can be achieved without special training only when moving extremely slowly, otherwise it will splash and stall, and you can turn off the fan and burn the electrics). And in general, you shouldn’t assume that now you can handle everything and you’ll go everywhere - no, with this approach you’ll just go much further and deeper than, for example, the same classic.
But on the roads, the Niva drives quite well on roads in a condition that is quite below average. A grader and a country road, a muddy collective farm track or a river bank - these are the places where you can drive calmly in a field, at a speed determined solely by the desires and skills of the driver, and the car will not let you down. You will not fly away in a turn due to the drift of the only steered axle, which is also the drive axle, and you will not feel that you are simply being carried sideways like on a rear-wheel drive. Even compared to a standard 4*4, driving in a field in such conditions is much better - you can take turns by rolling in rather than sliding with all four wheels. You will not drown in a puddle 10 cm deep and a hole of the same size will not require your head to go through the ceiling.
Transfer case and low gear
And this is a handout. Transfer case if official. A device that makes two from one shaft coming out of the box (the most common one, practically no different from 2107) - for both axles.
One of the levers controls downshift. In fact, this is an additional gearbox with a ratio of about 1:2, connected after the box. That is, where you had 4th (direct) gear, you get something like 2nd, where 2nd is 1st, and where 1st is something even lower, even slower, but with twice the effort. It is used for two purposes - firstly, when there is not enough engine torque in the 1st gear of the upper row (1c) - off-road or when towing a heavy trailer (a 1n Niva can easily move a trolleybus and pull it along a flat surface - and This, by the way, is 8 tons - although, of course, without much agility). And the second goal is to reduce the speed below 1st gear in conditions when there is enough torque, but there is no control speed. For example, when maneuvering (driving into a narrow place or parking lot), driving in a very sluggish traffic jam (where everyone is just pulling the clutch - the engine does not pull below 1000 rpm and even stalls, and there is no speed corresponding to these rpm in the traffic jam). It is very convenient then to turn on the lower row and move calmly without burning out the clutch and without jumping forward at each start-stop.
You can turn off the bottom row without stopping the car. Like on a regular gearbox, only unsynchronized (maybe you’ve heard “experienced stories” about all sorts of double squeezes and “grinding of gears”? This all happened back then when the main gearboxes were unsynchronized). That is, with the selection of speed on the shafts and the careful and fairly slow engagement of the gears. The factory prohibits turning on the bottom row this way only after stopping the car. But in practice, when driving at a very low speed (up to 5 km/h - walking speed), this works quite well if you practice a little, and without terrible grunts in the box. Just under no circumstances try to press the gear - if it crunches and does not fit, then applying force can only collapse the transfer case, followed by expensive repairs.
The second lever is the control of the above-described center differential. Forward - normal mode, reverse - locked, for difficult road conditions. Attention - turning on and especially turning off this blocking is not always possible. It may simply “not go” - if the shafts are not in the desired position, or “bite” if force is applied to this blocking (turning on the road with noticeable wheel grip). Drive forward (or maybe backward) a little and the lever will move to the desired position without much difficulty. Again, do not try to press the switch on - if it is already crunching, it means the shafts are turning relative to each other and switching on is impossible. Stop or go straight ahead (when there is no difference in paths between bridges). When the lock is on, a yellow light on the instrument panel lights up - this is a reminder that you cannot drive on good roads in this mode.
I'm a cool wide jeeper - I turned on the second axle and drove!
These are the ones we treat: Once again, You can't drive a field with a locked differential on good roads. The transfer case, gearboxes and universal joints will fall apart, the tires will quickly wear out and there is a noticeable risk of going outside when turning (Spite comment: unfortunately, modern medicine and car service prices are not yet able to completely defeat insanity. There are many individuals in nature who have ruined more than one car, but have not yet penetrated into the essence of the phenomena. To all discussions about torque, differentials or transfer gear, they have a reasonable, parity answer: “What the hell is this jeep!”)
The only mode when it is justified to turn on the lock when driving on more or less decent roads is on a grader. When there are no turns, there is speed (the car is quite capable of driving 100 or more on a fairly average collective farm grader - just be careful with the brakes, they move away from the side vibration and require one or two presses to move the pads into place) and every cobblestone, bump or pit strives turn the car around a vertical axis (along the heading in the sense). The Niva is a short-wheelbase vehicle and therefore side impacts on it have a very significant effect on the course. Enabling the lock allows you to somewhat reduce the effect (at the cost of naturally reducing the service life and increasing gasoline consumption - slipping when turning and small deviations will not disappear).
So when to turn on what?
The basic rule is to turn it on first and then go for the assault. If you can see a boundless swamp ahead with the traces of the Kirovets tractor stretching into the abyss, then you need to stop, turn on 1H and lock, look around and take a detour. The Niva practically cannot overcome such obstacles, but it lands thoroughly in them, so pushing it out with the help of the crew is unrealistic.
If there is a dry but uneven and generally dubious road (country road) ahead, then it is usually enough to turn on the bottom row. And move forward according to the situation - where exactly at 2n (this is approximately the same as 1v) and can even be up to 5v (this is something between 2v and 3v - you can accelerate up to 80 kilometers), where there is a hillock - reducing speed and moving down to 1n.
If there is a slippery and very doubtful area ahead (mud, snow, puddle, ford), then stop and engage the lock and the lower row. Then it may be too late - if you wait to turn it on until the moment when the car starts to stop for natural reasons (not enough torque or the wheels slip), then there is a noticeable chance of not moving again.
What's it like in the city?
Fine. I sit high up and look far away, I’m not afraid of hatches with tram rails and the snowdrift at the entrance to the yard is not a terrible and terrible insurmountable obstacle. There are just not enough doors - it’s not very convenient to carry passengers in the field, there are problems with entry and exit (as with all two-door cars). In terms of dynamics in urban conditions (speed 40-90 km) it is quite at the level of the rest of the traffic, in terms of ease of control, etc. - the Lada is like a Lada. But it’s durable (of course you shouldn’t go head-on, but small collisions often don’t even leave traces - with such bumpers), load-carrying (there’s absolutely no problem taking half a ton of cargo, as long as it fits inside), short (essential when parking). The turning radius is only larger, but what can you do, this is the price for front-wheel drive with huge 16" wheels.
Will it bring...?
You'll be lucky. As luck would have it, the Niva’s load-carrying capacity and cargo capacity are quite impressive. Stiff, energy-intensive suspension springs are capable of keeping the car completely away from the travel limiters, even if you load it with passengers according to the principle of “as much as you can fit” or cargo “as much as you can fit.” Well, unless of course you load it with bricks, bags of cement or gold bars. She almost doesn’t feel 200 kg of load (and on a classic Lada, the mudguards already rub on the asphalt if you stuff so much into the trunk, and the side members burst).
To transport cargo in the field, the rear seat can be folded. The backrest is forward and then it and the pillow are forward again. Unlike 2121, to completely clean the seat, you need to throw over the hinges of its fastening - this is described in the instructions.
But there is a second option for folding the seat, which is not described in the instructions and is generally little known. It turns out that the rear Niva seat can be folded completely horizontally! To do this, you need to turn it out - pull the loops between the pillow and the backrest forward and upward, thereby placing the pillow vertically upward and the backrest horizontally back. Then push the backrest under the brackets for its fastening behind the rear wheel arches and lower everything down. It turns out to be an almost flat surface from the front seat (and even the front panel if you unfold the passenger seat - you just need to pull out the headrest) to the rear door. Two and a half meters - more than in the Volga "barn" (its right seat does not fold out flush with the rear one). And it’s quite high, up to the roof. You can carry something long or spend the night in nature.
