Some times the intermediate steering shaft gets sloppy and clunks , mine gave up awhile ago

 

Hi. After months and months of reading postings and taking it to different places, having the Struts, Towers, Lower Control Arm + Bushings and Sway Bar Links replaced, it turned out to be the SWAY BAR BUSHINGS!! What a relief to find it. It was a small repair, but it made all the difference.

 

Awesome! It's finally quiet and fun to drive again!!

 

Sway bar bushings are always on my list of suspects.

 

Seems as though there is a high number of things that can cause the Clunking noise in the HHR. Everything from sway bar bushings to steering shaft to strut stabilizers and so on. I had my clunking HHR into Firestone to have the oil and filter changed and asked them to see what was going on with the bumping noise and they informed me it was lower control arm bushings, a very expensive fix to a old man on SS funds. They said it was nothing that would put me on the side of the road, so I just turned the radio up a little louder and that seemed to cure the problem. If it does leave me stranded I will just trade it for a Dog, and shoot him................

 

Hope you can afford new tires frequently. It CAN put you into a tree, maybe not leave you on the side of the road. Shouldn't cost more than $200 per side.

 

Mine were $32.00 per side, but I still do my own labour! I've seen OEM bushings even cheaper on the EBay!

 

Flat rate is 2.2 hours for both sides plus MSRP of $53 each. For just the bushings, P/N 15232501.

That is the max a reputable shop should estimate. I would not trust the job to a tire store or dealership.

 

Not to hijack, but Oldblue, what part did you use to replace the intermediate steering shaft. Any part number? Mine has made noise since day one. I WANNA GET RID OF IT

 

From the common parts thread

STEERING - INTERMEDIATE SHAFT KIT - courtesy of Oldblue
- GM - 25834100 - 3 piece shaft kit, including the two universals