Design flaw on Scud's front rims/brakes !!!

I have heard of this issue before also, a friends Scud has the same problem he gets it while he tracks the car, because the Scud brakes are 398mm using a 19" wheel there is very very little space between the barrel and the caliper. The scud wheel im sure was made slightly different to fit the front brake calipers.

 

While not a long term solution, can't you just have the rims painted again instead of replacing them?

 

It is not a design flaw !!!

The Scuderia is a track focused street car, with very little compromises.

Any car (not just the Scuderia) with big brakes can get road debris going in between the wheels and the calipers, and scratch the wheels and top portion of the calipers. My Scuderia has both front wheels and calipers with scratches.

Check all the F430 Challenge cars that are actively racing, the 997 GT3 Cups, the 997 GT3 street cars with PCCB running 18" wheels, they all go through this, but their owners don't post about design flaws. Ferrari went through the engineering effort to allow 19" wheels so we could have access to slicks and race tires, rather than doing what they did with the F458 (is rolling on 20" wheels).

So if you don't want the scratches in your pristine car you can:

1) Sell Scuderia and get a F430 with standard brakes (don't get CCB as it will likely get the same)
2) Get a F458
3) Get custom made 22" wheels on your favorite finish
4) Avoid driving the Scuderia
5) Downsize your Scuderia brakes to 360 Modena brakes

 

I love this man!

 

The inner side of your wheels should be the lowest of your concerns, look at this:

1) the ultra expensive $$$ carbon diffuser will get scratches on the fins, the outer fins are hollow not solid so they eventually develop holes. Replacement part $16,000.
2) All the underbody panels (fiberglass) will develop scratches and cracks from bottoming out.
3) Underneath of the front bumper, it will peel the paint up to the white powder that covers the fiberglass.
4) Sand blasting of the side skirts and rear edge of the rear bumper.

You can get the 20" optional Forged wheels for the Scuderia and the problem will reduce a lot, as you get another 12mm of clearance to the calipers. I put my balance weights outside the wheels by the spokes to increase clearance with the calipers.

On 19" wheels I can run Hoosier A6/R6, Kumho V710, Michelin/Pirelli slicks, and many sizes and brands of tires. Right now I'm running RE-11 245/285 and I like them the best on street use compared to stock Corsas and the 3 sets of R888 I ran.

 

Better than a pebble getting stuck between the caliper and rotor. Happened to my mom while driving through construction in Yellowstone.

 

I also have scratches on my scud wheels with 4200 miles on them. The scratched areas do change in depth as the wheel rotates, most likely meaning that the foreign object cut the line then the line lessened in depth as the foreign object wore down. The lines are not too noticeable unless one cleans immaculately the inside on the wheels. I think that I will just let the wheel dust cover the scratches.

As far as rocks go, more than 10 small, 1/8 to 1/4 inch rocks and one non-Ferrari screw have entered the panel under my driver's door. These items make a terrible rattle with hard accelerating or hard braking. The dealer emptied the area and saved them for me. The dealer has on order a new wheel well cover since mine is about 1 inch short and allowing this debris to enter.

Please enjoy and drive your car and don't lets the small things spoil your enjoyment of one of the greatest automobiles ever made...

 

How big a gap do you want? Will 1/2 inch be enough? How about 1 inch?


I do not care how big or small the gap is debris can and will get in there.

 

Since the rims are painted, surface scratches should be fixable at a low cost.

Will Ferrari cover this under warranty?

Usually scratches on the exterior paint and wheels are covered when caught by the dealer during the prep or the customer during the walk around inspection. After driving off the lot, it depends. Hope you are on great terms with the dealer. That helps most of all. Good Luck and let us know how things turn out.

 

If these scratches are a somewhat common occurrence, repainting the barrels is probably a waste of time. One little stone and the damage will be right back.

Ferrari may warranty the damage (once, out of good faith), but I doubt they'll develop modifications which prevent future scratches. This cosmetic issue is an unfortunate side affect of an otherwise well engineered brake system, Ferrari probably considers it normal.

 

why not put a strip of paint protection film there if it really bothers you?

 

Yes this is a normal issue with BBK...

 

What would be the point? The etching can occur within minutes the same day they are painted.

 

If it etches through metal how long would you expect 6 mil plastic film to last?

 

1. Is a simple Carbon repair. We've done it several times. No need to replace part.

 

Interesting. Have not heard about it on the 575M and Superamerica HGTCs with 19" wheels and 398 mm front rotors.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

OMG!!!!

 

Thought it was etching through the paint

 

What's the benefit of having the caliper so close to the wheel? Are they just trying to fit the largest brake within the given wheel size?

I don't see this problem in any of my older Ferrari's or Porsches. It seems unlikely to have something damage the wheel when it's 1/4" or more. I guess the dirt that finds its way into the wheel opening is usually smaller.

The spacing on the Enzo is about 0.5" and the CGT over 1". Nothing ever gets caught with that spacing.

 

Is this post for real? What's the profile of the Scuderia buyer?
How many Scud owners do take their car to the track where is meant to excel and where it was designed to be?
How many have checked the clearance on a racecar's calipers and brakes (ie none at all)?

 

I joined a club that lets me take my Scud to the track once a month. Next month I get to play at Road America for the day. I've never checked for brake caliper clearence and have no interest in doing so. However, constantly checking my tires is an entirely different matter.