How to bleed the brake system on a Chevrolet Niva alone

How to bleed the brakes on a Chevrolet Niva yourself

Experienced car owners know that the brake fluid on a Chevrolet Niva needs to be changed every fifty thousand kilometers, but at least once every 2 years. So, if the car reacts poorly to pressing the brake pedal, this indicates that there is moisture or air in the system. Consequently, it is necessary to bleed the brake system in the Chevrolet Niva, completely replacing the brake fluid. Foreign elements appear there due to the natural chemical decomposition of some components of the brake fluid and the high temperature generated during braking. The following are considered signs of air penetration into the hydraulic drive:

Note. When pumping a hydraulic drive is directly related to the repair of one of the circuits, and the serviceability of the second circuit is known, it is permissible to pump only the circuit being repaired.

The process of bleeding the hydraulic drive in a Chevrolet Niva is identical to replacing the brake fluid. The only difference is that the condition for the end of pumping of the working cylinder is the end of the release of air from the tube, and not the appearance of new brake fluid.

Thus, the car owner needs to bleed the brakes when observing any of the following signs:

When is it necessary to bleed the brakes?

The first of these is that the drive pipelines are exposed to negative environmental influences. The rear brake pipelines on VAZs are made of soft metals (copper, brass) and they pass under the bottom of the car. Oxidation processes and possible shock loads during operation can cause cracks or breakdowns in the pipeline.

The second reason why there may be air in the system is scheduled maintenance of the brake system. The fluid used in the drive has its own resource, so it must be replaced periodically. It is during the replacement process that air gets inside the system. It can also appear in the system after repair of mechanisms, for example, during the replacement of pads. Therefore, it is imperative to bleed the brakes after replacing the pads.

But on VAZ cars it is possible to remove air bubbles by pumping - a process in which air is expelled from the liquid. For this purpose, special fittings are provided for the design of the brake mechanisms.

It is not difficult to identify that the system requires bleeding - the failure of the pedal, the ease of pressing it and a decrease in the effectiveness of the brakes, up to their complete absence, indicate that the system is airy.

But before you start pumping, you should carefully inspect all pipelines and components of the system for leaks, as well as the amount of liquid in the tank. If traces of leakage are detected, the malfunction should be eliminated by repair using repair kits (main and working brake cylinders), replacing the damaged section of the system (pipelines), and after replacement, carry out bleeding. If air has entered the system due to a lack of fluid, it must first be replenished to the level.

How to bleed the brakes on a Chevrolet Niva yourself

An assistant is required to bleed the brakes.

Meanwhile, the choice of the sequence of bleeding the brake lines is not significantly important, since each caliper has its own connection to the main cylinder.

The car must be placed on a level surface, in first or reverse gear. Then it is advisable to place wheel chocks or a device made of boards under the wheels. Next, you need to check the brake fluid level in the cylinder reservoir, which is located under the hood (between the windshield and the air filter housing). After pumping out the old fluid from the tank, add fluid to the max mark on the tank. The preparatory activities have been completed, you can proceed directly to work.

It is not so easy to determine at random when a complete replacement of the brake fluid on a Chevrolet Niva has been carried out. It’s appropriate to proceed from the following volumes: if the car has ABS, you will need 0.5 liters for each caliper; without ABS, 0.4 liters is enough. Such figures are given with a slight margin so that the replacement is carried out efficiently and the conditions for the new fluid replacement are standard.

Source

What you need to know about bleeding the brake system

1. Remember that hydraulic fluid is poisonous. If it gets on exposed skin, wash off immediately with plenty of water. If liquid suddenly gets into your eyes or is accidentally swallowed, call an ambulance immediately.
2. Some types of liquid are flammable and can ignite if they come into contact with a hot substance or open flame. During work, it is better to play it safe, considering that any liquid is flammable, in order to react in time and take all precautions.
3. Hydraulic fluid is considered aggressive towards plastic elements and paints. If liquid gets on the painted surface of the body or on plastic parts, it should be washed off immediately with plenty of water.
4. Liquid has the ability to absorb moisture from the air, therefore it is hygroscopic. Excess moisture content reduces the boiling point to unacceptable parameters. This leads to an unsafe reduction in braking performance.
5. Old liquid cannot be reused, because it may contain a lot of dirt and foreign particles. If you need to add or replace fluid, use only the recommended one.

Replacing brake fluid

If a replacement is needed, then you should study the structure of the brake system of your vehicle. Changing ABS brake fluid is very different.

Suppose without an ABC or a hydraulic accumulator, the pump and the ABC hydraulic valve block are located in one unit, then you can replace the fluid with your own hands. With integral ABC, it would be more correct to go to a service station.

Work must be carried out on each circuit of the brake system. The tools you will need are an empty bottle and a flexible hose. Additionally, you need to have a set of keys to work.

It all starts with the wheel that is furthest from the brake cylinder. First you need to drain the fluid from the brake reservoir and pour new one into it. Next, unscrew the fittings on each brake cylinder and wait until the old brake fluid drains out.

When a new one starts to leak, tighten the fitting. If the car has a diagonal system of contours, the process must begin with the right rear wheel, then the left front, then the rear left, and finally the front right.

With a parallel circuit, the sequence is:

Replacement must be carried out on removed wheels. If there is a hole, the work will be much easier. As a last resort, you can do all this with a jack, removing the wheels one by one.

At the same time, you can visually check the condition of the car, check the suspension elements and shock absorbers.

Be sure to bleed the brakes after all work. Look in the reservoir; you may need to add new fluid.

It is necessary to check the effectiveness of the brakes after replacing the brake fluid. We carry out the test on a dry road at various speeds. The car should stop smoothly and maintain directional stability. Have a good trip and no breakdowns.

Sources

Carrying out work on rear mechanisms on VAZ classic models

Tools: keys, hammer, screwdriver, etc. Same as replacing front discs.

1. The car is placed on a jack and the rear wheel is removed.
2. The brake drum mounting bolts are removed.
3. The drum is removed.
4. Using a screwdriver, remove the tension spring and spacer bar.
5. The shank of the front pad strut rotates.
6. The front block is retracted and the lower tension spring is removed.
7. The support strut of the rear block is removed.

For details of the entire process, watch the video at the end of the article.

First, let's look at how to properly bleed the brakes on a Classic. To perform the operation correctly, it is necessary to take into account that on the VAZ-2106 or any other model, the brakes are dual-circuit. That is, the entire system is divided into two independent parts. This was done so that if one of the circuits depressurizes, the second remains operational and the car can stop.

For all classic models, including the VAZ-2107 brakes, the circuits separate the front and rear wheel drives. This must be taken into account when it is necessary to bleed the brakes of a 2101 or another model.

By the way, if only one circuit is aired, then it is not necessary to bleed the second one, although it would not be superfluous to treat all mechanisms, both front and rear.

So, everything is prepared, and you can get started.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

• It is better to drive the car into a pit to make it easier to get to the fittings. At the same time, he is immobilized using a handbrake or wheel chocks;
• Remove the cap from the brake fluid reservoir, check the level, and if necessary, bring it to the maximum level;

• First, we bleed the rear brakes of the VAZ, since the entire operation is done from the brake mechanism, which is as far as possible from the master cylinder, that is, from the right rear wheel;
• We put the assistant in the driver's seat. We climb under the car ourselves, put the key on the fitting, and then put the prepared tube on it, the second end of which should be lowered into a container with a small amount of liquid poured into it. It is advisable to immediately tear the fitting out of place and immediately screw it back, even before pumping. This is done so that there is no hitch in the process due to a non-unscrewing fitting;
• We ask the assistant to press the brake pedal 5-6 times. At the same time, with each press the failure will be less and less - the drive is pumped with liquid, while air moves to the mechanisms. After downloading the system, the assistant should hold down the pedal - press and hold it;
• Unscrew the fitting half a turn, working fluid will begin to flow out of it. If a transparent tube is used, air bubbles will be clearly visible in it, and the pedal being held will begin to move down until it hits the floor. In this position, the assistant must hold it, at this time the fitting must be screwed back;

• This sequence of actions should be carried out for one mechanism 4-5 times to completely remove air;
• On the “classic”, the left rear wheel is pumped next (since they are combined into one circuit). But before that, you need to check the level of the tank and bring it to the maximum level. The sequence of actions is the same: pump the brakes and hold the pedal - release the fitting to drain the fluid with air (the pedal goes down) - tighten the fitting - pump again. And so 4-5 times;

Many car enthusiasts have resorted to a similar method of upgrading their cars. In this case, as a rule, the brake discs were taken from the Sobol, and the calipers were removed from the Oka. It is worth noting that the finished result was often an order of magnitude worse than the expected effect. There were no hydraulics, problems with the handbrake often arose, and other unpleasant situations occurred, so driving such a tuned car did not bring anything good. Yes, and you won’t be able to pass a technical inspection after such an upgrade.

Design of the working hydraulic system

In order to increase the reliability and safety of control, the hydraulic brake system of the Chevrolet Niva is built according to a dual-circuit diagonal design. The first hydraulic drive circuit drives the front right and rear left wheels, and the second drive drives the front left and rear right wheels. Thus, controllability is maintained in the event of failure of one of the hydraulic drive circuits. The hydraulic braking system includes:

Also interesting: How to bleed the brakes on a Chevrolet Niva correctly

Design features and purpose of Chevrolet Niva disks

Is your brake making an unbearable squeak? Is your steering wheel vibrating so loudly that it feels like it's going to fail? This indicates problems with the brakes and the need to replace the brake discs. There's no need to worry, as there's no need to spend a fortune at the workshop or spend days without a car. The article will tell you how to independently replace brake discs on a Niva Chevrolet car.

Brake discs and brake pads are subject to natural wear. This means they are designed to withstand wear and tear and must be replaced. This is a very easy task requiring only a few tools and gloves.

Depending on the size, weight and power of the vehicle, the drive needs a more or less efficient cooling system. Thus, there are two types of mechanisms: solid and ventilated. The ventilated mechanism ensures better heat dissipation. In this regard, it is necessary to comply with the type of disk installed in the original version of the Chevy Niva car.

The Niva has discs made of cast iron and is on each wheel (front and rear). Their goal is the same, but their features are different. The rear mechanisms are called drums because of their shape.

In our short article we will look at how to replace brake discs on a Chevrolet Niva. The brake system is the most important part of any car, because it allows you to stop traffic as quickly and safely as possible. Naturally, this affects road safety - the system allows you to avoid emergency situations.

Every car owner knows that the braking process involves friction. It helps reduce the speed of the car and stops its movement. The primary role in the braking process involving friction is played by the brake disc, which stops the movement of the wheels. This part can be cast iron, carbon fiber or ceramic. Chevrolet Niva is equipped with cast iron discs.

The car we are considering has brake discs on each wheel, which is why they are divided into front and rear. Their purpose is the same, but their design features are different. The rear discs are called drums with a shape corresponding to the name.

The Niva's front discs resemble a flat support, which is affected by working system elements. During the braking process, these elements heat up and eventually wear out.

Now let’s look at the specifics of the operation on other cars of the VAZ family. Starting with model 2108, the circuit diagram has changed, and therefore the sequence is somewhat different. And you need to know it before bleeding the brakes on the VAZ-2108, 2109, 21099.

These cars already use a diagonal arrangement of contours. That is, one of them combines the rear left and front right wheels, and the second - the other two.

Bleeding begins, as usual, from the farthest wheel, that is, from the rear right one. An operation to remove air from its brake mechanism is carried out according to the described sequence.

After all work it should be removed.

Then it is pumped to the second rear wheel, and the front left one, since it is the one that is combined with the circuit with the already pumped rear mechanism.

After pumping each mechanism, it is necessary to check the level in the tank. If you omit this point, then during operation the liquid will go into the system and air will enter it again.

As for the VAZ-21213 Niva, this car has its own characteristics. And although the system on this car is dual-circuit, it is different from other VAZ cars.

Bleeding the brakes on a Niva is done in the following sequence: first, air is expelled from the rear right mechanism, then from the rear left one. Next, the general circuit on the front brakes is pumped - first the right, then the left (the principle of the distance of the wheel from the master cylinder)

In this case, it is important not to confuse the fittings - the upper one is responsible for the general contour, and it is this that should be used

Only then is the front brake circuit pumped, for which the lower fitting is used. Here the pumping sequence does not matter; you can start with both the left and the right mechanism.

But the Chevrolet-Niva does not use such a brake design. A conventional diagonal dual-circuit system is installed there, so the pumping sequence is identical to the process on VAZ-2108 and higher cars.

Brake fluid Niva Chevrolet, choice

Let's take the following fact as an axiom - almost NONE of the leading manufacturers of pads or brake components make their own brake fluid. It is made either by chemical concerns or manufacturers of auto chemicals and oils. Example. Everything that is in jars of the TRW, BMW, ATE brands is made by manufacturers ROWE, BASF, Pentosin, ELF-TOTAL. Therefore, when I selected suppliers, I was guided by the following thought. A well-known company that deals with brake systems simply will not disgrace itself and sell a low-quality product in its own name. That's why I settled on Bosch, TRW, Brembo products. To fully pump the system of our car, 1 liter of product is enough. There is still some left for refilling.

Purpose and operation of the pressure regulator

The pressure regulator (“sorcerer”) is designed to prevent the car from skidding during sudden braking. This is achieved due to the fact that the rear wheels begin to brake after the front ones. The time delay is provided by the regulator lever, which, when the car brakes sharply (the nose drops and the rear rises), pulls the piston in the regulator cylinder and closes the fluid supply channel to the working cylinders of the rear wheels.

In this case, the rear brakes do not work and the wheels spin until the rear of the car drops back. Thus, the “sorcerer” automatically regulates the fluid pressure in the rear cylinder path in inverse proportion to the load on the rear axle. In addition, it increases the braking efficiency of an empty vehicle when the load on the front axle is higher than on the rear.

This work must be carried out at every maintenance and after repair of the rear suspension.

Algorithm of actions

1. Remove the dust cap from the fitting (for convenience, you can first remove the wheel).

2. Moisten the fitting with WD-40, put a wrench on it and tighten the tightening bolt. 3. Place the rubber hose onto the fitting, and lower its other end into a container with brake fluid.

4. The assistant in the cabin slowly works the brake pedal until significant resistance appears. After that, he fixes the pedal pressed. 5. Turn the key in the unscrewing direction one turn. The liquid along with the air will escape into the vessel, but this will prevent a new portion of it from entering the system. The pedal will go down.

6. Tighten the fitting. 7. Repeat these steps until bubbles stop coming out. 8. Move to the next cylinder.

Important points

Work must be carried out only after the liquid leak has been eliminated, if this has not been preceded by repairs. After repairing the brake system, bleeding will only be necessary when depressurizing. For example, after replacing the brake pads, there will be no air in the system.

Brake fluid selection

All brake fluids except DOT 5 use polyethylene glycol in combination with boric acid polyesters as a base, while DOT 5 uses silicone as a base. Brake fluids DOT 3, DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 have the same base and can be interchanged without any problems, at least within the same manufacturer.

Some manufacturers use polyalkylene glycol as a base for the production of DOT 3 (and possibly other grades). Information on the incompatibility of liquids based on polyethylene glycol and polyalkylene glycol could not be found anywhere, and knowledge of chemistry as a first approximation allows us to state that such a mixture will work no worse than the original components.

It should also be separately mentioned that some brake fluids are designed to work in the braking systems of cars with ABS (anti-lock braking system), most often they are marked with the addition of the designation “ABS”, for example DOT 5.1/ABS, or this is indicated separately on the packaging.

You should not mix brake fluids, even of the same class, if one of them is designed for ABS and the other is not, i.e. mix, for example, DOT 5.1 with DOT 5.1/ABS, because these fluids have slightly different chemical compositions of additives to reduce aeration (prevent the formation of bubbles) in the ABS system and there is no guarantee that as a result you will have a brake fluid that is chemically and physically stable system.

If you have a car with ABS, then you cannot use DOT not designed for ABS or even just add it to another DOT for ABS, which is understandable. If we are talking about a bicycle and hydraulic bicycle brakes, then you can use any DOT, rated for ABS or not, preferably without mixing them.

When glycol-based fluids (DOT 3, DOT 4 or DOT 5.1) are mixed with silicone-based DOT 5 fluid, a chemical reaction occurs resulting in a compound that does not meet any brake fluid requirements and is aggressive to the seal material.

Do not mix DOT 3, DOT 4 or DOT 5.1 with DOT 5 silicone fluid! A complete replacement of glycol brake fluid with silicone is possible (DOT 3, 4, 5.1 to DOT 5), but this requires first cleaning and thoroughly drying the entire brake system of old brake fluid. At the same time, there is no guarantee that the material of the brake system seals will be resistant to silicone fluid, although the chances of damage to the seals by silicone fluid are quite small, because Silicone based fluid is not as aggressive as glycol based DOT. The advantages of such a replacement in the case of a bicycle are extremely unclear.

Replacing silicone brake fluid with glycol is practically impossible (DOT 5 to DOT 3, 4 or 5.1), no matter how much you flush the entire system beforehand, because glycol DOT is very aggressive and if the brake system elements were not originally designed for it, then most likely In all, the brake system seals will be destroyed. https://www.drive2.com/l/457842415315760117/

Required Tools

In order to change the brake fluid on a Chevrolet Niva, you need the tools from the table below.

Table - List of tools required to change brake fluid

To carry out work, access from the bottom is required. Therefore, an inspection hole or overpass will be required. It is more convenient to replace the vehicle with a partner, but there are ways to carry out the task alone.

Replacing brake fluid, checking the level, topping up

What brake fluid should I fill and how much?

Brake fluid type DOT-4 SAE J 1703, FMSS116. "Tom" or "Rosa" (not lower than DOT-4)

Total volume: 0.5 l .

Checking the level and adding brake fluid

Brake pads for Chevrolet Niva

The front wheels of the Niva Chevrolet use disc brakes, and the rear wheels use drum brakes. Accordingly, the pads on them are different. Pads are the main working part of the brakes, which carry the most load and wear out the fastest. If the car is used intensively, the condition of the pads should be checked at least once every six months. Today there are many different domestic and foreign manufacturers of pads for Niva-Chevrolet cars.

They differ in price, material, service life. The so-called “Kevlar” pads from the Japanese company NIBK are considered the most effective and “cool”. They are made using modern nanotechnology from a compound that is equally effective in various operating modes. The advantages of this pad model include:

The only disadvantage of these pads is the high cost, but the price corresponds to the quality.

If you need information about replacing front pads, this is the place for you.

Brake fluid Chevrolet Niva

In accordance with the operating instructions, brake fluids that comply with the international safety class DOT-4 are used in the brake system of vehicles produced by the GM-AVTOVAZ JV. Table 13.6
Brake fluid

Repairing auto parts yourself is a responsible task that should be taken as seriously as possible. Sometimes a faulty spare part takes the driver by surprise, forcing him to spend a lot of time and money searching for a good service station, but there is an alternative solution to the problem; this requires a small amount of knowledge and a set of tools.

When repairing Chevrolet Niva brake fluid, you need to be extremely careful and not neglect the little things. To get acquainted with the issue, car enthusiasts often use various Internet portals dedicated to auto parts. Some of them use narrowly focused forums. But, as a rule, only generalized information is provided there, which is known initially. Where can you find a reliable source that offers really useful things? Our portal is open for this 24 hours a day. Online mode allows us to help clients at any time convenient for them. Moreover, a mobile version has been developed that is available to everyone.

A detailed description of such a unit as Chevrolet Niva brake fluid has a good structure with thematic headings. In addition, there is always the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the intricacies of installation. There are often situations when a driver is confident in his abilities, but when he gets down to work, questions begin to arise. Thanks to our portal, such moments can be easily avoided. The site is a database that is updated regularly. By using it as a support during repair work, the car enthusiast receives a serious advantage. Each of the articles has reliable support, tested in practice.

In addition to the repair manual, the owner of a personal car will be able to prevent a lot of breakdowns that occur due to the human factor, thanks to the information located on the site. Users are presented with a lot of useful recommendations for proper operation, which will help significantly extend the life of the unit and avoid many negative consequences.

Online support is an excellent and most convenient way to obtain the necessary information. Another significant plus is that articles are written for people. We understand that the reader will do everything with his own hands, and we try to make it as convenient and efficient as possible. Use the resource at any time of the day and find the answer to any question you may have regarding cars.

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1. Car structure

1.0 Car structure 1.1 General information about cars 1.2 Passport data 1.3 Car keys 1.4 Controls 1.5 Heating and ventilation 1.6 Doors 1.7 Seat belts 1.8 Adjusting the position of the front seats 1.9 Adjusting the steering wheel

2. Recommendations for use

2.0 Recommendations for operation 2.1 Safety rules and recommendations 2.2 Tools and accessories 2.3 Running in the car 2.4 Operating the car during the warranty period 2.5 Checking the car before leaving 2.6 Replacing the air filter entering the cabin 2.7 Using a jack 2.8 Towing the car

3. Problems along the way

3.0 Malfunctions along the way 3.1 The engine does not start 3.2 Malfunctions of the fuel injection system 3.3 No idle speed 3.4 Interruptions in engine operation 3.5 The car moves jerkily 3.6 The car accelerates poorly 3.7 The engine stalls while driving 3.8 The oil pressure has dropped

Advantages and disadvantages of the braking system

Reviews from car enthusiasts about the brake system on the Chevrolet Niva show that it is generally quite reliable and effective, fully consistent with the class of SUV cars. The advantage is ease of control, ease of maintenance, adjustment and replacement of parts. The disadvantages are due to the use of a pressure regulator, the operation of which in some cases can manifest itself in the form of uneven braking, the appearance of vibration when braking at certain speeds, and an increase in braking distance.

Effective brakes on the Chevrolet Niva, as the main condition for the safety and controllability of the car, help maintain the high popularity of this model for many years.

Finally

We discussed how you can install an HTD on a Niva. Such a solution will significantly improve the performance of the braking system, making it safer and more efficient. At the same time, to carry out this work you need to have a good understanding of the operating features of the vehicle. If you do not have the proper knowledge and skills, you should turn to professionals, because if you damage your brakes, you may find yourself in an unexpected situation on the road. Which is fraught with serious consequences.