Pista Lowered on Novitec Springs

Looking at the F8's crazy high suv ride height i'd say lowering is an absolute must. It looks a good 15 to 20mm higher than a Pista. Pretty sure even a Bentley doesn't look so disproportionately high...

Such a shame to spend so much money on a car like this to find it needs correction....Pista included.

 

Is it just me or does the car sit too low on Novitec springs? I’m the first to agree that the stock Pista sits too high, and I may lower mine, but Novitec seems to have gone too far in the other direction. A slightly larger gap above the tire is needed to balance out the body gaps in front of and behind the tire.

My opinion anyhow....

 

First and foremost, your car looks great!
Second, I lowered both my 430 and 458 Italia. I therefore never hesitated lowering my 458 spider years ago using the stock springs. At that time I went into a long winded explanation here on Fchat about tie-rod angle from inboard to outboard. In essence, you want that relationship to be level for optimal suspension function. The factory setting - especially in the US - is off. The outboard side is too high vs the inboard side. Lowering the car to the optimal position is possible using just the FACTORY SUPPLIED means to do it. Federal bumper height standards and Ferrari protecting the car from knuckle headed drivers are why you see the factory ride height. As an aside, when my dealer was about to lower the car they always check where they start. My car was over 10mm above the factory setting to begin with! Lastly, suspension lifter equipped cars have less adjustment possible. Not zero, just not as much.
The work was done by my dealership who I have frequently said is world class. The person that did mine has done more Challenge cars, F40s, F50s, etc. and Classiche certifications to the point of having lost count. He assured me of the following: within certain parameters, the type of suspension used by Ferrari does NOT change the relationship of shock to spring during lowering. Did you ever stop to wonder why the car has threaded, turnable/adjustable ride height adjustment?
I cannot comment about the Novice spring change as I have never driven a car equipped with it. But after lowering 3 cars with the stock parts I can assure you of the following: less roll, more NOT less supple, improved visual aesthetic, but yes, less ground clearance. My dealer installs special fabricated Kevlar front end skid plates. They are the same as used in their Challenge cars to protect against the curbing on the race track. Work great for driveways and speed bumps on the street!
Let me be very clear - I only hear great things about Novitec. Just saying I did not go that route and have had no issues over 14 years of driving lowered cars on the factory suspension.
Best

 

Going by the pics I'm inclined to agree it looks a bit too low and unnatural. I thought Roberts (Apex) looked more in keeping at 15mm. I'm also doubtful the car can be driven without scraping under compression given Robert had reported his scraped under compression on the odd section even at the stock ride height. This may not matter to some but for me there is nothing worse than having a car that scrapes. I'm of the thought that unless the coils are stiffer to counter a lower height then scraping is worsened under compression.

 

Looks like PERFECTION to me! Not just saying this to blow smoke but I really like your Pista!

 

Thank you FordGtDriver to take your time for posting these very helpful pictures and explanation....you clarified my mind a lot, I guess I will go for same set up!!
and I love gold rims with red

thank you also to HKE56Boy for your pics....yours is definitely lower!

Enjoy both these beauties in health

 

You are spot on,gap around the tyre needs to be proportionate

 

Great info . Thanks . Pardon my tech ignorance. But I was just discussing this with my Ferrari service manager a couple of hours back .
I have just bought the whole Vorsteiner CF Aero kit with 21/ 22 wheels. So if I just replace my 488 Spyder stock springs with the Novitec springs ...what ride height will I loose...or in simple terms, will I reduce the gap between wheels and arches without additionally manually lowering springs further as per the Novitec recommended 10/15 ? Must the Novitec springs always be accompanied by Spacer adjustment ? I just need the minimal lowering more for aesthetics as it’s my DD and ride comfort must nit be compromised . Please advise ? Thanks

 

This is stunning ! Love it .

 

The ability to adjust the shocks collars to lower the ride height is actually designed to just corner balance the car. You can slightly lower the car 10mm or so not much more with out severely affecting the geometry of the suspension but slamming it will result in less performance. Also keep in mind things like the geometry of the toe arms as those should be parallel. I have yet to see adjustable ride height toe arms for these cars.

 

Thanks . I was in chat with my Ferrari service team and made them read your comments. I have just installed the Vorsteiner Aero kit and wheels in my car. The low profile of tyres is making the gaps look more overt. So while my Ferrari manager agree in principle to just replacing the springs with Novitec springs...he strictly advised me that all kinds of funny in screen messages and fault lights will happen if I manually lower springs any further . So how much the Novitec springs lower the car down with manual hankering ?....as a rough estimate ?

 

More than 1". Look as the distance of rocker panel from the ground just aft of the driver front wheel. Also gap over rear wheel. Maybe 1.5"?

 

That looks perfect ! However my new Vorsteiner 507 gloss shadow come with low profile Michelin’s which makes the gap even more noticeable ...yuk

 

20/21's look so much better to my eyes than 21/22... Your 488GTB looked so awesome! Those HRE's are the perfect performance wheel to me....those or BBS Fi-R's

 

Did you add spacers to the stock wheels?