Lowering a 458

I won't argue with what the Dealer has said --- I am sure they are well-informed.

However, I would think that the height sensors should be able to be adjusted / re-positioned mechanically to "think" that a lowered (more than 1") car is within targeted range. This can be done with any other car that uses height / position sensors on the suspension ---- I don't see how the 458 would be any different ??

It might take some irreversible modification to some mounting hardware / brackets, but I would think it could be done. That said, maybe it would be easier, or cheaper, just to get a set of shorter springs ---- what are the Challenge car guys doing ?? IIRC, they are running significantly lowered suspensions, over the street version.

I also doubt that, for various and obvious reasons, any Dealer will want to perform this modification to a 458 --- especially one that is still under factory warranty.

 

I say lower it the one inch you will be more than happy.
I have a 355 lowered about 1.5" and it is hard to take it anywhere. I'm always dodging every little bump or pebble in the road and trying to get into some parking lots it completely out of the question.

 

mine is lowered 1.5 inches at the back and 1.75 inches at the front using the stock coilovers,
never had a problem with anything, just careful pulling out of driveways
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My dealer refuses to do it at all. Says it screws up everything and won't take responsibility.

He also says no more than 1 inch max if you do it outside.

 

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Honestly, this looks too low to me. Each to their own but the wheels look all wrong in the wheel well arches.

 

I didn't think the 458 would look better any lower until I saw FoCF's 458C they brought out to a local car show. It looked amazing with that stance...of course getting it off the sidewalk via wheelchair ramp showed how much of a pain any elevation change is.

Would the 458 Challenge suspension be feasible?

Pics of an Fchatters 458C: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/challenge-cars/362333-latest-addition-458-challenge.html

Edit: You may want to contact user StoryBook who lowered a 458 by 25mm. Pics are farther down on this page: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/458-italia/349789-how-lower-my-458-a.html

 

Anyone looking to lower their 458 properly (via a spring change), may want to check these out ----

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/ferrari-parts-collectibles/404772-458-novitec-springs.html#post142315241

I'm not sure what the specs are, but I'm quite certain they are shorter than stock --- and Novitec does their homework before making modifications to ensure that they work properly with the cars.

 

Will lowering the 458 by 1'' on the stock suspension compromise handling at all?

 

Looks sensational!

Nothing wrong with lowering it, just have another wheel alignment performed to make sure everything is still in spec and you will be right.

 

Will slightly improve it if anything mate.

 

What the dealer meant is that anything over an inch with the stock springs makes it impossible to set the recommended camber, so the suspension geometry will be out of whack.

 

Dropping an inch in the front and 3/4" in the rear on factory springs gives the car a nice usable stance. Without the drop the cars look like they are ready for an off road excursion and the gap between the tire and fender is just plain gross. Much lower and it starts to have a negative effect and the tire looks offset in the large wheel openings. The lower parts of the fenders start to look like they are just flapping in the breeze.

I have heard that the US cars are higher from the factory than cars in other markets.

 

Why would you want to lower it? I'm sure your Ferrari was designed/engineered to handle best as designed. It seems to me that lowering in can only affect the handling detrimentally. If you want a lower rider, buy a 64 Chevy and a Cheech and Chong album.