355 F1 clutch wearing

On previous manual cars I've owned, you could tell the clutch was starting to go bad when it would "slip" during medium to heavy acceleration. You can tell the clutch is slipping when your RPM starts to climb a bit higher than it should in relation to your speed.


On the 355 can you get a reading of the clutch wear like you can on the newer models? That might be a good baseline to determine how much life you have left.

 

I don't know much about it, but in looking at service records for a 355 I'm considering purchasing, the shop performed both an electronic measurement and "visual inspection" of the clutch while it was in for a major service.

Oddly, the electronic measure must be some kind of algorithm used to calculate what the clutch wear SHOULD be (perhaps?) - it showed at 108% or something, and the visual inspection was registered at 82%, which I assume they take a physical measurement of the thickness. Needless to say, the clutch was nearing ready to be replaced on this particular car. But I believe slippage would be the best indicator it's ready to replace aside from physically inspecting it.

 

I just replaced my F1 clutch and the wear was registered at 150%

Some issue I was experiencing would include slow getup in first and lag between gears neutral. Since i've never really driven the car with a fresh clutch I'm really excited to see what it drives like tomorrow when I pick it up!

 

Just replaced a f1 clutch 98 355 the clutch sliped bad at take off and after minutes of driving a beaping sound at take of in first gear that's because the syst detects over heating of the clutch due to sliping . Tell you one thing it was to the rivites when I took it off that is the clutch disk . No scanner needed to check it don't have one. blead the f1 syst did a relearn cars back on the road

 

Really, it is as simple as "don't buy an F1 tranny in an F355."

 

I agree to disagree. Bought my f1 and love it but to each their own. As for your question as stated above as the clutch gets near the end of its life the computer beeps at you more obtain. If you want to test the beep sound leave the car in neutral while running and shut it off without engaging the e brake it will make the same beep. Mine has 12000 on it and it now starts to beep if I back uphill into garage and it takes too long, clutch gets hot and beeps.

 

Why? Don't you ever have to replace the clutch on a manual?

 

I love ya like a brother Mitch. But this drum beat is getting old.

Last I checked, the stick shift 355's have the exact same transmission and clutch as the F1. No?

 

Frankly the whole "stick shift is for real men" thing is pathetic and has been done to death.

 

FWIW, i greatly prefer the 355f1 to the 360. It has a much more mechanical feel, even if a bit slower. You are involved in the shifting, if that makes an sense. They are also a very simple system.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a 355f1, in fact having driven manual all my life, it would be a really fun alternative.

Of all the Ferraris I have driven, the 355 is right near the top. They got that car so right, it's a shame they can be such b-riches to repair/maintain. Still, I'd rather have a 355 ten years down the road than trying to find a nuclear physicist to repair an aging 458

 

I, personally, have not had to replace the clutch in any of the manual transmission cars I have ever owned (close to 1/2 Million miles on manuals).

Now to my F355, I bought it with 22K miles on it, it is closing in on 70K miles 5K of which have taken place on road race tracks. The clutch is still fine, and has never been replaced.
{The Dual Mass Flywheel is another mater....}

 

F1 transmissions operate the clutch differently!

The driver cannot, for example, slow the engadment of the clutch when the tranny is cold or truckulent. The computer slams it from gear to gear at fixed timing.

 

Yes, starting is a bit of an on/off switch - big deal, who cares?

"Computer slams it from gear to gear" hmmm - nope, not all all - it's pretty damm smooth.

I did a nice spirited drive thru very windy country roads yesterday and it was a blast - both hands on the wheel flying thru corners and up/down shifting faster than any 3 pedal could ever do...

 

I know that. And will argue the finer details of engagement and speeds of shift etc etc.

But, you did not answer my question.

Is the transmission and clutch different in a F1 versus a 355 stick?

It is not a trick question...either yes or no.

 

Exactly. I've found if you bother to warm the car up properly before moving off, the transmission is faultless and surprisingly smooth.
Certainly smoother and more reliable than any manual box I've driven.

Through the country roads it is great fun, and as I blast along with a huge grin on my face I have never silently wished it had three pedals.
And in the end, who cares if I have to replace the clutch more often?
What does a clutch cost in the grand scheme of things?

The "real drivers have a manual" brigade need to understand that their opinion is exactly that - an opinion.
You prefer a manual, I'm glad I've got the F1. Each to their own.

 

I bought my 355F1 with a slipping clutch; it was driveable but was slow to engage in first (really need to rev to get it moving). Also the F1 light flashes and there's a warning beep.

Mitch, if you prefer 3 pedals that's fine. But the fact is the F1 is a blast to drive, and is probably the cheapest and easiest thing to replace on a 355. You know the pumpkin is right at the back of the engine, very easy to access. And if you have a clutch disk re-lined, probably talking a $100 fix?? It's cheaper than an oil change!!

 

I agree totally my first ferrari was the f1355 and I wanted to feel like a f1 pilot and I can't say I have regretted it for a second. It will probably save me 10s of thousands of dollars because I feel other than a few add ons the new ones have very little more to offer. I can not see buying a newer one for a long time. Being a little mechanical helps the pocket book and thanks to all the guys on fchat mechanic stuff isn't that hard. Not sure if the 360, 430, or 458 brothers are as good and if I owned even a 430 not sure if I would feel as comfortable to take it apart. Just my 2 cents