Sonic Lift Kit How-To

[JNizza92]

No worries, I understand that (I have raced stage rally's for last 5 years). I was hoping the springs had a higher rate and would take care of that. I'm also on the RallyX committee for STL and our current field setup, this kind of setup would likely be needed.

I wouldn't go 100% without figuring out the limits of the kit first. For me the kit is not to be a "rallyX setup" but just something i could use for going to the river as well as go play a bit of rallyX. If the setup feels unsafe i'll just go back to stock.

I am part of the SCCA with the Detroit Region and our region has recently started enforcing a strict "no lifted vehicles" policy for rallyX. I brought the Sonic out to our last even and took a couple laps in it with the safety stewards and from experience, it was not as safe as I would like it to be. Not so much due to tipping, but the unsprung weight of the tires/wheels makes it super bouncy over rough corners and that made it feel tippy. A "custom" setup of springs and dampers would make it okay, I have ran flat/frozen courses with no issues (see picture below), but the rough and bumpy dirt courses are not great for this setup

just curious if you measure how much lift you gained? Specifically if you know how much more ground clearance you have over stock height?

I gained about 2.5-3" ground clearance

 

[Totsu]

few questions ..

I see quick struts mentioned.. is there that ability? if so part numbers? or do you have to piece it as it originally states, I'm just confused cause of that mention of a quick strut, which would make life easier ..

also having a 2012 HB LTZ turbo ,will 15 inch rims still clear ..

car does great in the snow and clearance isn't the issue, just having the 17's and potholes here will eat these tires as a snack in the spring, I just like the fact of beefier tires, and having to get tires and rims in the spring cause I only got it with winters, rather decide what I'm going to do now before the tax man lol

already added a lift to my dodge caliber (jeep patriot 2 1/4 inch lift) and 31's bfg's haha

I didnt do quick struts because of the possibility that the tophats for the Encore/Trax being different than the sonics, if someone could confirm that they are the same part # then quick struts would be quicker and maybe shave a few $$$

Also as far as wheels, my mud tire setup was with 15" wheels and they had no clearance issues. I was concerned about 15s when i first ordered them because I have the ZZP rear disc conversion but they clear everything just fine.

 

[Totsu]

Nice thread.

For people looking to do it safely and have a better ride I'd suggest finding the manufacturer of the spring from GM service/parts online and getting specs from manufacturer. Then call KYB, they have excellent phone customer service and a huge inventory. They probably have a better shock/strut combo for that ride height and Sonic weight vs the Trax, which is around 300-600 lb difference. If you want a sonitruuuuuck I guess trax shocks are fine

Custom springs run 150-300$/pair and usually stock springs are needed as a reference unless the company has them in inventory *cough no economy car ever* Pricey if the car is a daily.

The main point of piecing together this lift was to have a realatively cheap way to lift the sonic with readily available oem parts, yes ordering custom struts and springs to tailor the ride to your specific needs would be ideal but it wasnt pertinent to my goals.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[Scot]

I gained about 2.5-3" ground clearance

About 6" more than mine.

 

[sportyrider]

Just wondering if anybody else has lifted their Sonic and what their thoughts are. I'm thinking about doing the same. I think I would probably use lighter less aggressive tires though maybe geolander A/T G015.

 

[SoCalRs]

So how do you compare the ride to when you used the BC set up ? Was the Bc higher ? Coilovers in front you can ajust the spring rate , I have CX racing the fronts are great the rear is crap I ran it without the spacer and lock ring and it was slammed but once you get a passenger in the rear forget it I been slowly creeping higher and higher ever since all I would need to do is ajust my front as high as it will go put a stock spring in the rear with the spacer and lock ring get a set of BFG all terrains add a basket to my roof rack and instant Desert Runner .....at least I hope it's that easy .....

 

[RockyPatel15]

Time to bring this thread back from the dead. After lurking for ages, I'm finally taking the leap and recreating this setup for my '15 base model. Just ordered the struts and shocks this afternoon, going to grab all the other bits after my next paycheck. Totsu, you're the real MVP. Lots of pics and such to follow.

Just wondering if anybody else has lifted their Sonic and what their thoughts are. I'm thinking about doing the same. I think I would probably use lighter less aggressive tires though maybe geolander A/T G015.

Those are actually the tires I'm currently running. Gas mileage sucks, they're still a lot louder than stock, and they ring like a bell when you hit a big pressure crack. But they're great on dirt and gravel, and the added ride height over stock tires makes my hellish driveway a lot easier to manage. Totally defeats the purpose of a standard economy car, but I'm happy with the results.

 

[RockyPatel15]

This is the current setup. Fleabay light bar and mount, Rhino roof rack, no-brand roof basket, Yokohama Geolander A/Ts, and OReilly's wheel trim rings.

 

[RockyPatel15]

Got the first shipment of parts in today, so I can say with certainty it's actually happening. Got a solid deal on the struts on Amazon ($180 for the pair, AC Delco, not some off-brand crap), and shelled out $51 for rear shocks through Parts Geek. Everything else will be coming from GMPartsDirect, placing that order this evening. Might be a couple of weeks before I actually do the install, but pics of the process and final product to follow.

 

[Sailurman]

Survey says??

Got the first shipment of parts in today, so I can say with certainty it's actually happening. Got a solid deal on the struts on Amazon ($180 for the pair, AC Delco, not some off-brand crap), and shelled out $51 for rear shocks through Parts Geek. Everything else will be coming from GMPartsDirect, placing that order this evening. Might be a couple of weeks before I actually do the install, but pics of the process and final product to follow.

We want an update with pictures!!!:banana:

 

[famousas]

Has anyone been able to verify that the QuickStrut assembly for the Trax will fit? Also dose it make a difference between FWD and AWD?

 

[famousas]

Just trying to verify before I pull the trigger. Has anyone been able to verify that the QuickStrut assembly for the Trax will fit? Also dose it make a difference between FWD and AWD?

 

[famousas]

OK, pulled the trigger. Just got finished. Quick question, will 215 75r15 fit on the stock rim?

 

[famousas]

Some pics

 

[SouthFLSonic]

Some pics

Have the link to the quick struts you ordered?

 

[JNizza92]

Hey all - it's been a little while since this thread has been updated.

After living with the Trax/Encore front + rear setup for a while I was getting a decent bit of tire rub in the rear when going over bumps, this led me to investigate a different setup for the rear. Front is still Trax/Encore quick struts.

After a day in the junkyard swapping parts from donor vehicles to a junkyard Sonic I landed on rear springs out of a Pontiac G6 Coupe/Chevy Malibu (AC Delco Part: 45H1156). See images below for the catalog of springs I collected at the junkyard to try.

https://imgur.com/a/H4jleW0
https://imgur.com/a/Jrs9f9Q

For the rear shocks, I ended up fabricating some extensions that bolt to the stock lower shock mounting location and "shift" the mounting location up in vehicle position and a tad backwards (to clear the spring) - see images below for picture of extension (still needs to be finished and painted). I coupled these extension with stock Sonic shocks and it seems to perform pretty well!

https://imgur.com/a/J7l7ZKm
https://imgur.com/a/Jr0Pbyv

These changes netted be an addition 2 inches of clearance in the rear. I took measurements from the ground to the center of the wheel arch and with the old Trax setup it was 28", with the Malibu springs it is now around 30". The springs were tough to install, I had my wife stand on the brake drum while I wedged the springs into place, but once sitting on the ground it seems great!

 

[ScarredSaint]

Hey everyone. Haven’t seen an update in a while. I’m just curious if this setup has to be on a HB or if this same setup can work on the sedan.
2014 1.8 LT sedan

Thanks!

 

[fiddlerboy]

I'm also curious for any updates from JNizza92 or famousas. It's probably time to replace my shocks/struts (~140k miles) and an extra inch or two of ground clearance would be nice for the forest roads around here. How does the ride feel with the extra height? Is it markedly more tippy under normal highway driving?