So last winter I recognized a grinding noise in the middle of winter (<15 degrees) it came from the front right whenever I would go over sudden bumps (IE: railroad crossings, turning onto the street out of an alley, doesnt have to be large bumps). I immediately thought something had loosened up and was dragging on the ground (it was right after i installed my intercooler so I went straight to that) but everything was fine. It warmed up, sound stopped, and I kind of forgot about it.

Well this winter its back and worse then ever, during <35 degree weather. It sounds HORRIBLE and now I can hear it coming from both sides(mostly right still). I checked intercooler, radiator, charge piping, radiator fan, just about everything I could see short of removing the bumper. I gave the front end the good ole jump on the suspension...no squeaks or anything(I literally stood on top of the frame and jumped up and down lol).

Ive never done any suspension work and know virtually nothing about suspension so I feel like it will be pretty obvious to the more experienced....any idears?

Also got a rear rattle that stops when I put ANY force on the brakes, car doesnt have to slow down, just a tiny bit of force applied from the brakes. Not really worried about that since Im a broke college student and it sounds like a bushing to me but opinions still welcome

 

brake rattle in back may be caused by pad retaining clips being loose? i just had the same problem in my mazda winter car. rattles like crazy but would go away when i applied the brakes. mechanic checked and pads were loose due to clips missing. whoever did the brakes last time did a shitty job.

as for death grind. chaulk it up to it being a cobalt :/ could be anything. i know when i've driven mine on a few brisk days and hit some bumps the shocks moan like a two dollar ***** on payday.

 

I'll check the brakes, I replaced the rotors in the front and pads all around last summer and I'm pretty sure it was making the noise prior but I never did a checkup on them after breaking em in! Also I was cluelessly following a how to guide so definitely worth a look

I'll be home till saturday so hopefully I'll be able to throw it up an a lift and check out everything, I really feel like I'm about to lose something from the front while driving its just a straight up metal on metal grinding noise. I think I can feel it thru the steering column but I cringe a little everytime I hear it so might be placebo there lol

 

death grind woooo wait

where the death grind music at?

 

Yeah where's the grinding? My car did the same and got bad to shift until I changed tranny fluid. Now it's nice in the cold.

 

Mostly passenger side engine bay, little bit on driver side when i hit bumps on that end. It was 41 here most of the day and I only heard it once speeding on the backroads. Tranny fluid isnt old but I'll check up on it regardless!

Edit: oh wait i get it

 

I've heard of this "common" problem with all cobalts (base or SS), and the problem is the shocks, when they get cold they make a shitty grind noise, my LT did it for the first month of cold weather after summer, hasn't done it since. However I've driven my SS/TC a couple days this winter, and it never grinds, both under 30k KMs. Have a look at yours though, sounds like that could be your issue.

 

Mine has done this for a few years. Goes away when it is warm, comes back when it is below about 25 F. I am guessing it is the shocks/struts. I plan to replace them next year, so we'll see if it goes away. It sounds almost like a tire rubbing/hitting when you go over a speedbump (rubber on rubber/plastic, etc.) or the strut mounts getting old. It used to only come from the back, but now it is both front and back, especially when the car has sat for several hours. Mine has 56K miles.