Four-wheel drive of the car works thanks to the connection of bridges and transfer case with the help of cardan shafts. There are two of them: front and rear, the first of which consists of a spline connection and a tube with thin walls, on both sides of which there are special tips with a ball bearing and an elastic sleeve. The bearing has an additional fixation in the form of a snap ring and is placed in a steel base. All main elements have rubber seals that reduce vibration.
What you need to know
The UAZ front propeller shaft has a simple structure, which is fixed by a special bracket located at the bottom. But, like any other part, it requires periodic repair or replacement. Fluoroplastic slots are a weak point of the mechanism, they are subject to rapid wear, but their repair, as you know, is impossible.
The UAZ universal joint shaft is based on three attachment points, therefore it is often called a three-point support. The outboard bearing, which is the middle element of the support, requires more careful attention. It is he who provides the retention of a structure consisting of two parts in a stationary state. Therefore, it must be inspected periodically. Diagnostics is carried out on average every 50 thousand km. When replacing it with a new one, a direct type cardan is often installed.
Breakdown reasons
Despite the fact that the UAZ is an all-wheel drive car, most of the load falls on the rear axle. This is because the need for front-wheel drive arises only in the case of overcoming various obstacles. Even taking into account the non-intensive use, it does not differ in a long period of operation, and it must be systematically inspected and eliminated breakdowns. It is worth noting the malfunctions that most often occur in this mechanism:
- weakening of clamps;
- imbalance;
- the UAZ universal joint shaft acquired a clearance between the bearings of the joints;
- splined joint breakage;
- wear of the slots;
- increased clearance in the spline connection.
Spider
Like any other part, first the cross of the UAZ propeller shaft must be cleaned of dirt and rust. After that, its location and the location of the forks are noted. Using a hammer, carefully press the bearing cups. The snap ring is detached from the edge and pry off with a regular screwdriver. Then, bearings are pressed out on both sides using a stop and a hammer. After turning the shaft, the fork with the sealing element and the cross itself are removed. It remains only to install a new part and assemble the structure in the reverse order. The crosspiece is located both on the rear and front cardan, while there are no differences in its removal and installation.
Splined connection
Repair of UAZ drive shafts consists primarily in replacing worn crosspieces. When the splined joint is worn, the universal joint must, as a rule, be replaced. This malfunction can be determined by the beating of the steering wheel when turning on all-wheel drive and the increased backlash. It should be noted that the average period of operation of the mechanism, depending on the intensity, is 30-50 thousand km.
In some cases, you can resort to repair. The period of use of the splined joint can be increased by welding. This method is based on the ability of the metal to expand during heating to a certain temperature and shrink during cooling. First you need to dismantle the mechanism and disconnect the slots. Part of the part located under the front axle is thoroughly cleaned. On the outside of the joint, several seams are superimposed using a welding machine. Then the formed protrusions must be removed by emery. If you do not do this, there is a possibility of an imbalance. This completes the repair of the UAZ propeller shafts, all that remains is extrude the parts and put them back in their place.
After the metal shrinks, the play, as a rule, disappears. If everything remains as before, you need to purchase a new device.
UAZ universal joint shaft: balancing
This procedure is an integral step in installing the universal joint on each car of this brand. It ensures maintaining the balance of all structural elements. About its improper conduct quickly enough will become known by the presence of extraneous noise, increased vibration and the occurrence of play in the part. To avoid repairs, which in this case may be required earlier than after 10 thousand km, it is necessary to balance, regardless of the degree of intervention in the system. It is worth noting that this procedure is being carried out at the service station.
Lubrication of the main structural elements is of particular importance. This procedure should be carried out regularly, especially since it can be done by any motorist. It is enough to dial “Litol-24” into a special technical syringe and press the composition into the driveshaft. UAZ "Patriot" does not require dismantling of the mechanism, the main thing is that there should be sufficient access to the greaves.