Rear axle issue! I need some "how to" Help
 

Well, I found out I have a bent rear axle yesterday. Right rear tire is toe out and camber off the chart. There is a bend in the rear axle going down and forward like someone hit the tire with thier bumper or something. Rim is fine, not bent and balanced fine. I am thinking I am going to replace this myself if I can find the parts used. I am thinking it is going to be the same in either cobolt or hhr, but I don't know. Anyone else done this? Any advice??

OK, the rear axle kit is for the HHR only! The Cobolt is a different unit, making it even harder to find a used one. I am really not wanting to spend the $1000 for a new one.

Are you out of warranty?

The rear crossmember and related pieces are more like $1500.

Check GM Auto Parts.com

Warranty likely woudn't fix that. If someone hit it, you're likely looking at an insurance job to fix that.

Maybe you'll luck out and find a junker that has front end damage only.

Why can't your insurance take car of this? I would leave it to professionals.

Well, I have a $1000 deductible. I was thinking if I could fix it for less than that I would just do it myself. Quote from the dealership was $2300 with $1250 of that in new parts. I have been trying to find parts used but there are not alot of Wrecked HHR's out there yet. I have actually only found one and it was a pretty bad rollover, good news is the guy survived. I was hoping a cobolt would have the same parts but no such luck. I think I am just going to have to shell out the money.

How do you know it wasn't defective from the factory? I would push to get the part fixed under warranty. Do you recall anyone hitting you or sliding into a curb?

If someone hit you, wouldn't there be a mark somewhere?

The way the axle is bent indicates someone hitting it, it is down and at an angle, not consistant with the point the tire touches the road, like someone hit the tire in the 10 o'clock position. I have 12k miles so if it had come like that from the factory the tire would be bald, not near perfect like it is. I am just coming to terms with the fact I am going to have to pay the insurance deductible. I cannot find the parts for less than $1000 and if I am going to pay that for the part, I may as well have someone else do the work for the same amount of money.

What made you look for a bent axle? Was the car driving funny,tire wear, wheel look bad ???. Were you having the alinement cked.

Yeah, I had the alignment done because the wheel was turned to the left a bit. The dealership found the bend in the axle. When they pointed it out then I noticed how far the wheel was out when comparing it to the other side.

I would try a different dealer and see if i could get it fix under warranty.

"Bent" things are usually not covered under warranty.

Nope. I am just sucking it up and sending it in to get fixed. I met the adjuster at the dealership today so they could put it up on the lift and I got a good view of the whole issue from the underside of the car. Where the wheelwell lines up with the tire is about 3/4" off from the left side to the right. If it had been like that from the factory, or even when it was tied down to the hauler, that tire would have definately been shot by now. I didn't really notice how bad it was until today. Yep, she is going in the shop Monday am, first thing. It should be done by tuesday though so I won't be without my baby for too long at least. I am going to start double parking in the back of the lot at work though!!

With that kind of damage, it had to be hit (with visual evidence) or the tire dropped off the road into a hole and hit very hard.

Both cases, you think you would have known it.

That sucks, man. Hopefully there's no frame damage other than the beam axle.

I was also thinking about the way it was tie down on the hauler, see that few year back, on a pick-up truck....:(

Great, give me something else to worry about! Haha