Hey everyone,
This is my first post here and at this point I'm desperate for someone answers on this issue. I have done extensive research and can prove nothing.

I have a 2009 HHR LT with 130k on it. I've only had at for six months and it is very different from my usual Japanese cars. It has a very sporadic steering/suspension issue in which the steering can be fine, stiff or binding. When I say binding I mean I turn my wheel and it feels as though it locks out. I can turn through this bind and it returns to "normal".

These are notorious for the EPS motor going out, the dealer gave me a full repair history showing that this was done at 55k under the recall. In addition I am recieving no codes, no stored or soft codes either. The Rack has been checked and is fine according to my mechanic, the intermediate shaft has also just been replaced around 8k ago. I have had most of the front suspension redone with the exception of shocks and sway arm links. Links and bushings are going to be done this week but I doubt they would account for the bind.

I am thinking this is some obscure ECU power steering issue that is not sending a code for some reason or a linkage issue in the steering shaft or column. Also, could this be a strut mount/bearing issue? My garage cannot seem to figure it out, I have gotten a second and third opinion as well. No one has any solid leads.

Any ideas where to start guys? The clunk sounds to be coming from the steering shaft but the binding issue is what has me most worried. This usually occurs when turning the wheel while parked or during parking lot maneuvering. I'm not sure how safe the car is to be driving but the mechanics I have spoken to assure me it will be fine and to drive it until "something breaks". This seems absurd as they have failed to recreate the issues. I work on vehicles for fun, not professionally but it is hard to trust someone that says "drive it until it breaks" when it concerns steering

 

The struts have a bearing on the top that turns when you turn the wheel. They come with "complete" struts and must be replaced if you opt for shocks only.

The TSB for diagnosing clunks is linked in my sig.

 

I mispoke when I said shocks, if I do go that route I will be using fully loaded front struts.

Could a bad bearing account for the steering bind?

 

NOT wheel bearing the strut mount has a bearing in it.

Have the Lower Control arms been replaced? The rear bushing is a frequent failure, not easily inspected. With the car in park attempt to roll the front tires; if the car moves with the roll they are OK.

 

donbrew means front strut mount bearing
It’s a pretty flimsy thing, just a plastic ring-shaped box in which a handful of iron balls were poured. In addition, it is not sealed.
Water gets inside, the balls rust, plastic wears out. You open this muck and in front of you is a brown soup made of rust, sand and iron.
The detail is cheap, just remember to buy next time.
Your steering will not be stuck, just a little tighter - consider it as a free fitness.

 

Welcome to the site, seems your mechanic haven’t really had experience with our little trucklets.
The clunk is most likely the rear LCA bushings and the stiffness is the bearing plates Donbrew and Geg mention

the EPS issue lights a message on the DIC

 

UPDATE - Steering did an almost complete bind on me yesterday while sitting in a parking lot. The wheel was very stiff almost as if power assist had been turned off. I adjusted the firewall boot that surrounds the intermediate shaft because I thought it was binding on the metal clamp... The garage never put it on properly. Also pulled the 60A fuse and put it back in. One of these two things solved the problem for now, but the steering tension is still there. *This was not the same sensation as if I completely delete electric assist by pulling the fuse, it was still much easier to turn than that, which makes me think I am certainly dealing with a mechanical bind.* Opinions? Can't get the car into a suspension shop until Tuesday.

Also both LCAs and ball joint assemblies were replaced 8k ago, along with the intermediate shaft and inner tie rod ends. I would assume bushings were also replaced along with the LCA as I paid for the whole assembly.

Would failing strut mounts/bearings cause this steering stick/bind that I described? I cannot hear any noise coming from them, but we all know that can mean nothing.

The clunking sound appears to be coming from either the steering shaft or column. Can the strut mounts present in the same way? This sound is consistent when the wheel is turned.

Thanks for all of the input already guys.

 

Yes the clunking could be caused by the binding strut bearings

 

That's why I mentioned it. If not them it must be the rack since everything else has been replaced.

The power steering problem is the fuse blows or it goes out completely until you cycle the key. Not a temporary bind.

 

Certainly hope you're not turning the steering wheel a bunch while sitting still. That's a good way to damage the EPS motor.

Opinions ? Yes. If the "garage never put it on properly" (the boot), then I wouldn't trust that they installed the shaft correctly. I would start by checking there.
Plus. I hope you're taking the car to a different shop this time.