NEW OWNER WITH A QUESTION

It depends what you are used to. Its probably not going to ride as well as a modern car but you wouldn't expect that. If the car's not wallowing then its shocks are probably working OK & the only other things to watch out for is that its not unheard of for them to brake suspension springs (but pretty rare).

If you start to hear a lot of creaking then you may need to be doing some bushes. That said, a lot of bushes look a bit ratty round the edges, but actually are fine where it matters, so don't be thinking you need to change them all just because of what the bit you can see looks like. Its not a small or inexpensive job,

 

What is your standard for comparison? What other cars have you driven?

A healthy suspension will tell you exactly what's going on at the interface between road and car, but it shouldn't leave you wondering whether your fillings are going to stay in your teeth.

 

My 308 ride is closer to my wife's Buick than like my Ford Ranger 2wd PU. You must have overinflated tires or bad shocks. Or expectation lag.

 

"I JUST FIND THE BUMPS IN THE ROAD LOUD AND HARD"

"I JUST DON'T REMEMBER THE STEERING WHEEL BOUNCING SO MUCH///"


Sounds normal to me - the CD player (if you have one) will also skip quite regularly.

 

Sounds pretty normal. 328s are quite "lively" like that, the steering wheel will move around a lot in response to the road surface - you'll get used to it. You have to learn not to "hang on for grim death" otherwise you will find it very tiring to drive.

 

+1 (2?)
My 308 QV's ride is firm but not at all harsh. If your suspension was worn out, I'd expect the car would be wandering and not cooperating nicely going around corners. I second problem tires or shocks. Perhaps the PO cranked to Konis to their firmest setting.

 

I would beg to differ with some of the above. I have around 15 years experience with 328's and have always found that when properly set up the suspension is remarkably supple and the steering wheel never vibrates, even with the GTS with targa in place. With the targa top removed and driving on a bumpy road there is noticeable scuttle shake, but no vibration. For comparison the 355 is similarly supple but the 360 is much firmer to the point of being sometimes uncomfortably hard on worn freeways. I have to conclude that either your tires are badly out of balance or inflated way too high or both. If these are both OK then I would check out the suspension bushings. There is one other unlikely possibility, could you possibly have a very old set of nylon tires that have flat spotted? Good luck with solving the problem and enjoying your 328.

 

All true - but, as above, 328's are quite lively in terms of what comes back through the wheel if the road is anything less than smooth. As you say the wheel should not vibrate, but it will communicate pretty much every ripple in the road.

 

Sounds normal to me on the surface. With that said, the only way you will know for sure is to ride in a well sorted car for comparison. Check your local Ferrari Club.

 

Of course you need a new suspension. The thing has been been sitting on that rubber for 30 years. Still, as systems replacement go, this is one that can be put toward the end of the list.

 

Koni shocks harden with age so it's something to consider.

Also, if you have access to a lift or jack, you might want to take a look at the bushings at the 'A' arms and the the suspension linkages. You might find that they are cracked and need to be replaced.

Then again, bumps will be felt in the steering wheel.

-F

 

Look for the smoothest road you can that is twisty and has some elevation changes etc. If its smooth on that road then it probably the bad roads we all drive on not the car. No one likes taxes but taxes repave roads I like repaved roads........

It could also be old tires new tires always make the ride better especially when the wheels are rebalanced. You should feel the road but you should not have vibration in the wheel

Rob

 

my 2 cents. 85 308 qv with 16" wheels here.
newbie as well. i was actually surprised on how smooth the ride is. compared to a mini cooper or to a 997 porsche (which i had in the past years), the ferrari is much softer and comfy. the steering wheel feels the road a bit (vibrates on bump). but the rest is very smooth for a sport car.

 

Still stand by my thought he should try to ride in another 328. This is so subjective and relative to your comparison. 328 in some respects is more sensitive than my other cars (including sports cars) in that I can feel everything in the steering and change of road surface, on the other hand, it soaks up moderate bumps more smoothly with minimal tram lining as the pavement changes, yet given the body flex, is certainly more upset by large bumps than my newer cars. I agree hen can check on the conditions of the bushings and shocks (I had my Koni's rebuilt and new bushings put in), but beside that, it really depends on reference points and descriptions. Check bushings, check shocks (as car is lowered on a lift does it settle down smoothly?) and go to a dealer or Ferrari Club event and get a ride in another car. My two cents

 

This is my vote as well. I've 20 years in Ferrari 308 - 328, and the ride is normally smooth. if you hit pot holes you will feel - see flexing in the windscreen - scuttle will shake... but normally on the streeet or highway you should not have the wheel moving up and down... You will see tramlining on wallowed out streets.... where the car pulls to one side or rides the ridge, but that is normal.

I suspect out of balance wheels... and you may need an alignment to get the feel right.

You should have your wheels speed balanced while on the car.... this makes a HUGE difference.

Getting an alignment is also a good idea. When the 328 is properly set up - it runs great, handles great - has some understeer at factory settings, if you have a good shop they can dial out the understeer with suspension set up, but beware its there for safety ... if you take to much out... It can be a real hand full on twisty roads / race track.

 

Have you checked the air pressure in the tires?

 

I have found that the that my car is very communicative. It tells me everything. Jeremy Clarkson once commented (on a 355) that it was so communicative that he could run over a small furry animal and not only tell you what it was, but what it had eaten for breakfast that morning.

My suggestion, either ride or find someone to let you drive another 328.




PDG

 

"my 328" welcome. did you look through all service records on your car to see what may have been done/not done for suspension, steering etc. Also, these cars are often not driven much and the tires, while having lots of tread can be old. Some tires ridde much more stiffly than others. My 87 328 rides perfectly smoothly on smooth roads...I suspect yours should too.

 

You will probably also find there is a big difference between 'roof on' and 'roof off' as the roof adds a surprising amount of extra rigidity to the GTS, and reduces the amount of scuttle shake. This won't show up in the suspension per se, but definately noticeable in the steering. Try driving down the same stretch of road in the same weather conditions to see the difference.

 

@ my328

welcome to the club! My 87 rides very smooth on the highway with none/very little vibration in the steering wheel. If driving hard on a not so smooth side ride I do feel every bump in the road but it's not a harsh jolt in the wheel but rather a quick vibration which then quickly disappears.
I recommend you take your car to your local mechanic and put it on the hoist to have a good look before you buy new tires or re-balance them etc.

Enjoy

 

Yes, welcome to the club!! My '86 328 rides stiff, but not nearly as much as my former '78 308, which had a very stiff suspension with after-market shocks. The bushings on these cars definitely dry out and harden over time. You probably want to check them as they may be in need of replacement. If you don't like the hard ride, don't go with poly bushings. Stick with the stock rubber ones. And have the shocks checked as well. They may need a rebuild (Konis are rebuildable), or replacement with an adjustable.

3x8s generally don't ride like modern luxury cars. You feel the road. Drive the car more, and you'll get used to it and the crisp handling. After you do, you won't like the sloppy ride of your daily driver.