2007 hhr lt
03-06-2020, 05:15 PM
#1
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Join Date: 03-06-2020
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 11
2007 hhr lt
My daughter has been driving her mom's old 2008 Buick LaCrosse for the past year when she turned 16 (she got her license last year) and it's near 130k miles. The doors don't open anymore from the inside, wheel bearings are shot, sway bars, etc. Her mom doesn't want to put any more money into it.
So I bought her a gold 2007 HHR LT from a coworker for $2k. It's got 94k miles on it and recently had brakes done. He told me it needs bushings and other front things done. So I took the car to my boss (he's got a lift in his garage and fixes cars on the side.) My boss replaced the front bushings/swaybars etc. cost me $83 for the parts. He won't take payment for the labor.
Today I cleaned the interior, did an oil change, engine air filter (this was a pain!) and cabin air filter. Replaced two bulbs, rear wiper and fixed the rear windshield wiper fluid leak.
I stopped at a local discount tire at noon and ordered her some General GMAX-AS05 tires. They told me it should show up on Saturday. At 3:30 they called me and said they got them in and if I brought the car in now they'd get it done right away. By 4:30 it was good to go so when my daughter got home from school, her new car was ready. I installed a dog blanket and leash in the back for her Husky. I ordered a GPS tracker and will install it when it comes in (she doesn't know about that)
Hope it serves her well. Monday will be 60 degrees so it will be wash, wax, seal time. I need to clean up the headlight lens, they're yellowing.
It's got to last her till May 4, 2023. That's the day I hit 25 years and am eligible to retire (which I won't, I'll probably work 5-8 more years) but on that day I'm supposed to give her my current car (2018 BMW 430i xDrive hardtop convertible) and buy a new C8 Corvette hardtop convertible as my "retirement" present. I've been saving GM credit but I doubt they'll let me use it toward the C8.
So I bought her a gold 2007 HHR LT from a coworker for $2k. It's got 94k miles on it and recently had brakes done. He told me it needs bushings and other front things done. So I took the car to my boss (he's got a lift in his garage and fixes cars on the side.) My boss replaced the front bushings/swaybars etc. cost me $83 for the parts. He won't take payment for the labor.
Today I cleaned the interior, did an oil change, engine air filter (this was a pain!) and cabin air filter. Replaced two bulbs, rear wiper and fixed the rear windshield wiper fluid leak.
I stopped at a local discount tire at noon and ordered her some General GMAX-AS05 tires. They told me it should show up on Saturday. At 3:30 they called me and said they got them in and if I brought the car in now they'd get it done right away. By 4:30 it was good to go so when my daughter got home from school, her new car was ready. I installed a dog blanket and leash in the back for her Husky. I ordered a GPS tracker and will install it when it comes in (she doesn't know about that)
Hope it serves her well. Monday will be 60 degrees so it will be wash, wax, seal time. I need to clean up the headlight lens, they're yellowing.
It's got to last her till May 4, 2023. That's the day I hit 25 years and am eligible to retire (which I won't, I'll probably work 5-8 more years) but on that day I'm supposed to give her my current car (2018 BMW 430i xDrive hardtop convertible) and buy a new C8 Corvette hardtop convertible as my "retirement" present. I've been saving GM credit but I doubt they'll let me use it toward the C8.
03-09-2020, 06:51 AM
#6
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Join Date: 03-06-2020
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 11
He checked the ball joints.
this is what he replaced (he gave me the receipt from the parts store)
sway bar bushing front bracket kit and stabilizer bar links, front.
he also fluid filmed it and said the car should last my daughter through college.
basic stuff I can do, anything more involved he said he would do and just charge for parts.
this is what he replaced (he gave me the receipt from the parts store)
sway bar bushing front bracket kit and stabilizer bar links, front.
he also fluid filmed it and said the car should last my daughter through college.
basic stuff I can do, anything more involved he said he would do and just charge for parts.
03-09-2020, 07:09 AM
#7
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Join Date: 12-06-2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 11,368
FYI. Check the lower control arm bushings. They are a known weak spot and prone to wear out. If you had to do those other parts the LCA parts can't be far behind in needing replacement.
It is usually recommended to replace the LCA's as a complete unit. That way you'll get both bushings and a new ball joint per side.
And. HHR's use the aluminum control arms. Many parts sites will show the stamped steel control arms as fitting, but we don't endorse the steel ones.
Stick with what GM built them with.
It is usually recommended to replace the LCA's as a complete unit. That way you'll get both bushings and a new ball joint per side.
And. HHR's use the aluminum control arms. Many parts sites will show the stamped steel control arms as fitting, but we don't endorse the steel ones.
Stick with what GM built them with.
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