Okay, I'm sure this has been brought up many times here, but I'm not finding anything. I have finally begun work on my HHR's front end (cooler weather and some time). But when I went to replace the sway bar bushings (with Moog K200047) I come across some of the most absolutely brilliant engineering I've ever seen. I sure hope someone here can let me in on a clever way to get the rear nut off, or did I just not notice that the rear bracket is slotted so removing the nut isn't necessary?

 

The "official" way is to loosen the bolts that go through the LCA bushings and lower the sub-frame enough to get to it with a tool.

 

And is there an 'unofficial' way? I got the nut completely loose from the bolt, but can't remove it due to body tin just above it.

 

The rear fastener is a bolt. Removing the nut is not necessary. When I replaced mine, the rear bolt had just enough clearance without doing any sub-frame changes. Hopefully you disconnected the Stabilizer Links to take the pressure off the sway bar and it's bushings first.

 

I'm afraid unless the rear of the bracket is slotted (I did not notice it if it is) the nut has to come off in order to remove the bracket. The bolt has one of those tin retainers on it so it won't drop. So it looks like I need to either break off the tin retainer, grind off some of the bolt tip, or try bending the floor tin.....or do it the 'official' way. Not too crazy about my options. Who designs this stuff?

 

 

10/4 Oldblue….that seems the best option. Strikes me as ridiculous to have to do that, but there are probably worse arrangements out there.

 

When I did it I had one of those huge screwdrivers and used it like a prybar to move things a little bit.

 

Don...the bigger hammer technique? I may play with that approach a little before I disassemble the whole dam car just to change out a couple bushings. At least I am blessed to be working on a New Mexico unit since new....no rust.

 

the sway bar bolts on the rear have a wavy washer if u hold it and turn the bolt u can get the nut off its easy , the front bolts come out no prob pull the bracket and slip on new bushings and walla u are done , gluck .......dave