355: Did you know this about the suspension setting? I can’t believe this!

Dang I have been driving with the light OFF on my 1997 F355 ....................... so was this the 'comfort' setting all this time ....... ???

 

Well, I have been driving with the light off on my 1995 355.......this was the performace setting.....when I get my car back on the road I am going to have to try the comfort setting and see what that is all about.

p.s. the performance setting didnot strike me as overly stiff....I kind of liked it.

 

You guys are lucky to have a light. In the 308/328 it's basically just a bit of mastodon bone tied to the springs with twine (uber-manly) or stored in the tool roll (manly).

 

That was good, Bill! LOL

 

You are correct. I have had the actuators rebuilt and the light on setting is Sport. Besides which with 3 seasons now in NASA with the Challenge car there is an easly perceived difference that clearly shows a more sporting setting with the light on. My car is alos lowered so that a floor jack will not fit under the door sills so that is a red herring too.

Lastly the 456 has the same device that works the same way - Sport is light on and switch down.

 

I have a 96 .... comfort is with the light on. Very noticable difference

 

so the key question is - For those of us with 95 and maybe 96 cars, is it possible to reverse the wires on the switch so that the light is out when in comfort mode?

This change would make this both more logical and also agree with the other later 355's.

 

So the description in the manual for the sport mode switch on the 1995 car is in error?

 

+1

 

How do you know if the 355 has been lowered? My jack doesn't fit underneath either. Is it lowered with a spring change or how?

 

The ride height is lowered or raised by adjusting the spring collars on each shock with collar wrenches.

Generally if the height from the lowermost point of the frame (vertical edge) is less than about 5 inches the car has been lowered but that is not the correct way to measure ride height.

You measure the height at the mid point of the suspension a arm lower bolts on the front and rear suspension and factor in the correct stagger of 20mm. If you are setting the car up for challenge specs the stagger is adjusted to 25mm.

The front suspension height is162-171mm and the rear suspension height is 182-191mm.

 

Are you certain? I ask because my 1997 spider (USA model) owner's manual has the exact same description mentioned in the original post, and the same switch and light characteristics. I have driven the car at speed and switched between modes, and it is obvious the car gets "looser" or less rebound damping when in "comfort" mode with the amber light on.

From the responses, it would seem it is the 1998 and 1999 that changed the switch/light operation.

 

This is getting interesting!

I think current perception has a lot to do with preconceived notions. Therefore, I have to be honest -- I don't know what the heck I feel with the light either on or off. Before, I "thought" I felt the car get stiffer when the light was on. Now that I have read the Owner's Manual, I "think" the car feels softer with the light on.

I wouldn't put it past our good friends in Italy to commit a typographical error in the Owner's Manual. I think I'll just have to have it tested, as my car is currently at the shop for an oil change.

 

Read your owner manuals, 95' - 97' amber light on = comfort mode, 98' - 99' amber light on = sport mode. S on amber light 95' - 97' = soft, S on amber light 98' - 99' = sport.

 

Just to support what has already been said... I put about 100 miles on the car tonight and the light on is comfort. Most noticable on the freeway/expansion joints. Car is a '95.

Counter intuitive compared to late model cars, but makes more sense for the purpose of the car.

 

Nice work

 

Hmmm, this is bizarre! I would probably trust the owner’s manuals even though Ferrari made mistakes when it comes to American geography.

 

I too can barely feel a difference ............ when I read the manual and it said 'light off' is sport ............ that was enough for me ............. it also makes the most sense to have the light off as someone said "considering the purpose of the car" ...........

Now this really makes the most sense .......... 95' - '97 is when they made manual gearbox only .......... the other 'F1' years where for guys who wanted a 'softer touch' as the 'default' setting ................ it is all very clear now ...................

 

+1, my understanding as well.

 

That's what I was thinking. Don't the couplings on the electronic adjusters break all the time?

 

Yes the gear up top breaks ...... daniel sells replacements. Though as far as I understand, when one starts the car the servos cycle the gear and if there is a problem the suspension dash light stays on.