The appearance of corrosion, numerous chips, dents and microcracks in the paintwork is not a complete list of problems that owners of VAZ 2106 cars have to face. Despite the complexity of many damages, they are repaired with their own hands.
- Redecorating. The paintwork and bumpers are restored, scratches, chips and areas of corrosion are eliminated.
- Treatment of internal cavities. Spars, sills, door and luggage niches are difficult to access for anti-corrosion treatment. To prevent parts from rusting, they are treated with special protective agents.
- Car underbody treatment. The working surface is covered with special protective mastics.
- Removing dents. To level the dented area, various impact pads, spoons, hooks, suction cups and reverse hammers are used.
- Major body repairs. It is carried out in case of violation of the geometry of the vehicle body, excessive damage to the paintwork, or the presence of a large number of dents, chips and scratches. Also, major repairs are necessary when corrosion has spread to more than 50% of the surface area of the vehicle body.
When carrying out restoration work, the specifics of the car body are taken into account.
Specifics of the VAZ 2106 body
The Lada sixth model has a sedan body type; it consists of a main load-bearing all-metal frame and various attachments. The units and parts that are installed on models from the classic series are made using the stamping method and are connected to each other by welded seams.
The body includes the following parts: engine frame, front fenders, roof, floor panels, left and right side panels. The front and rear bumpers of the car are chrome-plated; they are attached to the body using special brackets. The trunk and hood are quite bulky.
As for the doors, they are made of two panels: outer and inner, they are connected by welding. Both front and rear doors have the same type of attachment to the body.
Six models produced in the mid-90s and early 2000s have thinner body metal compared to cars produced between 1976 and 1990.
Metallic paint
Metallic painting technology has its own characteristics, which consist in the fact that a layer of varnish is applied to the main paint coating. The name of the paint is due to the fact that aluminum powder is added to the varnish. Thanks to its presence, the effect of polished metal occurs. At the same time, the varnish clearly reveals all the flaws made during the preparation process, which indicates the need to carefully carry out all preparatory operations. The surface is varnished in 2-3 layers using the same paint gun. Wash it thoroughly before use.
Tools
To carry out work on restoring the body of the “six”, we will need the following set of tools:
- A set of hammers of different types and weights. Rubber mallets and percussion instruments with a grooved working surface.
- Special hooks.
- Reverse hammers.
- Impact spoons.
- Jack.
- Anvils and substrates of various shapes and sizes.
You should also stock up on 8 and 22 wrenches, as well as a screwdriver. You will need these tools to remove body parts such as bumpers or trim moldings.
Body repair
Owners who have become proficient carry out body repairs on their “six” themselves. As a rule, the process can be carried out with minor damage. Undoubtedly, here too you need a lot of work experience and the availability of high-quality tools. However, it is still better to entrust the restoration of geometry to specialists.
The purpose of any body repair (straightening) is to restore the tension belt. Even at the factory, steel body panels are stamped under a press. As a result, one or another shape is formed on the parts, the violation of which is unacceptable. The task of restoration comes down to giving the element its normal shape by hitting it with a special hammer or other methods (more on this below).
Basically, the straightening of the “six” body panels is carried out in two stages: knocking out with a wooden mallet and straightening with hammers with soft (rubber) surfaces.
Today you can purchase a good body straightening tool at highly specialized points of sale. They are also made with their own hands, but this is not recommended, since without specific knowledge and skills, quality cannot be expected.
So, these are the tools that the owner of a “six” should arm himself with if he decides to carry out body repairs on his own.
Installation of plastic wings
Installing a plastic wing will allow you to decorate the VAZ 2106 car, as well as lighten the weight of the body. The operation can be performed in several ways. As a rule, a method that involves installing fender covers is popular.
Today, sets of wing arches on VAZ are made of very durable fiberglass. The technology for their installation is extremely simple: the metal surface of the body panel is thoroughly wiped, then the inner edge of the product is carefully coated with sealant. The arch is glued to the body, some time passes (depending on the composition of the sealant, the packaging says how long to wait) and the surface is cleared of excess sealant.
You can purchase such wings in any specialized store, including online. Advice - do not skimp on the quality of the product, since the service life will depend on this.
After installing such arches, defects may appear along the edges or configuration. VAZ 2106 owners often buy such trims with an installation service so that there are no problems. However, it will be possible to correct these inaccuracies if you manage to properly putty the panel. In addition, a perfect fit of the plastic part can be achieved this way.
Process technology
The VAZ 2106 body is straightened immediately before painting the restored part:
- The surface to be treated is cleaned of dirt, washed, dried and degreased. Remove old paint from the working surface.
- Use frequent gentle blows of a hammer to smooth out the dent. If the defect is deep, then the process is performed from the edge of the damage, and gradually moves towards its center. Metal substrates are placed on the reverse side of the area to be restored. They must have the appropriate shape.
- Metal breaks are repaired using a welding machine. Next, the weld is ground.
- The area restored from damage is covered with putty. It levels the work surface.
- The putty part is sanded and painted.
The putty should be applied in a thin layer. Otherwise, the paint will become covered with numerous cracks and begin to fall off.
Spar repair
When carrying out a major overhaul of the body of a VAZ 2106 with your own hands, first of all it is necessary to pay attention to the condition of the underbody of the car, including the side members. They represent the main strength element of the entire structure. On a car they are located on the bottom and have the length of the entire vehicle.
Spars can shift as a result of a violation of the body geometry, and burst due to mechanical damage. If a part has moved, it is “restored” to its place. To do this, use a jack or a cable, which is tied to a pole or tree, and the other end of the rope is secured to the spar. Next, the car is “pulled” with small jerks, and the element to be straightened is tapped with a hammer. After the work is completed, additional beams are welded to the side members, since the restored part requires reinforcement.
Rusted elements are cleaned, dirt and corrosion are removed from them. Using a welding machine, metal patches are made on the surface, the welds are ground, and the part is processed. Cracks in the side members are also repaired using welding.
Threshold replacement
The thresholds on the VAZ 2106 during long-term use of the car become covered with rust and, as a result, rot. To replace damaged body elements, perform the following algorithm of actions:
- The doors are removed, the floor mats are removed, and the aluminum trim is dismantled.
- Remove the rusted body element. To do this, use the thresholds, dismantle them using a drill, and cut them out of the fastening with a grinder.
- Clean the work surface from dirt and remove rust.
- Next comes the installation of new thresholds. To do this, weld the connector in place of the dismantled parts.
- After adjusting the elements to size, they are welded to the car body.
- At the end of the work, a trim is attached to the thresholds, it is primed and painted.
When performing repair work to replace thresholds, the trim is washed, corrosion is removed from it, and old paint and primer are removed.
Anti-corrosion treatment
On the “six” the following elements are most susceptible to corrosion:
- Hollow parts;
- Floor;
- Lower areas of doors and pillars;
- Welding and joining areas.
Note. The owner of a VAZ 2106 car needs to be extremely attentive to the penetration of moisture and dirt into the area of hidden cavities of the body and into its lower parts. In order to further protect these parts of the body from corrosion, they are treated with anticorrosive, and the soldering of individual elements is treated with a special mastic.
Algorithm for carrying out work on anti-corrosion treatment of hidden cavities of the “six” body
Here are the instructions to follow:
- Place the “Six” on the overpass;
- Remove the upholstery and all parts that interfere with work;
- Treat the cavities and lower area of the machine with water through the drainage holes. Wash until clean water flows out;
- Move the car indoors;
- Apply anticorrosive agent to all places indicated in the photo.
Installation of galvanizing and riveted connections
Processing holes in the bottom of a car with galvanized metal is quite common. The main material required for this is iron sheet. Before installation, it should be secured with self-tapping screws and lubricated with mastic. It is best to use an anti-noise bitumen mixture. The galvanized sheeting is then laid and bolted in place using a drill. Then you need to treat the area with special means and level the entire surface. When everything dries and the structure is fixed, it should be coated with paint.
Another reliable option for filling holes is to make rivet joints. Using this technology, large and small holes can be eliminated. To do this, the damaged area is cut out and the edges are cleaned of paint and rust. Next, steel rivets are cut out, since they are least susceptible to corrosion. Then the part is applied and secured with these rivets. When the structure is completed, the entire area is painted.
So, there are several ways to repair holes in the bottom of a car without welding. You can use any method described in this article. Choose exactly the option that you can implement. And remember, it is possible and very pleasant to carry out any task on your own.
BOTTOM REPAIR USING NON-WELD METHODS
It is worth noting right away that all operations that are performed on the car body without the use of welding methods are called by experts unprofessional, in other words, “garage”. This is due primarily to the fact that they do not represent the result of any innovative idea put into action; most often, the basis for independent work is the properties of the materials or other substances used in the work.
Such repair of the underbody of a car does not have any specific technology that has been tested by appropriate qualified people or special organizations; it is not burdened with norms and standards. The idea of self-repairing the body most likely came to experienced car owners who were savvy and adapted to specific domestic conditions. It is worth noting that in no European country would a self-respecting citizen engage in such actions; moreover, such an idea would not even occur to him. Damaged body parts are not repaired abroad; a damaged or old car is simply replaced with a new one. The car repair methods described below can mostly eliminate or hide through damage to the upper parts of the body or the underbody of the car.
