1995 F355 GTS: Restoration and Major Service

So did you decide to go with the bushing set advertised on Ebay? If so, any particular reason why these over OE?
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I’ve been deep diving into suspension/brakes lately as I am trying to sort it all in one-go.


A fairly knowledgeable Fchatter @johan6504 had a bad experience with even the Superperformance “hard” bushing set (they offer a standard and hard version) while he was searching for something firmer than OE. He found the Superperformance “hard” version was actually alot softer than OE.


https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/355-suspension-kit.260852/#post-139038399

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/flex-in-a-arm-bushing-new-hard-was-actually-soft.263591/#post-139104225


*He’s referring to Superperformance hard bushings in both of these threads.


https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/355-suspension-question.270848/page-4#post-139288673


“When it comes to the control arms and ball joints I have original bushings. Tested energy suspension, powerflex and hard rubber PU bushings but they were all WAY softer than original. Trust me in this; stay with original A-arm bushings. The construction is VERY stiff and the only tougher solution is to go for solid Delerin or aluminum bushings, which is race only in terms of comfort…”

 

I don’t know much about these Ebay ones, but just figured I’d throw out some concerns from other offerings.

 

Thanks for taking one for the team… as usual .

 

@Ferrarium you installed on a 348 or 355?

 

I’m seeing different part numbers for what 348s came with although he can use the suggested 355 bushings. If he’s installed on a 348, he could be making comparisons to older type 348 bushings instead of 355 bushings.

 

I’m all for a lower cost solution if we can even get something close to OE, so I’m interested in anyone’s feedback who has actually put these on.

Personally, I’m not looking forward to spending the $2500 + labor on the OE’s as I feel they only really last for about 10k mi or 10 years whichever comes first. I’m sure they are good when they’re good.

 

When I first saw the Ebay ones, I thought they might have been re-branded Superperformance ones or simply the same ones sold by another seller. I’m hoping they aren’t, which would imply more new options on the market.

 

@MAD828 how long have you been trying to get a hold of Delta Vee? I have been emailing him on and off and he usually gets back to me within a few days (except weekends).

I believe I bought his last “Fiorano Inspired” damper kit. He told me it was the last because it’s the last set of his custom monoball upper he had left and he wasn’t going to make any more, probably due to low demand. Outside of that, I’m sure he can still put something together. His “secret” spring rates are still there along with dampers revalved to it.


I also asked him about upgrading to the challenge shock mounts. He didn’t feel it was necessary. I’d just keep monitoring it.

 

Btw. Regarding Ebay bushings… is the rubber bonded/glued like the Superperformance ones?

 

I had my stock mounts seam welded instead of just spot welded in. Seems to have stopped any deformation and didn't require pulling and replacing the shock mounts, though did require some massaging of things back into place before welding. Has a couple of track days, autox and a few thousand miles on it since. Running H&R springs. I took it to a good welder as it's not thick metal.

 

I don't think he comes on Fchat as often anymore. Email is the best way to get a hold of him and he has always been fairly responsive to me.

I've believe his Fiorano damper kit is one of the best options for our cars for the longest time. That's why I bought it . Barry and I have been preaching his kit for years, but Fchatters like to make things more complicated than it really is .

His monoball upper is based off the 348LM design. Maybe that will help.

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/m-tecnologia-front-spoiler-for-f355.240431/page-3

This was an interesting upper set up as well. Poster says it was put together by "Bilstein Technical Center." If I had to put money on it, I would say that is Ennepetal Bilstein Japan. That would've been my next go to if Delta Vee didn't come through. I'm sure Delta Vee is willing to make more if there is enough interest as well.


Did you go with Superperformance version of the Fiorano springs or OE Fiorano springs? I believe those are also good rates to go with and if my understanding is correct, even on FHP equipped cars, the damper is the same as the standard car implying revalving might not be needed. BUT... as mentioned in the other thread, there is a new product number for the standard damper and I'm not sure if that's what 99 cars are equipped with or if this change came well after 355 production AND if the dampers are even exactly the same as the old ones.

 

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The lower monoball bushing on the lower damper for the 355 is the exact same one offered on the 360/F430 damper. Same product number. $60 each. Delta Vee says he's never seen them worn out on the 355 damper. However, on my Scud, they were completely done all 4 corners (upper and lower) at 26k mi. and I did have them replaced with OE ones.

I find out later Hill Engineering supposedly makes a better one than OE, but I haven't looked into the offering.


*I find it interesting because the 355 damper is Bilstein while 430 is Sachs.

 

I believe (and I'm stressing my brain cells here) that the difference with Fiorano cars was the shock ECU curve and shocks were the same, the curve between the two was posted at one point along with some talk about making it programmable - I believe it's part of the service manual if you can find a '99 version. This was years ago. There was no increased functionality to the ecu, just a different curve, so you could achieve the same with shock damping changes during rebuild. The real trick would be to make a programmable version that would allow you to change the damping curve to more than 2 settings (or change the curve altogether), could probably be achievable via arduino.

Lot of effort for not much improvement imo, stock damping is quite good and via trial and error I found that what feels better is not always faster (ie sport setting felt better but slower on autox, stiffer was better feel but less overall grip), so it also depends which you prioritize, which tires you use, springs, ARB's etc. That's why if you're going to mess with it, full adjustable and/or programmable is the only way to make it truly better, especially if the car evolves over time.

 

When I got my red car in April, it came with old ass (but barely worn) Continentals. Felt like a waterbed. I put the challenge wheels with new Advan tires on... night and day difference. My initial response was it wasn't bad at all , but there is room for improvement. I'm making mental comparisons to how I had setup the Scud, which I think is phenomenal for the road. I am trying to build a 355 "Scud," so even if it's a 25% improvement but comes really close to that feel, I'm down with it. I'm not willing to sacrifice too much comfort for challenge-like performance. I'm not clocking times on the road, so feel is what I'm after .

At the very least, it needs to be as good as the Fiorano Handling Pack, if not better. I am diligently after the challenge sway bars (FHP) and would like to try the Fiorano ECU with the Delta Vee damper kit. Delta Vee said no one has tried that combo. He also said he was never able to find documentation of the mapping differences. I can only go off testimonial.


Got a link to the Fiorano Ecu thing?

Also.. do we know with absolute certainty, standard 99 shocks were exactly same as 95-98? Afterall, we do have a new product number for the damper.