Hello so I've had basically everything replaced on my front end. Sway bar links and bushings replaced in April and that fixed the clunk for a while. Then I heard more noise recently and I replaced my front struts with Gabriel ready mounts because a local shop said it had to be them. The sound didn't improve at all. So I'm almost positive it's the sway bar bushings again. Can I just detach the links and drive it like this? I'm sick of this car, has the worst front suspension setup IMO. Can't afford to replace anything else right now as the struts were $240 for the pair.

 

$240 installed is a good deal!

There is a link in my sig that goes into diagnosing clunk,clanks etc.

I guess you could disconnect them, but you will learn about "body roll" real fast.

 

Sorry I misspoke I installed them myself. I got the struts for $240. So the only thing it hurts is handling? Would it cause the other components to wear any faster? Hub bearings control arms etc..

 

I don't think so, but you will be severely limited to "little old lady" speed, and could kill yourself easily.

 

Oh it's really that bad? Dang I guess I could try it at low speed for a while. I have the know how to replace the struts but I'm not sure about getting under the care, I'm worried about access getting under there to change the bushings. I had the shop replace them with the energy suspension greaseable ones I think I need the OEM ones now.

 

aradmahogany just replaced his sway bar bushings, he says you can get them for around $4 each. https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/prob...79/#post814513

 

Check your rear lower control arm bushings and the torque on your swaybar end links

 

I did and you can! X2 on checking torque. I was lucky that the clunk went away after replacing bushings. I've found that most of the HHR quirks are more annoyances than life/death issues. Leave the sway bar in there whatever you do. Better to have a clunky HHR than a hyundai with engines that catastrophically fail at random or a homicidal Jeep!

 

Don't forget that there are multiple size bars and the only sure way is to measure yours, could be the bushings were too big.

 

Your profile states it's a 2008 LS, so the bushings will be 25 mm