If you are the owner of a Chevrolet station wagon and regularly practice the transportation of large loads, then you just can't do without a tow bar. The towbar allows you to use a trailer or tow another car / trailer. However, not every Lacetti owner is able to install a towbar on their own. It is possible, Of course, contact the garage, however, if you want to save, it is better to try to perform the installation yourself. It is not so difficult and will take only a few hours. In this article we will tell everything, what you need to know about installing a towbar on a Chevrolet hatchback, sedan or station wagon with your own hands.
towbar installation
What are towbars?
Before installing the towbar, him, usually, you also need to choose. There are also nuances when choosing this item. Example, it is worth remembering the differences of towbars, installed on trucks and cars. If in the truck the towbar fastens on rigidly fixed frame (the same, like all other parts and components of the machine), then with cars it's another matter for some reason:
- In Chevrolet hatchback and station wagon cars, the power frame differs in design.
- Most cars have strict restrictions on the volume and weight of cargo. The manufacturer exposes them in this regard, that the car does not have enough power.
- Height, on which the body is located, can vary greatly depending on, what cargo the car carries. The entire range of values of this parameter must also be taken into account when choosing a traction unit for the car.
see towbars
If you consider towbars, which are most often used for installation on the Chevrolet car (station wagon and hatchback), then the following categories should be distinguished:
- Stationary towbar Lacetti. It is a striking example of non-dismantled and rigidly fixed power system. It is installed on the car by welding.
- Towbar for quick installation. This towbar is the most common hook with a bullet, which, usually, stored in the trunk of the car. The owner mentions it only in those cases, when something needs to be transported. The unit is easily and quickly mounted under the Chevrolet bumper.
- Automated or semi-automated towbar. This is a non-removable folding, the unit installed under a bumper, which can be deactivated at that time, while there is no need for it.
Regardless, what kind of towbar you want to install on your sedan or hatchback, you should pay attention to the towing ball of the unit. Unlike other component parts, it has clear standards, which must be followed by each manufacturer.
These include:
- The ball must be made exclusively by forging.
- The maximum load on the bullet must exceed the recommended weight of the trailer on the Chevrolet station wagon by at least thirty percent.
- Purchased towbar in all respects must comply with traffic rules and industry specifications, relating to the manufacture of traction units.
Trailer for VAZ 2108, 2109 and 21099
Recommended literature for repair and maintenance of Chevrolet Lacetti:
CHEVROLET LACETTI petrol c 2004 r.v., repair manual
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CHEVROLET LACETTI hatchback petrol z 2004 r.v., repair manual
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CHEVROLET LACETTI sedan petrol c 2004 r.v., repair manual
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CHEVROLET LACETTI sedan petrol c 2004 r.v., maintenance manual
Read more
Installation of a towbar under a bumper of the station wagon and a hatchback
Before proceeding directly to the installation, several preparatory measures should be taken, namely:
- Identify the type of towbar. Traction and power plants can be of these types: a loop, bracket or bullet.
- Determine the type of equipment and parameters of the plug, which are in your Chevrolet. It is necessary to do only in those cases, when you plan to install an automated towbar.
- Buy a towbar, designed specifically for Chevrolet cars, taking into account all the features, owned by the trailer.
- Install the car, so, so that it is located above the pit (if the action takes place in a garage) or on the overpass (if the car is on the street).
- Disconnect the car's electrical battery to ensure the safety of the wizard, when connecting the electrical part.
The installation of the towbar on the hatchback and wagon is carried out according to the following algorithm:
- Completely remove the trim from the trunk of the car. Release the rear to ensure full access to the bumper mounts. What would it do, you need to unscrew one bolt type M10 in the rear of the spar and a pair of bolts type M6 on each wing.
- Remove all taillights from the car. When it comes to that, to mount the towbar on a Chevrolet (station wagon, hatchback and sedan), then it should not take much time - you need to unscrew the two mounting nuts and gently pull the lighting device on itself.
Smart connector for towbar with your own hands
Disassembly of taillights
- Remove all rear fenders and fenders for that, to gain unobstructed access to the bolt, which connects the wing to the bumper. Mudguards should be removed carefully, so as not to damage the fastening mechanism.
- Unscrew four (or six) bolts (and), due to which the bumper is fixed. The bumper can also be fastened with latches.
Rear bumper mount
- Carefully remove the rear bumper.
- Put the bumper inside up.
- Pull out the six pistons, which provide coupling of facing and the bumper amplifier.
- Remove a pair of metal brackets from the amplifier. They make the hatchback body more stable, however, in this situation their need is reduced to zero.
- Install a new tow bar and tighten the M10 stationary bolts slightly. There is a square rubber cap near the bolt. It must be removed (be careful - she, usually, planted on glue) and insert the M10 bolts with the largest washer in the hole.
towbar mounting
- Mount the plate from below, which was also included. It is fastened with two bolts of short length. Tighten the nut on the through bolt. After that, everything must be carefully tightened.
- Install the Chevrolet stationary bumper booster on the towbar, using four M8 bolts.
Installation of the body amplifier
- Install the bumper in place and secure, tightening all bolts, on which it is attached.
- Install the towbar ball and socket (if provided in the kit). After that it is recommended to fill in with hot glue all plugs in the socket, that would completely protect the system from corrosion.
- If installed ??power socket, then you need to calculate the distance from it to the towbar beam. The wiring must be intact, well insulated with insulating tape or similar material in places of twists. Wiring must be fixed with ties to the towbar beam through the gaps between the car body and its bumper.
- There are special rubber plugs near the wiring of the rear lighting fixtures. They need to make holes, through which the wiring will be routed inside the car. After that, the formed cavities in the plugs must be filled with glue.
wiring installation
- Connect the wires to the regular wiring of the car and install all the plastic parts of the trunk in their places.
If you follow all the above steps, then it will not be difficult for you to install a towbar on the Chevrolet (hatchback, sedan or station wagon) and can transport trailers or trailers.