"Slid gracefully" across an ice patch this morning and folded the rear drive wheel in, rim totaled, but beam axle took it like a champ except since I already had the ZZP rear sway installed. The only part trashed is the hub backing plate slightly bent and cracked off on one side at the beam support weld. The beam support metal at that join shows no signs of warp and measurements match the driver side up to the separation. I'm thinking about taking a cutting wheel to the weld and remove the hub backing plate, AC Stick another one up there. I'm not having luck finding a replacement plate and thinking now this isn't a common repair. Before I get to cutting and sending the current plate to a fab shop to get pressed back flat, has anyone ever done this, was it successful, was it a failure, or should I just hitch a ride to the salvage yard and yank and whole beam axle assembly off a donor instead? If I go to the salvage yard, of course no cutting wheels or plasma cutters out in the yard of course(for good reason), whole part transplant is the only option. My last quesion would be if I do swap out a beam axle, is there a difference across the HHR range other than the SS(those have rear discs right?).

Thanks for reading, any input on this is appreciated so I can at least start immediately while the weather is tolerable here in my city today.

 

You would need a welder to look at it.
All of the axle beams are the same. If you get one from an SS you could get 4 wheel disk brakes.
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/gene...-brakes-65971/