So when they get loose, would you notice negative camber ?

 

I am not sure if the blame is the bearings, but the tire guy noted a slight outside wear pattern, and I am pretty sure the alignment is good.
The main thing I should have noticed was the growling, but it starts a grows gradually, like boiling a frog. When I got new Chinese tires I thought that they were just noisy as well as bad in rain and cheap, turns out new bearings = quiet "tires". And a odd growling noise when slightly turning , not like bad CV, just more like a feel of a growl. I swear I cannot feel any play in even the one that is clearly burned up, when I pulled into the garage after being parked for 3 days it actually felt like there was a block in front of the wheel.

 

Negative camber would produce inner tread wear, since the wheel would lean in at top..

Good you got it squared away tho !!!

 

Hey guys, bringing this old thread back to life as my low mileage (40K) 2008 SS is making the dreaded growl. I just put winter tires on, so I blamed it on the tires, but it has got much worse! Anyway, I figure I will just replace both as I am not sure which one is growling.
I wanted to know if there any really good wheel bearings, or are they pretty much all the same?
This is what I am thinking right now:

2008-2010 Chevy HHR SS Front Wheel Bearing & Hub Assembly for Models with Rear Disc Brakes Pair at 1A Auto.com

 

Everybody's got one!

Personally, I opt for the cheapest since you can afford to replace them 3-4 times for the cost of the expensive ones.

I get mine on eBay. I think my last rears came from 1A. Usually Prime Choice is good, they have been around long enough to trust their warranties, unlike another vendor that went out of business on a "lifetime warranty".

Most come from China now, some from Mexico, some claim USA.
Check how much your local dealer wants for them and have a heart attack.

 

LOL, I hear ya donbrew. The thing is that I need to do this in my driveway and we are getting ready for snow and highs in the 20s. I don't want to have to do this over and over again!
I used to think that Timkin made great bearings, but I am leaning towards a set of 2 delivered for $120 from A1 and just be done with it, hopefully for several years.
According to A1, that large nut is a 35mm, does that sound correct?

 

LT is 30MM. $60 each not bad, but they come from the same factory as the $45 ones. Probably the same shipping container.

1A has them cheaper on eBay right now, and Prime Choice has their Lifetime warranted ones for a few $ less than that. Prime Choice does sell a couple of different grades.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-New-Premiu...5bfac3&vxp=mtr

 

donbrew, you say "LT is 30mm" does anyone know if the SS is different? A1 says 35mm.
I see that the bearing for the SS are also much more expensive than the LS/LT.
Has anyone tried AM auto parts?
Chevy HHR Wheel Bearing & Hub Assembly - AM Autoparts

 

I went ahead and ordered from Prime Choice on eBay, can't beat a pair delivered for $68. Thanks Donbrew!

Now, before I put on my Carhartts and brave the cold, can anyone confirm the axle nut size for the SS?
Also, does anyone have the torque spec for the SS?

Thanks in advance,

 

I remember an old thread that said the SS axle nut is 36mm.