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Yes. 2005-2007 fe5 control arms are directly interchangeable to any cobalt. 8-10 fe5 control arms are specific to the ss's since the knuckles were modified.
Hi, I'm totally new here on the forum. I recently purchased an '07 G5 base coupe. It has 130k miles on the odometer. I know it's not a Cobalt but forgive me.
I have been getting some noise from the front end when driving at low speeds. I plan to rebuild the front suspension completely. I know it has the steel control arms.
I've read most of this thread but not all.
Can someone summarize what I need to purchase in order to bring the suspension up to a more sporty set up? Thank you
Hi, I'm totally new here on the forum. I recently purchased an '07 G5 base coupe. It has 130k miles on the odometer. I know it's not a Cobalt but forgive me.
I have been getting some noise from the front end when driving at low speeds. I plan to rebuild the front suspension completely. I know it has the steel control arms.
I've read most of this thread but not all.
Can someone summarize what I need to purchase in order to bring the suspension up to a more sporty set up? Thank you
email me , abd i will send you some detailed suspension imformation and summarize options. cheers John@powellraceparts.com
Woo Hoo! Score!
I've been looking for an FE5 sway bar for my 08 LS.
All the gm supply shops say obsolete, not in production, not available, or out of stock.
Read this thread several times until i'm as blue as my cobalt.
Received posts stating they are hen's teeth.
Today, stumbled on ZZ's ebay listing for 15821093 NOS.......
buy it now...bought,paid.
Ship that puppy!!!!
Now looking for the correct bushings & clamps and need to re-read again about using
O5 FE5 clamps & bushings....or drilling my sub-frame for bolts & nuts.
Installed the 15821093 FE5 bar and a new intermediat shaft. No more clunk ckunk on every bump. At slow speed just point the car and it does exactly as expectrd. Need to get it out on open roads and check if the superior handling is what it is supose to be.
Installed the 15821093 FE5 bar and a new intermediat shaft. No more clunk ckunk on every bump. At slow speed just point the car and it does exactly as expectrd. Need to get it out on open roads and check if the superior handling is what it is supose to be. Next step will be all 4 FE5 springs.
This is a sticky covering the various OEM suspension and brake packages available on the different models Cobalts. I do not have all the facts yet, and will note where information is needed. If you have a fact, post it, and I'll add it to the list.
Thanks to Maven for a lot of info. Instead of re-posting here, look below for a nice part number list.
The suspensions:
Starting with the FE1, and then the changes with each up-level system
FE1 suspension
19-mm front stabilizer bar
16-mm rear stabilizer bar
Stamped steel front lower control arms
FE3 suspension
22-mm front and rear stabilizer bars
Cast aluminum front lower control arms
FE3 shocks and springs
FE5 suspension - 2005-07 years
24-mm front stabilizer bar
FE5 shocks and struts. The springs may be different from some FE3 models.
Larger front end links
FE5 suspension - 2008 and up years
24-mm rear stabilizer bar
NEW FE5(LNF) shocks, struts, and springs.
Updated front knuckle
The Brakes
Brake systems are independent of suspension system, even though many parts are dependant on each other
J41
Front disc; 256mm x 23.69mm front rotors, 50mm single piston iron calipers
Rear drum; 50mm single piston iron calipers, 9.06" rear drums
4x100 wheels
(LS/LT)
JM4
Same as J41 but with ABS
(LS/LT w/ABS)
5 Lug JM4
ABS front disc; 276mm x 23.69mm rotors, 52mm single piston iron calipers
Rear drum; (unchanged except for 5 lugs)
5x110 wheels
(LT w/ABS and upgraded wheels, LT2, 2009 LT2 Sport)
JL9
ABS 4 wheel disc; 296mm x 26mm frt rotors, 54mm single piston iron calipers
Rear; solid 270mm x 14mm rear rotors, 38mm single piston iron calipers
5x110 wheels
(SS/SC, SS/NA, 2.4L Sport)
JL9/LNF
ABS 4 wheel disc; 315.5mm x 26mm frt rotors, 38mm 4 piston Brembo aluminum calipers
Rear; vented 292mm x 19.9mm rear rotors, 40mm single piston iron calipers
5x110 wheels
(SS/TC)
The Cars
These are just Cobalts. If anyone can fill me in on G5's, Ion's or HHR's, I'll add that.
2005
Base, LS, LT - FE1 with J41 or JM4
SS/SC - FE5 with JL9
2006 - 07
LS, LT, LTZ - FE1 with J41, JM4, or (2007) 5-lug JM4
SS/NA - FE3 with JL9
SS/SC - FE5 with JL9
2008 (updated FE5 specs began this year)
LS, LT - FE1 with J41, JM4, or 5-lug JM4
Sport - FE3 with JL9
SS/TC - FE5 with JL9(LNF)
2009
LS, LT - FE1 with J41, JM4, or 5-lug JM4
SS/TC - FE5 with JL9(LNF)
Part interchangeability
So far, and to the best of our collective knowledge, every single suspension part is completely interchangable between models. Some rules apply, which are listed here:
1. If you change the front anti-sway bar, you must be careful to get the proper model year. As explained below by Maven, the FE5 front bar mounting changed between 2005-06. It appears the simple trick it to just get the 2005 FE5 parts to insure compatibility.
2. You can change the rear FE1 axle to an FE5 axle. The FE5 axle has provisions for mounting rear disk brakes. So you either have to cut those off to put on your drums back on, or you have to convert to rear disks. Converting to rear disks does NOT mean you have to convert to 5 lug hubs, but you are going to have to find some 4-lug rotors!
3. Knuckles are the same on every suspension up through 2007. In 2008, the FE5 knuckle was updated with various improvements for bump steer. It is NOT interchangeable. You can still use the GM Racing knuckles for those earlier years
4. Every other part should be completely compatible. For instance, you don't have to use FE1 struts if you want to put on FE5 springs, and so forth.
_________________________________________
I'm still collecting my data and making changes to this. I wanted to get it posted right away in case any help can be offered. Anything you can give, part numbers, spring rates, off the wall stuff, post it up.
I am currently trying to redo the suspension on my 2006 Cobalt LS 2.2L no turbo. I ordered a suspension kit that is for fe1. I was told the parts were interchangeable. The sway bar links were 2 inches shorter and the lower control arms and tie rod ends appeared to be the same. But I'm having weird issues while driving. Are the lower control arms and tie rod ends from the fe1 compatible with my car? I already ordered the 11.8 inch sway bar links to replace the shorter ones I received with the kit thinking that was causing my issue.
Issue: while accelerating or braking the car veers right while the steering wheel tilts left. Very scary on the highway or any decent speed.
Thanks for all the great information I also have a quick question.
I have a 2008 CTS with the fe1 suspension. Will the complete fe5 coil-over and control arm assembly from a 2011 CTS fit my car? I did read that there was a knuckle upgrade but I'm not sure if that prevent it from fitting.
Here's a link to the part I'm trying to use on my 2008 fe1 CTS https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MG3OHJE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1gwuzbJDENKP1
I have a 2010 LT with the 1SB Sport package; SS front cover, skirts, 5x110 17's, pioneer stuff, etc... Although the RPO sticker lists my suspension at FE1, my arms are cast aluminum and read the part # as the FE3's. I just replaced my lower bee jays with FE5 and they fit just fine in the knuckle.
Can anyone explain the difference for me between FE3 and FE5 LCA's for me please? If the FE3 I have are the same, I'll leave it as is. the rest of my suspension is stock FE1. I basically wanna turn my LT into an SS starting with how it rides as I can afford suspension long before I can afford a 2.0. she paid off, so she's gonna be my project. Any help would be appreciated
I have a 2009 pontiac g5 lap FE1 suspension, Tried fitting in the ZZP front sway bar all sorts of clearance issues. upgraded to dual bushing clamps. been thinking of cutting my losses and going to an FE5 bar, using the single bolt clamps and the specific 2005 cobalt ss bushings.
now the bar itself, can it be 205-2007 or does it have to be from a 2005
Hey all, new to the Cobalt life. I have a 09 SS/TC with what I believe is FE5. Was reading the first few posts and saw I can look under the mat in the trunk to find out. I saw FE5 on the sticker somewhere so that's my assumption.
So my current issue is my LCAs. My rear bushings were blown out so I bought some new steel arms with the ball joint but saved the aluminum arms to have new bushings pressed.
Felt weird driving it with the new arms and come to find out they're FE1s with the slightly smaller ball joint.
I honestly got tired of reading so if there's already an answer on here just point me to it, but I can't find like anything for FE5 09 stuff! Can I put FE3 bushings in the FE5 arms? I'm not even sure of what model SS I have or really much of anything.
Help please! I can't be driving on these LCAs long without messing something up.
Cobalt ss have FE5 control arms. I wouldn't put the steel control arms on your car, smaller ball joint stud aside, they are a downgrade. I can't tell you if the rear bushings are interchangeable. I would recommend upgrading your bushings with non-voided, or even better, spherical trailing control arm bushings.
I am currently trying to redo the suspension on my 2006 Cobalt LS 2.2L no turbo. I ordered a suspension kit that is for fe1. I was told the parts were interchangeable. The sway bar links were 2 inches shorter and the lower control arms and tie rod ends appeared to be the same. But I'm having weird issues while driving. Are the lower control arms and tie rod ends from the fe1 compatible with my car? I already ordered the 11.8 inch sway bar links to replace the shorter ones I received with the kit thinking that was causing my issue.
Issue: while accelerating or braking the car veers right while the steering wheel tilts left. Very scary on the highway or any decent speed.
I have an 09 SS/TC and was having control arm issues as well. My suspension is FE5 and where I ordered my LCAs from their FE1s were said to be compatible...nope. the diameter of the ball joint from the FE1s is too small and floats around.
I believe:
FE1-19.5mm
FE5-20.5mm?
Either way they're different.
Hope that helps?
^^thank you, I did some more digging and found some replacement bushings for my FE5 arms. Definitely saw a lot of stuff about the steel being a down grade. Now to wait for them to arrive and hope I don't/didnt mess anything up driving on these arms. So wish I did more research the first time...
Does anyone have have or know where I can fet the Calipers and mounting hardware for the big brake kit for the cobalt, I've got the rotors but need the rest.
09-11-2015, 04:50 PM
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