I remember early on with these cars there was some deal about a replacement for the stock knuckles, because they could break under extreme driving. Now I'm doing my third autocross next month and have a chance for a free set of R6's. now I know not many people talk about them but realistically at what point should I start to worry about them?

 

Only if they break. It was a fairly rare issue.

I'd suggest you contact Powell to get the full story, he's the one who setup the race cars that needed the better knuckles, and now they are using the heavier LNF parts. He could tell you when you will start having problems from actual experience, and how to prevent it.

 

hoosier r6s? not a good auto x tire....... usually takes a road corse 4-6 laps to get up to temps let alone on a parking lot auto x.

lnf hubs are a good idea but i wouldnt change them unless they break. i highly doubt your car will see enough stress to cause a failure in the knuckle.

 

Probably better off with something like a nitty nt-05

 

It wasn't just them breaking, on my 06 SC they would also knock.

 

Every cobalt with the exception of the SS/TC come with the same knuckle, and very few have issues. If you really want to upgrade CED sells them but they cost a bit over $300 for each one.

I'd send a PM to Foximus (you'll see his car at the bottom of page one on this thread https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/auto...events-300541/ ). If he's still on the stock knuckles I wouldn't worry about it.

 

That clunk was either an axle issue, CAB's or improper torque from servicing. Not a defect in the knuckle.

 

Thanks guys, I haven't heard to much about people having issues with them but I figured its safer to ask.

 

Yeah I had my doubts too. Service tech was very sure of it, and it went away after it was swapped out. I sold it before I could look into it more. Only happened when I was turning hard right too.
Probably installed incorrectly or something as you said. When they replaced it they torqued it properly whatever. I didn't look into it too much as I sold it shortly after.

 

usually front end clunks are failed control arm bushings...... they seize, rip, etc etc.

 

Yeah, all those items get moved during a knuckle replacement, odds are that whatever wasn't right before just got put back correctly at the same time.

We did have an issue with knuckle noises at honda, they were swapping the accord knuckles out for a popping/clunk sound like that, but even honda admitted it was the ball joint design and the new knuckles were only a temporary fix until they designed a new part.

There's just no way a big, solid piece of forged aluminum can "pop" and still be in one piece. It's always a lubrication issue or a mounting point torque problem.