so i got FE5 control arms from a cobalt SS/TC

i have OTTP conrtol arm bushings put in

as i pull out my crappy FE1 control arms, and try to put the new ones in, it turns out the ball joint is bigger on the FE5 control arms compared to the FE1 control arms

so i just wasted all my money on new control arm bushings and control arms and they dont even fit....not to mention i did a lot of research to avoid this

im super pissed since the only way they would work is if i get SS/TC knuckles.....i cant seem to win

on top of this, i cant find any place that has my stock control arm bushings in stock so i cant even fix what i started

so much for the direct fit i was told this control arm swap was gunna be

 

The knuckles are different? I thought they were all the same size for the ball joint. Sucks for sure.

 

Hmm. This is the first situation I've heard of this....

 

btw im a 2007 LT so i have FE1 suspension

i dont know what to do :-(

 

That sucks, but from the sticky above:

"3. Knuckles are the same on every suspension up through 2007. In 2008, the FE5 knuckle was updated with various improvements for bump steer. It is NOT interchangeable. You can still use the GM Racing knuckles for those earlier years"

On the plus side, it would not be hard for you to sell those LCAs with the spherical CAB installed.

 

One of the first articles on gm tunersource about the tc mentions this. I remember reading that they changed the knuckle . ****, I hate that.... sucks man.

 

If you would have talked to Maven or John Im sure they could have told you this... Sucks though, good luck to ya!

 

can i just update my knuckle to fix this problem?

 

yeah but thats expensive isn't it?

 

Although it is possible to get the T/C knuckle, half of the stuff you'd have to replace to make it work would drive the cost up.

 

ok so here is the game plan.......press out the OTTP control arm bushings, put the originals back in (for the FE5 SS/TC control arms) and swap them out for a pair of SS/SC control arms....

before i do this my question is will SS/SC control arms fit in my 07 LT?

anyone?

particularly anyone who has done an FE1 to FE5 control arm swap?

 

i was going to get a pair of tc control arms at moradparts and they told me that
the 08 ball joint stud is .030 bigger in diameter than the 05 to 07.
So i ended up getting sc control arms, i havent installed them yet

 

wish i would have known that before i ordered mine

 

i didnt know either
i thought all suspension parts were interchangeable

 

For what it is worth, Moog list two different part numbers for FE1 and FE3/FE5 ball joints.

The FE1 with "soft ride suspension" is K80566
The FE3/5 sport suspension is k80567

 

Will the CAB's not work in SS/SC LCA's? That was going to be my plan...perhaps I need to do some more reading around the forums.

 

I did a FE3 to FE5 control arm swap and had a hell of a time getting the ball joints in. From what I understand there is a 1 millimeter diff in the ball joint stud from one to the other.

 

YOUDONT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE KNUCKLE. The knuckle will fit. YOu need alloy FE5 control arms buy the TC ones from CED they are cheaper. Repeat the knuckle is not a problem

That is correct there is 1 mm variation that I have measured but there seems no year or reason for it, it jsut varies. Spread the lower knuckle( it is slotted) with a large screwdriver or chisel SLIGHTLY. It is not an issue that way. The procedure for tightening the cross bolt for the bal joint to the knuckle has ""tighten to 37 ft lbs/LOOSEN 3/4 turn. Retorque to 37 ft lbs + 30 degrees" The reason for this is the variation in knuckles and ball joints.

OTTP CABS work in ALL LE5 alloy control arms all years....

 

Do more research before you buy

 

19.8 mm to 20.8 mm + or -. No big deal. If Morad are right and yes they know what they are doing and they are in the ball park, .030 is .77 mm. Its in the range....

Good advice but in this case all the information is there. Yeah, do the research. My bad you are right.

 

so when i was trying to force the SS/TC control arms into my knuckle i broke my CV joint

lesson learned here

FOR 2007 AND OLDER COBALTS WITH FE1 SUSPENSION, IF YOU WANT TO UPGRADE TO FE5 CONTROL ARMS YOU MUST USE SS/SC

FOR 2008 AND NEW COBALTS WITH FE1 SUSPENSION, IF YOU WANT TO UPGRADE TO FE5 CONTROL ARMS YOU MUST USE SS/TC

THE KNUCKLES WERE CHANGED BETWEEN 07 AND 08

sorry for the caps but i dont want anyone making this mistake like i did lol

so ya if anyone is planning on doing this upgrade follow my advice ull save urself a lot of headaches lol

 

How did you manage to break your CV joint?

 

i figured the ball joint would slip in eventually, so i tried jacking it up into the knuckle, and the CV joint gave.....stupid move i was just rele frustrated at that point

 

you said it. Proper attention to detail as written in these posts you would be fine. Open up the knuckle .030 and in you go...you can probably re insert the shaft into the plunge joint I imagine thats what has slipped out....meh

 

beat me to it john. and yes it is a MAJOR PITA to spread the knuckles but its well worth it! i have them on my car. oh and thanks again john

not entirely true... my 09 has ss/sc LCAs