Sooooooooo i been riding around in my LS on Sportlines for almost a year now and with the shitty streets around here my FE1 suspension is crapping out on me.. feels like every little bump is a boulder, painful....

My main question; is there a big difference between the FE3 and the FE5 setups? i noticed CrateEngineDepot has the FE5 for like $290 but ive also seen some FE3 in the classifieds.

Just curious which would be smarter quality/price wise

 

also curious if there is a difference in ride height at all

 

ride height will be the same. FE5 is a much stronger setup, and they handle much better.

 

Obligatory "There is a sticky at the top of this forum or search comment here."
The FE1 is the soft ride suspension, FE3 is the sport suspension, and FE5 is performance and handling. FE5 will be stiffer then what you are used to.

 

i went with the FE5 from CED and put my sportlines on them, just because there known for being stronger I guess. Im happy with them.

 

i read the sticky, a couple stickies actually and they didnt really say much as far as what i asked above. just wanted some real people suggestions..

and i like soft ride suspension lol but it doesnt seem to like my sportlines.... i just want to be comfy in my DD, im not racing or anything

will probably do FE5, they are cheap enough

 

The fe1 and fe3 are not meant to have lowering springs, same shock according to gm. the FE5 shocks were made to handle lowered suspension. You can go aftermarket with kyb or konis and maybe get something close, but you will have to face the fact that you will have a stiffer ride lowered.

 

The sportlines are the problem. I ran them on my FE5 struts and shocks for about 5 years and 50ish thousand miles. Just swapped them out today for Eibachs Prokit. My experiance is the sportlines are so low that even with a higher spring rate they bottom out easy. All you get is a rough ride and questionable handling. If your looking to upgrade a little I'd recommend the FE5 struts, shocks, and springs. A pure factory setup, nothing special.

 

I have the SS/TC shocks and struts and recently got Pedders. Awesome-o's every day. I had the FE5 stuff installed with SS/SC springs for a year, they were OK but I would go for TC springs or Pedders and loose the Sportlines. I will say I notice the bumps more now with the Pedders but the benefits far outweigh the new bumpyness. I have a 2006 Cobalt LS. Might also want to look into the control arm and CAB swap, I'm doing that at the beginning of next summer I believe

 

I'm in the same situation right now. Took off the stance because I hated the rough ride, I want to be lower than stock and don't mind some stiffness but i'm not sure what springs and shocks/struts to go with.

 

Best option for cash is SS/TC struts and shocks. Pedders spring are arguably the best on the market but man they charge like they are the best too.

 

thanks everyones, will be getting the FE5 but a like teh lowness so i dont want to lose the sportlines.....

 

How do the sportlines feel? Have read where a few people said they were kinda soft in the rear.

 

haha they kinda are.. but they're ok, i got them for the low not really for the feel. they can be rough sometimes but all in all im happy

 

I put load assist airbags in mine long ago to help the rear out. Even did a write-up on it on here in the how to section.