Chevy HHR Steering Rack Replace 

Thankyou! Happy it was helpful.

I tried to leave the tie rod end nuts just broken loose and then put the old tie rod end back on before removing the whole shaft assembly. If the nuts do not move then basically the new tie rod ends (on new shaft) screw on up to the new nuts(marked by counting the turns from the old shaft nuts) and you got it. I suppose one could tape them in place as well...just to keep them from moving so the turns (threads) can be counted. I believe the difficult part about this repair is removing and installing the shaft assembly as it has to be maneuvered around somewhat to get proper placement. Thanks for the good comments!

Thanks for the nice comment. It is not an easy job and I am happy the video gave you some insight. Thanks!

Thanks for sharing

instaBlaster...

Hey Pappy! Definitely left neglected, but now adopted and getting better slowly.🚘😎

Thanks PNP! I have not had to align anything and the H goes straight down the road.

It took some time, but sure made a difference in the steering. Thanks Scott!

Jacob I had 3 noises. One from the steering rack and another from the steering column(i think), and another from the stabilizer linkage. I was hoping the intermediate shaft would cure the lesser sort of clicking noise, but it did not. I have another steering column from a wrecking yard but I have yet to put it in. I am thinking now that the clicking noise is coming from where the steering motor connects to the steering shaft, but I have not gotten to it as my steering is good. I am working on an oil leak issue at the moment. You might be able to check your noise by feeling the steering motor as you jerk the wheel side to side. Just a thought. I will be posting the steering column repair or replace later in the year. These noises are difficult to track as sounds telegraph through the components. Hope I helped you some.

Thanks 👍

Not sure, it could be bad tie rod ends.

Thanks ! I know that. Cant talk and think at the same time. Big tenedor in any case.

I do not believe it was doing that as I remember. It sounds to me like you have a warped brake rotor. I did experience some of that on my first HHR. Coasting I could slowly put on the brakes and notice a steering shimmy that would do what you described. Watch this video from Scotty... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0KhRbDNo80E.html

@@SteveAZ711 well mine has 228,000 mi. When I apply the brake I fell the stairwell wobbling but when I turn the wheel when the car is warmed up after driving 6 mi I hear a humming sound. Sounds like it's coming from the steering rack but not the motor so that's why I was a little concerned if my steering rack was going bad

@@SteveAZ711 i changed my rotors tires had new tie rods sway bars brake caliper aliment has been done still having same issue

well i apologize for my comment except for the great video and very well put together and (you just answered my number 1 question I had mine turned 22 times which I had in my mind this was not right) and sure enough its 18 mine is a 2006 hhr so iam going to give this a try I did not disturb the drivers side only passenger thanks again you just made my day and I had seen a torque spec for the outer tie rod end as 44 lbs and back of 70 degrees(wrong) thanks for also putting me straight on this at 18lbs. i can almost rest assure this is what iam hearing when i first start driving it's like a bad bearing without the grinding it's more like a growling type noise nothing is loose whatsoever so all i can think of is I have way to much torque on them because i went to the drivers side and also set it to 44 needless to say i will be doing some adjusting this AM,thanks again

Remember 18 ft lbs is the beginning and then another 90 degrees turned on the nut. I have no idea what the total torque would be after the extra 90 degree turn. That growling noise may be a bad hub if it only happens when the car is moving. Check your steering by turning the wheel(engine running)from side to side. If no noise then is probably something other than steering.

@@SteveAZ711 okay I got you on my new outer tire rod end it doesn't have the nut only the 1 but with the Cotter pin? So I did these both to 44lbs I will do the drivers side like you say here and will look at just the hub I see what you mean and thanks very much for this reply keep making the videos they are awesome. Thanks again. Dave

The power steering motor (electric) may need to be calibrated but I found no issues in replacing the rack. I made sure the adjustments (tie rod ends) were close to the same as the one I replaced. Sure, it went down the road straight as an arrow, but an alignment is always suggested when one does this sort of repair. Ask the mechanic just exactly what he said needs to be calibrated. Thanks!

@@SteveAZ711 Thank you very much for the info. I'm only doing the rack and intermediate shaft for now. The motor would make more sense but the rack seems pretty straightforward since it doesn't have a module on it. I think he was thinking of a different vehicle. I was going to do it myself but I figured I'd get a price since it's cold up here in New England to do it outside. He told me id probably have to pay someone to flash it afterwards on top of labor. I tried to replace just the steering shaft but it's rusted to the rack shaft pretty bad so I have it soaking in kroil. It has play(rack shaft) so they both need to be replaced anyway.

Thanks "BigCountryOutdoors325". This is a rust free, high mileage California, Arizona HHR. It is a unibody and what you see is inner fender well metal. Go to marker 1:36 and you can see it better. Thanks, I went and checked it because it does look like a crack on the camera.

Nope! It has electric motor steering. Thanks!

Thank you buddy

Yes MOT it does. I have a complete replacement, wheel, column, ignition and all(from a wrecking yard.) However, the steering checks for a bad motor indicate that my motor is good. Like you said it is most likely where the motor and shaft meet, and that will be a repair when the weather is better. I also would have to swap the ignition switches to make the computer happy.

I apologize I was frustrated I figured it out thanks for everything else sir !

Late, but thankyou!

2006 HHR...2008 same same.

@@SteveAZ711 how much that job tell me

Nice job.very good install