Fiorano Handling Package on 575M or not?

This is what I have pulled from various manuals.

HGTC

Front (208678): 400 lbs
Rear (208679): 245 lbs

FHP

Front (175886): 375 lbs
Rear (175887): 245 lbs

550/575M

Front (163648): 310 lbs
Rear (163652): 225 lbs

456M

Front (168433): 290 lbs
Rear (168399): 195 lbs

Remember, though that the actual stiffness will vary as a function of the production batch/Label color. These are only ball parks for the standard / not red spec. Red labels tend to be the stiffest. Do not mix between colors as you can introduce a violent lateral instability.

 

Me too. I’ve been drooling over the 330 gtc, but they’ve out of my range financially. But I really love the design of the 575. For me it’s a ‘modern version’ of that car.

Interesting. What mods did you do buddy?

It’s sad you can’t get parts. Porsche do make parts for older cars, Ferrari doesn’t. Can be a problem in the future.

 

This thread has become a go to thread for knowledge on FHP and upgrading the cars handling. Great knowledge you guys have on the subject.

I read somewhere that a guy who upgraded to htgc springs had the car sitting too high, because he had 18” rims. Can that be an issue? My car has 18’s on it too. As I could understand the hgtc cars came with 19”
Rims.

 

I did the MSW FHP steering ECU, rear sway bar, and I went through my “local” Ferrari dealer and they were able to locate the rear springs. Fronts came from the UK via an EBay seller someone here suggested (can’t remember the name now). I also did Hill Engineering rear spacers and have fronts to install now

 

Rear FHPs are long NLA; if you order them directly from Ferrari, you will get HGTC rears instead. Fronts just recently became NLA so you may have purchased prior the last scattered stock being depleted.

If the car sits to high after springs, they installed them wrong. The perch is adjustable different levels depending on the spring stiffness.

I should add that there are aftermarket “lowering” springs from H&R. I don’t know what their stiffness specifications are, however.

 

Nice. That’s a great upgrade.

Makes sense. Sad they don’t make spare parts for older models.

 

As some of you suggested I got the MyFerrari app. I had to send Ferrari customer service my purchase agreement. But they did it pretty fast, within an hour or so.

It shows that the car has FHP form birth, which is really great. I am really happy about it. That’s why it drove so great.

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Great news. the app is great for that and the best an easy and trusty source to confirm.
Enjoy it, I cant wait to drive go to pick up mine in a month and a half

 

Sounds great. Good luck with that! Mine will be here in 4-5 weeks time. Hopefully before.

 

The spacers makes it look much better. I would consider it but I would be concerned it gives extra wear and tear on bearings etc.

 

That’s correct, HGTC rears. Which, according to several sources, are supposedly the same rate as FHP, but I know that has been debated here. I don’t know, I just know it’s better and not harsh or annoying at all, which is fantastic.

No issues with height on my car

 

HGTC rears have the slightest difference in rate and slightly longer overall length vs matched color FHP. However the rates are indeed within the difference between red/white spring versions. In other words in practice…exactly correct: not meaningfully different.

 

Buddy you’ve been involved in the registry list of 575’s. How many cars do you have on the list and how many of them are with the FHP. Is it possible to extrapolate the percentage to the overall number of cars, with some kind of certainty?

 

Is it perceived that FHP is better than HGTC?

 

FHP is more lively/sports car/tossable. Less net understeer.

HGTC is more GT.

 

"FHP is more lively/sports car/tossable."
****
Especially noticeable in "sport" mode.

 

Eric- HGTC came with so many upgrades it is difficult to compare the two. HGTC also includes the CCMs and a new underbody panel and A-arms with fittings for brake cooling hoses. It also included new shocks with new mounts and a specific shock absorber ECU. Plus, for F1, it included 612 algorithms in the TCU (180 ms min shift time vs 220 for stock). All factory HGTCs included the steering position sensor, so Ferrari elected not to use the FHP hydraulic steering ECU. Some HGTC retrofit kits, however, did include the FHP steering ECU. The slightly stiffer and longer HGTC springs were combined with the softer rear anti-roll bar (19.5 mm vs 21 mm) and new shocks and mounts for a very similar handling feel.

Around a race track, the HGTC would be faster due to the superior brakes and brake cooling, with handling about equal.

From my small database of mostly US cars, FHP made up about 18% of production. I have not updated the database for several years, since it gave me the data I needed.

 

Your knowledge on the 575 is astonishing. I don’t know what you do for a living, but your technical insight is remarkable. Also it’s a gift for members here to have such a capacity among us. You should at least write a book about the 575.

And thanks for the answer regarding the registry data. The 18% FHP percent is a fun number to know, even if it can’t be extrapolated to the total pool. And better than guessing completely in the wild.
Probably we will never know for sure. Unless someone makes a more comprehensive list and preferably involving Ferrari database.

 

No question HGTC brakes are indeed better. Brakes are a weak point in 550/575 platform somewhat mitigated by Pagid/FHP pads.

But if the question is strictly handling dynamics the HGTC setup is setup much gentler than FHP given the stiffer front vs rear spring rate and comparably milder rear sway bar on HGTC. This overall more neutral balance makes the car feel more nimble / shrink around you. It’s subtle but your average driver will likely be faster w HGTC even when controlling for brakes. The higher front rate was necessary on HGTC given the change in brake torque from the comparatively much larger front brakes. I will note that it’s a much much better balanced execution then the time Ferrari did this on the 328 to account for the addition of ABS But that’s a different discussion.

While HGTC is faster on the track, that almost entirely given the difference in braking endurance. That said, tracking an HGTC is a recipe for a very expensive bill ($12-16k) given then weight of the car. The cooling advantage from the HGTC changes are minor and while they help don’t overcome this fundamental issue of weight. (and that coming from someone who spent significant time and $$$$$ to acquire every HGTC part)

The shocks are the same for all very late 575. I am sure they work better conjunction with the HGTC controller but I need more time comparing my post-steering sensor shock ECU vs the HGTC ECU

 

My early (2002) 575 was definitely too soft, so I had the HGTC suspension installed, which improved a lot the car's behaviour. I think later 575 had an improved standard suspension setup though.
Regarding brakes, I put Brembo steel kits, with larger discs (grooved rather than drilled) and 6-pot callipers front, 4-pot rear; initially I installed only the front kit but I felt it disturbed the front/rear braking balance. I guess these brakes allow similar performance as the CCM ones, apart from requiring cooling sooner; they are a lot less expensive so replacement after intensive use is not as painful.

 

Yes early cars had a wonky suspension controller. I was just trying to do a strict apples to apples comparison controlling for the various factors between FHP/HGTC.

Smart move on the brakes! I also have(soon had) the upgrade Brembos…they fixed the weak brakes issue of the factory brakes. If I wasn’t upgrading to HGTC brakes I would happily keep them. Unfortunately Brembo has discontinued all of the 355mm offerings which is tragic now as less viable for others as a viable path now.

 

I will add my experience is hunting down the last pieces for my 2002 suspension upgrade.
Algar-Ferrari PHL can get FHP springs. FNA has sets available $3965 for the front and rear. That was a discounted price from retail of $4882. They are also showing HGTC as well but can not quote if and when they might arrive and they were $5122 for the set.
I bought a set of HGTC from Maranello Classic Parts for 1600 pounds. they should arrive next week as I am looking as more of a GT as compared to a stiffer ride.
Hopefully they show up.

 

Glad they made/found another batch, although those prices are getting insane.

 

When I had FOW look, they thought they could get a full set based on what they saw in the computer, but in reality all they were able to supply were the HGTC rears. I had to eBay the fronts, can’t remember where from specifically but they are in GB.

 

FHP Rears are definitely NLA as the HGTC rears are now a superseded part.
But hey if FHP fronts are back that's great.