Swaybar installed
Senior Member
Joined: 12-21-2005
Posts: 1,010
From: Launch Coast Calif.
Originally Posted by Lee3333
By mechanical, do you mean lock washers? It comes with flat washers. I just tightened the bolts a lot, then checked them twice after driving the car and snugged them down a bit more. It was a bit of a pain aligning the plate with the nuts on it, so now I plan on removing one bolt at a time (to keep the plate in place) and applying locktite (blue) to each bolt. Then I will torque them down as Mike suggests to 45 ft/lbs (the instructions dont specify to torque them down at all).
Finally I will apply the decals to the side windows
Finally I will apply the decals to the side windows
Last edited by hvrod; May 20, 2006 at 10:15 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: 10-14-2005
Posts: 5,359
From: SoCal
Originally Posted by hvrod
Yes.. loctite or lockwashers... the nuts on those plates aren't self locking.. (which should be included in the instructions, are suggested to use) And as you notice.. the bolts are upside down.. If by chance vibrations.. the bolt backed out... well... they would be tubbling down the street to the path of the vehicle behind you...
Progress Tech has literally thousands of sway bars on the road, and they are also very involved in track racing. I'm certain that if they thought bolts falling out would be an issue, they would have recommended or provided locking nuts or lockwashers. Flat washers are always recommended in torquing applications, as lockwashers can deform and come apart when torqued hard.
Last edited by SoCalHHR; May 20, 2006 at 01:13 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: 01-20-2006
Posts: 215
From: Huntsville, AL
I picked mine up at the Post Office yesterday. Thanks for the quick shipping Mike. I'm going to install today, after my daughters softball game, and then give my 2 cents on how much better it handles.
Senior Member
Joined: 12-21-2005
Posts: 1,010
From: Launch Coast Calif.
Originally Posted by Clarke33
I picked mine up at the Post Office yesterday. I'm going to install today, after my daughters softball game, and then give my 2 cents on how much better it handles.
Chevy should of made sure they gave this as standard equipment or included it in the sport suspension for the LT2's
Senior Member
Joined: 01-21-2006
Posts: 228
From: Mira Loma, CA
There is a definite improvement in handling with the sway bar. We drove up Ortega Highway last weekend. Ortega Highway is a long windy mountainous road that Cafe racing mortorcycles and tuner cars love to frequent on the weekends. I had driven up it in January without the sway bar installed so I could REALLY feel the difference. The HHR really hugs the road on the sweeping turns as well as the tighter turns. I am sure that it makes a BIG difference in a lowered HHR.
Senior Member
Joined: 12-21-2005
Posts: 1,010
From: Launch Coast Calif.
Originally Posted by HHR DLYT
There is a definite improvement in handling with the sway bar. We drove up Ortega Highway last weekend. Ortega Highway is a long windy mountainous road that Cafe racing mortorcycles and tuner cars love to frequent on the weekends. I had driven up it in January without the sway bar installed so I could REALLY feel the difference. The HHR really hugs the road on the sweeping turns as well as the tighter turns. I am sure that it makes a BIG difference in a lowered HHR.
I used to live in Orange County..
On my cafe' pocket rocket motorcycle.. ( I"m talking many years ago)
I used to ride that rode.. I got my bike up to 110 MPH.....
Now they have that darn siganl there... speed traps....
Senior Member
Joined: 01-21-2006
Posts: 228
From: Mira Loma, CA
I used to love going up Ortega (from the Lake Elsinore side) with my lowered 69 Camaro. It had Bilstein shocks on it and drove like a slot car around corners. I really miss that car ...sigh... The HHR is not as sticky as that with the sway bar, but it is MUCH closer. I think the sway bar is a great mod. Thanks again hvrod for finding that manufacturer 
Senior Member
Joined: 12-21-2005
Posts: 1,010
From: Launch Coast Calif.
Originally Posted by HHR DLYT
I used to love going up Ortega (from the Lake Elsinore side) with my lowered 69 Camaro. It had Bilstein shocks on it and drove like a slot car around corners. I really miss that car ...sigh... The HHR is not as sticky as that with the sway bar, but it is MUCH closer. I think the sway bar is a great mod. Thanks again hvrod for finding that manufacturer
Your welcome..
Don't forget if you have lowering/rubbing issues.. I found I had to roll the fender lips, and using the Monroe coil over shocks greatly help..
All information gladly provided... cya..
