all,
at very low speeds say 5-15mph im getting a thumping sound from my front driver side tire. tech that did tire rotation says one of my rims is slightly bent. and my tires are cupped.
tire in question holds air, and no bulges present. im gonna run to my mechanic next week to confirm rim is bent slightly.
after i get up to speed say 50mph, i don't notice anymore/can't hear it.

thoughts anyone?

 

My thought is that your bent rim needs to be fixed or replaced.

 

X2, a bent rim will cause odd wear patterns on the tire, which will only get worse over time.

Check our Classifieds section or e-bay, steel rims known as "Steelies" in HHR-speak are still out there an can be had for $25-$50 each if you take the time to look.

Cupped tires are caused by worn out struts and shocks. When they wear out, you lose the damping they provide, and your tires bounce down the road like basketballs. And at every bounce, a little bit of rubber wears off leading to a cupped tread surface.

So with a bent rim, and cupped tires, you're looking at a new(used) wheel and a set of shocks and struts, then put on a set of fresh rubber and enjoy the ride.

 

I'm having the same issue but no bent rim. I'm trying to figure out what it is.

 

Step 1. Check the tread surfaces of your tires for cupping or feathering, wear a pair of gloves when you're running your hand over the treads. Why gloves you're asking, as a guy who put himself through College as a Tire Buster then Manager at a Firestone Store. The easiest way to find something sharp imbedded in your tires is to rub your bare hand over the treads, think ER visit and stitches.

Step 2. Do not discount failure of the hub on the noisy corner if your tires are wearing evenly, safely jack up the offending corner and support it on jack stands, then give the wheel sharp tugs at the 12 & 6 o'clock positions, then at 9 & 3 to see if you feel any obvious "play".

Step 3. Make notes as to what road speeds the noise occurs, bad hubs will get louder starting at around 35mph and eventually give you a "thrumming roar" noise.

Step 4. If you're uncertain of your ability or you don't have a safe area to work, especially when jacking your HHR up, take it to a trusted tech and have them go through it for you.

As a few folks here have found out the hard way, read wasted money on unneeded repairs, there are things like failing Lower Control Arm Bushings that can do a great job of acting like "Problem A" when in fact they are the real cause.

 

Thanks for the info

 

Anytime Buddy, just let us know how you make out and what you find.

Every parts failure, breakdown, weird problem, etc, becomes part of our database and group memory.

You might have noticed a fair number of questions regarding problems are answered with "well so and so had the same thing happen back in.....".