Paprika

It was decent when it was new, now at 140k miles I feel the body rolls like a hungry cat.

I want to get the body roll down as close to nothing as possible and get the steering crisped up. However, I am not really looking to lower, but that may be required... I want the lowering to be minimized...

Should I just go looking for a SS swap kit? or what would you recommend?

- Maybe just a new set of OE-spec struts all around + beefed up anti-roll bars and add in some tie bars.
- Maybe a SS suspension swap kit?
- Maybe some homemade stuff?

LMK experienced Cobalteers.

ALSO: I'd love to disappear my drums and put calipers in the rear, so if that plays a role in this story, lets throw it in also.

Foximus

iTrader: (13)

Easiest way to go disk in the rear is find a complete rear beam to swap, since the brackets are different on them. Its not that hard to swap beams, i did it last month in an afternoon.

What kinda budget are you looking to spend? Thats kinda what determines what to suggest.

Viperoni

QFT, there's a difference between a $500, $1000 and $1500 budget for improvements

Kyle09TC

iTrader: (1)

sounds like a set of powell YYZ springs are for you. I have heard great things about them and they don't lower the car very much. As for struts, you might as well get a set of FE5 from a SS and put the YYZ on them.

Snail_SS

iTrader: (3)

Yeah yyz and fe5 struts would be the best, if you could spend some more even getting konis. If not just the complete TC set up would be great

Paprika

I can do up to $1000, but I am not looking to hit the track... I have Michigan roads to deal with.
A rear beam swap sounds like a salvage yard visit. Dang it.

I want to remove the natural rake the car has from front to rear, if nothing else.
YYZ springs? Check.
Exactly which Konis are you suggesting?

Should I just buy this kit from CED?
Cobalt FE5-YYZ Strut,Shock,Spring Plug and Play System FE5YYZ Sounds like a good idea.
Then will these FE5 components bolt into my car no problem? Or would the rears require a beam swap anyway? lol

Thanks guys.

Snail_SS

iTrader: (3)

Yup you can get that kit from CED it should bolt right up

Foximus

iTrader: (13)

That kit from CED is a good value. If you wanna do the brake swap, you need the complete rear beam,and the ABS pump/proportioning valve from a 4 wheel disk car.

Viperoni

You can do a decent bit with $1000.

At 140k you should change the front CAB bushings, preferably with Powell's, but if not, at least Moog or ZZP/OTTP replacements.
If I'm not mistaken, front sway bar bushings don't last very long on these cars either.

I would definitely go with Powell's YYZ springs, and either the FE5 or the Koni dampers.

Save the rest of your budget for the rear beam swap and a (rear) swaybar.

Paprika

I think I am going to proceed as follows:

• Buy & Install CED FE5+YYZ
• Confirm adjust pads/drums myself after
• Test drive and re-evaluate brake performance on new suspension

What all would I need to swap out the struts, springs, and shocks?

1. Air tools?
2. Any special 1-time-only use bolts or ones I'm guarenteed to break I'll need to replace anyway?
3. Spring compressor for rear springs?

Snail_SS

iTrader: (3)

Only need spring compressor for the front and nothing special really maybe some big number sockets i think it was like a 22 or something like that

Paprika

How would I tell if the Stabilizer End Links are no good?
They are being offered to me for replacement and I do not know if I really need to replace them.

Or are the FE5 stabilizer end links an entirely different, better, animal than FE1?

Thanks.

Snail_SS

iTrader: (3)

Well considering your miles on the car and if you havent replaced them while you have owned the car i would just replace them

Paprika

Ok.

Any idea on how much of a drop I can expect going from the stock FE1 springs to YYZ's?

I ask because of bump stops and ground clearance. Do I need to cut them? I doubt it and I actually don't really want to haha.

but I do want to know the drop. No surprises haha

I'll be searching. I just wanted to respond with the question to give time for an answer.

Thanks!

Snail_SS

iTrader: (3)

Well from fe1 i wouldnt be to sure but i should be a good amount

Paprika

Yeahhh that's the bad part haha. I'm jumping like 2 levels at once (FE1 -> FE5 -> YYZ-FE5).

Now my issue is finding where to buy/cost for new Powell CABs or even full Powell LCAs.

Snail_SS

iTrader: (3)

Best place is Crateenginedepot or powell himself. And me with yyz still have a 2 finger gap up front and 3 on the rear

Paprika

I went ahead and installed my CED kit a few weeks ago: FE5 Struts + Shocks + YYZ Springs + FE5 front Sway Bar end links. The ride is definitively rougher. The roll has decreased though as expected. I did not buy any CABs or LCAs... I inspected mine twice, thoroughly, and they actually appear fine. I had a hard enough time getting the nuts off of the old Sway Bar links... had to bust out the torch... I'm glad I didn't have to fight bushings also at that time.

I want even more roll reduction. I guess my only option left is beefing up the front sway bar and trying to retrofit a rear sway bar, right?

Thank you for all of your help!

Snail_SS

iTrader: (3)

You could upgrade to the front lnf sway bar. And the rear you could buy the powell, zzp, ottp there is alot of options on the rear

Devin86

I hate how the rear rolls without a sway bar I was heading up to the coast for the 4th and hitting some turns about 80ish I could feel the ass moving around not fun lol but that's with stock suspension im beefing everything up soon!! Haha

Paprika

Hey guys,

So I've been rolling on these new suspension bits for a while now but I have 3 questions:

1. I have a clunking/plastic slapping noise from the rear. Sounds like the lower spring seat... but I inspected it during the install and it looked FINE. My springs already came with tubing around the first couple turns... so I'm wondering what the noise is and how to fix it
   
2. Front end has a sound in the morning when I turn the wheel for the first couple times. Sounds as if the springs are binding up on something as wheel turns... Don't hear it after the frist couple moves... these springs also have tubing on the first couple turns
   
3. If I have a FE1 rear suspension beam, is there a way to attach a rear sway bar to further reduce roll?