Shocking 550 shock prices.

Not far off. In reviewing the records on my 355, the front shocks were replaced (very similar to 550 shocks) at a cost of $805 each a year ago, by the local dealer. There is someone on this list that repairs them. A search of the archives should turn him up.

 

Absolutely get them rebuilt - this will save you over 1/2 of the cost of a new... As mentioned the archives have the details...

 

I was going to get mine revalved after having new springs installed. Phil Hughes (ferrarifixer) warned me that there may be some problems with leaking, spoke to dealer, told me the same thing, spoke to the Bilstein people who do the work, confirmed what the others had been telling me. It's probably worth giving it a shot, but with someone who isn't going to charge so much labour, particulalrly as the shock may need replacing anyway.

 

Rob's the man...

http://www.deltavee.net/

 

That price is insane. Call Rob at www.deltavee.net and he can re-build them. Rob has loads of Ferrari experience and is very knowledgable.

 

Ah Pino beat me to it

 

When the hood costs 14k, and the modulars are 3500/ea, 800 for shocks is cheap.

 

Stan: Get in touch with Lee Grimes @ Koni NA.

 

I say for that price, just upgrade to Fiorano spec shocks.

--Dan

 

Yeah, shocks are expensive. Even for my old Cadillac, replacing two front shocks were about $2,000 at a Cadillac dealership - because of the electronics, only place to get them done was at a dealership.

 

Dave : For 800 / corner, you could be on Motons or JRZ shocks , dude.

 

Fiorano spec is ECU only, the shocks are standard 550.

 

Well. Check out the Koni 3011 series shocks; threaded body, double adjustable , custom valving (with sprinds) : $510 / corner. And, they're incredibly durable.

 

How are you going to work out the appropriate compression and rebound curves - front and rear- for the car, what spring rates do they recommend?Have they done any development and testing on both road and track?
All too often people change components for aftermarket and end up with a car that handles worse, not better. I have yet to see any suspension components developed for the 550/575, other than the Fiorano kit, you can't even buy aftermarket springs for the car off the shelf, let alone coilovers.
The factory kit consists of rear sway bar and bushings, suspension ECU, steering ECU, front and rear springs, pagid brake pads.
Remember the Fiorano kit was properly developed by Ferrari in conjunction with Michael Schumacher.

I have just been down this path and decided that because I do not have the time and skills to spend weeks on a race track developing custom valving, it was more cost effective to pay Ferrari $2500 USD approx, for a new computer that adjusted the shock valving appropriately for the higher spring rates. It would have initially been cheaper to just revavle the shocks in the car, particularly as I have direct access to the Bilstein distributor to do so, but decided that if just one shock started leaking and needed replacement, the ECU would end up the cheaper option.
I am not saying that you have to buy a Fiorano kit, the prices of springs, for example, are outrageous, but the factory kit specs are a very good starting point to work from.

 

How are the shocks and springs controlled by the electronics.
I have been reading how 575 owners are trying to get the much out of their suspension and I have read how they have reporgrammed or remapped some computer for a stiffer ride. If you start using other than OEM parts do you then have to remapp all of the electronics?
gary

 

If they are indeed double adjustable I suspect they do not interface with the system.
I would like to know more too, Ferrari never had shock problems until they switched from Koni to Bilstien.

 

The 550 and 575 have totally different and incompatible systems. Using aftermarket coilovers would involve removal of the electronics altogether, which is not necessarily a bad thing, it is the development work required to make it work properly that is the real issue.

 

Stephen.

The development wouldn't be too painful. I'd simply give a F + R shock to the Ohlins guy, get him to dyno them through say 5 positions of adjustment, then build a set of ohlins to reflect what the Bilsteins had with added "tweaks" to suit your preferred use.

I think an ohlin could be found to fit with maybe a fairly simple bracket/spacer arrangement needing to be made for mounting, that's all.

I'd be surprised if it cost more than AUD$20,000 all done and fitted... but that's not a quote!!

Then you could tune away to your hearts desire knowing you have lifetime servicable shocks with spares on the shelf and back up that's proven and efficient....

you also get a set of shocks that you can easily transfer to another car if/when you get bored with this one....... and just put back on the old std ones to sell the car

 

What happened to Mark on Thursday? When I came back on Friday the car was still downstairs...

 

Dunno. Ended up in the too hard basket though.........