FHP- Fiorano Handling on a 355?

Is the car a 1999 spider?

 

I've seen adds that stated that on European cars for sale. I was wondering myself.

 

Out of interest guess how many threads a search on the word Fiorano in this section yields : ok I'll tell you - hundreds !!!!

 

FHP is very rare, never seen one in the US other than the Fiorano edition '99 spyders.

 

You can buy the components and have them fitted to any 355.

Expensive, of course, but has certainly been done.

 

Do our cars have variable assist steering racks ?

My 99 f1 really tightened up the steering when in sport mode, is this the result of the shock rebound or a setting on the steering assist? Steering got a lot heavier when in sport even at stand still.

My 95 does the opposite , its tighter by default and then when I hit the shock button it gets mushier. Still the 99 felt like it had a different rack .... I hear some people swap to the fioano rack.

Any insight ?

 

I have the challenge rack and pump on my 95. It does not make the steering stiffer but it does make it quicker and less turns lock to lock.

 

That makes sense, so perhaps the suspension ecu controls the steering assist also... Never knew that.

Thanks.

 

How would the ecu control steering? I don't think there are any electrical connections to the rack or pump on a 355 as there are to the shocks.

 

Im wondering the same thing? My 99 really got tighter (less assist) when sport was engaged. This could be a side effect of the shocks tightening ...but not at a standstill because it is a rebound adjustment on the shock top....

Any insight ?

 

There isn't

 

Not possible.

 

Ok what about once the car is in motion ? Why would it feel tighter?

I have also had a few people drive my other car and noticed it as well.

 

Fiorano package included (for the suspension and steering) bigger F+R sway bars, adjustable links, rear shocks F+R, faster ratio steering rack and a power steering pump with a recalibrated pressure regulator. I think spring rates remain unchanged but I could be wrong on that.

There is no link between the Sport setting and the steering on any version. The Sport setting ONLY changes shock valving range, F1 shifting and ABS intervention thresholds.

 

Thanks for the response Brian, that explains it well.

Could the difference in shockvalving alter the steering resistance or feel in anyway ? My 95 has much less difference in feel between both modes than the 99, but obviously they are two different cars ...

Appreciate it!!

 

Ok so a 550/456 has a separate steering ecu...or was this the suspension ecu?

Good to know. I now understand the racks have no assist adjustment or variability, the difference in feel i experienced must be from the altered shock valving then....

Originally I thought I was the only one who noticed but close friends drove my car and brought the difference in feel to my attention between the two modes.

 

There are indications that the springs are different. Superformance shows part number 176027 for the FHP front spring. This part number is listed by Ricambi, but unfortunately without any application reference.

For the FHP rear spring, Superformance shows part number 150415, which is the original 512TR rear spring. At some point in the 512TR run it was changed to 151882, which was then carried over to the 355 (as the standard rear spring, not FHP).

Would you know whether the older 512TR spring has a higher rate, which could explain it being selected for FHP?

 

Yes, the firmer damping in sport mode makes a noticeable difference in turn-in response.

 

Agreed