456 low speed steering in cold weather

Could be a steering joint problem. You might check that out. Tie rod ends below and ball joints below that.

Taz
Terry Phillips
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Two other possibilities without solution

1 - power steering systems tend not to like full lock at cold/start-up - I think this is due to lack of pressure build-up

2 - is it possible you are hearing Ackermann effect ie cold tires fighting the surface ?

 

This can be caused by an undertightened or older drive belt for the powersteering. My suggestion would be to get the belts changed if they're older than a few years, or at the very least have the tension checked on them.
A last cause could be the crank pulley itself being broken (it looks massive but it is actually two pieces of steel joined by rubber, which can separate). That would be rather expensive, but most times that failure will lead to a wobbling pulley and the car ripping its belts to shreds, too.

 

I had a similar problem with my 550 Maranello. Mostly solved the problem by having the front-end realigned (the Ackerman effect noted in a previous post). And problem is much less severe in warm weather and/or when tires are warm.

 

#1 It is in the top secret document known as the "Owners Manual".

#2 If the shop doesn't already have the specs (and I am not talking about the ones pre programmed into modern alignment racks, those are always wrong) you are dealing with the wrong alignment shop.

 

Brian- They did not put the 456 alignment specs in the OM, but did put them in the workshop manual.

Patagonian- My assumption on maintenence is that everything had been done on schedule, probably a bad assumption, and the auxiliary belts need to be changed every 3 years, regardless of how often you change cam belts.

Here are the specs for alignment and rear ride height. Did not see a front ride height number. Note the caster is shim adjustable on the 456s and Maranellos. Like Brian said, you need someone who knows what they are doing to do an alignment. Brian can comment, but if you are aligning the front end, you should align the rear end at the same time. It is just as critical as the front end, even if it is not contributing to your steering noise.

Taz
Terry Phillips
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His 1997 owners manual has alignment specs.




It was not discontinued until 2000



Caster is not shim adjustable, it is adjusted by eccentrics as is the camber.

 

Brian- You are correct. I looked in a 95 US manual and it was not there, but was in the 97 OM.

What are these shims used for if not caster? Did they change it?

Taz
Terry Phillips
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The arm and frame were designed by different people. The arms were designed the same way as the car before and the car before and the car before.....

The shims are not to be used. The eccentrics are. That is why you want a Ferrari guy doing it and not someone reading one of their incorrect books written and published by a local school with an English language program. Their poor quality reference material is a real source of frustration for everyone who needs it. We used to complain all the time. Never did any good. In this case the alignment instructions are just being copied from manuals from prior cars. They do that often.


And you are right. If the front suspension needs or is suspected of needing alignment there is no reason to think the rear is any better.

 

Brian- OK, I am learning, like usual. Where in the parts drawing is the eccentric for caster adjustment? I see one for camber, but not caster.

Looking at the 575M parts catalog and WSM, I see it has the same shims, but the caster is specified as fixed, so they learned, like you did, not to screw with it.

Taz
Terry Phillips
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Item 28 is an eccentric. It is not shown but there is an identical one at the rear attachment point also. Since the front one has no offset to the steering axis it only effects camber. The rear is extremely offset, it adjusts caster. It is the easiest of the Ferraris to accurately align for that reason.

 

Depends which 95 manual you look at. Some do, some don't.


Again, I bet it is not by design, just their Ace publication departments usual efficiency.

 

Brian- Thanks, that makes sense. Not something you want to turn over to Joe bag of doughnuts.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Affirmative. Five or six years is about it and it is even worse if they are not driven much.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Mine does exactly the same and I put it down to Ackerman, there is no fault/fix - I've had full geometry adjustment for other reasons, makes no difference to this.

Jeremy

 

Sorry, spotted this after my previous post - mine does this on new Bridgestones with geometry done by non 'bag of donuts' establishment - but old tyres are not a great idea at 170mph anyway.

 

This weekend I drove mine and indeed it seems to be completely normal, mine does it too.
I have 11 year old Bridgestones with slight cracks in the thread at the fronts though...
(before anyone says anything, yes those came with my car and yes they will be replaced in the spring).

 

Whoa, those tires are an accident looking for a place to happen. Be very careful. Assume from what you said and the winter Europe is having, she is stored for the winter. When there is heavy snow in England, things are a bit cold and unusual, and it is worse on the continent.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

She is Taz, but this weekend the weather was nice and soft, the salt had washed off the roads with a few downpours and it was dry all Sunday - so I couldn't resist a quick spin

Those fronts are an accident waiting to happen indeed. To all owners of garage queens: look at attached picture, and shiver. Use your car or else!!

This is what you can expect on a car that sat for four years. Needless to say, they're at the top of the to do list but wanted to wait till spring.
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Congrats Patagonian, it just happens that my new tyres arrived today as well at the shop, after posting that pic I got a little scared myself so I ordered them. So mine too will soon steer properly again. I went for OEM Bridgestone Expedia S-01's, think they're soon going to be out of production if not already.