Lada Niva 4x4, Service Manual

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Inspect the tie-rod balljoint protective caps.
If the protective caps are in good condition and provide inside
cleanness, their service life is practically unlimited. Moisture, dust
and other foreign particles inside the joint will result in premature
wear of components.
The cap should be replaced in case of cracks, breaks and in
case greasing is squeezing out when the joint is pressed with fin-
gers.
Checking and adjusting the clearance
in the steering mechanism worm bearings
Place the front wheels in position corresponding to straight
movement, rotate the steering wheel in both directions, and
check if the distance between the steering box 8 end face (fig. 5-
2) and mark B made on the steering worm shaft will change. This
change will indicate a gap in worm bearings.
To adjust the clearance in worm bearings, make 1-1.5 turns of
the steering wheel to the left, undo the fastening bolt from the bot-
tom cover 20 and drain oil from the steering box. Remove the bot-
tom cover, remove one shim or replace it with a thinner one.
Note. Shims are delivered in spare parts with thickness of
0.10 and 0.15 mm.
Fix the bottom cover, again check for axial shift of worm in
bearings. If there is no free play, fill the steering box with 0.215 l.
of transmission oil.
Check the effort of turning the steering wheel, having placed
the front wheels on smooth metal surface. It should not exceed
196 N (20 kgf), 245* N (25* kgf).
Check and adjustment
of the roller-to-worm mesh
Having ensured there is no axial movement of the worm in
the bearings, use puller A.47035 to press out the balljoint pins
from the apertures in the arm and disconnect the tie-rods from the
arm, at the same time keeping the front wheels straight.
Move the arm by the head, check for a gap in the roller-to-
worm mesh. Within the 30 ° turn of the steering wheel in each
direction from the neutral position there should be no clearance,
that is, no evident free play of the arm.
If the free play of the arm can be felt, remove cap 3 (see fig.
5-2), slacken nut 4 on the adjusting screw and, having raised the
washer, tighten the adjusting screw 2 to take up the backlash. Do
not tighten the adjusting screw too much. Then, hold the adjust-
ing screw with a screwdriver, and tighten nut 4.
Ensure, that the arm does not move, connect the balljoint pins.
Check the effort of turning the steering wheel. If it exceeds 196 N
(20 kgf), slacken adjusting screw 2 and refit cap 3.
Steering mechanism
Removal and refitting
Removal.
Disconnect the wires from the battery and take off
the horn push-pad trim. Undo the steering wheel fastening nut,
remove the steering wheel, and both halves of the steering col-
umn shroud.
Note. If it is necessary to remove only the steering box, undo
the bolt that is fastening the intermediate shaft lower U-joint fork
on the worm shaft and the bolts fastening the steering box to the
body chassis arm.
Remove the instrument cluster and disconnect the connector
plugs of the three-lever switch from the harness connectors.
Disconnect the wires from the ignition switch terminals, undo
the fastening screws, push down the switch lock and remove the
ignition switch. Loosen the fastening clip of the switch housing
incorporating the turn lights, headlights and wipers, and remove.
Undo the bolt that is fastening the intermediate shaft lower U-
joint fork to the steering worm shaft.
Undo the bracket 6 fastening bolt (fig. 5-3) and remove the
steering shaft with the bracket.
Undo the nuts that are fastening the ballpins on the side and
middle tie-rods to the arm, and use puller A.47035 to press out
the ballpins from the arm apertures.
Remove the steering box, prior having undone the bolts that
are fastening it to the body chassis arm. Take out the steering
shaft sealing from the opening in the car front.
Refitting. Insert sealing 2 (see fig. 5-3) into the opening in the
car front, match the sealing ridges with the grooves in the open-
ing, place the steering box on the chassis arm, but do not tighten
completely the nuts on the steering box fastening bolts.
Using a special fixture, situate the steering box so that angle
α
(fig. 5-4) does not exceed 32 ° , and the clearance between the
shaft and the brake pedal will be no less than 5 mm. Then com-
pletely tighten the steering box fastening nuts.
Place the steering pitman arm in middle position. To do this,
match the labels on the steering box and on the worm shaft (see
fig. 5-2).
Temporarily refit the steering wheel on the shaft so that the
spokes are located horizontally and in this position connect the
intermediate shaft U-joint with the worm shaft, paying special
attention, that the fastening bolts pass through the worm ring
groove. Then attach the steering shaft bracket to the body.
Remove the steering wheel and refit the combination switch
(turn lights, headlights and wipers) on the column.
Refit the steering wheel on the shaft so that the spokes are
located horizontally. The steering wheel should rotate smoothly
and easily in both directions, then tighten the steering wheel fas-
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