355 Steering

A while back Brian Crall stated that they used to drop the front nose a bit (IIRC, 1/2") to improve the steering / handling.

 

Two things:

1. You can change to a Fiarano steering rack
2, Or, you can convert to a manual version.

 

I agree the faster Fiarano rack does not significantly change the feel of the power assist steering. I for one would just buy another Ferrari if I want a manual rack. Changing to that manual rack is a pain, and devalues the car. Buy a 348.

 

Before you do a bunch of suspension work, put a 360 steering wheel on. Totally changes the steering feel in a very good way. The 360 wheels are about half as heavy as the 355 wheel. Looks much better too IMO and has a much thicker grip that is nicely contoured.

 

I have a Challenge steering rack and pump on my 355. The steering is definitely quicker but does not really change the feel. I have a smaller diameter steering wheel and that helps with the feel a little.

 

When I researched how to improve the steering feel, when I had a 355, the best solution seemed to be placing a proportioning/limiting valve in the power steering hydraulic line and turning down the feed pressure until the steering effort reached the desired level. From memory it was a US product used by owners of USA muscal cars that left the factory with over servoed steering. There is a thread on F chat I think giving details.

 

Steering effort and feedback are two different things.

 

Yes but you will not know what feedback you are geting from the front tyres if the power steering pump is providing so much assistance it maskes the forces coming back through the steering wheel and leaves the driver uncertain as to what the front wheels are doing no mater what the geometry is, heavier steering will at least help stop the average driver guage how much steering imput is needed/not needed, as in my experience loss of control is usally associated with too much input followed by a dynamic reaction.

 

I had thought of doing that and placing the valve somewhere where you can get to it to change. I know hot rodders do it all the time.

 

What you are describing is not a worn suspension, it's the design of the car.

 

Look at your bushings, if they are original replace them.
The 355 has pretty good steering when the bushings are correct and the alignment is dead on. I mean aligned the way a race car is with scales, not a hunter computer aligner with all the pretty pictures and readouts that tire barn use's manned by the ASE certified alignment dude

Thats the only thing you can do besides change the rack to something else ex: a 348 setup.

Hope this helps

 

How to improve 355 steering feel and feedback?The one on the left.

View attachment 2445234

 

At all 4 wheels for that matter

 

The exhaust on that thing looks like a poop shoot

 

Everything you say is true but one of, if not the biggest beef I have with the 355 is the dead feeling of the steering, light effort, very little back through the wheel. I recall reading in some auto rag at the time that Ferrari added power steering to the 355 to make it more acceptable to women drivers. Don't know if it was true or not. The Boxster has a perfect progressive effort, and you know exactly what the tires are doing. The Boxster just feels the way a sports car is suppose to feel IMO. Personally, I place little value on how a car sounds and I can't see what it looks like from the driver's seat. The Boxster is also better balanced at 47%/53% vs. 41%/59% for the F355.

 

I think that is what the 360 wheel does. I think its smaller because it seems a little stiff r and more feedback.

 

You need to drive a 348. I'm amazed that they felt the steering was something they thought they should "improve". It's not heavy, it's wonderful.

 

What tyres do you have on your car? What make? That might be a possibility?!