Lowering the 308 with QA1 shocks

The stock spring has massive preload, when removed you will see, the spring is much longer than when installed. Also, the QA1 shock is slightly shorter in the photo and that would lower the car as well. The spring rate on the stock spring may be 300 (I don't know), buy with the preload, it will act like a much stiffer spring. there are many variables in spring/shock/suspension set ups. Having raced a lot of different things for many years, it has become clear to me that I go with the setup from the guy that built the car and then just tweak it as needed. If Birdman did the research, go with it and then tweak it to your liking.

 

I have this setup on my QV and I can tell you that it is most certainly lower than OEM. I had the car on track at Watkins Glen in September and I can report that the car handled beautifully. I did have the car professionally corner-weighted and aligned, and that made all the difference.

 

DanishCarnut I'm not sure you'll want it that low. I've had to replace my "euro" spoiler thanks to the car being to low. I split the difference between your pix basically and that has kept me from scratching the spoiler/air dam. Just my opinion of course, but the split seemed about right to me. My avatar shows my ride height.

 

Looks a bit too low, to me. It's passing that fine line of "nice gap" into "springs are worn out".

 

i love the 308 as it is .............. there is nothing i would change about Fioravanti idea.

 

If you compare the Euro and the US together, there’s a big difference on the stance. The Euro looks so much better. The US definitely need some attention as the front end seems higher than the rear to meet the US DOT spec, which gave the big gap between the tire and the fender but if that looks good to you I guess it ok.

 

+1 This is the point. The US cars are higher than Fioravanti intended. I don't see any problem with lowering them 'a bit' for aesthetic reasons. Mine is dropped about an inch and the front and 1/2 at the back,.

 

Nice! Now that’s the stance I could live with.

 

Are there part number differences between the Euro and USA suspensions for the 308s? I've never run across any warnings or notes when ordering suspension parts that I need to be mindful to get the right version. OTOH, there was a stamp on the A-arms from the factory that called out USA cars, perhaps the ride height was why that stamp exists.

 

Different part numbers. And yes, that’s is why the suspension assemblies were stamped differently between US/Euro (and GTB/GTS). The US models have different length springs with same spring rate . The specs are as follows:

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Regards
David




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I went 350/300 on the GTS, but for a GTB, I'd go a little stiffer - 400/350 seems to be the sweet spot. I lowered mine too much and beat the crap out of it on our Australian roads. It's now a lot higher, but still lower than OEM - I hate the "dead cat space" above the wheel.

 

QA1s aren’t the only option... Here’s an old thread of how I did it... still happy with it almost 15 years later!

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/suspension-and-brake-upgrade-time.39712/

 

this kind of adjustment does not radically change the stance .......... so i agree with you , on the US spec it is better lower the front. ( but i do not like at all the stance of the gtb in the 2nd photo by Danish Carnut ..... my cents )

 

I'll be dong this exact set up on my '84 GTS this fall/winter. As it sits right now, my car has the tallest gap I've ever seen on a 308 between the front tire and the fender. I'm looking to just "close the gap" a little while upgrading with the new components. The complete suspension will also be rebuilt so it should look and feel better at the same time.
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