360 CHALLENGE STRADALE SUSPENSION SETTINGS | FerrariChat
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360 CHALLENGE STRADALE SUSPENSION SETTINGS

Discussion in '360/430' started by thomas_b, Mar 2, 2005.

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  1. thomas_b

    thomas_b Formula Junior

    Sep 15, 2003
    765
    #1 thomas_b, Mar 2, 2005
    Run across this post (see below)

    Several questions popped into my mind
    - are 360’s or the CS prone to suspension setting changes after hard track driving – I believe someone stated in another post that he would check suspension setting after each track day

    - would one really set a street car to toe out in the front and especially to 3mm????

    besides that the car must have been a b*tch to drive on the track with rear toe out

    Alignment parameters according to F
    360 CS Wheel Alignment DataF
    Wheel camber
    - front wheels 1° 28' ±0°10'
    - rear wheels 2° 00' ±0°10'
    Total toe-in (diameter size 495 mm)
    - front wheels 2,5 ±0.5 mm
    - rear wheels 3,0 ±0.5 mm


    ------ http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=153486&f=63&h=0 ---
    I have always thought my Stradale handled peculiarly. It seemed prone to lift-off oversteer, and when running with correct tyre pressures it was very skittish in long curves. Despite all this it was suffering from understeer and eating the outside edge of the front pirellis.

    I finally got my race team to have a look at the set up today and was a tad surprised. to get the car to handle at all, i had dropped the tyre pressures to as low as 26 psi instead of the 32/30 it should have been.

    The front camber was 1 deg L and 1.5 deg R and the rear was 1 3/4 deg L and 2 deg R. This is quite appalling really on such a track oriented car and at this cost! The corner weights were quite good, but heavy on the rear right. My guess is because the car was originally LHD designed and with a driver on the left it would have been better balanced.

    The biggest shock was the toe settings. The front had a total of 2mm out, which wasn't too bad, but the rear was ridiculous at 2mm total TOE OUT!!! No wonder the handling was so bad!

    We reshimmed the suspension to 2 deg negative camber all round (the most we could easily achieve), 3mm total toe out front and 2mm TOE IN total rear. Tyre pressures were reset at 32psi front and 30 psi rear.

    We also changed the brake pads all round. At 5k miles these looked ok, but the brake wear light had started to flash. Sure enough, despite having 4 or 5mm left, they were shagged.

    The car is now transformed! It handles much better and more predictably. Yet to try it on track (where it wasn't too bad, just not confidence inspiring). Losing traction now in a bend is very easy to detect and control, and the ride overall is far better with good overall traction.

    Pretty poor set-up from Ferrari, and pretty poor PDI from HR-Owen. In addition to this, one of the rear anti-roll bar bushes has alot of play. This is after one of the front ones had alot of play (repaired under warranty).

    Be interested to hear other Stradale owner's points of view on the suspension.
     
  2. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,288
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    #2 Rifledriver, Mar 2, 2005
    Ferrari has always done a poor job at aligning the cars. Having done lots of them you would swear that they had Ray Charles (God rest his soul) doing them at the factory. They have been undergoing facility improvements but last time I was there (99) they had 2 alignment racks, it was obvious that one of them had not been used in quite some time and I never saw a car on the other in the short period of time I spent in that department. Of a total days production you could not possibly do them on one rack anyway. The factory will not adequately compensate the dealer to do an alignment at the PDI or any other time so that is one area you are sort of on your own. The specs you gave for your car were a lot closer than any I ever aligned so you got lucky.
     
  3. ben, lj

    ben, lj Formula Junior

    Aug 23, 2004
    594
    #3 ben, lj, Mar 2, 2005
    Who in San Diego is capable of correctly setting up the car? TIA
     
  4. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,288
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    #4 Rifledriver, Mar 2, 2005

    Sorry I can't tell you. I am from the other end of the state. Alignments are a tough thing, so few really know how to do it well. Even the shop in this area that is supposed to be so hot, well the best thing about him is that you don't actually HAVE to look out the side window to see where you are going.
     
  5. WCH

    WCH F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 16, 2003
    5,186
    #5 WCH, Mar 3, 2005
    "We reshimmed the suspension to 2 deg negative camber all round (the most we could easily achieve), 3mm total toe out front and 2mm TOE IN total rear. Tyre pressures were reset at 32psi front and 30 psi rear."


    Interesting post, thanks. I had the same experience of fighting tire pressures to address handling.

    FoW checked the alignment on my CS after four track days and found it reasonably close to spec. My revised settings are similar to those described by the poster (but with less front camber); it will be interesting to see how the car handles.

    Just about the time we get the settings optimized, slicks will become available ... I hope. ;)
     
  6. thomas_b

    thomas_b Formula Junior

    Sep 15, 2003
    765
    #6 thomas_b, Mar 3, 2005
    from the few samples I have seen (my two CS) it looks like F has the alignment figured out - they have been spot on

    Will are you saying that you run with toe OUT 3mm in the front??? - the CH has 0mm - I can't imagine how twitchy the car would feel
     
  7. WCH

    WCH F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 16, 2003
    5,186
    #7 WCH, Mar 3, 2005
    Sorry, I should have been more specific. My total front toe out is slightly less than 2mm. Haven't yet tried it on the track at that setting.
     
  8. Hubert

    Hubert F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2002
    2,642
    The Left Coast
    #8 Hubert, Mar 4, 2005
    No one that I'd reccomend.

    Go see Darrin at WestEnd Alignment in Gardena.
     
  9. Gary(SF)

    Gary(SF) F1 Rookie

    Oct 13, 2003
    3,637
    Los Altos Hills, CA
    Full Name:
    Gary B.
    #9 Gary(SF), Mar 8, 2005
    Brian -

    So who do you recommend in the Bay Area?

    Gary
     

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