Hi there.

I´ve been experiencing a rattling/thump/Clunk noise in the front of my hhr about 5 months ago. I´ve inspected/Checked/Replaced:

- Sway bar bushing (Replaced)
- Sway bar links (Inspected).
- Lower arm bushing (replaced)
- Tie rod ends (replaced).
- Intermediate steering shaft (inspected, to be replaced)

The symptoms are similar as the worn sway bar bushings but in my opinion a little worse. Every time that I pass over a pot hole, bump, or if there is any change of level on the surface I can hear and feel a "Clack" noise, like if a pair of metal plates are making contact roughly. Doesn´t matter if I go straight or making a turn. This happen just on the driver side. Also, I performed a bouncing test and I can hear on the driver side a "sssssssss" noise when is going down and up, like air is coming in and coming out (inhale and exhale). I have 46,000 miles, and the car has 4 year and I never have changed the struts. BTW, the driver strut is not leaking.

I would like to know your opinion.

Thanks in advance.

 

It sounds like the upper strut mount has failed rather than the strut, when the mounts fail you'll get a heavy metallic bang when you hit a bump. Jack the suspected corner up and have someone use a lever to move the wheel up and down, you will probably hear the noise and see the top of the strut jumping about.

All that being said, you might have a strut failing in addition to the strut mount. At 46,000 miles they are nearing the end of their service life especially considering the sometimes rough pavement you deal with in your area.

 

Thanks for your feedback Mike. It seems that this time I´ll bring my HHR to the shop and fix these issues... Is safe to drive with these conditions?

 

It should be, but don't drive it for an extended period of time without attending to the problem. If the strut mount fails completely you can have the top of the strut come out and damage the inner fender, while also rendering the vehicle un-drivable.

 

That might be serious... At this time my budget is too tight in due to some other projects that I have (leisure travel & some home improvements ). I´ll let you know by the mid of October what was.

Thanks again Mike.

 

Np problem Juan, keep us posted as to when you make the repairs and what is found when that side is taken apart.

 

It sounds to me like you need to replace your struts and strut mounts. The OEM struts are really not that good and after 35,000 miles lose a lot of thier performance. I know on mine, the struts were gone as the ride was bad and my upper mounts, once I removed them from the car, were completely frozen. This makes the steering components work a lot harder and makes noise. If you replace everything, you will feel the difference-just make sure you DO NOT BUY the Monroe Quickstruts! They have the wrong spring on them and you will have to dis-assemble them and re-use your old springs, defeats the purpose of the quick strut. Trust me, don't be like me!

 

Thanks Barfan1, I´ll avoid them.

Well, It seems that the strut mounts and struts will be next. I made two quotations this morning, with the dealer and with an external:

- 1,200 USD (many mexican pesos) with the dealer
- 450 (less mexican pesos) with another shop (KYB struts, generic mounts, includes labor).

I´ll go with the second option. I forgot to mention that when I´m going at low speeds (i.e. 10 mph) and brake hard, I hear this knock too on the front. I can recreate this condition when driving like a low rider in motion, bouncing the front end: braking-accelerating-braking-accelerating, and the noise is like an audible CLACK every time that I press the brakes, and also, I can feel different the car when accelerate, like if some component is loose and lifting. Is more a knock than like a clunk.

 

That sure does sound like the mounts are failing, I used KYB struts on the '06 and '07 and I can highly recommend them. I went OEM for the strut mounts, but they are fairly simple and generic mounts should be just fine.

 

Lets see what is going on then, and cross my fingers too. I apreciate your comments Mike and I´ll let know about the diagnosis to the forum guys.