I'll be interested in getting more information on this possibility posted by Passion_of_V12.....From Madeno racing: "He also told me that the alternative is to buy his Öhlin dampers which he offers for the 550 and 575. They will cost 5900 euro plus VAT for a complete set inclusive top mount and bushings. He says it will improve the handling a lot over the Sachs dampers." **** If this is a drop in replacement for the Sachs unit, using existing springs, etc., then seems to be the best option that I have seen so far. (I must say that when I was told that a shock was leaking, never in a million years did it cross my mind that the situation would be this complicated and possibly expensive....WRONG!!!!)
The Sachs units are much for robust and reliable than the bilsteins on the 456 and 550 but you are right when they go they go and replacement cost is quite painful looking for OEM or OEM+ options
In 2023 I had my f430 sachs struts (2 fronts) rebuilt for $1500. You may want to reach out to Dan from Bradan in LI to find where he sent them, I think somewhere in England. Between the options of rebuilding and replacing with oem new, he recommended rebuilding
Thanks for the input...I'm still gathering information but for now seems that the Sachs shocks for 550/575 are intentionally difficult to re-build. So far, only Madeno racing in the Netherlands seems to be a possibility for that option.
I just grabbed the MSC touring coilovers from Reid; I’ll post my thoughts when they’re installed but I’m expecting good things. Only stinky part is my dear, original FHP/HGTC springs are now very expensive paperweights, but oh well. Better than $23k for two front shocks!
I'll be interested in how this works out. There really aren't a lot of options. Currently, I trying to go with "salvage", if that doesn't work out then there may be a rebuilder in AZ(?), then I guess after market coil overs. The after market route is probably the logical way to go but my irrational thinking is that there are so few gated 575s with FHP in the US, that I would like to keep the stock set up if at all possible. ($23k for a pair of shocks doesn't fit into "at all possible".)
You could (in theory) sell the good pair of 575 shocks for reasonable money and the bad+good shock to someone willing to attempt a rebuild. You likely would come out ahead overall / net profit. Same with the FHP springs as they can command nearly 1k a spring now, even used assuming they have gone formerly NLA now (though I would not advocate selling those FHP springs are they are hens teeth now, particularly if red label versions)
I think what I’m going to do, depending upon what options present themselves, is install the new kit and keep the originals in storage. If it looks like rebuilding will become an option, I’ll go ahead with that and still have all the OEM stuff should I choose to reinstall or move the car. Just heard from Ferrari - the hydraulic unit for the ASR failed, hence the ASR warnings I have been getting. $7,000. welp…no one ever said these things are cheap!
Hmmmmm… Of course the labor at the dealer is the obscene part anyway. I think I’ll make out better if I invest in an SD-2 and lease it to my mech
Cumulative labor really adds up quick with these. When I redid the entirety of the suspension on the 456m (all bushings/ball joints + shocks + springs + boots) just the labor alone came out to nearly ~$8 or 9k. And again that’s before factoring in the cost for all the parts….
Question is. Does it really make any sense to do any work other than service (to get the stamp) at the Ferrari Aurhorized Dealer.
No in my humble opinion. There’s a high chance many of the service techs have never even seen a 575 at an authorized dealer, So I pay their comically high labor rate per hour? authorized dealer versus not authorized. Dealer is less important as compared to service by someone who is familiar with the model versus not familiar with the model
Not really. Only reason I did is because I needed SD-2 and I knew they could take care of a few cosmetic issues as well. Seemed better than hauling it around to four different shops for who knows who long. I will say, though, the service advisor is a stand up guy who has helped me locate some of the cool bits for my car. His communication is very good and he is not pushy in the least.
I replaced my stock 575 shocks with the HGTC ones. I had to add some mounting adapters (factory)— the full parts list is on my mods thread. I also did new springs with Euro HGTC specs (again, see mods thread). Honestly, it’s a subtle change but the sport button is more pronounced and stiff.
Shock up date; located a set of shocks from a 575 salvage in California. Spoke with the people doing the service and they will get them and see how they look. They have had experience with the salvager and have had a good experience.
Further update, 4 shocks ~$5,000.00 Labor $1260.00...Maybe they are giving me a break on labor because they are doing full major with belts, replace all bearing with Hill Eng. new oil pump chain and a lot of new gaskets.
For those leaning aftermarket, this looks promising: https://www.scuding.com/Shop/en/ecu-solutions/135-ssb-smart-suspension-bypass-ecu.html
I hate to toot my own horn. But FFS, go with the MSC coilovers and throw your OEM in a box. The change is dramatic from OEM while retaining the GT comfort.
I’m honestly pretty excited to get mine. Originality is cool, I will not deny that, but at the end of the day…I do drive my car
After market coil over next step if this doesn't work out. Not a lot of other options. I have been satisfied with the OEM FHP set up at least for the first 113,000 miles. :>)
Yeeeeeeah, I’d say you have received your money’s worth I too like the FHP setup and feel like it really completes the car, but I’m expecting just a bit more edge with these, which is great. As long as it doesn’t feel like my old 348 with Challenge springs (which was fine for that car) or even my M030 with ROW springs 993, which can be a little harsh, but again not so far out of character for the car. For me, it’s all about improving but still being able to savor the differences…and this a heck of a lot cheaper than HGTC
