So back story. A couple months ago, I got a bad bad sounding creak in my front end, pretty much any time I'd go over uneven roads, come to a stop, or take back off (more noticeable at lower speeds). I took it to a shop and they replaced my front struts and shocks because the passenger side (the one I noticed the sound from) was needing it. The noise went away for a week or so.

Then it came back. Took it to my regular guy (didn't take it to him before because I couldn't afford to leave the car with him during the week and miss work) and the car went into "best behavior mode" and was totally silent. He tightened a couple bolts and the sound went away for a couple days.

Then it came back again. It's been getting worse. I swung by the garage again on Friday and he looked underneath while I was rocking it. He pinpointed the noise to the sway bar bushings, sprayed some wd40 on it and it slowly went away as I rocked it. I'm taking it in on Wednesday to get those bushings replaced for real, but I have some concerns!

The traditional symptom of these bushings going bad is the Clunk, and I don't have that. Also, when I've been driving for a while in city traffic, it starts to creak (same kind) when making slight turns and like I said, braking at slow speeds. I'm not really super savvy on how these parts work, so I was wondering if the sway bar and it's bushings move/are affected by steering and if so how. But my biggg question is... Are these bushings really the likely culprit? what else could it be if not? Reference, I also had my control arms replaced last fall so those bushings are brand new.

I know I should just wait until Wednesday and see what happens, but I've spent a lot of money trying to get this noise to go away and I'm anxious. I like to learn, so if there's anything else I could look at or suggest, fire away!

Edit: I live in Columbus, OH by the way, where the roads are always trash and its been hot and dry the past few weeks. I don't know if that makes a difference in causing or exacerbating the issues.

 

You don't say how many miles on your HHR?

I would go ahead and replace the front sway bar bushings since the noise responded to the spray and if you have over 50,000 miles with rough roads too boot.
Personally I would use the Stock GM Bushings since these cars run quiet when new and you could do worse guessing the other options.
It won't be money wasted even if it is not this issue fix.

Silverfox

 

Lower Control Arm bushings. try to roll the front tires fore and aft if the wheels move body doesn't they are shot.
If you can move the end links easily by hand they are bad.
Squeeking is usually the sway bar bushings. The bar should only rotate.

 

Seems bushings are done, more labour then price of the parts.
And yes the steering effects the swaybar same as the movement of the front and rear suspension.
the bushings dry out and the rubber squeaks , the bushings deteriorate and the swaybar bumps and makes noises .

 

As I mentioned, I replaced the control arms last fall, and I did just look at the bushings, they're fine :)

So the sway bar does relate to steering?

 

The car has 85k, sorry. And I've only lived on cbus for a year but it's been a wild one. Lots of construction and I drive 40 miles a day for work (20 to and from).

It also is quieter in the mornjng when it's a little cold and wet out. But it comes back by the time I get to work.

 

The lower bushing is an OEM bushing
These had 40,000 miles on them

 

I do know about bushings, but thank you for the explanation. As for the sway bar knowledge I greatly appreciate that. It's nice to know it's all connected to one thing. Always appreciate you blue

 

Those are LCA bushings right? Mine were worse than that, it was pretty gross. I can't really see the sway bar ones but like I said, 85k miles and he pinpointed them and lubed them so they're definitely going.

 

85,000 miles ....You might also want to consider replacing the End Links with Moog Parts.
They have zerk fittings that can be greased.

Silverfox