Has Anyone Used The Sway Bar From SoCal???
If So, Is There A Noticeable Difference???
Any Help, Thanks!!!

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g22/hollyeclark1/af67ea7d.gif to the site. Be sure to use the search tool. It can be very helpful. Try this thread out:

http://chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2101&page=2&highlight=sway

Thanks!!!

Welcome to the club and enjoy the ride.

YES the Sway bars from SoCal mike are great. one the first of many mods.

I have it on my 1LT. One of the best things I've done. very noticable handling difference.

Easy to install. I was able to just slide under and bolt it on in about 10 minutes. Maybe less. All you need is a torque wrench.

Has Anyone Used The Sway Bar From SoCal???
If So, Is There A Noticeable Difference???
Any Help, Thanks!!!

I can tell you , when I first bought my HHR January 2006, just driving it home, I noticed the rear end was floating on the road when I changed lanes..
Due to my original search for a vendor "Progressive" they happen to be fitting up an HHR for the Sway bars.. They asked me to come in to do the same , but due to the distance I was unable to. But , I mention to them there was a need for them to manufacture the sway bars.. so they did.. ((then vendors pickup on the sway bars)
Now everyone is benefiting from it.. Yes they help the sway bars..:thumb:

Indirect question about sway bar installation.

What kind of torque wrench do you guys use, the old style ones with the guage on them or the new "click" torque wrenches?

Which is better 3/8" drive or 1/2" drive?

Man, my wife is going to kill me for buying all this stuff :lol:

Molly really likes the sway bar I got her from SoCal's! Works great!

TC

Indirect question about sway bar installation.

What kind of torque wrench do you guys use, the old style ones with the guage on them or the new "click" torque wrenches?

Which is better 3/8" drive or 1/2" drive?

Man, my wife is going to kill me for buying all this stuff :lol:

Click is best.... I have both 3/8 and 1/2 " drive...

I like the "click" bar also. Was raised on the ol torque bar, took me several years to find out they become inaccurate with the slightest bump.

Sears Craftsman makes a good torque wrench and has frequent sales. Plus lifetime warranty:smile:

I'm debating whether to get a Craftsmen one or a Mastercraft one (Mastercraft is the store brand for Canadian Tire stores up here).

Both stores have frequent sales on them and both have lifetime warranties, I just don't know which one has the better overall build quality.

:smile: I have the sway bar but haven't installed it yet. I don't have a torque wrench and if I bought one I'd probably never have a use for it again. Is it really all that necessary?? Is there a danger in over tightening the bolts without one!:confused:

:smile: I have the sway bar but haven't installed it yet. I don't have a torque wrench and if I bought one I'd probably never have a use for it again. Is it really all that necessary?? Is there a danger in over tightening the bolts without one!:confused:
I picked up my sway bar at the post office today. Just have to wait for the glaciers to melt before I can install it. :lol:

If the manufacturer says torque it to 45 ft/lbs, that's what I'm going to do. Not taking any chances.

Not sure if the auto parts store do it in the states, but there is a parts store here that lets you rent tools for jobs such as this.

I plan on buying a torque wrench anyway for things such as making sure the lug nuts are properly torqued, etc.

I did not use my torque wrench-I did use blue locktite on the bolts and just made them very tight.

Yes.. do use blue loctite when installing....

Yes.. do use blue loctite when installing....
Loctite 242 or 243? Both are blue.

Loctite 242 or 243? Both are blue.


242 is meduim strength (removable)

243 is meduim strength oil resistance.. (removable)

Thanks hvrod.

Picked up some 242 today. Man is that stuff expensive. $10 for 6ml!!!

Good..
I use the 248.. its in the stick form.. got tired of spilling the liquid.

http://www.sealingdevices.com/loctite/248.html

if all you doing is buying a torque wrench for light duty work ie:sway bar, lug nuts a cheap 3/8s torque bar will work, lug bolts are aprx 110 ft lbs.

if all you doing is buying a torque wrench for light duty work ie:sway bar, lug nuts a cheap 3/8s torque bar will work, lug bolts are aprx 110 ft lbs.
100 ft lbs according to the owners manual.

Around here you either get super cheap and inaccurate or pay a decent amount and better quality.

I found one but it's measurements are inch lbs, not ft lbs.

I did not use my torque wrench-I did use blue locktite on the bolts and just made them very tight.

:smile: Well, I just did the same Friday. I can't see why that wouldn't work, seems like tight is tight!:lol: What more can you do?? I just couldn't justify spending good money for a tool I'd never use again.:roll: As far as improving the handling, I'll never know, since my Wife drives the HHR!:eek: It'll be interesting to see if she makes any comment after she uses it Monday.;)

lets us know...:smile:

:smile: Well, I just did the same Friday. I can't see why that wouldn't work, seems like tight is tight!:lol: What more can you do?? I just couldn't justify spending good money for a tool I'd never use again.:roll: As far as improving the handling, I'll never know, since my Wife drives the HHR!:eek: It'll be interesting to see if she makes any comment after she uses it Monday.;)

:roll: Well, just as I figured, no comment at all from the Wife, either today or yesterday!:( She never said anything after I had the Turbo Muffler put on, nothing after the Billet bumper grille or the "Chevrolet" decal was put on the upper grille bar either!:roll: I don't know why I bother! I don't get anything out of it, and she couldn't care less. I guess some Women are just like that. A vehicle is just something to get you from here to there, and back again and they don't give a second thought to anything else in the process:confused:

:roll: Well, just as I figured, no comment at all from the Wife, either today or yesterday!:( She never said anything after I had the Turbo Muffler put on, nothing after the Billet bumper grille or the "Chevrolet" decal was put on the upper grille bar either!:roll: I don't know why I bother! I don't get anything out of it, and she couldn't care less. I guess some Women are just like that. A vehicle is just something to get you from here to there, and back again and they don't give a second thought to anything else in the process:confused:

That is kinda sad you do not get comments from the wife, or anyone else at all at that!.

Whenever my wife drives the HHR, she always has an encounter. Whether it is the billet grille, or the foose wheels, or just the HHR in itself. People just pop up and start talking to her about the car..this is something that always surprises her.

As for the sway bar and muffler, I understood that these components would be more effective under extreme measures. Meaning, when you push it hard is when you will notice the difference.

My wife is drives the HHR very slowly and carefully.....:one: she would not notice a muffler or a sway bar either.....

FYI, ProMotion Tuning, one of our supporting vendors, carries the Progressive rear bar and at a good price, too! Call 'em!

I got one last year from SO CAL and it made a significant improvement in the handling. It's worth the investment!

I installed mine over the weekend and it has made a subtle difference in the handling. Haven't tried anything wacky though.

I'm sure glad , me finding this out in Jan 2006, and seeking out a vendor to make it for everyone.... and vendors can stock it and sell it to us all....
everyone makes out... :thumb:

I'm sure glad , me finding this out in Jan 2006, and seeking out a vendor to make it for everyone.... and vendors can stock it and sell it to us all....
everyone makes out... :thumb:

GEE HV, I'm just glad that you don't toot your own horn about it...:lol:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/ng8650/5266285.gif

GEE HV, I'm just glad that you don't toot your own horn about it...:lol:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/ng8650/5266285.gif

good one..