Hmm interesting but I think the progress rear is a 21mm.

 

Does anyone know how big the stock sway bar is on an LT? I'm just wondering how much bigger this 7/8" bar would be.

 

3/4" is 19 mm, small difference from the progress bar, but remember, 06blackg85ss is talking about a set, progress only make a rear bar.

 

I want to know too

 

umm if my math is okay, 7/8 inches is just over 22mm. searched alot and only found this:

Cobalt FE1-3-5 Suspension Info

your suspension code is probably FE1 since FE3 is on SS and FE5 is SS s/c. so 19mm to a 22mm.

I dunno, replacing the front bar if its like a cavalier involves dropping the sub frame. Not hard but time consuming and annoying, I would get a 24mm or 26mm bar instead. maybe the SS s/c front bar will fit directly? just a thought.

 

I don't think the LT's came with a front sway bar.

 

All cars have a front sway bar.

 

In case the link doesn't work: note tho that stabilizer bar is accurate for the rear but the front is a sway bar.

All models feature a strut-type front suspension, semi-independent torsion beam rear suspension, and front and rear stabilizer bars for more exact body roll control. Speed sensitive electric power steering is tuned to match the performance levels of the various tire and suspension packages.

FE1 suspension – standard on LS, LT and LTZ models, it provides a smooth ride and includes a 19-mm front stabilizer bar and a 16-mm rear stabilizer bar

FE3 suspension – standard on SS models, it delivers a firmer, more direct ride and includes 22-mm front and rear stabilizer bars, four-wheel disc brakes, monotube shocks and 17-inch wheels and performance tires

FE5 suspension – standard on the SS Supercharged, it was developed on the racetrack to deliver sports car levels of handling and grip; 24-mm front stabilizer bar and 22-mm rear stabilizer bar, higher-rate springs and bushings, four-wheel disc brakes, monotube shocks and 18-inch forged aluminum wheels with complementing performance tires

 

The eibach is not out yet. Hopefully they get moving on them soon. There are a few options out there such as the progress and the suspension techniques bars.

 

Ok so if we have a pretty thick rear, and most aftermarket ones are are smaller or same thickness, then whats the point of putting one on?

 

Wanted to know how big the stock bar was. Answer I believe is 0"
Edit: The rear sway bar

 

That's the exact same question I have now after reading how thick our stock bars is.

I see the suspension techniques here but listed for the 2.2L. When I called they said it would fit the SS/SC but may not upgrade performance. Anybody out there have some info with this. If it is not so much the size but the adjustment ect.. if any.

http://www.cobaltperformanceparts.co...l?currency=USD

 

The stock rear bar is NOT a sway bar and it doesn't perform like a sway bar. There is a big advantage to putting a rear sway bar on the cobalt.

 

Ok then somebody educate me on the difference between our stock bar and a sway bar? Plus is one product better than the other for the rear, and what's the scoop with the front? Again suspension tech is cheaper than what Eibach will be when it comes out but I want to know if they are the same size, material ect..

 

From Gm,

"General Description
This vehicle has a semi-independent twist-beam rear suspension system consisting of the following components:

An axle with integral trailing arms
A V shaped twisting cross beam
Two coil springs
Two standard shock absorbers
An optional integrated stabilizer bar





The axle assembly attaches to the underbody through a rubber bushing and bracket located at the front of each integral trailing arm. The brackets are bolted to the underbody side rails. The axle structure itself maintains the geometrical relationship of the wheels relative to the centerline of the body. The optional stabilizer shaft is welded to the inside of the "V" shaped axle beam and is non-serviceable.

Rear axle to vehicle alignment is achieved through alignment holes located in both the left and right axle bracket and underbody. Whenever the rear axle is removed for service, it is important that the rear axle is re-installed in its proper position relative to the centerline of the vehicle. Use two 12 mm rods to achieve this alignment. Insert each rod through the axle bracket into the underbody, then tighten the bracket bolts.

Rear camber and tow are not adjustable. Replace any damaged suspension components as necessary."

I think adding an aftermarket sway bar would be similar to installing a bigger bar in place of the stock one. I have a Progress bar and it does make the car stay a little flatter in turns.
Dennis

 

finally some type of answer about our rears

 

well as im reading im seeing that alot of people are saying that theres no point to having these bars cuz they are the same size or smaller...No wi do alot of auto x and what i found out personally is that if you put a rear bar and take off your front sway bar you'll get more oversteer. Being that the ss/sc understeers alot this would actually be good around corners...i also found this out to because the time attack cobalt had its front sway bar removed, but then again they have 3grand set od shocks. i tested this out buy just removing the sway bar links and driving around and hitting hard corners and even doing an auto x event.. car handles a little bit better without the front sway bar.

 

well these are the types of answers i was looking for because im intrested in buying one if it will help out the suspension, instead of buying it for aesthetics or no reason at all.

 

Is it safe to say then to use the progress rear sway bar, front strut bar and you're good to go other than either lowering springs or coil-overs?

 

Sounds like for the SS/SC Suspension Techniques is not an upgrade. Do we know for sure what size the Progress rear anti-roll bar is? I saw 22 somewhere on here and that is the same size as we have stock.....unless there's an adjustment that makes sense I am waiting to see what eibach has.

Any info on Eibach sway bars related the SS/SC? If those bars are not better than the stock SS/SC bars then I am going to have to be satisfied with the DC front Strut tower bar, and Bwoody rear bar. I'm thinking coil-overs when I have the cash since I want to be able to adjust the height of the car for daily driving then lower if I do any auto cross. Lowering springs would just iritate me as I know I'd be scraping everywhere in town.

Anybody have input on coil-overs or is there a good thread already out there?

 

I literally put the progress sway bar in hours ago and it fits and works great. I mean, Holy **** its effective, easily the best money i have spent for my car so far. Along with my Ingalls TD and my DC strut bar my car drives trought and pulls off of on ramps a good 10 miles an hour faster than stock. I highly recomend these three items, together they shouldn't be more than 500$ and are easy to install, if you have half a bit of skill with a tool. Also, you don't have to worry about all of the things associated with a stiffer spring as in harsher ride and thrown off suspension geometry.

 

Anybody else have some feedback on the progress sway bar. How hard or easy to install. Did it make a difference? How does it make a difference if it is the same size? Is it stiffer material? ect...

 

If you read the directions and have the car on jack stands it shouldnt take more than 20 minutes to install. I say read the directions because i tried to wing it and had a lot more trouble ( maybe cause i was trying to install it backwards). Any way you can really just crawl under the car and do it, i did, all you need is a torque wrench and a 14mm socket, i think. It is super effective.

 

sorry maybe I didn't say that....a sway bar keeps your car flat and level when you take a hard corner. the stock REAR stabilizer bar in the ss s/c only stiffens up the frame. it does nothing for body roll.

notice when you take a hard turn the ass end of your ss s/c will be all over the place. the rear bar will remove most of that. Mind you in my old cavalier I had a 26mm front and 22mm rear bar and didn't like it that much, when I switched to 26 rear to match the front the car really handled good and felt predictable.

so the progress rear bar at 22mm is worth it but I'm going to wait until I can get a 24mm to match the front. I don't see going with bigger sway bars then 24/24, seems to be a bit of overkill, thats just my opinion though. plus I've changed front sway bars out of my cavalier and my friends like 8 times, so I don't want to do that again for quite awhile.

 

There is a How To in the How To section that explains how to install it.