Chevy HHR Network - front suspension groaning when cold.

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front suspension groaning when cold.

Hi All

I have a 2011 2.2L HHR with approx. 84000 miles. The car is in great condition but now it is cold in the morning (Arizona cold) the front suspension makes a groaning sound. When the temperature warms up outside the noise goes away.

Hopefully someone can make a suggestion as to what needs to be greased or replaced.

Thanks

Front swaybar bushings...

Can I grease them or do i need new sway bars?

is this the part you are referring to?

Amazon

Guessing you don't know much about cars. Greybeard suggested bushings not the endlinks in your Amazon link.
No you don't need new sway bars. (There is only 1 under there)
No, the stock ones can't be greased.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...fe5793e493.jpg

The groan can also be parts of the strut , the top bearing plate, the isolators and boots. Not much can be done, after all these years mine still lets me know it’s cold outside.

Ok Thanks for the info. It looks like i need: -

Amazon

Another case of a vendor on Amazon not confirming the fitment.
This is a 23 mm bushing, for the early 2006, and some 2007 LS/LT and the 2008 thru 2010 SS models
you need the 25 mm bushings per our common part numbers thread

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/comm...-thread-48833/

Sway Bar Bushings [SIZE="1"]- suggested by Snoopy with addons from 843de[/SIZE]
- FE1:
>>> 2006 production until VIN#3GNDA23P26S546471. Use GM PN 15822993 (which equates to a 23mm bar - energy suspension pn: 9.5159 (greaseable) - 9.5115 (non-greaseable))
>>> for FE-1 suspension after VIN#3GNDA23P26S546472. Use GM PN 20902784
(Note: my early early 2006 FE1 sway bar crudely measures out at 23MM so double check yours as the 1" bushings do not fit mine)
- FE3: Energy suspension poly for 1inch/25mm bar - greaseable - p/n 9.5161 (9.5110 non-greaseable) - OEM GM part number 20902784 (GM calls them Isolators)

- FE5: Energy suspension poly for 23mm bar - greaseable - p/n 9.5159 (9.5115 non greaseable)
------- GM - 20902785

FYI. The bolts can be a real pain to get to. Unless you have the correct tools and know-how, might be easier to pay a shop to replace them.

Sometimes the shop is at a worse loss of information , but we have this thread

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...acement-52921/

I replaced the sway bar bushings today, the ones i removed looked good, not perished or misshapen but they are cheap so I replaced them. The ones i removed were stamped "25". O'reilly Auto parts tried to sell me "23" so I bought new "25's" from the dealer at $12 each. They were a bit of a pain to replace but not too bad, only 4 bolts. I will see if this repair has cured the groaning in the morning.

The sway bar stabilizer links appear to be ok. i can pull on them and they don't have any slack or noise.

If in the morning the groaning noise is still there, then perhaps it's the struts or the bearing plates (as suggested by oldblue). Is there anything i can do to them to make the noise go away?