Hello all im looking for some input on my TRACK build with my cobalt ss tc, I am looking to go big on this as I have a base model cobalt i daily. Ive had the car for about a year, bought bone stock at 80k miles. I did all the basic bolt ons mostly ZZP parts, zzp intercooler, cold air, catted down pipe (i have smog emmisions) cat back, i did go injen charge pipes. Im tuned on 25.5 psi by nmra racer tim matherly. Clutch holding up surprisingly well. This year i am looking to upgrade all suspension parts. Im really looking to make this a bulletproof build and do it right the first time around. I really just need my driveline to make it through this track season. As of now im looking to get coilovers, thinking KW var 2, whats the best set of coilover for under $3,000? Ive heard front and trailing control arm bushings need to be adressed, most likely powell. Are wheel hubs worth doing? Ive seen people say to only do a rear sway bar and the front isnt worth it. Powergrid end links? Im not too knowledgeable on suspension parts, please help! Price is not too much of an issue, i want the best possible track build, i am most at road atlanta

 

buy everything powell makes and your suspension is done.

 

Love it, thank you

 

Hi Chris I'm in the same process as you I have 2007 Pontiac G5 GT Sedan and i'm working on converted it to FE5/Powell suspension. Like others have said if you want the best I suggest Powell CABS, XXX or Hardcore rear sway bar, and for suspension ZZP just added a new Powell suspension setup which is Powell YYZ Springs and Bilstein Performance shocks and struts. Here is the link to it. From the description this looks to be the ultimate suspension setup for the cobalts.

https://zzperformance.com/collection...t-spring-combo

 

I second this.

But first get sticky tires and drive the car with the current tune and learn it. You'll likely gain the most time initially with tires. Once you seem to be at the fastest times you can get start the suspension mods.

Edit: I'm unsure of your skill as a driver so this is a general good starting point, if you have plenty of seat time get the yyzs rear bar and trailing cabs

 

Mainly repeating what others have said but. The front bar isn't worth doing anything with because it's already sufficiently stiff and a stiffer front bar promotes under-steer which with the FWD Cobalt you definitely don't want more of. There have actually been some people that track these cars have gone to a smaller front sway bar or deleted it completely. There is debate over that but the consensus is definitely that a stiffer bar up front will not improve handling.

As others have said the YYZ springs are a great plug and play option. If your FE5 shocks are original it may be a good time to upgrade to the newly developed Bilstein shock/strut. If your FE5 shocks are still functioning properly I actually think they are pretty good when paired with YYZ springs.

For the control arm bushings the stock voided trailing bushing is a big problem Definitely recommend the spherical bushing option from Powell to eliminate the excessive deflection from the stock bushing. The front bushing is relatively solid in comparison to the rear so swapping it out won't make as significant improvement. If you have unlimited funds I'd say go ahead and do it but IMO it's a lower priority upgrade.

The PowerGrid endlinks are a nice upgrade to the sway bar mainly for their adjustability. You have the ability to neutralize the load on the swaybar with you in the car weighed down exactly how you plan to race it. But again, for the expense, I can't really say how significant of difference these will make over stock. It's one of those things that if your end links are worn I would go ahead and upgrade but if your links are in good working condition I don't think it's a real big deal. Powell does claim that the end-links are practically good forever.

For rear bar I personally recommend the "Hardcore" version from Powell. Other people insist on the "XXX" for track use but for my experience doing autocross the "Hardcore" bar provides plenty of rotation. Opposite of the front bar, a stiffer rear sway bar promotes over-steer.

 

wow wasnt expecting the set up to be that much considering what the springs and koni yellow set up costs

 

Dont forget they have different top plates not the stock ones.

 

I'm reading the whole description, not saying they aren't worth it lol I'm sure they will be and that lifetime warranty sounds awesome. Also saw that they would give a credit if you return your old yyz so it could come out to a better price. Maybe next mod for my car since the konis are already like 6 years old in my car

Edit... kinda sucks that they didnt include the rear shocks in the deal and then they are out of stock

 

I agree, but when the entire setup is comparable to some custom Ohlins that cost 6-7K the price is more reasonable. I'm sure they're not included because they were out of stock when they listed the item

 

Yeah I know I was thinking the same thing. That's why I'm sticking with the standard fe5/yyz setup. I would love to get the new setup Powell offers but its just not in my budget lol. Hopefully somebody on here will get it and do a review once its installed.

 

Holy crap y'all weren't kidding. $2,500. Is the custom top hat billet machined?

 

lol I know. Just think how I feel i'm from Canada so it be like 4000 grand with shipping and conversion lol. I've have to sell my car to afford it lol

 

I don't blame them for charging that. I'm sure the time and effort to produce a custom off the shelf product like that wasn't cheap. Still jaw dropping.

 

To be fair on our side, the oil wars going on dropped our currency value by an extra 35% in 40 days. So to purchase US, it's 43 cents on the dollar (currently). So he's not wrong in saying that a suspension would run us 4g's lol

 

Yup the whole kit sounds great to be honest price did catch me by surprise, considering you can find cobalts at that price range lol not many putting that kind of cash on these cars any more

 

I'd be contacting Powell directly since he's already on your side of the border.

 

When I bought some parts from him a few years ago he gave me a 1USD=1CAD deal. I think our dollar was quite a bit better than it is now though so he might not do that anymore.

 

If he has the parts in Canada at least you won't have import duty to add onto the exchange rate.

 

Duty and the conversion fee the CC companies charge are a real biotch.

 

Don't you Canadians have cards that don't charge foreign transaction fees? I have two cards I use for traveling that don't charge foreign transaction fees.

 

Some cards do, others don't. Gotta call the vendor.
I picked up the hardcore rear sway bar from him and he did this for me. Although I was only 2 hours drive from him lol
Doesn't hurt to ask.

 

None that I know of. All the ones that did seemed to have stopped, or they charge some outrageous annual fee.

 

That's what I have too, although I've been meaning to take it off cause something is rattling around like crazy in the rear.

 

not too many other guys really looking to compete