Front Struts, had to do it.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 12-21-2005
Posts: 1,010
From: Launch Coast Calif.
Front Struts, had to do it.
Well, my front struts basically are shot...... (Yes, my car is lowered) and only one vendor came out with an replacement better than stock.. I've installed the Koni, dampers inserts.. 8641 1500 sport Koni
I acquired them from
http://www.ajusa.com/cgi-bin/stores/...688ad2afc96029 For 153.00 each.
If you want all the rear are 8040 1364SPORT 128.00 each.. 561.80 for all four...
I drove to work on them this am (had them set to 1/3 almost to the softness setting).. did one more adjustment to them... riding on the softness setting right now.. and that should do it..
I can now tell I have shocks back instead of the springs....
thats it for now...
You will need a large drill motor, at least 1/2 chuck to accept the large drills you need to drill a hole in the bottom of your stock empty strut cartridge.
I acquired them from
http://www.ajusa.com/cgi-bin/stores/...688ad2afc96029 For 153.00 each.
If you want all the rear are 8040 1364SPORT 128.00 each.. 561.80 for all four...
I drove to work on them this am (had them set to 1/3 almost to the softness setting).. did one more adjustment to them... riding on the softness setting right now.. and that should do it..
I can now tell I have shocks back instead of the springs....
thats it for now...
You will need a large drill motor, at least 1/2 chuck to accept the large drills you need to drill a hole in the bottom of your stock empty strut cartridge.
Senior Member
Joined: 05-01-2006
Posts: 2,507
From: New London, CT USA
You are a brave soul. 
I keep scraping my car and it is NOT lowered. I just could not ride around in a lowered car with all the vagaries on the roadways.
Funny, I drive Corvairs which are even lower and never scrape them, but the HHR is always getting curb scrapes in the front, or stupid things like my door getting ripped out of my hand by wind and slammed into a brick wall = scrapes..sigh.
Anyway good luck with the Konis. I used to put those and Bilstines in the 'Vairs . Nice products.
Now if I could only learn to drive the HHR without scraping it up
.....
I keep scraping my car and it is NOT lowered. I just could not ride around in a lowered car with all the vagaries on the roadways.
Funny, I drive Corvairs which are even lower and never scrape them, but the HHR is always getting curb scrapes in the front, or stupid things like my door getting ripped out of my hand by wind and slammed into a brick wall = scrapes..sigh.
Anyway good luck with the Konis. I used to put those and Bilstines in the 'Vairs . Nice products.
Now if I could only learn to drive the HHR without scraping it up
.....
Senior Member
Joined: 04-03-2006
Posts: 1,747
From: Peoria. Illinois
So far the Goldlines (original edition) are causing no grief on the "Minister of Sinister" The ride really didn't stiffen up too much either, I have ridden much harder in other lowered rides and I have not scraped yet...but rough train track crossing SUCK!!!
Senior Member
Joined: 10-14-2005
Posts: 5,359
From: SoCal
I think Henry has the 1st Gen Gold-Lines, which were prone to a bit of bottoming. That problem has been cured with the 2nd and 3rd Gen Gold-Line springs. I've had all the variations on my HHR and am very pleased with the ride of the 3rd Gen springs.
Major difference:
2nd Gen = Beautiful ride, but still has a bit of "stink bug" stance (rear higher than front)
3rd Gen = Beautiful ride, sits more level.
Hope it helps,
Major difference:
2nd Gen = Beautiful ride, but still has a bit of "stink bug" stance (rear higher than front)
3rd Gen = Beautiful ride, sits more level.
Hope it helps,
Should we start calling you Pooch? 