Despite the fact that every year more and more roads are being paved in Russia, off-road in our area is quite enough. Domestic motorists sometimes have to drive to areas where only an armored personnel carrier is able to drive. That is why in rough terrain there is a need for the availability of appropriate transport. The cheapest and affordable SUV for today is the VAZ 2121 Niva.
But this Russian all-terrain vehicle is subject to various injuries. One of the weaknesses is the
transfer case. In order to protect it, motorists install a special subframe for the transfer to the Niva. Do it yourself or not, it doesn’t matter - the result is still the same (the difference is only in cash costs).
What is this element for?
Do-it-yourself subframe for the "Niva" is installed in order to prevent the occurrence of vibrations and resonance, and of course, to protect the box from all kinds of damage. According to car owners, after installing the said device in the car, the noise level is significantly reduced, which, unfortunately, cannot be ruled out by any modern sound insulation.
Benefits of using
Such a device as a subframe has a lot of advantages, the main of which, as we have already noted, is the reduction of noise and vibration in the cabin. In addition, this device is the only protection of the lower part of the transfer case.
By the way, on the conveyor "Niva" is already equipped with special fastenings to the floor, which allow you to mount the supports on the transfer case. Thus, the installation of the subframe for the transfer to the Niva will take the motorist no more than 30 minutes. Other business is the hand-made manufacturing of this part (in this case, work can be transported for several days). However, why is the machine not initially equipped with such a device? To answer this question, consider the main disadvantages of the mentioned device.
disadvantages
The main disadvantage of the subframe is a decrease in vehicle clearance (by several centimeters). But nevertheless, this upgrade has almost no effect on the cross-country ability of an SUV.
Most likely, the absence of the element under consideration in the factory equipment of the car is explained by complex production technology (special
structural steel is used to manufacture this device
). However, no matter how many reasons we call, the fact remains: the subframe of the handout to the Niva is installed only by the efforts of the car owners themselves. Even at the service station, not everyone undertakes their manufacture or installation.
How does a car behave on the road?
Judging by the feedback from motorists, the subframe for the razdatka (Niva 2121) is a really useful and functional detail: at a speed of more than 100 kilometers per hour, there are no vibrations and noises that were previously in the cabin. Of course, inside is not as quiet as in the restyled Skoda Octavia, but still the difference is noticeable.
We make a stretcher of a razdatka on "Niva" with our own hands
To begin with, you should prepare a metal channel and corner. The role of fasteners will be performed by 4 bolts, which we will screw through the side members through and through into the cabin. The screws must be placed in such a way that they affect part of the seats and are strictly under them. We also need a sheet of thin metal.
Necessary tools
First of all, prepare a large and a small grinder (angle grinder), a drill (preferably not a cordless one), a vernier caliper, a roll, a hammer, a ruler, as well as protective equipment to prevent hot metal shavings from getting into your eyes while working with a grinder. All work should be performed according to a certain scheme (you can see the drawing of the subframe of the “Niva 2121” handout, in the photo below).
So, where to start work? First you need to measure and process the base edge of the channel. After that, measure the necessary distances from it with a ruler. The windows in the device need to be cut out with a small and a large grinder in the transverse and longitudinal directions, respectively. The length of the cut should not go beyond 8 millimeters from the edge of the upper shelf of the structure. After the windows are cut out, it is necessary to process the contours of the sidewalls and remove the chamfers.
The angle of the fasteners to the spar and the cross member of the device may have a free size, however, it should not be less than the length of the mounting holes and the distance between them. If there are no corners available, you can use a different scheme for fixing the part to the side member. At the same time, it is important to observe the height of attachment to the transfer box subframe.
If this is a reinforced subframe, then metal corners are additionally welded under the attachment points of the box brackets . The latter are connected to the side parts of the channel. The elongated holes go like a bolted connection.
We install subframes on the Niva Comfort SUV: where is the protection attached?
It is mounted on the corners at the bottom of the device. As for the type of connection, it, similarly to the two above options, is bolted. However, the holes in the body of the side parts of the device and the lower part of the corners are made according to the threaded principle. The protective sheet is part of the power structure, which forms a kind of box and gives the subframe greater strength. Accordingly, the box will be less vulnerable to various mechanical damages, which will be positively displayed on the passability of the Niva.
Additional holes
A window for draining the oil is additionally cut under the drain plug. You can drill holes in any place convenient for you, without bothering with the accuracy of the markup. Also, motorists make technological windows to drain the water formed between the sides of the channel channel and the dirt that got there. Protection is enhanced by angles that are attached to the support of the box and the frontal part of the entire device. This design will protect the razdatka from all kinds of blows against stumps, ditches and other obstacles that can lead to deformation of the subframe.
How can I improve the device for extreme driving?
In this case, you can change the sidewall profile of the device, which will make it more flat and durable. Corners are welded not only to the brackets of the transfer case, but also on the side shelves of the channel. They are also attached inside the last element. At the exit you should get a frame of four corners. This design makes it possible to trim the sidewalls of the channel under the corner shelf. As a result, the height of the subframe will decrease by 50%, and the strength will double.
What dangers can lurk a motorist while riding?
As practice shows, even such a device as a subframe does not guarantee 100% protection for the razdatka and other components of the car while driving on the road. Therefore, if you often operate the Niva in a rural area where there is a danger of “picking up” a stump or some other object that is difficult to notice in mowed grass, install the special protection on the subframe, which we talked about in the previous paragraph. Then the risk of deformation of the handout will decrease to zero. If there is no such protection, both the subframe and the box itself will deteriorate.
So, we figured out how to make a subframe of the handout on the Niva with our own hands. And whether you need it or not - decide for yourself.