Oldblue

Hmm , seems like the swaybar bushings are loose on Oldblue!
Now, some will recall I swapped out the OEM rubber for Energy Suspension 9.5161 25 mm / 1 inch bushings per the chart below

energysuspension.com | Sway Bar Bushings

Now I was just crawling around under my HHR and can move the bar by hand approximately a 1/16 th of an inch.

I watched this video in this Moog parts list and found an inch is not equal to 25 mm

Moog Suspension Parts - Universal Sway Bar Bushings

You'll also note Moog has a part number K90400 for 25 mm or 1 inch bar
And part number K8793 for the 25.4 mm or 1 inch bar

So crawling back under my HHR I measured with my veneer calipers 25 mm
With the crescent wrench 25 mm.
So I removed the red polyurethane Energy Suspension bushing clean out the grease and measuring the ID guess what ... 25.4 mm or loose on the bar allowing the sway bar to move laterally allowing a clunk. Hhmmmm.

Good news , the polyurethane looks like new.
I put the bushing back in place, I'm wrestling with this, but I'm probably gonna install a pair of Moog bushings, I know they are not greasable, but apparently that's not a real big deal.

RJ_RS_SS_350

.4mm = 0.015748" (about 1/64") hard to imagine that would make a difference. Did you grease them? Of course you did, what was I thinking? 1/16" = .0625", about 4 times the .4mm dimension.

aradmahogany

This is why I just went oem on the bushings because of all the inconsistency on this part in the aftermarket department

Oldblue

Alrighty then, whilst replacing my brake rotors and pads today, I removed a sway bar bushing from the passengers side, it was greasy and messy but still intact, the new Moog bushing brackets are too small to fit the mounting bolts on the HHR, now I'll admit I'm not a hoarder but I do keep most all things automotive, but I tossed the OEM brackets so I'll have to either order a set or find a set in a pick a part yard, or if anyone has a pair let me know.
I believe these Moog K90400 bushings will be a great replacement for the OEM rubber ones ,
I can fabricate a set of brackets but want to test if the OEM brackets are a compatible swap.



GM 10389617

RJ_RS_SS_350

Do you mean the hole spacing on the new bracket is wrong, or the holes are too small?

Oldblue

The hole spacing is to small or I suppose short.

Blue_SS

You can't just bend them to fit? My past experience has been to do that. Maybe not...

Oldblue

The mounting holes are right at the each end of the the universal bracket, I'll get at it sometime next week and post some pictures

Oldblue

Well, I got the OEM brackets (black bracket)and the Moog K90400 bushings (blue bushing/gold bracket)

Seems a bit difference in size , so no these won't work without some fabrication!.
Hannibal, get the torches!!

Oldblue

Alrighty then , on Thursday, I had my wrench Dan over to swap out the starter, quick job, he hates the top bolt too!!!
We discussed replacing the swaybar bushings, we wound up using the new brackets with the old Energy Suspension bracket bolted down over top, there was so grinding and and fitting to be done, but they are in now.
Yesterday we went for a drive out to the country for eggs, bumps and train tracks involved, no more bumping in the floor boards on uneven asphalt or those tracks, the red polyurethane parts were cracked and very aged looking but not destroyed.
The swaybar doesn’t move by hand anymore either.