Attention All 365GT 2+2 Owners

I suggest you post this question on www.tomyang.net as about a year ago on his forum somebody posted that there actually is a guy in the USA that has found a way of rebuilding the self levelling shocks ... which in your case do not appear to be working any more.

Or even search his forum archives ...

Pete

 

Warning DO NOT USE THIS REBUILDER !!!!!

They go flat after 30 days, do not be the next victim. I have a rebuilt set on the shelf, I will sell if you do not believe me.

Tom Shaughnessy
San Clemente CA

 

Bummer!. Guess the answer then is to install air shocks with an onboard compressor system ... ?

Pete

 

I bought a new set of the Koni's a few years ago. Are you sure they aren't still available? I also had my old set rebuilt and they are sitting in boxes in case I ever needed them. I didn't know there was a problem with the rebuilds. The guy that rebuilt mine was Jeff LeBlond in Peoria Arizona. He was recommended by Koni. Is there more than one doing the rebuilds?

 

Maybe then your rear (and probably front?) springs have gone soft and need to be replaced?. If your rear springs have lost some of the spring rate due to age the suspension travel will be more over a bump.

Unfortunately springs age ...

Just a thought.
Pete

 

Do not keep your hopes up with the rebuilt set on the shelf. 7-1 odds they will not work properly upon installation, or will lose a considerable amount of nitrogen in 30 days of use.

Many unhappy vendors and clients.

Tom Shaughnessy
San Clemente CA

 

As Tom knows, I was looking at a Queen Mother at Garry Roberts shop several years ago. At that time, Garry was struggling with the self leveling system. As I recall, the concensus is that this system is not worth saving. Instead of trying to fix something that didn't work all that well to bring with, just replace the Konis with non-adjustable shocks. I don't know if this wisdom still holds true today.

Dale

 

So far so good for my car. However, she sits just enough lower when my wife is in the car with me, that she slightly touches speed bumps. So I drive over them diagonally. With three or four adults, it would be worse ... but then I rarely do that, anyway. Other than that, they seem to perform fine. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Ps ... HELLO Dr Who!!

pps ... Tom, I'm still looking for a new steering wheel!

 

I still have the Konis. I have not needed to mess wth them since I bought 4+ years ago. I have no idea what the PO may have done; I have receipts to '88 and no work appears to have been done to them. They are performing fine. When they clap out, I will install air shocks - I might even paint them orange . . .

 

re: the clunking. How do your rear sway bar bushings look? Mine were reamed/gone and I had some misc. clunking noises from the rear (besides the sound of the CV w/ the torn boot grinding itself to death . . .). I replaced them all when I replaced my CV joints a couple of years ago; a world of difference.

p.s., if you need them, the CVs are by ZF, get them from your local p-shop and save $$

 

Has anyone on this forum done away with the factory shocks and replaced them with a more modern setup. I'm at that point in my restoration where I have to make some hard choices. The adjustable shocks really are the only major point of contention with this car. I'm inclined to remove them and put something else in that will allow me to do long distance rallies comfortably.
Any experiences worth noting out there?

 

My rear suspension has worked fine since I bought the car 11 years ago.

I just hope I'm not jinxing myself!

 

Alex, you might want to PM or email Tom S. He has probably had as much experience with this as anybody.

Dale

 

Have not had any problems in the few short years since purchased. I have records going back to '87 as well

 

Hello Alex and everybody else,
I do have a 365 2+2, on which the self levellers were fine when I got the car.

A line of advice.... If you have a 365 that still has working self-levelling shocks, DO NOT jack up the front of the car without putting stands under the rear. The added weight can cause the shocks to blow the seals and suddenly let the pressure and oil out.

So, on to what I did.....
First was air shocks, this was never thought of anything more than a temporary fix. They sucked.. while feeling too stiff on bumps, going through turns felt like an mid 60's Olds with worn out shocks and marshmallow tires.

The present setup is 308 rear shocks with 512 rear springs replacing the self levellers. This does work reasonably, I do have some adjustments to make although at the moment it is not a priority. Probably stiffer shock (racing version?) and approx. 1.25" shorter (loaded) spring. I do believe that this will do quite well.

In short try it out, if anyone has any similar combinations or suggestions let 'em fly.

Regards,
Bill

 

Check the FCA (http://www.ferrariclubofamerica.org/) Technical Forum (Tech Tips) and search for '400i Rear Suspension Woes'. Granted the 400i has a much more complex rear leveling system (pumps, reservoirs, lines, etc.) and not too useful in your situation. But at the end of the thread is informaton from a C4 owner who replaced his leveling shocks (which I assume are the same as the 365T 2+2) with new technology shocks and springs.

I have been thinking about making a similar change on my 400i but I first have to figure out what do do with the cam driven hydraulic pump etc.

 

In the 'Mechanic Topics' section BTW ...

Pete