Tim Abeyta

ok first off long time lurker here (sorry) I love these forums when it comes to troubleshooting, or general ideas as to upgrades for my hhr. Now as for my issue, I have a 2007 hhr lt 2.4 with recently replaced: pads, rotors, sway bar bushings, end links, hubs, new tires and did a tune up.
However I seem to have a rubbing noise that is rotational dependant and does not vary when turning nor when applying brakes. I have had friends hanging outside of the windows while making turns in an empty parking lot and can't seem to pin it down.

Just today I replaced two front tires and the FR had heel/toe wear on the inner edges. I'm going to get an alignment done but could this cause the rubbing noise? I'm also looking at replacing the tire rod end links as they may be causing play?

I'll admit I'm at the point where I'm pulling my hair out....Any ideas?

(if you need more info on the vehicle I'll place it here)
2007 HHR with full lt package
140k miles
new pads all around
new front rotors
new front/ rear hub assemblies
new control arms
new sway bar bushings/end links
no obd2 codes current or history

donbrew

Hubs/bearings.

Tim Abeyta

replaced already

RJ_RS_SS_350

Inspect the LCA rear bushings.

Tim Abeyta

replaced both LCA and ball joints/bushings came with see my frustration?

donbrew

The front right bearing is bad. What else rotates and has the potential to make inside edge wear on ONE tire?

Toe out would cause wear on both. I have had bad ones out of the box.

Tim Abeyta

I just replaced the hub assembly on all 4 tires, the noise however didn't stop, There was wear on both front tires, but the RF was noticeably worse

donbrew

Now I am confused. I thought the noise came AFTER all of the replacing of parts?

Do you have the correct wheels and tires? Even the stock wheels and tires almost rub on the lower spring support. One size larger tire does touch it at speed.

One time after I replaced LCAs I noted that the camber was visibly wrong. A normal alignment does not include camber adjustment, an after-market adjuster must be added. I assumed that the LCAs were a different length. Maybe yours has the adjuster already and it is set wrong. A toe problem will manifest on both tire equally.

Also a possibility is the tires are "scrubbing" due to bad alignment.

Without the after-market camber adjuster the ONLY setting that can be changed is toe.

Tim Abeyta

UPDATE: went to new mechanic to have them check the alignment and look at the wheel bearings. Apparently the toe was out 1.29 and 0.80 respectively and as for the noise? There was a small piece of metal embedded in the right inner brake pad, it was a piece of springy metal which is why the noise did not change when I hit the brakes. The first mechanic missed it and apparantly didnt tighten down everything correctly after the alignment

donbrew

The "piece of springy metal" is the wear indicator that was not installed correctly. So all around technician error.