Those are my hands, but those are LCA bushings not ball joints.

 

I can confirm that the part numbers listed by donbrew above are correct. I replaced mine earlier this summer at about $124/ea from GMpartsdirect.com, note that they incorrectly list the right control arm as 25836292. The incorrect part is actually the spindle (I found this out the hard way). Note that the control arms are special order so it may take 1-2 weeks to get them in before they're shipped to you.

 

why is there no aftermarket support for the FE5 suspension? I would really love to replace all the bushings with poly but everything is listed for the FE3 or FE1.

I will just get the gm part numbers listed above and go with that.
Are there any issues with the sway bar end links and after market parts or will the 9" moog units work?

 

Wait till you need CV/axles.

 

so far after going through all of your helpful comments, I have come down to 2 choices

keep my stock 80K control and ball joint and just replace the bushings with prothane poly bushings

or

buy new gm control arms based on the part numbers above.

I just dont think its a good idea to rebuild control arms with 80,000mi ball joints that have no replacement.

 

The sway bar end links will fit.
As for the LCA, get the parts I linked in post #3

 

After doing some more googling and reading on the Cobalt forum, I got in touch with John at PowellRaceParts.com.

I am having them add their solid control arm bushings to a new set of FE5 control arms.
Race Parts :: Powell Race Parts.com

Their website sucks, so if you are interested in their parts I would call them. He was also aware of the ball joint issue. He said the the newer LNF FE5 knuckles use 20mm balljoints, but the FE3 and FE1 use 19mm which is why they dont fit.

Thanks for all of the help!

 

ALL of the HHR FE5 ball joints are 20mm. But that answers the why the part numbers are wrong question; Early Cobalt FE5 was different from HHR FE5, but some yahoo at the publisher decided that all Cobalt parts are the same as all HHR parts.

If you could find out what year Cobalt changed we could tell members what lie to tell the parts guys. I.E.: my 2008 Cobalt SS not my 2008 HHR SS.

 

You, sir, have been FRAMED...

 

I just place an order with powell race parts. I got new control arms loaded with their solid control arm bushing, and a few other goodies.