Hey guys, next week I want to put some money down to order an 09 SS Sedan. The trouble is I haven't found any info on this model yet. I want to ensure it has the FE5 suspension from the coupe before buying. Does anybody know if this is true for sure or not? We know it has the engine...

Mal.

 

I can verify tomorrow at work, but I want to say it does.

 

Please do, I'd appreciate it. I guess you work for GM or a company related to GM?

 

GM has used the same RPO codes in the past for a suspension on the same vehicle family and has made from slight to fairly dramatic changes (for example my Citation X-11's technically have an F41 suspension but very little is the same as the heavy-duty F41 suspension used on non-X-11 cars). But I'd bet from the press coverage and GM's own media info it sounds like it should be close to if not identical to the coupe.

 

Well yes, F41 on a truck will be different than F41 on a car, but since we are talking about FE5 on two cars sharing the same platform...well yeah...

To answer the OP's question...yes they both have the FE5 performance suspension.

 

You're right from the media info you provided it sure does sound identical to me.

 

If you read my last post a little closer I gave an example of two RPO code "F41" suspensions being tuned dramatically different on the exact same car. As to the Cobalt SS coupe, sedan, and even the HHR SS, they all have an FE5-rated suspensions and I bet they're tuned very similar, but the best way to check if those FE5's are identical would be to compare part numbers at the dealer for the individual suspension components. Since the coupe and sedan should carry very similar curb weights it wouldn't surprise me if everything was the exact same between the two models and at most, maybe a slight spring rate change since the sedan is a little more neutrally balanced by a shade (59/41 compared to 60/40 weight distribution for the coupe).

 

Maybe I will check the part numbers when i'm at the dealer. First of all, I wonder if they even have that in the parts department yet? Secondly, if the don't match, they may as you say have slightly different rates, which is no big deal. But how could I check what the rates are??

Mal.

 

From the GM info and other media I would expect the two cars to perform nearly identical in handling. I doubt they'd have the part numbers in the system yet but give it a month or two when we're getting closer to the first '09 Cobalt's shipping and you should be able to check. As to the spring rates, if you were really curious and had access to a sedan and coupe you could take them off and I know quite a few spring/suspension places here in SoCal that can measure the rates. But it would probably be easier to send a nice email to GMPD and ask.

 

Add 2 doors to a coupe....that's all. Everything will be the same.