I have a 2009 Chevy HHR with a bit more than 70,000 miles. The dealer (Chicago-area) recently recommended replacement of the control arm bushings and the front sway bars. He's quoting $443 for the bushings and $284 for the sway bar. We'll also need a $100 alignment after the bushings are replaced.

I don't have the tools or facilities to do this work myself. I'm going to check with an independent repair shop that's done some work on the car to get a comparison price. Does anyone have any thoughts on whether the dealer price is in the expected range for this type of work?

Thanks!

 

To me, those prices seem high but perhaps that because they're at a dealership. I would do the bushings/sway bars myself and take it to the shop for the alignment. Roughly $100 worth of parts give or take so that's quite a mark up with the labor. Try a local suspension shop and compare their prices. I'm sure it would be less there than at a dealership.

 

Replacing the front sway bars? Do they mean the sway bar end links? The end links are about $25 each.

Control arm bushings are about $14 each.

Also, i just bought two sway bar bushings at the dealer for $11 for both.

Steve

 

OP: you might want to check out the aftermarket stores - you can get replacement control arms, complete with the bushings and a new lower balljoint preinstalled for very reasonable price. Then have your local mechanic replace them for you - check out this thread - https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-tutorial-library-21/replacing-lower-control-arms-44378/

 

If you can remove a tire and own a socket set and a pair of slip joint pliers you can do end links yourself.

 

Make sure you have the struts checked generally that is what causes the bushings to go. I have 6 of these that we usually run to about 200,000 miles and all have had front struts replaced if you do make sure you get the lifetime replacment units. They usually have to be replaced at least by around 89,000 to 120,000.
Jim W

 

Complete control arms with bushings and ball joint can be purchased on line for a little over $80 each. End links another $50 or so and sway bar bushings $10 - $15 depending on where you buy them. None of these jobs are overly difficult. As someone else said, if you can change a tire you should be able to do this yourself. Good luck.

 

Hey JohnFranczyk, WELCOME to the forum.

 

X 2,

 

I think you need to drive down to Tennessee and get your HHR fixed by my mechanic save all that money and enjoy the music.
Jim W