488 488 Pista still bottoming out - Novitec Springs

So I had the issue with OEM springs of the car bottoming out at the track and destroying the fender/wheel arch liner.

I changed to Novitec sport springs and lowered the car 10mm and still having the same issue.

Folks here who track have indicated lowering even further from stock ride height with Novitec Springs when tracking but I just don’t see how that is possible.

I’m probably going to raise the car back to stock ride height as a next step and see how the springs are then.

The springs are great. Less body roll from my perspective and better balance. But the compressions are still causing an issue…

Thoughts?


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

If your track compresses the car a lot which seems to be happening then lowering the car from stock ride no more than 10mm to 12mm is the most you should do is my understanding. Robert Mitchell on his YouTube channel noted this too on his Pista he was running at the Nurburgring. He was on stock springs though and lowered the car aprox 12mm. The workshop manual will give you stock ride height measured from the 4 points on the frame to the ground…a leveled metal surface is usually used like on the alignment rack.

 

Did you just install the springs? They will settle and lower more than you anticipate, set the height back to near OEM height and drive around for a week or two, then lower and redo alignment.

 

I see you in L.A.. I’m in redonda beach and race these local tracks for years. Are you bottoming out everywhere or specific turns on specific tracks or under specific conditions? You can’t go by what others say if you don’t know their skill level or setup. A fast driver can make a car seem like cr@p when 90% will say the car is awesome.

 

I installed the springs about six weeks ago. Ran COTA for 2 days and just got back from Laguna Seca.

The car only bottoms out at certain corners or sections. I am going at a fair pace so it might be that I have to live with this and swap out the liners when they are truly destroyed.

My other concern is the rear diffuser…have a few scrapes on the bottom of the fins. Front nose is fine, though there are scrapes on the underside.

Also the rubber aero strips on the floor of the car make contact when bottoming out so it does make quite a bit of noise.




Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

I have tracked my 458 on lowered OEM springs and have driven hard on my novitec springs on the hills here. I still bottom out but I think some of that is because of my wider front tires (275mm - I like front grip)

I assume you are only rubbing on the front? I can imagine turn 6 at Laguna being a good place to bottom out on that lil dip.

Novitec springs are really more for looks vs. performance. I wish eibach, hyperco or whoever made aftermarket springs that fit in the collars - If only we know what rate the springs are this would help us out a lot.

 

Where at CoTA and where at Laguna do you bottom. I race those tracks.

 

Yep, T6 and the corkscrew


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

COTA we had to raise the car as it was too low, it’s a bumpy track especially in the esses. Once raised to the current ride height no more issues there.

At Laguna last weekend T6 and Corkscrew were the main concerns.


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

Novitec are actually KW Springs. Highly regarded springs as well.

 

Enjoyed the video - thanks for sharing.

 

Does it bottom out on the streets at all? Like if you hit a minor dip in the road going semi fast?

 

No. It’s only under extreme load


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat