Cat Man HHR

The stud of the ball joint should slip right out after removing the pinch bolt. All knuckles/ball joints are the same for all LS/LT models and years. Buy new from Rock Auto, install your hub on new knuckle. Pictures would help.

Lake Runner

Definitely a 2LTand not an SS. Yes, I had removed the bolt. I had torqued the bolt according to the manual every time I had it apart. Also, when I was trying to eliminate the noise I loosened and retorqued both ball joint bolts.

donbrew

I am really confused now! Is the ball joint stud loose in the knuckle or not? If was loose it would not be stuck in the knuckle. The knuckle is not the problem.

I am thinking you are doing something very wrong.

Lake Runner

Don, when the ball joint nut is tightened as specified in the manual, there is still play in the ball joint stud/steering knuckle. When I removed the bolt to take the ball joint out, the ball joint would only come out about 3/8-1/2 inch. Either the ball joint or the knuckle has a problem. Therefore, I want to replace both. Looking online, the Doorman steering knuckle no. 697-910 IIRC is cast iron with no cutout for speed sensor that my aluminum steering knuckle has. I would think this would be for the w/o Active Brake option.

donbrew

What cutout for speed sensor? The wire comes out the back.

Some incorrect parts must have been used at some point; this sounds too odd.

I am finding 19303852 & 19308351 For all years HHR except SS. https://www.gmpartsdirect.com/?p=cat...=hhr%20knuckle

Cat Man HHR

Just a shot in the dark here. Could the ball joint be from a different type of car when it was changed ?
Again pictures would really help.

Lake Runner

Don, there is an area of the hole for the hub bearing that is radiused out for the speed sensor wire to pass through. It is not a perfect circle. The image I saw of the Doorman cast iron knuckle did not have that feature.

The current knuckle on the vehicle is original. When I replaced the lower control arm due to worn bushings, it was very difficult to get the right side ball joint to come out. Driver side had no issues. Second time I replaced the passenger side control arm was due to play in the ball joint. Again, difficulty removing ball joint. Note: At present this vehicle has 273k miles. I will try to locate an image of the cutout I'm talking about.

Lake Runner

This is the cutout in an aluminum knuckle.

This is a NEW part that looks exactly like mine, although it shows as not compatible.

Lake Runner

At present time I cannot crawl under the car to take pictures. I may have to just check out the junk yards to find one like it when I have use of my left arm again.

donbrew

That is the one listed for all HHR except SS.