Front control arm bushing?
 

Hi,

I have and '11 LT that has always made the usual "clunk" noise and nobody has been able to tell me why, so now it makes like a vibration when I first touch the brake pedal. As I push the pedal down, it stop and feels fine. It kinda feel like it needs the tie rods replaced.

I took the wheels off and put a pry bar under the control arm bushings and tried to see any movement. The front where it bolts to the frame had no play at all, but the rear bushing wiggled a little bit, up and down, but the rubber looked okay. Is there supposed to be a slight movement to that area?

I also pried the sway bar up and down and there was no play in the bushings there. The rotors loo okay, they were new when I replaced the pads the last time, and the pads aren't even halfway worn.

The struts need to be changed, I'm guessing, since the car has 110k miles on it and they are the original struts. The front doesn't bounce or handle badly, just very noisy over bumps, and that vibration.

The sway bar links look new, but I've never had them replaced. I bought the car in 2012 with 32k miles on it, so maybe they were replaced prior to me buying it.

Everything looks good except that little bit of play on the read control arm bushing, so I'm thinking that might be the problem. What do you guys think?

There are a couple of links in my sig that may help you. Specifically this one: https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/prob...g-pop-s-50648/

Type "lower control arm" into the SEARCH box at the top of the page. There is at least one how-to and lots of information (like 330 posts).

LCA bushings are most likely the issue as you have described!

Struts, LCA's and Sway bar links
 

I replaced my struts (quick struts), Lower control arms, and sway bar links. 2008 HHR LT 125k miles. I found the clunk I had was actually the sway bar links. But all the parts needed attention and the car rides and handles much better. No clunk for me now. thanks,

Welcome!!! Enjoy the ride!