2006 HHR 2.4 L engine. Don't know the suspension set up on this car very well, so excuse my inaccurate use of terms! We had a vertical control arm of sorts replaced by the dealer under warranty about a year ago when we had some knocking from the front end. The sound my wife currently describes seems about the same as that situation (need to get out and drive it and put it up on ramps to see what I can see and feel). What is that part? sort of a thin metal arm going from the lower control arm set-up to the upper control arm setup. Almost like a tie rod size, but vertical...maybe it is a tie rod! Anyway, what am I looking for in terms of play to help diagnose this? Jack up one side and push/pull at 3 and 9 oclock to assess the tie rod ends and 6 and 12 to assess the control arm bushings is what I have done on my VW Passat. Any other suggestions? The knock seems to be there just when going over rough patches on roads.

Thanks,

dan

 

are those vertical bars called sway bar links??

 

Been working on a friends 06 HHR, front struts and brakes, had the same/similar problem with a clunking noise, heard it could be a bushing on the sway bar links. Everything looked fine although the struts were shot. Maybe this could be the cause, I will find out after completing the brakes.

 

yea...I suppose it could be the thrust plate (or whatever it is called) on the top of the strut tower. Jacked the car up and tried the 3/9 oclock & 6/12 thing and everything seems tight. Pushed/pulled on the sway bar link (which I think is that vertical arm that goes from the lower control arm to the strut tower), no play. The shocks seem fine. Can I just replace the thrust bearing plate without changing out the strut? I'm sure I have to unbolt the strut and all, but do I have to decompress the spring?

dan

 

I believe you can change the plate you are talking about without compressing the spring, but will still have to pull the strut. The struts I just pulled out were shot, clunking went away after installing new ones. The old ones would compress easy in one direction. How many miles on yours?

 

If you're talking about the plate / bushing / bearing assembly at the top of the strut, please keep that "belief" to yourself!!

Are you trying to get someone hurt or killed??

The strut assembly with a spring is under a lot of load. If the nut at the top of the strut is taken off without compressing the spring, it's not going to be a pretty picture.

Sorry for being so harsh, but you can fix suspensions, but you can't fix stupid.

 

I am getting that same clunking noise in my front end. I have 2010 2LT with the 2.4 and my front is clunking with only a 1000 miles on it!

 

Accolades to JoeR for his post.

Vandan. My theory is don't work on things you aren't trained/skilled to work on and don't believe everything you read on the internet. It could cost you your LIFE.

 

I have the same sound and I finally looked at the front end myself last night because the dealer can not find anything wrong. (Do not worry I am a trained tech) I found that my front struts are leaking oil very bad so will now take to dealer and show them.

 

Had the same clunking noise in the front end when going over rough bumps. Replaced the right vertical stablizer bar which helped a little, then replaced the rubber sway bar bushings which totally fixed the problem. Now good as new, QUIET.