You can cut the shaft from the driver side wheel opening

 

Got the new shaft today from amazon. I hope this is the right one because it sure looks short but if course I haven't had a chance to take out the old one and compare them. Does it look short to you? It's fully extended too.

 

If you purchased the part number that Oldblue told you, then it is correct.

 

Looks correct from here , don’t forget the shaft telescopes!

 

I won't get a chance to install it for another week, work and all. But I'll let ya'll know how it goes and if the rattle is resolved. I look forward to getting rid of the annoying rattle for sure. Next after this is my serpentine belt. Not looking forward to that. But for a car that's got 128k miles this thing looks so nice and runs really well. I've only had to replace the brakes, rotors, drums and resonator. The interior is pristine with only a little wear spot on steering wheel.

 

Replace the serpentine belt and the tensioner. The both start to fail, and a weak tensioner can chew up a new belt .
Any cold start rattling? Could be time for a timing chain, better to pop the valve cover and check it out, then have to look for a replacement engine.

 

The Serpentine Belt is a piece of cake with this method. Make sure you get the right belt, there are 2 different lengths . Thanks again Prod!
Serpentine Belt
- 2.2L/2.4L 2006-07 - Dayco 5050400 (40" - later 07's have 40.5")
- 2.2L/2.4L 2008-11 - GM 24466972 / Dayco 5050405 (40.5")

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/main...e4/#post716723

 

He has a 2010, so should be easy to order .

 

Looking at how shiny the belt is I think it's time to change that and the tensioner. There is no squeal or anything. No rattle from the timing chain either. The timing chain is a whole other project I will eventually do when I have the time and place to do it since there is no immediate noises or rattles there. Out of curiosity how easy is the timing chain to do? I'll look at YouTube vids I guess to get a general idea.

 

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...in-kits-60394/

Here’s a how to, I do mine in car , ales me about 3 hours, I’m 70. But I don’t have to look up anything, I’ve done quite a few over the last 15 years of owning HHR and a Pontiac Sunfire GT