Protective thresholds on the Chevrolet Niva: what they are and how to do it yourself. Useful qualities of body kit on the field.
A car like the Chevrolet Niva is very popular with extreme sports enthusiasts. This model leaves the assembly line without additional protection, and as everyone knows, in the process of overcoming obstacles, there is a high probability of damaging the car. Many motorists, in order to protect the damage to the body, began to use additional products. Thresholds have become especially popular.
What are thresholds for?
It is not necessary to install this design on your vehicle. As a rule, they are put to improve their car. This product is equipped with a car because of the following functions:
- to protect vehicles from pebbles flying out from under the wheels. They, in turn, often cause small scratches. Also, this element will protect the body in case of a collision with another vehicle or passing through obstacles;
- given the Niva's small height, the steel structure can be used as a substrate. Children often have problems getting into the car;
- a car with tuning elements looks more solid and elegant.
Decorative, steel and chrome elements are produced for our SUV.
1. Decorative are a plastic structure that is installed on the sides of the vehicle. This type of product is designed to slightly protect the bumper from dirt and small pebbles. It is also put when tuning an SUV for a more holistic look. Suitable decorative element mainly for city driving. When driving off-road, they will not be able to protect the car from possible damage, since this design is rather fragile. Getting into a car leaning on them is also not recommended. But this design is installed quite simply and quickly. You can also note the low cost of this product. Basically, Chevrolet Niva likes to overcome strong and large obstacles. A fragile product will constantly have to be repaired or completely replaced. So it is better to install a power structure.
2. Power thresholds on the Chevrolet Niva are more perfect. They combine a great look and excellent protective properties. Their main disadvantage is their high cost. This type of product will take on all the shocks that occur when touching uneven off-road surfaces. Basically, this product consists of steel. On the surface of the structure there is a black or silver paint. It is necessary to eliminate corrosion.
3. Recently, a backlit chrome design has often been installed. The components are connected directly to the lamps and are triggered when the door is opened. It looks especially beautiful at night. Lighting also helps to comfortably carry out landing and disembarkation.
Where to buy thresholds for Chevrolet Niva
The cost of plastic structures usually ranges from 500 to 2000 rubles. When ordering, it may increase if the item comes with painting. This structure is easily damaged. Repairing it is often not advisable. Much easier to buy new products.
The cost of metal elements can reach 7 thousand rubles. They look much more solid and more expensive. Due to their rugged construction, power thresholds rarely need to be repaired.
Chrome-plated products have approximately the same cost as steel ones. You can buy all of the above thresholds in most automotive stores in Russia. The price of products in some regions may be different.
Connection methods
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- Removable ones (pictured above) usually consist of plastic or metal. They are attached to the body with self-tapping screws. If necessary, they can be quite easily removed, and then re-attached to the car.
- Thresholds that are welded to the car body. Basically, chrome and metal products are installed in this way. The welding process requires some experience, skills and equipment.
Is it possible to do it yourself?
There isdrivers,whichnotsuitformsandconstructivepeculiaritiesshopthresholds.ATsuchcasecanmakeproducthimself. Before the process, you need to acquire the necessary details and find out the sequence of actions.
To create thresholds you need to find two pipes. Their diameter depends on your wishes. For comfort and safety, it would be useful to make an insert on the thresholds, which will not slip during rain and severe frost. The design is attached thanks to the steps. They are made from iron. Since this material is the best option for this item. The footrests are bolted to the vehicle. And the threshold is fastened to the substrate due to welding. This process should take no more than one day. Most of the measurements are taken. A very tedious process, but extremely important. You need to measure everything thoroughly before proceeding with the installation.
Watch a video on how to make power thresholds on the Niva with your own hands
How to set thresholds with your own hands?
The installation process looks like this:
- To begin with, it will require you to remove the plugs of the side pillars;
- The front part of the thresholds goes into the hole of the spars, the middle one is simply attached to the body, and the most compact part is fastened to the inside. This element is attached quite quickly. For work, do not forget to prepare the tools.
- Fastening thresholds starts from the rear. For the most favorable work, it is worth driving the car into the garage, which has a viewing hole. It is necessary to unscrew the nuts of the jet thrust. We fasten our structure to the bolts, and then tighten the nuts.
- First, we fix the thresholds on the central and extreme mortgages. With the help of the remaining mortgage, adjustment will take place. It is necessary that the product is installed perpendicularly.
Also detailed instructions you will find in the video:
This is how the thresholds are attached to the car. You need to take a responsible approach to the adjustment process.
Threshold repair
Often they can be restored after damage with the help of simple work. In case of severe damage to the decorative element, it is much more reasonable to replace it. Because it has a low cost. But with a small breakdown, you can do the repair yourself.
To carry out repairs, do the following:
- the damaged area must be lubricated with a degreaser;
- mark the place to be sawed off with a special compass;
- the mating place is cleaned using special equipment, then we connect the two halves with a clamp;
- at the end of the part needs to be cleaned. After that, the part is ready for painting.
The power structure is rarely repaired. Since, due to its strength, it can withstand even strong blows. But if, nevertheless, you damaged this product, know that it cannot be repaired, a replacement will be needed immediately.
It must be remembered that after installing additional structures, the width of the car increases. Especially in the beginning it is necessary not to forget about it. They also need to be looked after.
Outcome
For someone who has the skills and experience in working with tools, it is more profitable to make the design yourself. In addition, you can make a product that, in appearance and size, will best suit you. But if you have never picked up a tool, then it is wiser to purchase finished products and contact the service for its installation. Let this option cost more, but you will save a lot of time, effort and nerves. It's up to you to choose. But do not once again overestimate your strength.
Niva Chevrolet, as you know, belongs to the class of SUVs, from which it is clear that the height of the ride height is one of critical factors for a crossover. But today we will not talk about clearance at all, but about such additional devices on the Chevrolet Niva as thresholds. Standard Shevikov models come from the conveyor without thresholds, but they can be additionally installed later. About how this is done, for what, and how, in general, is the repair and replacement of the product carried out? All this we will consider in today's topic of the article.
It is not at all necessary to install thresholds for a Chevrolet Niva car, often this is done during the modernization or strengthening of the vehicle. But why are the thresholds so attractive that every owner of even a passenger car wants to install them. The main purpose of these products is to perform the following functions:
- Thresholds protect the car from falling from under the wheels of small stones and dirt on the side surface of the body, thereby preventing scratches, dents and other deformations. The most important function is the protection of the outer part of the body.
- Since the Chevrolet Niva has a considerable ground clearance, the threshold is an excellent step for the driver and passengers. Such a step is especially useful for children.
- Thresholds, in addition to everything, perform one more important function- improved vehicle design. And indeed, no matter what kind of footboard is installed, the result is an elegant and sophisticated look. Check it out for yourself in the photo below.
The power structure on the Chevrolet Niva is the best protection for a car from the road surface
In nature, there are two types of thresholds that are produced exclusively for the Chevrolet Niva SUV: decorative and power. Consider the features of each type.
Decorative thresholds are plastic structures that are installed on the side of the car below the doorway. They serve as decorative overlays exclusively for shallow protection against dirt and stones. But it is worth noting that when traveling off-road, the protection of plastic species becomes irrelevant. In particular, the decorative look makes the Chevrolet Niva car original and unique.
Decorative structures are very easy to install, and they are also relatively inexpensive. As for the shortcomings, it is important to note here that the plastic look breaks very easily with a slight impact on various surfaces. After all, do not forget that the Chevrolet Niva is designed to overcome tough obstacles and off-road, so it is better to equip the crossover with special power thresholds. At best, a repair is required, and at worst, a replacement.
Power structures combine all the advantages of decorative types, only the only drawback is the cost. The price of power types ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles, so here you should think about what is better to choose. Protection of the car when installing such products is always at the proper level.
How is a car protected when installing a threshold in the form of a longitudinal rail? Everything is very simple, the longitudinal rail, which plays the role of a footrest, protects the lower side parts of the vehicle from impacts on uneven off-road surfaces.
Decorative thresholds often do not play the role of a step, which cannot be said about power products. Power structures are made mainly of steel, and on top they are covered with a special silver or black powder paint. The paint protects the metal structure from corrosion, and the thresholds, in turn, protect the car body from damage.
How to install?
Do-it-yourself installation of products on a Chevrolet Niva is carried out according to the following scheme:
The fastening of structures must be perpendicular to the product itself. To achieve perpendicularity, you will need to loosen the bracket bolts. Mounting of the threshold of the rear part is carried out by means of bolts for fastening the jet thrust. These bolts are located closer to the front of the vehicle.
- Before starting installation, you will need to remove the plastic plugs of the side racks from the inside.
- Embedded front part of the product must be threaded into the technological hole of the side members, located near the installation site. A wide mortgage is attached to the outer edge of the vehicle, and one that is narrower is mounted to the inside. Installation of products does not take much time, but first you need to make sure that you have a complete set of tools.
- Installation starts mainly from the rear of the car. For this, it is better to install a car on a viewing hole. Two nuts securing the jet thrust are unscrewed, and the threshold structure is installed in the bolts. Nuts are being screwed on.
- The installation of the front part of the product is carried out in the following sequence: initially, the mortgage nut is baited closer to the center of the car, and then on the mortgage extreme part. Mortgage closer to the extreme side will adjust the product.
Thus, the process of installing products on the Chevrolet Niva with your own hands takes place. There is no difficulty in this, the main thing is to correctly adjust the product as a result. Below is a video in which you can clearly see the process of setting thresholds on a Chevy Niva.
The body kit is a set of protective products that will come in handy on a Niva car of any series, because this domestic SUV easily conquers forests and swamps and is a reliable “iron horse” when traveling fishing or hunting, where a car can get scratches, damage to the paintwork and more.
How to choose a front arc on the Niva?
Front bumper guard
Most often, cars of this class are decorated with special arcs that protect the car in front and behind. They are made from tubes made of stainless steel and assembled in a specific configuration. In addition, there are samples of reinforced plastic, which have an exclusively decorative function. As a rule, all products are covered with powder-polymer protection, which gives them a beautiful shine. It should be noted right away that the parts are not cheap, so they indicate that the owner can afford quite expensive “decorations” for a quite budget Niva car, which costs about 400-430 thousand rubles.
For example, an inexpensive front arc for a Niva 2131 "Bugel" will cost about 3000 rubles (2500-3200 for different regions of Russia). It covers the front bumper and grille, has one transverse bar. This allows, upon impact, to take part of the destructive energy onto the kenguryatnik arc. Options in the form of a simple pipe that simply close the front bumper will cost somewhat less (it all depends in this case on the diameter of the pipe).
Significantly more expensive (4.05 May, 5 thousand rubles) will cost an arc with "ears", which will protect Niva 2131 in the headlight area. This variety often has additional plastic or rubber pads, which also dampen the impact in a collision. Fans of driving in difficult terrain often put on their VAZ 2121 Niva a kenguryatnik with a transverse bar and lower protection (“grill”) to provide additional security for the lower part of the radiator and crankcase of the car (the price of such samples can reach up to 18-20 thousand rubles). In urban conditions, you can limit yourself to just a “high” arc, which is useful in case of “unexpected” meetings of a car with an “obstacle”.
The kenguryatnik on the Niva 2131 is attached to the place of the towing eyes (they need to be removed) and to the bumper elements or to the side members and the front beam. If the model is heavy, then the spars need to be strengthened.
What threatens the use of homemade body kits?
Kenguryatnik factory under the winch
Sometimes motorists, unwilling to spend cash to buy parts in the store, trying to make a body kit on their own. This is physically possible if we take channels or steel pipes (section 5-5.6 cm) as a basis, weld them and paint them. But here a number of problems arise, because the received part will not be certified, and it will need to be removed before each maintenance, in addition, there will be problems in the registration of an accident. Therefore, it is better to buy a kenguryatnik on a VAZ 2121 Niva and any other car and declare it as a change in the design of the car.
How effective is the front bow on the 21214 series? Experts believe that when driving over rough terrain at low speeds, kengurin is a good remedy in collisions, collisions with small objects. However, at high speeds, the hood of the car is likely to be destroyed.
Moreover, this element in some cases can work as a lever, breaking out the engine to which it is attached. Therefore, everyone must decide for himself whether he needs a front arc on his Niva.
Thresholds are beautiful and practical
Quite often, thresholds are set on the Niva 2121. They are a great addition to the appearance of this "high" car, they allow you to increase the comfort when getting into the car of children or women in heels. In addition, the elements have certain protective functions, protecting the sides of the machine from moisture and minor damage. In non-essential collisions, these elements allow the impact force to “not reach” the door.
Thresholds are produced simply in the form of pipes, with plastic, rubber or metal gaskets (steel, aluminum). There are also options “with a tread”, when a part is allocated on the pipe in order to put the foot. Extreme people believe that if you climb somewhere on your belly by car 21214, then the thresholds provide an opportunity to find a foothold when leaving the car. Cheaper models tend to have plastic caps on the ends of the pipes and last a shorter amount of time.
Thresholds play the role of a footboard
Thresholds are usually hung in the jacks, however, craftsmen sometimes weld them to 2121 or 2131, which makes it possible to obtain additional rigidity and protection from rear or front impacts. After setting the thresholds, you can not use a standard jack, you have to buy a hydraulic one. If the thresholds are set with reference to the spars (the spars are drilled through, a pipe is inserted and welding is done on both sides), then a “power option” is obtained, for which you can “jet” with a rack jack if Niva 2131 sat in the mud.
We protect the "back" and make a ladder to the roof
The probability of getting "in the ass" is small in a forest thicket, but quite real when driving in city traffic. Therefore, a body kit in the form of rear bumper protection can be installed on the Niva 2131 and other models. There are several types of such devices. First, it's just a metal pipe. Secondly, it is a pipe with additional corners under the headlights. Thirdly, these are just corners. Fourthly, it is protection with a tread (you can get up, for example, to get something from the trunk at the back). Fifth, it is protection with a shelter in the form of a lattice for the rear lights.
VAZ 21214 is sometimes equipped with an accessory such as a ladder to the roof, which is located on the back door. It is made of metal and allows you to work with cargo on the roof of the trunk in more comfortable conditions, as well as climb higher if the car is immersed somewhere. This part is used in conjunction with forwarding luggage carriers, which contain cargo that does not fit in the car itself. The product has several attachment points to the back door and can withstand the weight of a person up to one centner.
The body kit for the 2121 model may include such an element as a spare wheel bracket, which allows:
- carry a second spare
- get quick access to the wheel,
- additionally protect the rear from breaking and impacts.
Owners of the 2131 often make their own versions of this part, as the weight of the standard products completely rests on the bumper mounting brackets, which leads to their destruction. In some cases, it was proposed to tie the bracket to the car body using a bolted plate under the right taillight, reinforcing the bottom with a steel strip. A bunch of brackets with a coupling device on standard bumper brackets was also used (steel plates are welded to the spare wheel mount on the bumper, they are attached to the clamps from the exhaust system, put on the cross member from the coupling device). Car enthusiasts with such designs noted that after installing the spare tire in this way, the 2131 model became better at holding the road.
The Russian Niva SUV, among the few domestic cars, has long and firmly won the love of motorists around the world. Of course, the "Niva 2121 and 21214" does not have the legendary cross-country ability of the discontinued "LUAZ" or the remaining in service, but heavier "UAZ", but among the SUVs on the market, the "Niva" is one of the most inexpensive.
This car is often used in extreme conditions, it helps out fishermen and hunters, unpretentious in repair due to the simplicity of design and the availability of spare parts. It is often chosen for cross-country riding, wallowing in the mud, riding on marshy soil. They deservedly love the Niva 2131 in the countryside, VAZ 21214 is the VAZ 21214, and fixing it in the middle of the forest with a screwdriver, pliers and a coil of electrical tape is not difficult.
The domestic auto industry has never spoiled car owners with a variety of tuning, and operating experience shows that there is a need for it. Often, after buying a VAZ 2121 car, many car owners look at additional protective and decorative elements - body kits, which not only give a brutal appearance SUV, but also carry a safe mission. We are talking, of course, about arches, thresholds, kengurins, towbars, power front and rear bumpers and other protective accessories.
Body kits can be conditionally divided into two types - power and plastic. The first not only protects the body of the Niva 2121 in difficult harsh conditions from damage and chips, but also has an auxiliary function. Most protective body kits are made of metal. The second type of body kit is plastic, it is installed mostly for beauty. And now about each in more detail.
Power bumper
He was born almost half a century ago, representing a simple channel. Many motorists easily cooked it in their garage with their own hands. With the advent of foreign SUVs, the appearance of the power bumper began to change. Now the power bumper is front and rear. Modifications of the models on the market meet the various needs of the Niva 2131 car owner.
Types of bumpers:
- These body kits allow you to install a winch; for this, a special platform is provided in the middle of the bumper. The winch is a must have for any jeeper. Stuck in the impassable mud, you can not wait for help, but get on the nearest tree trunk.
- There is a place for a hi-jack. This useful device will help pull the "Niva 2121" out of the mud, in which the wheels are firmly stuck - it works on the principle of a jack.
- With or without kengurin.
- It may be provided with stops for the jack.
- Towing eyelets installed.
- Branch cutters can be attached.
- The front bumper frame can become a holder for additional lighting.
- Power bumpers allow you to bring down if necessary small trees and undergrowth.
However, the presence of various models of bumpers does not mean that auto mechanics have stopped cooking body kits with their own hands. Although, such reinforced devices, not provided for by the factory design of the vehicle, can do their owner a disservice.
The law does not directly prohibit their use, however, during the passage of MOT, the VAZ 2121 car is probably “wrapped”, and in the event of an accident, the fault of the driver with a makeshift bumper will be in doubt. Anyway, when installing a power bumper, make changes about vehicles in the PTS.
rear bumper also has its own characteristics and varieties.
- It may just be a piece of metal pipe.
- The pipe may have corners for lighting.
- The corners themselves can act as a power bumper.
- The metal base can be equipped with a platform that allows you to stand on it.
- The pipe has a grille to protect the taillights.
Rear body kits are installed, rather, to protect within the city from unexpected actions of drivers from behind.
thresholds
In everyday life, thresholds serve for the convenience of the owner and passengers, allowing women and children to sit in the VAZ 2131 salon. They are made of metal pipes, on which a rubberized gasket is worn.
Active lovers of "rides" in the thickets and windbreaks noted that the thresholds become a fulcrum when leaving the car, when the Niva 2121, plunging its wheels into a ton of mud, sits askew on its belly. Particularly "advanced" jeepers are able to deftly turn the car ninety degrees around its axis on a tiny penny in the forest thanks to power thresholds. To do this, you need to drive sideways to a thick tree, rest the center of the threshold against it, and then turn the wheels all the way in the right direction to sharply give gas.
Minus. After installing the thresholds on the VAZ 2131, 21214 models, the purchase of a hydraulic jack follows, since the standard one cannot be used. Plus. Thresholds can become an additional protective frame, for which you can hook a hi-jack if they are welded to the spars. To do this, the side members must be drilled through and welded with pipes on both sides to the thresholds.
roof ladder
The ladder is made of metal and welded to the back door. With its help, you can reach the roof, stack and secure cargo and carry out work with the trunk. And also climb it if the car plunged somewhere. This body kit can withstand weight up to 100 kg. In addition, a ladder to the roof will be appreciated at a car wash when a Niva 2121 car, stained up to its ears, arrives at them after rides.
"Basket" on the roof
An indispensable item for jeepers who prefer to travel, and not just wallow in the mud. Allows you to take with you much more luggage than the regular trunk of the Niva 2131 can accommodate. In addition, it is convenient to mount a “working” light on the “basket”, both in front and behind.
Minuses: the center of gravity changes, the VAZ 2131 becomes more rolled. With a successful combination of circumstances, it can even “lie down to rest” - fall on its side, for example, in a rut. In addition, things immersed in the body kit are open to rain and snow.
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