shims for camber adjustment in 458

I'll try to take pics and post the process

 

Thanks Ray

Do you by any chance have a link to a cheap service manual? All I could find was several hundred bucks.

I think the marking is to make sure the stud does not back out, and remains fully seated. Should it loosen a bit, it will be easy to screw it back in with a pair of nuts.

On a different note. When removing a shock assembly, do you need to compress the spring, or is it fully extended when the car is off the ground? Also, how is the Magneride connected to each shock assembly? Just a simple plug?

Thank you again

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Sounds good. Could you measure what stock shim thickness is used for the lower arms? They come in a variety of thicknesses ranging from 1mm to 4mm in 0.5mm increments.

Thanks

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I can measure, but there would be no 'stock'. They will differ from the factory from car to car to account for production tolerances. Also, I haven't owned this car from new. I could not confirm that my shims are original and not changed in a previous alignment.

 

I have a video on my YouTube channel showing a little about the 458 coil over stuff - search me under ray5961 and you should be able to find it.

The coilover assembly basically just unbolts from the frame. You do not need to compress the springs to remove it. When I did it, I jacked up the frame of the car and then also had another jack under the A arm area as I recall. The coilover will only come out from the top as I remember, so you have to remove some of the plastic panels and push the windshield wiper motor out of the way (depending on which one you're working on of course).

There is an electronic wiring harness connector at the top that you unplug and also a little position arm pivot thing which has a sort of plastic rod end affair, which you'll have to disconnect. There is a cross bolt at the bottom and then two bolts into the frame at the top; the top sort of sits under a tiny ledge, which helps keep it in place.

The spring compressor and collar lock spanners only come into play once you have the coilover off the car and on the work bench.

Ray

 

I am confused, you are doing this for what reason looks?

 

Lowering mostly for looks, alignment for what I think are obvious reasons. I will let you know how far from the correct ride height (according to the manual) it started at and where it finished at.

 

Look guy, you don't have to tell us you don't understand or it has you confused every time someone wishes to make changes.

Here's something for you and your mind to dwell on. It may be a Ferrari, and we are indeed here because Ferrari build some great cars and we like them. But fact is that Ferrari builds in some "artificial excitement" into the cars. Now for people who don't track and have no training, this is all fine and dandy. It make the car feel alive and like a "race car". However, for track rats and drivers with lots of training, this is not always the case. They sometimes feel way too darty and the understeer really kills the cars actual abilities. I mean, just look at those alignment numbers Ray posted. If you want to drive fast, those numbers won't win any races. I can assure you that the Pista that went around Fiorano in 1:21 did not have a camber setting of 0.8 degrees and toe OUT. Look at those 458 numbers. 0.7 degrees of camber? Really. Toe out? Trust me, there's a lot to be gained by changing those numbers. Yes, the car will fell less darty and light in the steering, and it will understeer less which will make the car a bit more tail happy as it gets more neutral. It is very true that you can easily ruin a cars handling, been there done that, but more often than not, you can also improve certain things. People always say "It's Ferrari, you can't improve it". But like I said, the cars they set lap times with are set up much differently. You don't think a Challenge or GTE 488 has toe out or less than one degree of camber, do you? Neither do I.

Now major engine modifications and big changes to the chassis and suspension system, that's an entirely different story.

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Hi Ray, digging up an old post....do you know where I can obtain this type of info you posted in the attachments?

My local Ferrari dealer is of no real help with info or getting my car slightly lowered and realignment so my local Porsche indy race shop will do the work. I just want to provide them with good solid factory docs