LOWER!!! it looks like a 4x4 now..you can just lower it a bit for a more sportive look
Hehehe yeah but then the car will be hard to use in Norway, the roads in centrum of Oslo not the best I will keep as is for now
I actually raised mine some last night. too low makes it too made is scrape everything and hitting on the bumpstops makes handling unpredictable. I think it looks more "sporty" to have good travel. to each their own. I know some people like slammed. I like to be able to drive.
It's very much true that lowering a car too much results in poor handling. Suspensions are designed to have X amount of travel. Go much lower than stock and the geometry gets messed up and the shocks/springs can't do their job.
Over the years, @Mitch Alsup has written the bible on 355 suspension. https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/f355-suspension-analysis.13258/ You have Fiorano Handling Pack. His advice would be to go 1 inch lower than factory specs. https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/lowering-355-suspension.395397/#post-142032914 A) The challenge cars are significantly lower than stock. But they have different tires (racing slicks), different springs 2.5XR 4X front, and shocks to match. Oh, and different anti-roll bars. This just proves that one can successfully lower the car--if you are willing to change almost everything other than the hubs and a-arms. B) The high speed stability (i.e. aerodynamic oversteer/understeer) is set by the front ride height. Raise the front moves the aerodynamic center of pressure rearward causing understeer. The low speed oversteer/understeer, is then controlled by the rear ride height. lower the rear to induce understeer. C) due to the geometry of the front and rear suspensions, raising or lowering the rear will perform 1.6 times more change in the oversteer/understeer relationship than the same movement at the front. Thus, the rake of the car is dependent on the ride height! D) With the stock anti-roll bar, the factory ride height makes for a quick but not overly quick car (balalnced oversteer/understeer.) If you lower the ride height and use the factory rake, you will want a different front anti-roll bar (i.e. stiffer.) E) none of this maters if you stay under 120 MPH anyways.
Alot of owners, including myself, make the mistake of lowering the rear too much without considering/measuring the rake of the car and unfortunately the car's understeer/oversteer characteristics are sensitive to it. I felt it immediately as soon as I did it. In short, whatever you do, just make sure there's rake .
Rake on the 355 is a little hard to tell visually because of the odd shape of the sideskirts. Measuring would be best.
Ken i want to bring you my car and have you lower it and rake it properly lol...how can we arrange that..pretty plz haha
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/f355-track-alignment-recommendations.391525/#post-141945178
Lol. I'm linking all this just as easy reference for myself because eventually I will need to configure a new setup with my FHP suspension. With stock setup, I'd go by the book, which is probably what you don't like . Stock height and play within 0 and 15mm front to rear rake (rear higher). Play with rake by adjusting rear first. Alot of it will be based on feel and personal preference once you drive and it's all a tedious matter of adjusting the height with tools by millimeters at a time. Unfortunately, mine will be based off FHP specs, so I can't help you much there.
Rob Schermerhorn at Delta Vee Motorsports wrote a fine article on lowering the F355: Lowering Ferrari 512TR, 348, F355, 550, Mondial T...
For whatever it's worth, my car with stock suspension , but upgraded Advan A052 tires felt superb and balanced. I do have 235's instead of 225 in the front though. I took pictures of damper height measurements somewhere before I removed them. You can follow those heights if you still have the standard springs if I can find the pics. My car was probably 1/2 inch lower than factory specs. Not too high not too low, but another half inch lower with the FHP suspension, I'd imagine would be a nice balance between visual appeal and performance.
I’ve read somewhere some have observed an FHP car to sit roughly 10mm lower than standard, which is close half an inch. Would be nice if someone could confirm this.
FHP Height to peak of wheel arch. Michelin Sports 265/40 on rear and 225/40 on front. Tank 1/3 full, RHD measured on drivers side Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Interesting all you write here ! Could be serious with what i will do with my New steering rack challenge installed. I will send you a message by WhatsApp Ken to know what you think ?
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/355-coilover-height-difference-question.258652/#post-139037022 “Ride height is measured from the center of the rear pivot bolt on the bottom a-arm on a dead flat level surface. The fender clearance is irrelevent, get the ride height set on each corner with the tires at operating pressures (40 PSI) with the drivers weight in the drivers seat and possibly 0%, 50%, or 100% of the passenger weight in the passenger seat (0% is for never any passenger, 50% is sometimes a passenger, 100% is always a passenger). 1/2 tank of gasoline,... If the ride heights are set properly at the a-arms and you have a fender clearance issue--this is a sign that the corners are not carrying an equal weight or that the car was in a wreck and not fixed properly. If its less than 1/4" just don't worry about it. Front ride height is 162mm to 171mm Rear ride height is 182mm to 191mm”
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/blu-le-mans-355.14217/ Changed to Iding lowering springs. 2 inches lower in the front. 1.5 inches lower in the rear. So roughly a half inch rake (12mm). Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
