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Old Nov 6, 2008 | 02:52 AM
  #1  
IgottaWoody's Avatar
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From: Washington State, where it rains
Something to think about before the newer drivers( those that havn't had a lot of time behind a "slot type car" ) This Sway Bar is 22mm thick..the SS front bar is 23mm, the LSS/LT cars are less(anybody know exactly what?) when you have a rear bar thats thicker then the front it offsets the balance of the front and rear, meaning the rear will be stiffer then the front in cornering.This is not a desirable trait as it will produce some interesting results when you slam into a corner not prepared for it. It will cause oversteer,whereas in stock form its dialed in for understeer as this is more controllable.This will really show up under wet conditions and..snow/ice.
Now i don't know offhand what the front to rear wt ratios are so i don't know exactly how much this will affect these cars.I do know the 27mm bar on an LS works out real nice,doesn't upset the suspension at all..the 22 is a bit lager and stiffer but should work well with the SS but don't get over confident..for a primer on sway bar sizing go to www.automotive.com/123/Anti-sway_bars.shtml or google unbalanced sway bars...
Or go to https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/brakes-%7C-suspension-%7C-shocks-%7C-struts-24/sway-bar-questions-11191/ for some more interesting read

Last edited by IgottaWoody; Nov 6, 2008 at 03:34 AM. Reason: addition
Old Nov 6, 2008 | 07:07 AM
  #2  
halfpanel08's Avatar
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so your saying its not a good idea to of bought this sway bar for my LS model HHR ?!
Old Nov 6, 2008 | 07:20 AM
  #3  
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Originally Posted by halfpanel08
so your saying its not a good idea to of bought this sway bar for my LS model HHR ?!
I was just about to ask the same thing. Maybe the 22mm Progress Tech bar that Turbo Tech sells would have been better than this 25.4mm one.

BTW: There is a sticky at the How To forum with great pics of the Progress Bar install (which is exactly the same except for the size). Super easy to install. They recommend to do it on the ground or with ramps instead of letting the wheels hang.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-tutorial-library-21/progress-tech-sway-bar-install-2019/
Old Nov 6, 2008 | 07:24 AM
  #4  
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Originally Posted by halfpanel08
so your saying its not a good idea to of bought this sway bar for my LS model HHR ?!
It is more a word of caution. In the long run you will have better control, it will be different from stock. These have been installed on base model cobalts and HHR's all the time, and it does help alot. The HHR is heavier in the rear, so what is stated above does not have as much effect on the HHR.

There are well over 500 of these bars out there, on every trim of HHR's.

You will be fine, just allow yourself time to get use to the changes :)
Old Nov 6, 2008 | 07:27 AM
  #5  
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Originally Posted by SlickRick2
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I was just about to ask the same thing. Maybe the 22mm Progress Tech bar that Turbo Tech sells would have been better than this 25.4mm one.

BTW: There is a sticky at the How To forum with great pics of the Progress Bar install (which is exactly the same except for the size). Super easy to install. They recommend to do it on the ground or with ramps instead of letting the wheels hang.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2019


I think once you get the TTR bar you will see that it feels really good in control. Again, being the HHR is heavier/taller in the rear end, larger helps. The progress 22MM bar was designed around the cobalt, not the HHR... So the extra size will help the HHR.
Old Nov 6, 2008 | 07:29 AM
  #6  
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i have been wondering the same thing, but from most of the info i have read about it on this forum, people love it and notice increased handle on all of the hhrs. Until recently no one was even riding an SS with one in and then one guy bought it and did a detailed review. So all the info before that was for LS and Lt's.

I think the basic word of warning on it, is just don't go freaking crazy with it. It will help handling and body roll and all that but don't start taking all of your corners too fast.

plus his info is wrong, the turbo tech sway bar is 25.4mm not 22mm.

Also kind of confused by the comment of "when you slam into a corner and are not prepared for it" Who slams into a corner and wasn't thinking that is what they were doing?
Old Nov 6, 2008 | 07:39 AM
  #7  
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Originally Posted by twistrman
i have been wondering the same thing, but from most of the info i have read about it on this forum, people love it and notice increased handle on all of the hhrs. Until recently no one was even riding an SS with one in and then one guy bought it and did a detailed review. So all the info before that was for LS and Lt's.

I think the basic word of warning on it, is just don't go freaking crazy with it. It will help handling and body roll and all that but don't start taking all of your corners too fast.

plus his info is wrong, the turbo tech sway bar is 25.4mm not 22mm.

Also kind of confused by the comment of "when you slam into a corner and are not prepared for it" Who slams into a corner and wasn't thinking that is what they were doing?
Very good point, the first 200+ sway bars were ONLY on base cars. The HHR SS members did not jump on these, UNTIL someone stepped up and tested it and found out there was a great improvement.

Last edited by TurboTechRacing; Nov 6, 2008 at 09:20 AM.
Old Nov 6, 2008 | 07:41 AM
  #8  
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Thanks for the additional info, guys. I wanted to reduce the body roll; I'm a cruiser in this car.
Old Nov 6, 2008 | 07:43 AM
  #9  
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i agree, there are a lot of other posts for talking about what the bar will do (i think i pretty much reread all of them last night.)

I just know i'm on the fence for his and really leaning towards getting one. But when these "negative" comments pop up about an addition of a sway bar, it definitely makes me think. I can't drop 200 or so dollars on something and then not like it.
Old Nov 6, 2008 | 07:51 AM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by twistrman
i agree, there are a lot of other posts for talking about what the bar will do (i think i pretty much reread all of them last night.)

I just know i'm on the fence for his and really leaning towards getting one. But when these "negative" comments pop up about an addition of a sway bar, it definitely makes me think. I can't drop 200 or so dollars on something and then not like it.
You have never saw a "negitive" comment by a member who actual has one on their HHR. The ones you see stating "possible negatives" do not have one, nor tried one. I would trust the ones who HAVE one and know the facts on how it works first hand.

We see all the time, members questioning parts (not just sway bars, but all aftermarket parts), and then they end up getting one, and have a whole different opinion... It is just the way humans are I guess



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