The front axle of the Chevrolet Niva is a main gear and differential installed in a single housing
The differential, main gear pinions and bearings of the front and rear axle gearboxes are the same (see "Features of the Niva rear axle").
The sizes of the mating parts, control and adjustment operations are also the same.
The front axle gearbox housing is covered with covers at the bottom and in front.
The half-axle gears are connected with splines to the housings of the inner joints of the front wheel drives.
Each of the two housings of the inner joints rests on a single-row ball bearing installed in the housing socket.
The bearings are covered with covers secured to three studs of the housing and sealed with cardboard gaskets.
Bearing caps The inner hinge housings also serve as brackets for attaching the gearbox to the front suspension crossmember.
Silent blocks are pressed into the holes in the covers, through which the bolts for attaching to the front suspension crossmember eyes pass.
The lower cover of the gearbox housing is attached to the front suspension anti-roll bar through metal clips and rubber cushions.
A ventilation hose nipple is pressed into the upper right part of the gearbox housing.
The front axle gearbox housing is cast, closed with covers at the front and bottom.
The housing covers are sealed with gaskets.
Possible faults of the front axle, their causes and methods of elimination
Reason for malfunction
Remedy
Constant increased noise during operation of the front axle
- Wear or incorrect adjustment of differential bearings
Replace worn parts, adjust differential bearings
- Incorrect adjustment, damage or wear of gears or bearings of the gearbox
Identify the fault in the gearbox, repair or replace the gearbox
- Insufficient amount of oil in the crankcase bridge
Restore the oil level, check for oil leaks in the front axle housing seals
- Wear or failure of the inner joint housing bearing
Replace the bearing
Noise when accelerating the car and braking with the engine
- Incorrect adjustment of the engagement of the main gear gears
Adjust the engagement
- Incorrect side clearance in the engagement of the main gear gears
Adjust the clearance
- Increased clearance in the bearings of the drive gear due to loosening of the flange fastening nut or wear of the bearings
Adjust the clearance, replace the bearings if necessary
Knock at the start of the car
- Wear of the hole for the axis of the satellites in the box differential
Replace the differential case and, if necessary, the satellite shaft
Oil leak
- Worn or damaged oil seal
Replace the oil seal
- Worn inner joint housing oil seal
Replace the oil seal
- Loose fastening of the inner joint housing bearing cap or crankcase covers, damaged sealing gaskets
Tighten the nuts and bolts, replace the sealing gaskets