Severe inside tire wear
11-15-2013 | 03:38 PM
#31
Platinum Member
Joined: 12-06-2009
Posts: 11,432
From: Alabama
JPJ9. I'm just trying to help you out here. I don't think you read my posts correctly. I wasn't asking about your before heights. I was talking about now, with the obvious wrong struts.
"I never thought to measure the initial ride height, who would." Well, me for one. I always try to record things like that. As my wife says "It's just George being anal again."
All the stock SS heights are going to be pretty much the same car to car. Like I said in my other post, if your's is more than 27.5 inches(stock height) in the front, it's pretty obvious you've got some wrong parts.
Front to back difference is pretty irrelevent in this conversation. Since the issue is a front alignment one, that's the height numbers you should be concerned with.
Remember. Were just trying to help out here. If you don't feel the need to post up any numbers here that's fine. But, without numbers or maybe even pictures, it's just a wild guess.
"I never thought to measure the initial ride height, who would." Well, me for one. I always try to record things like that. As my wife says "It's just George being anal again."
All the stock SS heights are going to be pretty much the same car to car. Like I said in my other post, if your's is more than 27.5 inches(stock height) in the front, it's pretty obvious you've got some wrong parts.
Front to back difference is pretty irrelevent in this conversation. Since the issue is a front alignment one, that's the height numbers you should be concerned with.
Remember. Were just trying to help out here. If you don't feel the need to post up any numbers here that's fine. But, without numbers or maybe even pictures, it's just a wild guess.
11-18-2013 | 03:38 PM
#32
Platinum Member
Joined: 04-09-2006
Posts: 7,039
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
I'm guessing these measurements are with your car on the ground and not jacked up?
Anyhow. Some good numbers to compare by.
OR. A SS with stock rims and tire size should measure around 27.5 inches at the fender edge of the wheelwell straight down to the ground. Give or take a small bit either way.
If it's any where higher than 28 inches, it's most likely the wrong struts/assembly and will screw up the alignment.
Anyhow. Some good numbers to compare by.
OR. A SS with stock rims and tire size should measure around 27.5 inches at the fender edge of the wheelwell straight down to the ground. Give or take a small bit either way.
If it's any where higher than 28 inches, it's most likely the wrong struts/assembly and will screw up the alignment.
No, that is before installing - ie: just out of the box.
11-30-2013 | 10:03 AM
#33
Thread Starter
Joined: 11-13-2013
Posts: 8
From: MA
Thanks for the help so far. I am still between a rock and a hard-place. Here is the back-story and update:
Backstory:
My '08 HHR SS broke a front spring at 60k miles
Researching on this forum I found only two alternatives to GM: KYB and Monroe.
Furthermore, the wrong struts would not allow the tires to go back on.
I couldn't find a convincing reseller...didn't want to pay over $1k for GM...found a local Monro dealer (got duped) that they had a quickstrut spec'ed for the SS.
Bought and installed. They matched, best I could tell with a broken spring, the OEM's. Had a friend align; which has been verified twice.
Severe inside tire wear prompted me into troubleshooting. Nothing can be found wrong with the front end. By process of elimination it has to be the struts.
Monroe says they don't make struts for the SS. Monro (gotcha different company) says they do.
After lots of arguing with Monro, they are offering to let me return the Quickstruts.
Latest news:
Got an excellent suggestion for a reseller of GM parts. Placed an order, only to find later that there is a national 8week min. backorder on the springs. Calling a local Chevy dealer, he is less optimistic they will be available even after the 8 weeks, as he is dealing with longer term issues on another car that had a similiar 8 week status.
Questions:
Any suggestions?
The old posts I found said there were KYB's available, but I had trouble finding them. Any dealer suggestions with part numbers?
Would KYB supply springs, or am I relying on GM?
The car has mostly been parked for 6 weeks already as the tires are showing white. I would hate to just put another set of tires on for less than 10k miles of use...
Backstory:
My '08 HHR SS broke a front spring at 60k miles
Researching on this forum I found only two alternatives to GM: KYB and Monroe.
Furthermore, the wrong struts would not allow the tires to go back on.
I couldn't find a convincing reseller...didn't want to pay over $1k for GM...found a local Monro dealer (got duped) that they had a quickstrut spec'ed for the SS.
Bought and installed. They matched, best I could tell with a broken spring, the OEM's. Had a friend align; which has been verified twice.
Severe inside tire wear prompted me into troubleshooting. Nothing can be found wrong with the front end. By process of elimination it has to be the struts.
Monroe says they don't make struts for the SS. Monro (gotcha different company) says they do.
After lots of arguing with Monro, they are offering to let me return the Quickstruts.
Latest news:
Got an excellent suggestion for a reseller of GM parts. Placed an order, only to find later that there is a national 8week min. backorder on the springs. Calling a local Chevy dealer, he is less optimistic they will be available even after the 8 weeks, as he is dealing with longer term issues on another car that had a similiar 8 week status.
Questions:
Any suggestions?
The old posts I found said there were KYB's available, but I had trouble finding them. Any dealer suggestions with part numbers?
Would KYB supply springs, or am I relying on GM?
The car has mostly been parked for 6 weeks already as the tires are showing white. I would hate to just put another set of tires on for less than 10k miles of use...
11-30-2013 | 10:27 AM
#34
Moderator
Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 25,339
From: Fredericksburg,VA
Have you tried www.kyb.com? Ain't Google wonderful?
Or, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moog-81158-Front-Coil-Springs-/271332830793?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AHHR%7CSubmodel%3ASS&hash=item3f2cb26e49&vxp=mtr
Maybe?
I wonder which Chinese factory makes the re-branded Monro struts. Monro is a Brake & Muffler franchise not a manufacturer.
Just checked, not a franchise deal. It is also owns Mr.Tire.
Or, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moog-81158-Front-Coil-Springs-/271332830793?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AHHR%7CSubmodel%3ASS&hash=item3f2cb26e49&vxp=mtr
Maybe?
I wonder which Chinese factory makes the re-branded Monro struts. Monro is a Brake & Muffler franchise not a manufacturer.
Just checked, not a franchise deal. It is also owns Mr.Tire.
Last edited by donbrew; 11-30-2013 at 10:40 AM. Reason: fact check
11-30-2013 | 10:29 AM
#35
Administrator
Joined: 10-13-2011
Posts: 37,831
From: Welland,Ont Canada
any of you SS guys out there have a set of stock FE5 springs and struts to help our member out of this pickle?
and to answer your KYB question they make shocks and struts but I do not believe they make springs,
Canuck Motorsports list HHR part 2131.41100 for the LS/LT as 1.5 inch front and 2 inch rear on their website
Goldline Springs are 1.75 inch front and 2.125 inches rear for HHR
Pedders shows that the G5 springs will get an HHR down to 600 MM front and 620 MM rear from driveway to the fender lip
these would match very close to your factory SS ride height, maybe e-mail them to get affirmative answers,
as for the struts you can go with KYB or if they are still usable your stock FE5 struts
and to answer your KYB question they make shocks and struts but I do not believe they make springs,
Canuck Motorsports list HHR part 2131.41100 for the LS/LT as 1.5 inch front and 2 inch rear on their website
Goldline Springs are 1.75 inch front and 2.125 inches rear for HHR
Pedders shows that the G5 springs will get an HHR down to 600 MM front and 620 MM rear from driveway to the fender lip
these would match very close to your factory SS ride height, maybe e-mail them to get affirmative answers,
as for the struts you can go with KYB or if they are still usable your stock FE5 struts
12-01-2013 | 10:50 AM
#36
Thread Starter
Joined: 11-13-2013
Posts: 8
From: MA
The Pedders suggestion is a good one.
Moog looks promising too, but I will need to call. Not many listings get explicit about SS compatibility...Hence how I got burned the first time.
I would be interested in anyone looking to part with OE springs...
KYB doesn't list anything explicit for the SS. Does anybody have a part number...although if they don't make their own springs, they don't do much for me.
Google-yeah. Don't you think i spent hours on the obvious stuff before I got on the forum.
Thanks for the helpful posts. Glad to give some of you other guys something to do.
Moog looks promising too, but I will need to call. Not many listings get explicit about SS compatibility...Hence how I got burned the first time.
I would be interested in anyone looking to part with OE springs...
KYB doesn't list anything explicit for the SS. Does anybody have a part number...although if they don't make their own springs, they don't do much for me.
Google-yeah. Don't you think i spent hours on the obvious stuff before I got on the forum.
Thanks for the helpful posts. Glad to give some of you other guys something to do.
12-01-2013 | 04:09 PM
#37
Moderator
Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 25,339
From: Fredericksburg,VA
Evidently you were not able to find www.kyb.com like I did, or you would not be asking about what they sell on a totally unrelated website.
That was my point. No offense intended.
However, You will find that not many parts books differentiate between LS,LT,2LT and SS. I am doubtful if even GM really does.
That was my point. No offense intended.
However, You will find that not many parts books differentiate between LS,LT,2LT and SS. I am doubtful if even GM really does.
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