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348 Ride Height

Discussion in '348/355' started by John_K_348, Feb 14, 2015.

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  1. John_K_348

    John_K_348 F1 Rookie

    Sep 20, 2013
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    #1 John_K_348, Feb 14, 2015
    Anyone have actual measurements of a good ride height on 18 inch wheels? Not the drop, the measured ride height from hub to fender lip? The perch adjustment, tools, threads and ratios are all posted in other threads, but I couldn't find an optimum setting on 18 inch wheels (and 225/40-18F, 265/40-18R) I think drop is 0.70 front, 1.0 inches rear.
     
  2. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,741
    #2 Mitch Alsup, Feb 15, 2015
    A good guess is the ride height of the F355 (which comes on 18" wheels)

    The chassis is essentially identical--the Specialé and after 348s have the same rear geometry
    This will leave the roll axis inclination the same as the F355. This will put you close.
    If you want a bit more oversteer, raise the rear by 1-2mm.
    If you want more understeer, lower the rear by 1-2mm.
     
  3. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 fatbillybob, Feb 15, 2015
    Mitch,

    Late 348 and 355 same rear geometry but the rear subframes are different?
     
  4. ijvpet

    ijvpet Formula Junior

    Jul 17, 2002
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    #4 ijvpet, Feb 15, 2015
    The rears on a 348 don't drop very much at all.
    I also used lowering springs to drop it about 1"
     
  5. John_K_348

    John_K_348 F1 Rookie

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    #5 John_K_348, Feb 15, 2015
    So the drop is about 0.7 inch front, 1.0 inch rear. That would work out to a ride height something like 12.3 inches front, 13 inches rear? That's just a crazy guess thinking of wheel diameter and tire sidewall. Anybody know the actually ride height measurements? ;)
     
  6. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 fatbillybob, Feb 15, 2015
    Look at WSM for proper ride height and referrence points. Do not use fenders.
    Then keep the rake factory and raise and lower the chassis with factory rake as you want. Becareful of bumpsteer and alterations of at limit handling from changing RH and remember to reset your alignment to match the new RH. You can then tweek RH on one end to tune the handling you want and or do some tune with tire pressures if your tires are good.
     
  7. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,741
    #7 Mitch Alsup, Feb 16, 2015
    Yes, but; geometry determines where the roll centers are, subframes determine how the engine and tranny are mounted.
     
  8. hyenahf

    hyenahf F1 Rookie

    May 25, 2004
    2,603
    #8 hyenahf, Feb 16, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2015
    late 348s relocated the rear upper pick up points and widen the track. 355 apparently used the same pick up point locations and geometry though with a entirely different subframe that mounts transaxle differently.

    there are experts here that made analysis of the 348 rear geometry and have made many very valid points on what, why and how the late 348 rear geometry was updated. I myself have a different view point of why this geometry update was done.
     
  9. John_K_348

    John_K_348 F1 Rookie

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    #9 John_K_348, Feb 16, 2015
    Very cool. OK here is what I found in the WSM converted to inches for the lower control arm and damper/hub attachment points, NOT fender to hub center. Second generation bearings:

    Front control arm= 6.52 inches off ground
    Front damper= 6.61
    (same as first gen.)

    Rear control arm= 7.89
    Rear lower hub bolt= 7.30
     
  10. John_K_348

    John_K_348 F1 Rookie

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    #10 John_K_348, Feb 19, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  11. John_K_348

    John_K_348 F1 Rookie

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    #11 John_K_348, Apr 1, 2015
    Bringing her back home tonight and measured the front lip and rear bumper. Gap wise I could do 1/4 inch drop up front and 3/4 drop at rear. Not sure how many threads I have left in the rear or the proper chassis height measurements as it sits now. I'm pretty sure there was room for the rear perches to come down. ! turn is 1.2 - 1.5 mm drop?
     
  12. driveitdaily

    driveitdaily Formula 3

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    #12 driveitdaily, Apr 1, 2015

    John, mine has been on rollers for the winter , makes it easy to move around the shop , friday , i'm going to put it back on the floor , i'll move it so the suspension settles and i'll take some measurments in the shop where the floor is nice and level . Omg , winter just wont give up , i figured i'd be out with it a month ago .


    1994 ferrari 348 spider , third owner purchased may 2013 w/ 27804 miles
     
  13. driveitdaily

    driveitdaily Formula 3

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    #13 driveitdaily, Apr 6, 2015
    on the level garage floor , with no passengers , from the floor to the top of the wheel arch , front I have 26" , and rear 27" . seems to be a good height for me , low , but not so low that i'm hitting every dip in the road with the front lip.
     
  14. John_K_348

    John_K_348 F1 Rookie

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    #14 John_K_348, Apr 12, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Hey sounds good. We measured from hub center to fender lip on Miatas. No worries, I can do all the measurements now. I checked front control arm and it was like 5.5 inches! That's Challenge height! Bumper is like 6 plus so I may do more. Got the oil changed and lowered the rears like 3/8 with 7 turns. Tons of room on the perch threads. A soaking under the top hat on passenger side helped to get it turning. Stubborn.
    Here are pics. Allignment this week.
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  15. John_K_348

    John_K_348 F1 Rookie

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    #15 John_K_348, Apr 12, 2015
    Man, a little sun and the heat is back. Tires are normal around 35 psi front and back, but all thee bumps are really hard on my new 18 OZs. Im think of lowering the psi for a little more compliance. Smelled coolant but no overflow luckily. Had ac on too, top down and traffic. ;)
     
  16. John_K_348

    John_K_348 F1 Rookie

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    #16 John_K_348, Apr 15, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Hard work pays off. In and out of the driveway ok on my bridgeit ramps and an extra 2x4 for overhang. Gas station too. Lip trim strip is kind of grippy rather than slippery. Trick is to find a material flexible enough to curve with bumper corner. Or at this rate, I'll make a pattern for a splitter and ask my fabricator to, make it out of carbon fiber ;) Stance looks great now. Need to double check ride height at control arms. Thought I would check the oil since it was nice and hot. Sure enough it was still low! Added another quart and it's in the zone now. Can't add too much or it will smoke. Dodging potholes and crossing cruddy patches in a Ferrari is a lot like walking your wife to dinner, on a cobblestone street, while she is wearing strappy heeled sandals. Slow and steady, beautiful, labor intensive, and sooooooo worth it.
    :D
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  17. Meister

    Meister F1 Veteran
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    #17 Meister, Apr 16, 2015
    do you need both wrenches to work on each individual shock, or are they front and rear specific. Also if you had the part numbers handy it would be awesome. Thanks
     
  18. John_K_348

    John_K_348 F1 Rookie

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    #18 John_K_348, Apr 16, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2015
    Small one is for lower lock nut large one for perch. SATURATE the lower spring bushing with WD40 on fronts. Rear top hats too. I guess all bushings doesn't hurt ;) It would just torque twist under tension from the spring and not give enough in the room within the wheel well on the fronts. Then pop-squiiiiish it lets go. Man I thought I blew the damper when I heard that. Then after a little looking I saw what was happening. I even used channel locks and a rag to try and compress the spring a little. Didn't really need it once the springs bushing was lubricated enough. It helps a lot to spray into the tiny gap and the end of the coil. I'll post this now, search for the snap on numbers and update after.

    Dangit. Can't remember the dimensions and numbers. Search of forums was haystack, and I'm a librarian! So here is the Snap-On page. I'll check the numbers at home. In general the longer the handle the better! The spring perch IS wide so it is at least 4 inch span.

    https://store.snapon.com/Adjustable-Hook-Spanners-C675042.aspx

    I think it's 304 and 307.
     

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