Alright, I have a 2008 ss tc. I want to lower it (2 inches in the front and 2.5 in the back), but I heard that there was an intercooler problem when you scrape it could bust it, and someone told me not to lower it bc ill probably scrape it. But someone else said that the lip in the front is way below the intercooler.
Any advice?
Thanks )

 

People have broken their intercoolers from scraping before, but it's mostly from hitting stuff. A rock could even kick up and break it, it's only plastic. I say don't worry about it and go for it, it's just a risk you take with a lowered car. I have mine lowered, I've scraped the lip many times, and went through snow, and my intercooler is still fine.

 

are you talking to the Volkswagen kids here in virginia? Theyll tell you to slam the bitch to the ground. When you lower it, heres what WILL happen.
1. you WILL scrape, this means you will potentially break your intercooler, oil pan etc.
(ive come back from many car shows where my friends have busted oil pans all over I495/99)

if you are at all, even in the slightest concerned about having to replace control arms/oil pans/ or intercoolers, dont even think about dropping. Don't even begin to tell yourself "ill just drive carefully" cus when your least expeting it, youll end up having buba ray tow your ass off the side of the highway, while your freaking out about having to foot the bill for a new oil pan/transmission and whatever else you effed up.

IF you insist on dropping it, do it properly with a proper spring rate and coilovers. DONT GO CHEAP or youll be bouncing across bridges and end up, yet again with the scenario mentioned above.

 

First, pull the condensation collector from the bottom of the intercooler and epoxy/jbweld the holes. You can lower the car a little bit with Pedders. The stock struts/shocks will take it, but Konis would be even better.

2-2.5 inches is asking for troubles. Let me count the ways. Axle bind, scraping, cracking your intercooler end tanks (they are plastic. the core is aluminum), poor handling (all sorts of suspension geometry issues), rough ride because you've lost suspension travel.

But then again, there are kids that do it, and they'll tell you the car handles great

 

you deff dont want to drop it that much ahah. go for something like such.

Eibach Sportline Lowering Springs 05-10 Cobalt - 05-07 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged Suspension Parts, Struts, Springs, Strut

 

cut your stock ones lol. i would do h and r

 

Well, I had a 2006 cobalt ls before this one, and I lowered it and it actually handled better than before. And I was just going to switch out the springs with the SS, then I heard about the intercooler problem. I rarely scraped in the ls, but idk how it would be with the ss seeing as it has a bigger and lower front and back bumper, etc.

 

if you want a drop like that do h&r and konis

 

and steering rack spacers.

 

I got a set of the Eibachs coming, and I am happy at their drop amounts. The B&G's I was looking at dropped more, but they seemed just a bit much for my taste.

So another vote for the Eibachs (even though they haven't shown up yet).

 

OTTP ones, the ones i got from TTR didnt fit

 

I feel like I'm just gonna leave it how it is. But thanks for everyones advice )

 

go with sportlines, like a 1in in the front 1.5in the back. you and your 2 and 2.5 idea is crazy haha

 

I could be wrong but my car seems to handle a lot better now it feels planted to the ground. It rides rough but when taking corners on bumpy/rough road the car doesn't feel like its gonna go out of control like it did with stock suspension. But what do i know i'm not a professional race car driver.

 

Pedders. I have em. Modest drop...I'll say 1". Very good handling.
You need to keep in mind that the front will scrape if you enter an inclined driveway..etc.
So just take it easy when doing so and enter at an angle. Some steep inclines are *taboo*..stay off them. I have no problems. Go any lower and you asking for trouble.

 

Well I got SSC springs with about a coil and a half cut off. B@stard is pretty low. Sure I ripped my front lip off loading it from the track cause I broke axles. But Hahn intercooler is a bit scuffed from some wicked roads but it's fine. Been this low for a year. Rides damn good to haha.

 

I love this saying. "it FEELS like it handles better". If we built cars off how they feel, wed end up with plush soft fury blocks. The suspension geometry of a car is an INCREDIBLY tedious and precise process. Changing one aspect will directly affect the entire dynamic on how the car handles, wether it plows, understeers, snap rates, response rates, turn in rates, etc etc the list goes on and on and on just like my posts.

Now keep in mind, the faster you go, the more problems are evident/felt exponentially. ESPECIALLY in a FF car. I mean, if your trying to plow the intersections, go right ahead. But unless your doing a complete suspension/steering overhaul from track prep shops, don't even factor handling into the equation and leave it the hell alone.

 

Sounds great! I'll take two! Hit me up with shipping info!

 

pedders ftw!!!

 

Second your observations. I did the scrape coming out of a gas station driveway right after I got my Pedders but it can't be seen. Bought them to tighten up handling and they definitely did that. Also the car looks better without the gap (before and after pix), and that's all I wanted in the looks department. I like to look at flush cars but I sure don't want to live with one.

 

totally agree. when i was on my coilovers ive never taken a turn concerned weather or not i was gonna make it. now im on sportlines its just not the same lol

 

Well now if you're worried about the intercooler slapping the road when you hit a bump, I'm not worried, at least no more than stock, because I didn't cut my bump stops (no need with Pedders, really you should never cut 'em). The bump stops set the limit for the lowest your car can go. If you don't cut those, the height for the lowest your car can go doesn't change.

 

And this is why evaluation shouldn't be done on feel. The stock setup is very good. I ripped out some very quick laps and had some very confused people coming up and asking me what I had done. At the time, just a rear bar and race pads. They were utterly stunned.

Do not confusion movement of suspension with "out of control". It is up to the driver to control the car. This car has a ton of suspension travel in stock form. Your suspension is supposed to move around a lot!

 

Thank you.... SO MUCH

 

Don't lower your car. It's plenty low and will go 145 as is and HUG the road. At stock height I broke my intercooler. It set me back $700.
SERIOUSLY.... at 145mph I felt like the damned car was vacuuming the road it was sticking so well.
I'm guessing the 160mph+ claim is legitimate.
Failed to add that my car is a 2009 sedan.