Well..... I was out driving today and I took a corner. I had to take it tight as some dumb broad in her BMW suv was hogging up my lane to turn in.... Well the turn had a sharp drop on the pavement, I thought I had room but as I took the turn the girl moved forward so I had to swerve to avoid her and I ran over the edge bottoming out.... I got home and noticed the bottom piece on my intercooler ended up scraping and breaking off one of the plastic brackets..... Anyways I JB welded it back on, it's curing right now... Anyways does anyone have suggestions how to keep the intercooler a little more protected....

 

That sucks man. Only recommendation I have is to not follow behind dumb broads in expensive German cars!

 

^this. next time get the chicks number btw

 

ur stock suspension? it must of been a HUGE drop then...

 

It's not huge.... But the way it angles

 

boo for angles, there are a few nasty drops in my town. havent bottemed out yet though *knock on wood*

 

Ugh dude that sucks big time. But this could be an excuse to pick up an aftermarket intercooler.

 

....most hang down below the stock intercooler...even more of an expensive fix.

 

Well, the JB Weld held up amazingly, so fixed.

I wish I had the money for a new intercooler haha, but I don't have the moula at the moment.

I am thinking of fabricating a guard plate that will fit under the front lip and overtop of the bottom of the intercooler with a little give space for shock, anything would be an improvement.

I have heard a lot of stories of people taking minor bumps etc.. and the intercoolers crack or are damaged to point of boost leak etc...

Anyways once I get something put together i'll let you know what I come up with.

 

Another victim. Check for intercooler leaks.

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/08-10-ss-turbocharged-general-discussion-152/remove-your-intercooler-condensation-pipe-212936/

 

My suggestion is find the dumb broad in her BMW and put a gun to her head and make her pay up for your troubles. J/K I won't forget the time I was driving from Jacksonville back to Wilmington on highway 17 when I was behind a Ford Explorer, which later he turned to the next lane in a split second and I end up running over a dead deer late at night about 10 o'clock out of nowhere. I was luckly I didn't crack my intercooler or destroyed my front end of my Cobalt. It was pure luck without any damage, but I did capture some of the hair on my air damper though.

 

or use brembo's and slow/stop before corner?

 

trust me it doesn't have to be a very big incline to slam that IC on something to break it ..

Someone needs to make some sort of Skid plate for the stock version . man that would sell like hot cakes .... a metal plate you could attach to it or plastic with some foam barrier ..

 

idk I havent hit mine and ive been on stock height and now pedders with no issue on MANY inclines and rough roads. Hence my confusion with everyone breaking theres.....

 

I guess we aren't all fortunate enough to drive on roads paved in gold ...

 

I guess you havent driven through Duluth...there hasnt been gold in this town for over 100 years. Streets here make st. paul / mpls look expensive.

 

what does that piece on the bottom of the stock IC do? is it just a skid plate? mine broke off...

 

It's a condensation trap.

 

I fixed it for you.

 

 

I'm in your situation with Pedders...the IC is pretty safe. However, I have gone up some inclines (slowly) and scraped the lip. It would take a pretty good bounce (speed) to make the car dip enough to scrape the IC with stock suspension..even with Pedders. Any more lowering and your asking for it.

 

um...my lip is scratched the f up...sooo idk the stock ic is like a few inches higher than the lip....

 

Yeah..scratched underneath where ya can't see it. That *few inches* higher on the IC makes a world of difference. I don't see hitting it unless you bounce BIGTIME on stock or Pedders. Guys any lower are gonna get the IC hammered unless they are VERY carefull.

 

The underside of my lip is unscathed after a year and a half only because my wife hates the car and doesn't drive it.

 

Trust me, I can vouch for this guy. Duluth is terrible. Makes Brainerd look like a day in paradise.