so i bought a 06 ss/sc that needed work, just for a back and forth to work car , so i don't mile out my duramax. and to save $$ on fuel,
its in need of struts and shocks, and im wanting to keep it a cheap as i can car, so if the struts arn't as sporty feeling as the FE5, thats not a big deal.
i just want to know if they are close to the FE3 or are they soft like the FE1 struts.
any one that has actually used them in a SS/SC or know anyone that has used them in any thing would be nice to hear your thoughts .
thanks

 

I have the full stock suspension off my 08 hhr ss. Lmk I'll let them go asap.

 

not really wanting to use used parts, and i thought the HHR stuff was a bit different than the cobalts. i may be wrong tho.
but thanks

 

hhr stuff bolts right into a cobalt.

whats the cost of this cheap stuff you want to throw in? part of the problem with the cheaper aftermarket struts is any strut will fit any cobalt, fe1, fe3 and fe5, so they make one strut valved soft for the fe1 cars and sell it as a one size fits all ( even though the swaybar link mount is in a different spot on fe5 cars).

myself, i wouldnt cheap out, id order a pair of ss/tc struts from crate engine depot. the front struts are $220us for the pair, you can add rear shocks into that for under $300.

 

Well $210 shipped to Canada for full struts and shocks off ebay. I will have to look at CED. I seen there full built struts and shocks but they were $900 usd plus shipping and exchange.... to much .

 

Guess I should ask if the springs ever go bad? Car has 210k km on it. I can get the FE5 struts from work for 130 Canadian each at work but that's just the strut no spring or mounts.

 

It would be a good idea to replace the top mount since it is a wear item. The springs can rust and crack. If/when it will happen depends on your car, and if it has seen salt. You can get a full suspension package from ottp with fe5 struts and shocks, plus lowering springs for under 600 if you want to go that route. I wouldnt cheap out on suspension and buy that prime junk.

 

Thanks. I'll look into the ottp stuff to.

 

I would personally go back with FE5 suspension parts. Seems like you wear stuff out when you don't put factory back on and go cheaper.

Hey Sharkey what is the difference between SC and TC struts/shocks? I've been told and researched that I can put YYZ spring on my SC so I'm just wondering what the advantage of going TC if I already have FE5? I can't find what the actual difference other than newer and part number is anywhere on here.

 

the tc strut is valved firmer than the sc and it works better with lowering springs. actually, they work better all around. externally they are the same.

if the struts you are looking at is a fully assembled strut (strut, spring, mounts) thats ready to bolt in the car, thats whats known as a quick strut. i have yet to hear of a quick strut assembly being specifically for an fe5 suspension, most are valved for fe1 suspension and has a soft spring on them. considering the price of them, they cant be anything of quality, id bet within a year they will be leaking.

 

Don't cheap out on parts. I was broke last summer and needed brakes. Bought a cheap set and a rotor went bad in a month, the other one vibrates, the pads over heat after one panic stop and they needed to be replaced in a year because the friction material was gone.

 

Tried the cheap route too many times and then hated driving the car when I was done ( but I've never cheated out on my cobalt, she is spoiled.

 

Well you have convinced me to not cheap out. I found the source of my knock
To be my sway bar mount bushings. But Will still prob need struts down the road. So I'll be ordering the FE5 from work when I need them.
Just hard to spend money on the car when it was just supposed to be a cheap back and forth car to keep the miles off my diesel and cheap on fuel ...
But it did average 6.1L /100km on my last road trip of 1000km. A
Mostly highway at about 110km/hr .... Not to bad

 

That mileage sounds generous. How'd you measure?

I'm usually hovering around low 7's instant on the highway. 6 with a tailwind.

 

If you don't mind doing it over again they are ok. I am on my 3rd set of wheel hubs from them if that says anything to you about their parts.

 

went by the DIC, everything on the car is stock, and it was all highway at 110km/hr for the most part , maybe some 90km/hr as i was in banff. but seems to be working well.

 

How many miles are you getting out of them? That sucks that they rant working for ya.