i have a s i2007 ls and wondering on what size is the sway bar bushing is it 25 mil or 18 mil the dealer could not make it out and order both of them

 

I want to replace my bushings, but there is so much conflicting arguments. Do I go to my local Chevy dealership and pickup the stock ones or get poly. I have upgraded my suspension and the clunking noise is unbearable. Advancedautoparts sells greasable poly ones. Help. I don't know which to buy.

 

I bought the stock ones but still haven't gotten around to putting them on yet. I took off my end links entirely because I couldn't stand the clunking. I did it initially to determine exactly where the clunking was coming from, but have enjoyed the silence so much that I haven't put them back on.

Its been 4 months now with no end links and other than the minor body roll(which is hardly noticeable), I am loving it.

 

I bought the stock ones and they only cost me $11.50. I couldn't get the rear bolt off so i didn't get them on, I am getting them professionally done on Sat, I can't wait until they are on and the horrible clunking will hopefully be gone.

 

Replaced the sway bar bushings with the stock ones, the car does not make any more clunking noise and handles and drives a lot better. I also replaced the outer tie rod ends (moog) and the steering is a lot tighter and responsive.

 

My bushings needed replacing and the problem I encountered is that I could not find any aftermarket polyurethane bushing that were made specifically for the HHR. The ones I could find were "universal fit" or made for another car model, but close to HHR sizing. Until someone makes a set that is designed specifically for HHR, it appears that the aftermarket bushings will require you to add shims or some other modification to make them fit properly.

I thought I found a set of sway bar bushings that would work, but after the clerk pulled the new bushing out of box and compared to old, he noted that the old bushing was almost a quarter-inch below the bracket, while the new bushing was flush with bracket. I finally gave up and got the OEM, even though I wanted to try polyurethane.

 

Here are the ones I just installed in my 08 Panel.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/160874367466

No problems with install or shims needed. Hope this helps.

 

If you go back to the first page, you'll see that they are the exact same ones that I tried on a few years back. What can I tell you? They were great at first, but after 3-4 month I had a clunk and it was the sway bar moving side-to-side (I was actually capable of moving it by hand). I'm still on the new OEMs that I put on after that, without a problem in over 100000 km. I sincerely hope that they work for you; it's just that with what I've seen, I can't recommend them.

Yves

 

I came in late in this discussion. My '07 2LT has terrible clunking going on in the front end. In all probability is it my sway bar? I'm just about to turn 100k on it. My mechanic indicated it was probably the struts, but I'd like to try this first. Does anyone that has done this have a picture they could post?

 

Don't start changing parts at random. Get underneath the car on a flat surface (the sway bar needs to be in a neutral state), grab the sway bar at various places and shake it. If it's the bushings, it'll knock went you grab it near that bushing; if it's an end link, it'll knock when you shake it at the bar end. If nothing knocks, then look someplace else.
It could also be the control arm bushings or the struts, I've had them all go bad at one time or another.

Yves