Whats good L61 forum?! I'ts been a while but I think its time we solidify this suspension swap as it is so vital an upgrade for handling on our platform. As a disclaimer I have searched the topic through and through on here and cant find solid answers.

What EXACTLY is needed for the FE-5 SS/TC shock and strut swap? Can you ONLY swap the shocks and struts?

Crate Engine Depot FE-5 Package

Or are other parts also needed? I've seen people mention the upper kit in needed

Upper Strut Mount Kit (CED)

What is the recommendation on Endlinks? I know most people go for MOOG links... is this upgrade essential to the swap to get the most out of it? (And of course not snap your stockers) Do you also swap to the FE-5 front Sway?

What springs are most guys running after this swap?

I know the current consensus is to go with CM or Powells YYZ V.2's but that seems to mostly come from the SS/TC guys... just trying to see what the 2.2L guys are running.

I plan to do this swap soon and will hopefully be doing a more comprehensive How-To than the one currently on CSS.net.

 

You can just swap the shocks and struts in with no problems

 

Why not just go with koni shocks and Powell springs, that's what I plan for the summer.

 

im gonna do fe5 susp package from crateengine and go with CM springs. and replace my endlinks with moogs.

 

I rocked the fe5(ss/sc) springs and shock/struts for about 5 years, do this at a minimum. Right now im on ss/tc shocks/struts and a set of sportlines. not sure whats next not to happy with these springs.

You don't need the upper strut kit but if you have higher miles it wouldn't hurt, as far as end links I haven't changed mine because I haven't changed my sway at yet. I'll do that eventually.

 

Going this same way. A lot of people changes the sway bars. But I'm gonna start by struts and shocks and going with CM springs, I'm also a 2.2.

 

Dude I swapped the springs within the first 4 months if ownership, I couldn't take the floating on the highway. Made me car sick and I was driving

 

Have any of you ever run ss/tc springs on the FE-5 setup? I'm slightly worried that CM springs will be a bit too low for the new england / boston area.. our roads are **** poor

 

Springs, struts, shocks are all direct swaps between both FE-5 and the L-61 platform. The Moog endlinks are preffered becaise they are greasable and thicker. If ride height is your major concearn on your local roads, CM's might be low. If it's pot holes you are concearned with, I say dodge them and use the FE-5 dampers. I live in Montucky, been on sportlines with LNF dampers for a few years, and they have held up fine. The roads here suck too, but get less traffic. Hope that helps a bit.

 

Mah, the roads up your way aren't too much worse then then the ones around my way, been up there a lot, I'm on sportlines and ss/tc's now hits hard but you get used to it. Got better since I went from 18's to 17's.

 

Trust me my town just doesn't re-do their roads. And I'm not trying to bottom out AT ALL. So I went with a set of SS/TC springs w/ <10k miles for $80 shipped so I'm happy

 

Do the moog endlinks work on a 2.2? I personally have an 09 manual trans.

 

They like to "patch" the roads around here, good deal. I was happy with the ss/sc's I had I just wanted lower.

@Andrew They should fit fine.

 

The upper strut mount is good to replace while you have it all apart already.

The struts/shocks are an identical swap over, just unbolt and bolt the new ones.

Spring choice is completely up to you and how low you want to go.

 

This is my exact setup.

 

would you say the endlinks are needed? and how much are they? i plan on getting cm springs + fe5's.

 

ZZP sells them.
Moog - MOOG Front Sway Bar End Link #

 

I'd personally say yes, with greasable ball joints, you will replace them a lot less. Plus they about twice the diameter of FE-1's. They are super cheap for piece of mind and stiffer front end. Iirc the set was about $40.

 

Sorry for bringing up an old post, but i have a base model cobalt that i put 17" rims on it, and would like to lower my car some, And since i need struts in the front and rear shocks i want to do the FE5 swap. Now i decided to go with CM springs and on the site they have Cobalt and SS should i go with the SS since i am doing the FE5 swap?

 

Or just do Coilovers for not much more.

 

did he ask that?

OP, you can't go wrong just go with SS to be safe maybe they're lower idk

 

Coilovers mo betta

 

Anybody swap the aluminum control arms when doing this? I have a used FE5 set, just curious.

 

yes. They swap just fine as long as they are from a 05-07 car. 08+ had a different ball joint shaft diameter

 

Are you sure about that? I have an 06 LS and I swapped to the FE5 aluminum alloy control arm from the latest TC iteration with Powell TCABs. It sure seemed like the right size when I put it together.