Hi All,
I could use a little help confirming some possible Stabilizer issues. There is definitely some clunking and rattling going on up front, the rattling being more recent - within the last month. I purchased the car about 5 months ago and the clunking sound was present at that time. My first thought was to check the Stabilizer Links and Bushings, so I pulled off the tires last night and both (links and bushings both sides) IMO appear to be weak and on their way out. It would be great to get a another opinion on this. I don't want to start replacing parts for no reason and would appreciate it. Check out the attached photo and video (showing play in the stabilizer link). I am particularly interested in folks thoughts on the play in the stabilizer link.

2008 Chevrolet HHR LT2 ~140,000 miles (this is my second HHR, last one was struck by lightning!)

link showing the play in the stabilizer link:

2008 HHR Stabilizer Bushing

 

The bushings lost their fight a long time ago. The end links are ball joints; any in out movement means trash 'em. Twisting and turning are alright.

 

X2 replace them , lca bushings , swaybar bushings and end links .

don’t forget discount from RockAuto

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/supp...-2019-a-61707/

 

Sway bar bushings are junk.
The end links look like Moog replacements. Twisting them is normal. Up and down or in and out at the ball stud is the way to check them.
Grease the end links and have new sway bar bushings installed.

 

With 140k miles every part of the suspension is suspect to be worn. Aside from the end links and swaybar bushings mentioned, you should especially check the LCA's and the struts and shocks.
If the shocks,struts, LCA's are original, then they are past due for replacement.

 

Twisting the bar of the links with it loaded like that (the suspension not being in a neutral position - ie: not loaded) doesn't test anything. Regardless, those stabiliser bars dont last very long - at least they aren't expensive.

And yeah I agree on the bar bushings - they are totally toast. Bushing like that generally make a thunking sound, which sometimes can be felt thru the floorboard. The stabiliser bars make more of a rattling sound.

and x2 what Firemangeorge (FMG) said about the lower control arms - it's typically the rear bushing that wears out (you can check it with a big screwdriver checking the movement).

 

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I will recheck the links correctly and I will also checkout the LCA and see what's going on there. The struts look newer and in good shape. Will follow up with what solves the front end noise in the near future.

 

Some link to how to threads

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...al-library-21/


https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/brak...ort-cut-43468/

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...ol-arms-44378/

 

Hi All, Update: I just replaced both control arms and the stabilizer bushings. The rear LCA bushings were in rough shape, and the stabilizer bushings were also bad (see post #1). The clunking is completely gone and the front end feels quite stiffer, which is great. However the rattling still persists hitting bumps at lows speeds (infrequent - not every small bump) and braking at medium speeds (all the time). Two observations I have made since my first post: the sway bar links look good, the cooling fins on the rotor are all rusted out, so probably going to replace those soon (this might be a source of rattle, though i don't have any pulsing in the pedal). Any thoughts on what else could be suspect?



Rear LCA Bushing show a little bit of wear.

 

Cast iron rusts. Do you mean gone away, nothing between the