Yes, and the body, not out toward the fender. I mention the brackets as when the strut is out of the HHR they give you a point of reference!
the flat spot on the upper bearing plate’s orientation is toward the rear of the HHR, it can be rotated into position to align the 3 bolts , so for instance in the passenger side , before you lift the strut into the fender well, ensure that flat spot is pointing to your left
on the driver’s side it will be to your right, Or towards the firewall


This is my passenger side , flat spot points towards rear

Driver’s side, flat spot points right

 

I think I'm going to send Oldblue a gallon of degreaser next Christmas...................

 

That’s rust proof spray, George but thanks anyways

 

Oops. My bad. We don't use any stuff like that down here in the South .
(I'll make that a gift card for some coffee and doughnuts. )

 

Thank you, double double!

 

When I replaced my front struts I used the original top plate and don't remember a tab.
I replaced the struts using the original spring with the top plate also.
If I saw a tab I surely would have indexed it correctly.
By the way, don't call me Shirley. Lol.

 

Perhaps the plate wasn’t disturbed form the coil spring, ergo it was replaced with the original spring on the new strut in the original location.
Another great line from a fellow Canadian, Leslie Nielsen

 

Yes, it is 12 o'clock by my original post description:

 

Ah, yes. I should have went back to the OP.