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what's the difference between steel and aluminum control arm? Some guy said that steel one doesn't fit for HHR - just for Cobalt only. Is it true?
This thread is about control arms for the HHR SS, which are different than what went on the LS/LT.
That being said, all HHRs came with aluminum control arms. The stamped steel may bolt up to LS/LT, but we believe that the aluminum control arms are better suited to the HHR. There's been speculation that the steel arms may have slightly different geometry, or that they may not be as strong as the aluminum arms. We really don't know why GM went with aluminum, but there probably was a good reason.
I think if a road surface is pretty smooth - there is no matter aluminum or steel. But how to know about the geometry? Because new bushings only cost the same price as whole steel control arms.
Do what you want but on this site we recommend using the aluminum arms that HHR's came with and was designed for.
There was a couple threads a while back of folks having issues with the El Cheapo steel stamped arms. Fitment and alignment problems were because of folks trying to save a couple $ and bought some of those cheap Chinese junk arms. Seems the tolerance specs aren't very close when it comes to the cheaper ones. Plus, the bushings and ball joints probably aren't very good either.
alright, I'll buy new bushings then. Which bushings mostly become bad - the bigger(rear) or the smaller(front)? I don't want to take out the control arm just for inspection.
Well you've got to take them out to do any bushing replacement, so do them both and the ball joint too. No sense in having 1 new bushing mixed with an old one. Most folks find it easier to just buy the complete arm with the new parts already installed. They usually don't have the correct tools for pressing the old bushings out, new ones in.
Actually the Moog "problem solver" seem to be the best choice. MOOG "problem solver" Rear Bushing - K200792 - also K201285 which is zinc coated for use in aluminium LCAs
Looks like, but I want to sell that car ASAP, so I don't want to pay $50-60 just for 1 bushing.
I'm looking for HHR that has low mileage. Mine is above 200k.
09-01-2019, 07:09 PM
