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FE5 Balljoints
Over last weekend I installed some moog ball joints on my 08 SS. I went on the assumption that the ball joint should be compatible with the FE5 suspension. The last couple days of driving it actually felt worse so I jacked it up last night to find that the ball joint shaft that goes into the knuckle was loose to the point I could move it about 1/8th of an inch side to side without much effort. It seemed to fit up ok initially, but last night I had to crank the retention bolt way past spec to get it to close around the ball joint shaft and stop moving. I was so angry I put it back together with the bolt cranked and never drove it because I am worried about wrecking the knuckle. I looked up joints online and Moog has the same PN for the FE3 and FE5 suspensions so I am starting to wonder if I just cut off the correct ball joints to install the wrong ones? I can’t imagine GM would use a different ball joint with only 0.020 - 0.030” more meat on it… would they?
Has anyone put on Moog #K80567 ball joints on an SS? (I did send a note too moog last night to get some sort of feedback) |
Originally Posted by BZERKED
(Post 653708)
Over last weekend I installed some moog ball joints on my 08 SS. I went on the assumption that the ball joint should be compatible with the FE5 suspension. The last couple days of driving it actually felt worse so I jacked it up last night to find that the ball joint shaft that goes into the knuckle was loose to the point I could move it about 1/8th of an inch side to side without much effort. It seemed to fit up ok initially, but last night I had to crank the retention bolt way past spec to get it to close around the ball joint shaft and stop moving. I was so angry I put it back together with the bolt cranked and never drove it because I am worried about wrecking the knuckle. I looked up joints online and Moog has the same PN for the FE3 and FE5 suspensions so I am starting to wonder if I just cut off the correct ball joints to install the wrong ones? I can’t imagine GM would use a different ball joint with only 0.020 - 0.030” more meat on it… would they?
Has anyone put on Moog #K80567 ball joints on an SS? (I did send a note too moog last night to get some sort of feedback) |
It could be that your 2008 is either an early or late year build. I've come across this in many cars, including the HHR.
As an example, I'll use the HHR. I had to replace sway bar end links in a 2008 LS, so I recieved the proper part number for a 2008 (MOOG part also), but the links were totally the wrong length. I looked up the part # for a 2007 and once I looked at them, they were the proper ones. It's not uncommon for manufacturers to carry over the previous year's parts, to the next model year, before they change everything over a new design. Not saying that this is your problem, but I have dealt with that type of situation quite a few times in the last 10 years. Not only happening to GM or MOOG either |
X2...happened to my buddies malibu with rotors. I thought it was a computer/inventory issue. we actually had to bring the rotors in and measure them up to a year older model(in the computer) so i like to bring parts in with me if(BIG IF) its possible
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GM did make changes to the SS suspension so a differnet size could be a real thing here. They did not just change the springs and shocks.
To confirm it call the dealer and have them check the SS part number vs the LS. |
Trying to find them, summit not listed, discount auto shock, cant find match, I'll look some more but if Summit don't carry it who would ?
these guys say this is a guaranteed fit. http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sk...gs+Best+Seller but it's the same # you have. |
RE: the sway bar links, the problem is actually the parts books failure to recognize a difference between a Cobalt and an HHR in some parts categories.
RE: the ball joints; might be the same "book" problem; might have been better off to get lower control arm assemblies since the bushings are probably bad too, and less labor involved. And that may answer my Q about why the FE5 control arm costs $100 more than the FE3. I got FE3, so they were only about $80 each. |
Originally Posted by SS fan
(Post 653824)
Trying to find them, summit not listed, discount auto shock, cant find match, I'll look some more but if Summit don't carry it who would ?
these guys say this is a guaranteed fit. http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sk...gs+Best+Seller but it's the same # you have. |
This has been a mess.. The knuckels only have 2 part numbers and thats with or with out active breaking option. They didnt want to cross check FE3 arm vs. FE5 for me and I called multiple places. I can tell you for sure that the moog joints are too small. I am so SOL and now have to drop the note on new FE5 arms. I am not done with Moog...
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Hard to believe you are the first to have this problem, wonder if Moog even knows ? Thanks for posting your progress, I'm sure lots of us are getting close to needing to know what to do.:thumb:
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