Just throwing a spitball at the wall, sway bar bushings. The sway bar moves L/R as you turn the wheels and the bar follows.

 

welll possible but would they clunk and instead of creaking ? maybe use some silicon spray on them to take away the creaking.. I swear i thought it was the strut bearing but still the same noise after replacing the strut again.. Well i will see tomorrow ..thanks

 

Good idea on the silicone spray for the bushings - at the very least it will help eliminate one of the options.

The bushings on ours are due for replacement (they clunk now for sure, and you can feel it through the floorboards) - and I bet they are the source of the creaks and groans in cold weather in the past. They are probably worn so bad now they won't creak or groan now.

 

Just a update well had a alignment today it was not far off ,toe out a little not much because of the new springs and had the tires balance and rotated .. so i asked the guy can i take a peek underneath sure he said ...I was telling him about the creaking noise i had and replaced the drivers side strut twice because of the creaking noise when turning the wheel lock to lock standing still, so i looked up at the intermediate shaft and is rusty as hell and by the joint ,so i am wondering if that's my problem ? Tomorrow i am going to crawl under there and grease it up .. I heard there is: a product called super lube and use that or if anybody did theirs what did they use ? oh by the way got a extra strut for free and i will let go cheap lol Thanks

 

The new springs will settle in the next few weeks and your new alignment will be off again. I guess this needs to be said again: unless you change something that has a direct effect on the toe setting (tie rod ends,rack & pinion) there is no need for an alignment on an HHR. There is only ONE setting that a typical front end shop can change, that being the toe. When the toe is changed, the camber may also change a bit. If you align a suspension with bad parts and then replace the parts you have to get it re aligned, in this example the new struts are "the bad" parts because they have not settled in yet. And while I'm at it: there is absolutely no need to pay extra for a "4 wheel" alignment on an HHR because most of the techs don't know how to change the rear alignment in the off chance it needed it.

Go back to your ghost chasing now. Sometimes mechanical things just make noises, if they aren't safety issues don't worry them to an early grave.

I'd keep the strut for future use. They won't last for more than 80,000 miles at best.

 

Ok here is my update got under the car and sprayed every rubber piece i can find using super lube this stuff is the best.. Well drop the car down and start it up turn wheel to wheel still creaking driver side, ok WTF! even did the intermediate shaft joints ... Said to myself enough fun know and broke down and took it auto repair joint so told the mechanic this is the second r and r i did with this quick strut by unity drivers side sure enough jump in the car turn the steering wheel each way and said the spring is moving inside the strut, and i can turn it a little either way and i said i would be a monkeys uncle.. I mean the strut is solid almost identical to the monroe quick strut . So i count the coils on my unity strut it was 4 to 5 same as monroes and no issue as far as coils rubbing so they got that right .. Well my mechanic is going to take it apart and see what is going on like i said no issue on the passenger side ,and it is a smooth ride .So monday I will call this unity rep and im telling him that im a not r and r this strut again you guys will pay for the r and r sorry i refuse to do it again.. I mean the struts have good quality well made but who ever putting them to gather needs to be fired .. Sorry for long rant but i am fed up ,Get the **** right!

 

Well donbrew, kind of, sort of true. The camber is adjustable with swapping out of the lower strut mount bolts with offset camber bolts. Moog makes them and even my local Mom & Pop alignment joint has those bolts in stock.

 

But, I did say "typical" front end shop. The kind with the high school drop out.

Some cars have different springs L & R, maybe you are experiencing one of those "generic" things. I thinks it's Siennas that have different number of coils on one side &/or different direction wind.

 

the coils are the same on both sides as far as count ,if you look at a monroe quick strut very identical and could not tell them apart .Anyways i think it a factory problem or who ever is putting them together error ,will find out Monday..

 

The struts I took off yesterday did have a bit of play in the springs when the car was jacked up, but only enough to be noticeable.

Strange though different assembly plants for L & R? Like TWIXT candy.

Once again I thank Nationwide for overpaying for my airbag incident.