Looking for a source for rotors on my HHR.

I am not sure and it could be my driving, but I replaced the rotors and pads at 13,000 miles, due to vibration on the steering wheel when highspeed braking. At that time the pads looked to be at about 65% good or better.

I found a set of rotors, calipers and pads on line and purchased them. Used the rotors and pad as the person I bought them from told me they had less then 500 miles on them. Looked great and the vehicle ran perfectly after installing them.

Now it is starting to do the same thing at 18,000 miles. Chevy gets an arm and leg for the rotors.

I have found one source for SP high performance slotted rotors for $213 a pair at www.raceshopper.com Not sure if that is a great price or not?


Wondering if the cobalt rotors are the same as the HHR's?

Thanks

Wayne

if the HHR is new, why didnt you let the warranty cover it.
it probably is more due to rotors warping and that is covered under warranty.

You can check one of our vendors....SoCal HHR's

http://www.socalhhrs.com/home.html

if the HHR is new, why didnt you let the warranty cover it.
it probably is more due to rotors warping and that is covered under warranty.

Exactly - why aren't you relaxing and driving a loaner car until the dealership takes care of it. You have 3 years/36k miles...

:confused:

His first replacement was at 13k and I doubt it would have been covered under the warranty unless it can be proven that there was a flaw in either the rotors and / or pads. Wear items such as brakes aren't generally covered simply because wear on them has way too many variables. Some people are just hard on things like brakes, clutches and that sort of thing. In my circle of friends I know of several that will go through a set of brakes in less than a year, the same holds true for clutches. While at the same time my brakes usually last at least 100k and I haven't replaced a clutch in any of my car's / trucks in over 20 years (of course this doesn't apply to anything I race). We put 250k on our Festiva, and I only replaced the brake pads once, and when I sold it she was still on her original clutch.

I am not sure and it could be my driving, but I replaced the rotors and pads at 13,000 miles, due to vibration on the steering wheel when highspeed braking. At that time the pads looked to be at about 65% good or better.

Now it is starting to do the same thing at 18,000 miles. Chevy gets an arm and leg for the rotors.


He said his steering wheel was vibrating, and it is starting to again. I understand replacing brakes is a highly variable item, but my point was the steering wheel vibration should not be happening, there is some other issue that needs to be addressed by the dealership. I have never owned a vehicle that had a vibrating steering wheel due to worn out brakes, let alone at 13k and 18k miles. That is warranty stuff.

He said his steering wheel was vibrating, and it is starting to again. I understand replacing brakes is a highly variable item, but my point was the steering wheel vibration should not be happening, there is some other issue that needs to be addressed by the dealership. I have never owned a vehicle that had a vibrating steering wheel due to worn out brakes, let alone at 13k and 18k miles. That is warranty stuff.

I have had several vehicles with warpped or warpping rotors and one of the indictors is vibration in the steering wheel so it could be something more than rotor warp but likely not or one would experience it all the time not just when braking. That said never hurts to make sure with a trip to the dealer.

He said his steering wheel was vibrating, and it is starting to again. I understand replacing brakes is a highly variable item, but my point was the steering wheel vibration should not be happening, there is some other issue that needs to be addressed by the dealership. I have never owned a vehicle that had a vibrating steering wheel due to worn out brakes, let alone at 13k and 18k miles. That is warranty stuff.

Hey don't get so testy:confused: I was just pointing out the fact that brakes are wear items and not normally covered under warranty unless something failed. At 13k it's not unusual for brakes to be worn especially if the driver encounters lots of stop and go city driving, or lives in a hilly area. As far as the wobbly steering wheel goes it could be the result of the brakes wearing out (rotors getting warped), but if it was noticed before the brakes wend bad it should have been taken to the dealership for inspection. In my 40+ years of working on cars I've seen many wobbly steering wheels due to worn brakes and at a lot less than 13k. You may say it's warranty stuff but I don't think it's your call, let's let the dealership decide on that.

Obviously somethings going on with the brakes (front) in these cars....

http://chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2551

jerij

BTW, I just replaced my disc pads with a new set from I don't remember, Street Plus pads or something or the other. They DEFINITELY have more bite. I haven't noticed any vibration yet but won't be back in Chattanooga until week after next.

And I take my car back to the dealer AS A LAST RESORT....

Hey don't get so testy:confused: I was just pointing out the fact that brakes are wear items and not normally covered under warranty unless something failed. At 13k it's not unusual for brakes to be worn especially if the driver encounters lots of stop and go city driving, or lives in a hilly area. As far as the wobbly steering wheel goes it could be the result of the brakes wearing out (rotors getting warped), but if it was noticed before the brakes wend bad it should have been taken to the dealership for inspection. In my 40+ years of working on cars I've seen many wobbly steering wheels due to worn brakes and at a lot less than 13k. You may say it's warranty stuff but I don't think it's your call, let's let the dealership decide on that.

What did I say - take it in to the dealership.

Is that what I said - Yep.

http://webpages.charter.net/nashme/threadbombs/shrug.gif

My 2006 HHR had brake pulse (front to back) and steering wheel shimmy at all brakng speeds at 20877 miles due to warped front rotors. They were resurfaced - as GM policy prevents dealiers from replacing rotors that have enough depth to resurface. If the dealer replaces "good" rotors under warranty, GM bills the dealer for the parts! Guess what, I now have 41,000 miles - and need new rotors.... because there is not enough metal to resurface again. But, I am out of warranty - and even under my "covers it all" extended warranty - wear items are excluded and brakes are wear items. In contrast, I have a 1993 ford escort wagon with the ORIGINAL rotors/drums - so it's NOT my driving. HHR brakes stink.

Just before first rotor resurface, the left front wheel hub assembly failed causing an ABS failure. This was replaced under warranty. Just before the second rotor problem, the right front wheel hub assembly failed causing an ABS failure and resulting in a single-car accident with side of road (almost 9k in damages). This time GM said it was operator error - so no warranty coverage.

NOTE TO SELF - buy a toyota hybrid next time.

What did I say - take it in to the dealership.

Is that what I said - Yep.

http://webpages.charter.net/nashme/threadbombs/shrug.gif
My 2006 HHR had brake pulse (front to back) and steering wheel shimmy at all brakng speeds at 20877 miles due to warped front rotors. They were resurfaced - as GM policy prevents dealiers from replacing rotors that have enough depth to resurface. If the dealer replaces "good" rotors under warranty, GM bills the dealer for the parts! Guess what, I now have 41,000 miles - and need new rotors.... because there is not enough metal to resurface again. But, I am out of warranty - and even under my "covers it all" extended warranty - wear items are excluded and brakes are wear items. In contrast, I have a 1993 ford escort wagon with the ORIGINAL rotors/drums - so it's NOT my driving. HHR brakes stink.

Just before first rotor resurface, the left front wheel hub assembly failed causing an ABS failure. This was replaced under warranty. Just before the second rotor problem, the right front wheel hub assembly failed causing an ABS failure and resulting in a single-car accident with side of road (almost 9k in damages). This time GM said it was operator error - so no warranty coverage.

NOTE TO SELF - buy a toyota hybrid next time.

He said his steering wheel was vibrating, and it is starting to again. I understand replacing brakes is a highly variable item, but my point was the steering wheel vibration should not be happening, there is some other issue that needs to be addressed by the dealership. I have never owned a vehicle that had a vibrating steering wheel due to worn out brakes, let alone at 13k and 18k miles. That is warranty stuff.
I argued to the selling dealer - where I have all work done - that I have never - in 28 years of driving - experienced steering wheel shimmy on rotor/drum warpage/failure across in my ford/toyota/gm/amc products. Was told by service manager - touting asce certification - (like all my prior mechanics) that this was common. Not sure it is - since I have only had the problem in my 2006 HHR. My thought - there is a larger problem in the front end of these vehicles.

Warranty issue: brakes and rotors are wear items typically not covered by warranties. BUT - my first rotor resurface at 20877 mile was covered under warranty. At 41000 miles I need new rotors as there is not enough metal to resurface again. But, now I am out of warranty and GM will not touch it. However, EVERY mechanic I speak to GM/Toyota/Ford/Local folks/backyard tinkerers/street modifiers say, in essence "never resurface, always replace" and "rotors needing service on a new car should be covered under warranty and the rotors should have been REPLACED on the first failure NOT resurfaced."

But, now I am out of warranty and GM will not touch it...

By law they HAVE to. It is a documented recurring problem that originated during the warranty period and was never fully addressed. You should CALMLY speak with your service manager about it. If he doesn't give satisfaction, approach the dealership owner with the problem. If he fails to resolve it - (*and remember - the KEY to getting this resolved is maintaining your cool!), ask him to put you in touch with the GM district rep for your area. There have been many reports of HHR rotor problems in online forums - so GM knows the problem exists.

On the other hand, I replaced my rotors with nickel plated diamond slotted rotors at 4500 miles. Had no problems whatsoever with the stockers, just wanted better braking and "the look." If you need a set of stock rotors, I've got a set I'll sell you (a lot cheaper than buying dealer parts!). Mine are already broken in and trouble-free. Unfortunately, you will probably have to pay quite a bit for shipping, as they are very heavy.

Best of luck with it!

By law they HAVE to. It is a documented recurring problem that originated during the warranty period and was never fully addressed. You should CALMLY speak with your service manager about it. If he doesn't give satisfaction, approach the dealership owner with the problem. If he fails to resolve it - (*and remember - the KEY to getting this resolved is maintaining your cool!), ask him to put you in touch with the GM district rep for your area. There have been many reports of HHR rotor problems in online forums - so GM knows the problem exists.

On the other hand, I replaced my rotors with nickel plated diamond slotted rotors at 4500 miles. Had no problems whatsoever with the stockers, just wanted better braking and "the look." If you need a set of stock rotors, I've got a set I'll sell you (a lot cheaper than buying dealer parts!). Mine are already broken in and trouble-free. Unfortunately, you will probably have to pay quite a bit for shipping, as they are very heavy.

Best of luck with it!
That is where I am right now. Trouble is, I have had so many problems with my HHR and this dealership that keeping my cool is so incredibly difficult. Would not be so bad, but the dealership is soooo bad - HERB CHAMBERS CHEBROLET, DANVERS MASSACHUSETTS. They have actually told me I cannot speak to the GM rep! I am going directly through GM - for the third open complaint on this 2 year old car! I have NEVER gone to a manufacturer in almost 30 years of driving.

. However, EVERY mechanic I speak to GM/Toyota/Ford/Local folks/backyard tinkerers/street modifiers say, in essence "never resurface, always replace" and "rotors needing service on a new car should be covered under warranty and the rotors should have been REPLACED on the first failure NOT resurfaced."

Your quoted experts (or you) forgot one component to the above equation. If you are paying for the repair YOU can REQUEST new rotors and pay for them yourself. You just changed the $200 brake job into a $500 job......and people just don't do that, unless as you suggested the rotor material is less than minimum spec. But frankly, almost every first or second brake job done in America (that is counting ALL dealers, independent brake shops, and the neighborhood repair shop) resurface the rotors. Based on that, I think your mechanic sources quoted above, are all wet. If you believe I'm wrong, I suggest you sit in a brake repair shop for a couple of hours and observe.....you'll be surprised.;)

Oh, and if the rotors are warped bad enough, it is not unusual for the tire/wheel and steering wheel shimmy to be severe.

But, I'm on your side in this turmoil. Your situation needs to be addressed by the dealer. Continue to pursue that.....reasonably. Based on the latest TSB, you SHOULD get new rotors (mandatory) after 2 resufacings.