SkunkWorks Steering ECU for the 456M | FerrariChat

SkunkWorks Steering ECU for the 456M

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by losgatos789, Nov 25, 2015.

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  1. losgatos789

    losgatos789 Formula Junior
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 13, 2008
    568
    Silicon Valley
    Full Name:
    Stu
    * Purchased SkunkWorks modified steering ECU from John
    * Installed on my 2001 456M
    * Feedback
    ** positive, very happy with the results. should have done it sooner.
    ** snappy steering response; faster and crisper steering wheel to wheel turn in at speed
    ** much more expressive and connected road feel at the steering wheel
    * For the price, one could easily argue this is the most bang for your buck 2001M modification

    ------------
    Installation

    I performed an Fchat search for the 2001M steering ecu location and the removal and install of this steering ECU. Nothing showed up, but maybe I missed it. ECU module location is not explicitly described in the 456M electrical shop manual (Ferrari database).

    * 456M steering ECU is physically located in the interior, passenger side, behind the firewall/fuse box access panel.
    * Upon removing the floor mat, the fuse box has 2 hand release screws. Turn and pull.
    * Pull access door down toward floor
    * ECU steering module is physically mounted on the firewall, midway up. It is the only box that looks like the Steering ECU that John ships.
    * Pull and remove OEM ECU and insert SkunkWorks' ECU. Done.
    * Completed this in under 2 minutes, end to end.

    ------------------


    Nice work John.

    -stu
     
  2. au-yt

    au-yt F1 Veteran

    Aug 13, 2006
    5,838
    Burradoo... Actually
    Full Name:
    Graeme
    The guys sent me the graph showing the differerence, very interesting, Does it fell any different at parking speed?
     
  3. losgatos789

    losgatos789 Formula Junior
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 13, 2008
    568
    Silicon Valley
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    Stu
    Small difference (IMHO) at parking speed. The small difference "might" be a slightly heavier steering feel at parking speed.

    "If" there is heavier expressed feeling at parking speed, the delta relative to OEM ECU becomes a rounding error thought when driving at speed.
     
  4. Lionworks Auto

    Lionworks Auto Formula 3

    Oct 16, 2013
    1,023
    Worthington OH
    Full Name:
    Ed
    What version did you install? The "custom" or the FHP? I tried both and preferred the FHP although haven't been able to take it thru all her paces yet as having some work done on car. I also have an 01 456m and love this simple upgrade! John and skunkworks makes it easy!
     
  5. Lionworks Auto

    Lionworks Auto Formula 3

    Oct 16, 2013
    1,023
    Worthington OH
    Full Name:
    Ed
    What version did you install? The "custom" or the FHP? I tried both and preferred the FHP although haven't been able to take it thru all her paces yet as having some work done on car. I also have an 01 456m and love this simple upgrade! John and skunkworks makes it easy!
     
  6. Cribbj

    Cribbj Formula 3
    BANNED

    #6 Cribbj, Nov 26, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Stu, not to steal your thread, but since the title of it relates to the Steering ECU, I thought I'd chime in & post a pic of the hydraulic assist curves for the ECU's.

    As many of you know, the amount of hydraulic steering assistance is programmed into a small ECU that resembles a normal relay, which controls the opening of a hydraulic spool valve in the rack, according to a speed signal input. The original curve that is programmed for the 550 is a negative slope curve that extends out to nearly 100 mph. The FHP (Fiorano Handling Package) curve maintains hydraulic boost only to about 30-35 MPH then it drops off like a rock. Ferrari offered this as part of their FHP for the 550, which consisted of reprogrammed shocks, heavier springs, a thicker rear antisway bar, and this steering ECU.

    My partner Dave & I personally didn’t like the feel of the FHP ECU, and found it too heavy at slower speeds, although others seem to like it. I do think some cars have different amounts of preload, or drag in their system, and perhaps this contributes to the "heavy" feel.

    Below is a graph showing 3 different curves in the steering ECU’s, the stock 550, the 550 FHP, and one of our Custom curves. The X axis is in frequency, however it’s actually just 2x the speed of the car in KPH. The Y axis is the output of the ECU to the spool valve in the steering rack. As you can see, the stock ECU maintains hydraulic boost out to nearly 155 KPH (96 MPH), while the FHP drops off sharply at 50 KPH (31 MPH). Our custom curve has the boost tapering off gradually until 85 KPH (52 MPH).

    My personal preference is the Custom curve and I run this in my 550 for normal driving, and switch over to the FHP curve with the Sport switch.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  7. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,164
    Clarksville, Tennessee
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    Terry H Phillips
    John- Just to avoid confusion, standard and FHP shocks are identical, but the 550 (not the 575) has a different FHP shock ECU. Other than that shock ECU, the 575M FHP uses exactly the same FHP suspension parts and FHP steering ECU. You know all of this, but there may be some newcomers who do not.
     
  8. losgatos789

    losgatos789 Formula Junior
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    May 13, 2008
    568
    Silicon Valley
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    Stu
    #8 losgatos789, Nov 26, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2015
    Thanks for sharing the plot and your ECU mod approach history, John.

    Did you and Dave consider inserting a variable pot that drives the spool valve?

    "Manettino Steering ECU". I would buy it.

    You guys could go one more step and do this to the shock/suspension ECU...wink wink...550/456 Manettino Steering and Suspension.

    For many high end stereo preamps, several mfg use indexed/stepped resistor pots for volume controls. This enables the user to precisely control the volume. You could use this type of indexed/stepped var pot for driving the valves...food for thought.
     
  9. losgatos789

    losgatos789 Formula Junior
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 13, 2008
    568
    Silicon Valley
    Full Name:
    Stu
    I purchased and installed the version that John states in the graph, the "custom" version.


     
  10. Cribbj

    Cribbj Formula 3
    BANNED

    Taz, thanks for catching the error - I should have said a reprogrammed shock ECU, instead of reprogrammed shocks.


    Stu, unfortunately Bilstein used better programmers for their Shock ECU than ZF did for their Steering ECU, and we haven't been able to hack the Shock ECU.

    We actually dubbed the Sport switch our Poor Man's Manettino when we had our Switchable Steering ECU harnesses on offer. It was the control that would allow us to switch on the fly between the "normal" steering ECU and a 2nd one (usually the FHP).

    We know that the steering ECU outputs a PWM signal to the spool valve, while AFAIK, the shock ECU is probably some sort of stepper motor control.
     
  11. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,164
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    John- Eric has had no luck with shock ECUs either, or we could incorporate the best features from the 550 FHP and 575 HGTC shock ECUs.
     
  12. Lionworks Auto

    Lionworks Auto Formula 3

    Oct 16, 2013
    1,023
    Worthington OH
    Full Name:
    Ed
    I would buy all of the above as described :). Especially the ability to switch Ecu's with the sport switch. Make one more custom harness for me Dave please!
     

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