X2. The end links are attached to the end of the sway bar, and typically don't last a long time.

 

Already got'em :) had them for a while

 

What brand of Struts were installed. I had some cheap ones put on my '08 LT years ago and those things creaked for months.

 

I honestly don't know, I didn't think to ask. I wouldn't call the job that got done "cheap" though. It was over $700 parts and labor at Tire Discounters. Now I'm dreading the replies that they are a bad company and install crappy parts.

 

It should specify which brand on your invoice or work order. The HHR OEM I think where from Sachs.

 

I couldn't find my invoice, the guy on the phone looked it up but he said it didn't say :/ he mentioned Monroe, I asked if it was OEM and he said probably not.

Update : called back at spoke to the manager that oversaw my actual repair. He said it was proba ly either Monroe or it could've been FCS. But they've got good warranties on parts and labor for this work so if the bushings don't help I'll bring it back there. He also said they replace mounts on all cars older than 10 yrs so that got done too.

 

Well guys, other than the question of the brand of struts, you guys have made me feel a lot more confident about it being the sway bar bushings. I really appreciate how nice and informative you always are. I'm taking it in tomorrow, I'll update then!

 

Update, so he ordered the wrong bushings because I apparently have an SS sway bar on my LT. I didn't know that could be a thing. Anyways, they played with the sway bar but it seemed okay enough (will still replace them soon) but they noticed that the ball joints were really dry and making noise so they greased them up nice and good.

The noise is so far gone but I'm not holding my breath. The car is always quiet for the first couple days off his rack, so fingers crossed. There's definitely a squeaky creak in the rear too but it's far less insane than the front so I'm not too pressed on it.

Anyway long story short, it may have been the ball joints.

 

You have a 2006 , they came with 23 mm diameter bars up front.
It could just be the ball joints, I grease mine every 3,000 miles.

 

What do all the others have in terms of diameter? And I think it was both, it's still creaking a little bit but not nearly as aggressively. I'll check it out at my next oil change.