Finally did the suspension on my 2011 panel. Lowering springs, bigger front swaybar, 17 inch rims, HHR SS rear axle, Bilsteins all around and a TTR rear sway bar. The difference is incredible. If only I could do all this with my '85 Dodge MiniRam van.

My HHR has 56,000 miles and the SS rear axle came from a 59,000 mile SS that got crunched in the front. Matched up well. Braking is amazing now.

 

When you lowered your HHR , did you install the TTR steering rack spacers? They make a great improvement in handling also.

https://www.turbotechracing.com/prod...idproduct=5279

a TTR solid upper engine mount and front and rear transmission mount inserts , firm up the handling also!

 

rhomanski,
Welcome to the HHR SS rear end swap club.
I did mine 2 years ago and, to me, it was worth it.
No more drum adjustments.

 

I've wanted to do mine for a while and started to store up parts. All new suspension installed now. The Bilstein struts were not a direct fit but required minimal massaging. The last was finding an axle and tires and rims. The junk yard said the axle was fully loaded but when I got it, no brakes. So I had to rebuild the front and buy all new for the back with a special parking brake cable from GM. Other than that easy peasy.

Brakes were pretty good before but are great now. Handling was good before but stiff as I like it afterward.

We have a 200 foot drop from the bluff where I live and the river valley below with a 180 degree turn half way down. Everybody else hits the break at the turn but I just turn. It's funny playing with people at the turn. They pull over to go around you but then slow down so much you just go sailing past them.

Going up is the same way. A lady with a turbo Cadillac thought she was hot stuff until a New Yorker with a 440 just walked away from her, He, He. :)

 

Well that turned into a threadjacking. Posts moved to this new thread.