I've had my HHR since new and love the the car to death (my daily driver and i just brook 50K on the odometer). But as it has gotten older it started to develop the dreaded front end clunking and rattle sounds.

over the past 2 years i've changed the following; Sway Bar end links, Poly swaybar bushings, front shocks and upper shock mounts and this didn't really fix anything.

This weekend the clunks and rattles drove the crazy so I took a very hard look. this is what i've found



the rear lower control arm bushing were shot on both the driver and passenger side. The driver side the metal piece just popped out. I replaced the bushing with Moog units. These are a solid bushing not like the factory unit that have slits in them.

Driving the HHR after the bushing change I lost about 85-90% of the clunking BUT I still had a little clunking or rattle. So I jacked up the HHR took the wheels off and had another look.

With all the slop in the rear lower control arms it wore out the 1 of the poly sway bar bushing. To the point where you can move the sway bar by hand about a 1/16 of an inch. I should have a replacement set in by the weekend and will install them and report back.

 

Glad you found it. Mine was the same way. Worn bushings in the control arms and worn sway bar bushings.

 

Yup. Just did the same thing. Makes a world of difference.

 

nice i have the same problem.. will inspect this point to see if i can do the same fix

 

I just replaced these last week , no more rattle I checked all pivot points and just the lower control arm bushings were in need of replacement

 

is it an ez job? can it b done w/o any special tools? i'm new to the forum. any help would b appreciated. also what is the cost on parts? i was also told when i had my tires rotated that bad shocks or struts were cause for my tires wearing so fast. THX in advance 4 any advice

 

Bushing cost-- about $15 ea on average. Complete control arm with bushings installed plus new ball joint is in the $100 range. The HHR has 2 types (steel or alum) depending on which model you have. But to replace the bushings this will give you a good idea on how to do it. It is from another car forum but the arms aren't that much different and has pictures. http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=154137

 

Just left Auto Zone.

They have a RECALL notice posted regarding Dorman control arm bushings. Didn't read the whole notice because it doesn't apply to me, but it appears that some of the Dorman products are prematurely failing.

Don't recall anyone mentioning they have used this product, SO.......

Just a heads up.

 

I ordered my Moog bushings from Rockauto. They were $23.37 shipped. Moog part number K6698. Time consuming to do. The old bushing has to be pressed/pounded out of the control arm. If you have the equipment and know how you can replace just the bushings. The complete control arm is easier plus you get a new ball joint. Not that they wear out, just everything will be new. They are around $80 at Rockauto. And if you need new struts this is the perfect time to do those as well since you will have a major portion of it taken apart anyway.

If you are mechanically inclined with basic tools, you can do it all in an afternoon. Makes a world of difference. I am still amazed at the difference in ride quality after doing it.

 

Would this maybe make the car shack/vibrate also with the sound I am having more of this problem with some sound