SS ball joint famine
Senior Member
Joined: 04-27-2021
Posts: 570
From: Alabama
McMaster-Carr:
Shim Stock
Shim Stock
McMaster Carr
Grainger
...are few places that should have the stock in thickness you need
Senior Member
Joined: 04-27-2021
Posts: 570
From: Alabama
Hearing that no one has FE5 lower control arms. 
Local Chevy dealer parts dept thinks they may be discontinued. Hopefully , just trying to find a supplier.
Really want a part number. Can’t believe these things were designed an built specifically for FE5. Surplus old stock wouldn’t shock me, tho.
As we all know, no one knows where those ball joints came from and until now the only source was complete GM assemblies.
I think it might be feasible to roll a sleeve from 0.010” shim stock and use FE1/3 ball joints if desperate. (The math seems to work assuming 19.96mm to 20.5mm.)
Anyone have useful insights, experience or opinions about this?
In the meantime, anyone who comes across HHR SS LCA’s in a yard or elsewhere that have the slightest chance of having usable ball joints would be doing the community a great favor by snagging them. Cobalt LNF too, I think.
Local Chevy dealer parts dept thinks they may be discontinued. Hopefully , just trying to find a supplier.
Really want a part number. Can’t believe these things were designed an built specifically for FE5. Surplus old stock wouldn’t shock me, tho.
As we all know, no one knows where those ball joints came from and until now the only source was complete GM assemblies.
I think it might be feasible to roll a sleeve from 0.010” shim stock and use FE1/3 ball joints if desperate. (The math seems to work assuming 19.96mm to 20.5mm.)
Anyone have useful insights, experience or opinions about this?
In the meantime, anyone who comes across HHR SS LCA’s in a yard or elsewhere that have the slightest chance of having usable ball joints would be doing the community a great favor by snagging them. Cobalt LNF too, I think.
i did about same thing on hydraulic pump years ago....but in my case i used aluminum coke can material...i didnt have a variety of load forces like on car suspension
Moderator
Joined: 05-01-2014
Posts: 8,512
From: California
Edit: here is my reply
Hello Lance,
Please be advised that the ball joints on the 2008-2010 HHR SS are different than that of the rest of the HHRs. The stud that fits into the steering knuckle on an SS is a larger size[20.5mm). I provided the part numbers of the SS control arms.
Installing the ball joints that you have recommended creates a very unsafe condition, as the SS steering knuckle cannot be properly tightened onto the smaller stud. The result is a loose connection or a cracked steering knuckle.
I am still hopeful that Moog can help find the correct ball joints for this vehicle.
Thank you,
Senior Member
Joined: 02-01-2006
Posts: 1,471
From: lockport,ny
I got another Email from CTR (the OEM SS Ball joint manufacturer). It looks like they are really trying to get me the part number for the SS ball joint:Hello Stephen,
I got the sample of HHR SS control arm.
The OE ball joint is made by CTR but I need to send this sample to Korea to make sure that we have the correct aftermarket ball joint.
It will take some time.
I will get back to you.
I got the sample of HHR SS control arm.
The OE ball joint is made by CTR but I need to send this sample to Korea to make sure that we have the correct aftermarket ball joint.
It will take some time.
I will get back to you.
Moderator
Joined: 05-01-2014
Posts: 8,512
From: California
Yeah, they're not even trying. They responded that I should order the ball joints that they have for 2006-2011 HHR. I'll reply, asking them to try harder.
Edit: here is my reply
Hello Lance,
Please be advised that the ball joints on the 2008-2010 HHR SS are different than that of the rest of the HHRs. The stud that fits into the steering knuckle on an SS is a larger size[20.5mm). I provided the part numbers of the SS control arms.
Installing the ball joints that you have recommended creates a very unsafe condition, as the SS steering knuckle cannot be properly tightened onto the smaller stud. The result is a loose connection or a cracked steering knuckle.
I am still hopeful that Moog can help find the correct ball joints for this vehicle.
Thank you,
Edit: here is my reply
Hello Lance,
Please be advised that the ball joints on the 2008-2010 HHR SS are different than that of the rest of the HHRs. The stud that fits into the steering knuckle on an SS is a larger size[20.5mm). I provided the part numbers of the SS control arms.
Installing the ball joints that you have recommended creates a very unsafe condition, as the SS steering knuckle cannot be properly tightened onto the smaller stud. The result is a loose connection or a cracked steering knuckle.
I am still hopeful that Moog can help find the correct ball joints for this vehicle.
Thank you,
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 12-05-2014
Posts: 3,368
From: Northern Ohio
