This is a 5 sp... but I hadn't heard the auto vacuum pump issue. Vacuum pump, brakes?

 

I had that and I changed the front brake rotors. Shake gone.
Calipers won't give you that problem. That part applies the brake pads to the rotor.

 

Glad to hear that... not that you had an issue but your rotors corrected your shudder.
Agree with you... calipers won't cause that "directly".... indirectly they sure do.
In your example... you likely had excessive lateral runout; Common with lighter thinner rotors.
Rotor with parallelism (different thickness) normally gives a pulsating pedal or jerky/pulsating reduction in braking; not as common with non-vented, thin rotors.
Excessive lateral runout rapidly moves the caliper back & forth on the caliper rests... and when excessive oscillations can transmit and cause a wheel shudder.
If the caliper won't move (storage, rusty, etc) then a smaller degree of lateral runout will cause the same / similar feed back.
On the other hand, LCA bushing worn will also oscillate linear causing a similar feed back.
From all the Forum threads on LCA's, the HHR has a known trait to have LCA shudder too, making it highly probably too.

 

Just make sure you get the correct LCA’s, only GM the part numbers are in here

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/comm...-thread-48833/

they will have new bushings and ball joints

RockAuto has them

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...trol+arm,10401

don’t forget the discount code!

 

Thanks OldBlue... appreciated!
Question, several were recommended Moog LCA, Bushings & Ball joints and recommended Rockauto.
I checked Rockauto for the SS FE5 LCA or seperatly; bushing & ball joint.
They don't list Moog... but they do list ACDelco, MevoTech as premium options.
Been out of the wrench long time, so not up on various part names. Is the MevoTech Supreme same, better, worse than ACDelco.
The MevoTech is $113 per LCA, ACDelco $126.

As mentioned in other threads...the LCA is the same for SS & non-SS, it's the balljoint & bushing that's different?

 

The lca comes with the ball joint installed, read the parts list link I posted. Only GM LCA’s fit the FE5 larger ball joint pins.
Moog doesn’t make a ball joint for the SS attached to an LCA or separately.

 

Understood... LCA came as assembly, or you could get the separate bushing & balljoint and rebuild current LCA.
The MevoTech also lists a LCA with bushing & balljoint for the FE5.

 

Lower Control Arm - NON-SS models - only for FE1 and FE3 suspensions
- GM P/N - 15787555 - (includes lower ball joint and both bushings installed) - Right side - passenger side
- GM P/N - 15787556 - (includes lower ball joint and both bushings installed) - Left side - drivers side
- Duralast (autozone)/Dorman P/N - 521-025 - (includes lower ball joint and both bushings installed) - Drivers side
- Duralast (autozone)/Dorman P/N - 521-026 - (includes lower ball joint and both - bushings installed) - Passenger side
- Rockauto - lower control arms part # RK620897 & RK620898 - they have several suppliers of these arms complete with bushings and ball joint - so check via a search for vehicle parts.
***NOTE: some stores/suppliers list LCA's for the HHRs and Cobalts - and are made of stamped steel - NOT aluminum as per the stock ones - we cannot recommend the stamped steel ones for various reasons, so don't even ask

Lower Control Arm - SS models ONLY (FE5 suspension)
IMPORTANT: they are only available thru GM - No after-market suppliers make a compatible part at this time, even though they may say the parts they have are for all HHR's
- GM - P/N: 25930724 - Right
- GM - P/N: 25930725 - Left
(note: Do NOT substitute a FE1 or FE3 LCA - the ball joint stub on them is 20MM and is not compatible with the spindle on a FE5/SS which is 20.5MM)


they may claim it fits and it will , but when you tighten up the pinch bolt , you will crack the spindle, we’ve seen it posted several times.
We are here to help save you the agony and expense of their misleading statements

Hense

MOOG Ball Joint - K80567 (require drilling out old one and bolting this in - FE1/3 ONLY - does NOT fit FE5)