I'm getting ready to level out my HHR LT with cobalt SS/TC rear springs and new KYB shocks. I have the parts but I also have a question. What end of the spring faces up?
Maybe this will be obvious when I take out the old springs.
I noticed one end of the spring is some what flat and can hold the spring upright when sitting on a flat surface.
Thanks

 

Hmm. The stock HHR SS springs and 2 different styles of aftermarkets I have, well, they look the same on both ends. Don't think it matters which way they're installed.
The "anal" side of me installed them with the part number stickers being right side up.

Here's a FE5 spring pic and the aftermarket springs pic.

Attachment 16074

Attachment 16075

 

If the spring are "progressive" one end is tighter than the other. I think in that case the tighter side goes up.

 

I concur with Don, and the label that George posted

 

Don't forget to disconnect the brake line bracket off the rear axle beam. Otherwise allowing the rear axle to 'hang' with lower shock bolts off, axle will be held up ONLY by the brake line. Not a good thing..

 

i have a chevy hhr 2007 lt model....i use it as a heavy daily driver as i deliver for a living.....recently i was told i had to replace strut and shocks and coils what do u guys suggest as i need my car to last and drive nicely for comfort...maybe because im a woman but some shops are trying to charge me over 260.00 for one quick monroe quick strut which i guess has all the components in it already please give me some advise...uggggg every day i dont work means im loosing cash money .....help help help....

 

The quick struts do have all the components in it - and it is a real easy job to remove the old units, and install the quick struts. To replace both of them a decent shop should be able to do it in less than two hours. Count on two hours for most mechanically inclined people to replace them themselves in the driveway.

What was the reason they said the struts needed replacing? and how many miles on the car?

Prices can vary quite a bit for the quick struts - between ~$90 - $200 each, depending on where you purchase them, and the brand. Check autoZone, O'rilleys, Rockauto etc. for availability and pricing.

And, a wheel alignment is NOT necessary once the struts are replaced, unless it was bounced off curbs previously, or had drivability issues earlier.

Does that help?

 

$260 + labor each sounds like an average "retail" price for the quick struts.

You have to remember that shops greatly mark up the price of parts. A place I worked would pay the wholesale and charge twice the retail.