Howdy ya'll

I've had a noise accumulating on me over the past few weeks, that I thought was the CV Joints. The noise is directly proportional to the Wheel speed. (Wheels Rotating Slower, Noise is Quieter. Wheels Spinning Faster, Noise is Louder) It sounds like a loud vibration of sorts, a roar almost.

So this weekend I put my 2007 HHR on Jack Stands, Put New CV Joints on, (and new tie rods) took it to get aligned and the car steers a lot better, and no longer has a little pull to it. However that noise is still there. When we took apart the passenger CV Joint, (When I say take apart, we took the whole CV Axle Assembly out and replaced it.) Whatever that CV Axle connects to, it was loose. The seal was loose and it's leaking trans fluid. Not a lot, but enough where I can see build up on the Bottom side of the car. What is this part called?

The CV Axle goes into the Transmission, into this piece thats inside of the transmission. Sorry for the bad terminology. I am no mechanic. But it's the piece that the inside end of the CV Axle goes into. (The other part connecting to the wheel area..)

And no, it's not bearings or Control Arms. I just replaced these a few weeks ago, and these noises started about 2 or 3 weeks after that installation.

And lastly, Once I get this issue resolved. Is there a way I can change the Trans Fluid myself? Or do I need to take it to a Dealership?

Thanks Folks!

 

For ATF change: https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/maintenance-upkeep-50/transmission-fluid-change-easy-42736/

I have no idea what part you are asking about from the description given.

The noise you describe is the most frequent description of bad hub.
Have you looked at the rotors, pads and calipers? Have you considered the rear hubs? Have you considered faulty installation of new parts? Or, faulty new parts?

Did you bolt everything back up to the proper torque specs? The LCA bolt is real important (and tough to do) as is the axle nut.

Torque specs are freely available, try the SEARCH box first.

 

I'll agree with Don here, it sounds like a classic hub failure, you just have to track down the offending hub.

Tearing up the internal splines in the final drive, that's what the half shaft engages, is such a rare occurrence that I'd rule it out.

 

I agree it sounds like a wheel bearing hub. Does the noise change when swerving side to side going down the road?

Is this the part your talking about on the trans?

 

You're either talking about the output stub shaft (seen in Lucky's posted image) or the axle seal that goes over the output shaft. If you are referring to the output stub shaft, though I've not done this on an HHR, there always seems to be a bit of play/looseness there on vehicles I've worked on; I'd call that normal. If you mean the seal, which is where any leakage would come from there, it's fairly easy to change with the proper tools. There's even a YouTube video or two out there on changing one on an HHR.

 

think I got the same sound, it almost sounds like your tires or, to liken it to a sound, if you ever heard or had a 4x4 with 33 tires then it sounds like the tread of the tires on the road, its the hub bearings most likely. I know my front left is going out since it sounds like this and it does change pitch with speed. from what i have read and experienced with my last car, its the hub bearings.

 

What are Hub bearings? and Yes Lucky, that is what the piece looks like. That is where it leaks. So you think that If I replace the seal on that then the leak should stop? You think the noise is coming from the Hub. Sorry for the lack of Terminology, I have no idea on half these things.

 

Number 4 is the hub bearing also known as wheel bearing. They call it a hub bearing because it comes as an assembly with the hub and bearing built together.

And yes replacing the seal should stop your leak.

 

Check your PM TheeBallaDakota. Don't go messing around with things you don't understand, help is available.

 

A little confusion here.
The OP said in the 1st post that he'd replaced the bearings.
Then in post #7 he's asking "what are hub bearings?"

Might need a little clarification on exactly what he did replace.