Lucky

I have seen on here that a lot of people have had to replace the front lower control arms or bushing. Most have had to do this at around 100,000 mile or so. I was working on my wheel bearing on my 08 that has 68,000 on it and much to my surprise the passenger side is very loose the drivers side seems loose but not as bad as the passenger side. I'm going to replace both but did mine seem to fail sooner than most or is it just my imagination.

firemangeorge

You most likely "noticed" it sooner than the others did. There are other makes of cars with certain parts that "seem" to wear out earlier than expected. Don't think this is just an HHR thing.
I had a Ford Explorer and Dodge truck. Both were in need of lower ball joints at around 68 and 75k miles.

zman

well mine started to make that pop noise over bumps
at 31000 miles. i have 42000 now and am looking to replace them soon.

IgottaWoody

68k...for the size and design of those bushings I'm surprised they last that long for what they have to deal with on a regular basis..now throw in rough roads..rough 'drivers' and that equates to a LOT of cycles on that teeny part. Its funny..people already forgot how the 'older' cars were. Was common to start replacing parts after 50k...heck..at 80 you were pulling heads for a valve job, trannys were shot after 100k, and motors were smoking by 125k....

Doc brown

I think mine started to fail at 60k. This is the only car I've ever had to replace them on. Buy the entire control arm. They aren't all that expensive and super easy to swap out so long as you have access to an impact wrench and the right size socket.

Woody, remember when a car had 75k on it and you stayed away from them with those miles on when looking at used cars? 75k today is barely broken in.

Lucky

Thanks to all that replied. Here in ohio the road salt and bad roads don't help much. I'm going to change them with an aftermarket bushing with a more solid rubber design maybe they will hold up better.

whopper

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-tutorial-library-21/replacing-lower-control-arms-44378/
will go through the re and re procedure, as well as list all the tools you will need, as well as the torque values.

If you just replace the rear bushing you will need a press to do a re and re on it. I saw them listed anywhere for <$8 to about $32 in the USA ($85 here in Canada + taxes = $100 ea, just for the bushings themselves). I went for the whole replacement control arms that came complete with the front and rear bushings, as well as a new lower ball joint - all preinstalled.

Give a shout if you have questions on the procedure.

Lucky

Replaced both lower control arm bushing today. Not a bad job a press and some air tools made fairly quick work of them. Here what the old ones looks like

whopper

Sure are nasty looking. I spotted a tech article on the cobalt platform where they recommended the same bushing on their control arms be replaced by a spherical ball-joint - looked pretty trick.

Glad you got them replaced. Nice job.

Lucky

That sounds interesting. I have to try to find that. Thanks