Suspension
Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,315
From: Slightly off center
How many miles on the stock struts/shocks?
Might want to slow down. P=MV. At least it did in high school. Once it overtakes the friction
What condition are your tires in (tread left, tread worn evenly)?
How many miles since last aligned?
Not saying you don't need struts/shocks; but it is, of course, a combo of all of the above that
19Bonestock88 is our resident Ion dude. I will electronically harass him onto the forum on your behalf
Might want to slow down. P=MV. At least it did in high school. Once it overtakes the friction
What condition are your tires in (tread left, tread worn evenly)?
How many miles since last aligned?
Not saying you don't need struts/shocks; but it is, of course, a combo of all of the above that
19Bonestock88 is our resident Ion dude. I will electronically harass him onto the forum on your behalf
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,496
From: Wellington, NZ
I will second the questions asked by Derf. I will also advise to slow the hell down, if you’re cornering hard enough to lift tires on stock and good condition suspension, you’re trying to die... seriously, if you want a whole new suspension setup, go into RockAuto and order:
struts and shocks(not quick struts): ACDelco brand from 2009 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo(RPO FE5)
springs : ACDelco brand for 2007 Saturn Ion Redline 2.0Supercharged (RPO FE3)
all other upper strut mounts/bushings/bearings for your year and engine
this gives you the best factory spring and shock/strut combo available for these cars...
the he RL springs will drop your car about half an inch after they settle, but they’re stiffer than the ones on the base models and better than most aftermarket drop sorings(including mine) and the dampers are lots firmer than stock... this will give better stability than stock...
for bonus points for reducing body roll, buy the FE3 sway bar from the Redline and the FE5 end links from the 2009 Cobalt SS, and buy the Progress rear sway bar...
all the above will will give you the best possible suspension setup for an Ion, short of spending thousands on a custom coilover setup...
my Redline had all the above minus the rear sway bar and it handled amazing, and I could average about 93mph on my work commute if I ran late, all while not going over 120mph... no need to slow too much for corners with the proper tire(which SHOULD NOT BE NEGLECTED)
struts and shocks(not quick struts): ACDelco brand from 2009 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo(RPO FE5)
springs : ACDelco brand for 2007 Saturn Ion Redline 2.0Supercharged (RPO FE3)
all other upper strut mounts/bushings/bearings for your year and engine
this gives you the best factory spring and shock/strut combo available for these cars...
the he RL springs will drop your car about half an inch after they settle, but they’re stiffer than the ones on the base models and better than most aftermarket drop sorings(including mine) and the dampers are lots firmer than stock... this will give better stability than stock...
for bonus points for reducing body roll, buy the FE3 sway bar from the Redline and the FE5 end links from the 2009 Cobalt SS, and buy the Progress rear sway bar...
all the above will will give you the best possible suspension setup for an Ion, short of spending thousands on a custom coilover setup...
my Redline had all the above minus the rear sway bar and it handled amazing, and I could average about 93mph on my work commute if I ran late, all while not going over 120mph... no need to slow too much for corners with the proper tire(which SHOULD NOT BE NEGLECTED)
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,496
From: Wellington, NZ
I’m running the whole setup, minus the sway bars, on an 04 ION-2 sedan... bolts up fine, handles great... I did buy some lowering springs online (DNA motoring from Walmart.com), but the car would do better on factory RL springs...
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,496
From: Wellington, NZ
I SHOULD add, for purpose of adding info that the FE5 lower control arms from the 2007 Cobalt SS/SC work on the Ion as well... the real advantage with these is that they’re aluminum instead of stamped steel, so they’re just a little lighter but a whole lot stiffer... I’ve got them on my 04 sedan, but badly wish I had them on then 04 RL I drove
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