Ok can i order some cobalt front rotors and slap them on my HHR, can i swap out the back axel to get disc brakes in the back? can i get a cobalt ss and take itd LSD for my car etc...

To answer your first question ... looks like that's a negative. The fronts on the Cobalt are different from the HHR fronts, probably because the HHR stuff has to be beefier for the heavier curb weight. This is an educated guess, mainly based on the brake pad listings for both cars (Cobalt uses 956 pads on standard, 1028 pads on the SS: HHR uses 1160 pads. These are Raybestos/Bendix system numbers).

Don't the cobalts have 4 lug hubs ??

Don't the cobalts have 4 lug hubs ??

SS Cobalts have 5. They have the same bolt pattern as the HHR.

CH-
I read somewhere the cobalts had 4 lugs..That was the main difference in the platform for the cobalt & HHR (Don't know about the SS cobalts either.)

Could the regular cobalts still have 4 lugs ??

Base model cobalts for 2005-2006 are a 4-lug type hub. The SS models both NA and Supercharged have 5 lug hubs like the HHR. Same bolt pattern. The newer Cobalts 2007 and up are all 5 lug hubs like the HHR. As far as brakes go the fronts shouldn't be a problem I think we're the same as they are due to heft. The rears would require a lot though. SS rear hubs, brackets, brake lines, etc... Basically the whole rear axle from a Cobalt SS.

Sounds like a good project though! :twothumbs

yea i wouldn't mind getting a crashed cobalt taking the LSD, then rear axel to get the dics brakes, so how can we find out for sure on the rotors fitting? since cobalt rotors are so much cheaper on ebay then anything our supporting vendors can compete with?

Trial and error. :lol: Who wants to be the guinea pig? :confused:

As far as brakes go the fronts shouldn't be a problem I think we're the same as they are due to heft.

See my post above. Cobalt and HHR use completely different brakes. There's three numbers between them, and none of them match.

I have talked to a GM parts person at the local dealership and he said that the parts from a SS Cobalt will fit on the HHR. But, it will be about $1200 for the parts (hubs, rotors, calipers, lines), an aftermarket conversion kits costs about 50 bucks less and comes with bigger rotors.

I am sure you could get a crashed cobalt and take the back axel for like 500-600

maybe even less! i say go for it!

To answer your first question ... looks like that's a negative. The fronts on the Cobalt are different from the HHR fronts, probably because the HHR stuff has to be beefier for the heavier curb weight. This is an educated guess, mainly based on the brake pad listings for both cars (Cobalt uses 956 pads on standard, 1028 pads on the SS: HHR uses 1160 pads. These are Raybestos/Bendix system numbers).

I believe that the HHR actually has a lower curb weight than the Cobalt Sedan.

There may also be other parts that need to be replaced. Sometimes the master cylinders are different as it may require different fluid volumes nad pressure for discs versus drums. Also the proportioning/equalizer valves may need replacement or an adjustable one installed. Drum brakes are
"self-energizing", meaning that once they are engaged, they tend to grab harder just from the friction. Disc brakes require pressure proportional to the amount of braking needed - they are not self-energizing.

To get optimum performance from a disc brake conversion, you have to think "brake system", not just "rear brakes".

Steve

I did a rear axle swap on a mustang...drum to discs. I swapped out the proportioning valve from the disc brake car as well. I did not swap the master cylinder. The brakes worked fine, but not as well as i thought they should.

I believe that the HHR actually has a lower curb weight than the Cobalt Sedan.


Actually my HHR weighed in at 3318 with 1/2 tank gas and me in the driver's seat. My friend's SS sedan with 1/2 tank and him driving was 3054. The HHR's are mostly metal and have a big added heft with the rear "wagon" style hatch. To say the HHR is the chunky brother of the Cobalt is speaking lightly.:thumb:


EDIT:::: Regardless of part number for the pads this does not mean the rotors are different. We could use the same rotors but the calipers may be different due to our heavier body or the SS's highperformance brake setup. Only thing you can do is check and see. Be a guinea pig!