355 - Replacing Coilover Coil Springs Yes or No? Superformance UK Springs! | FerrariChat
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355 Replacing Coilover Coil Springs Yes or No? Superformance UK Springs!

Discussion in '348/355' started by AutoFanaticF355, Oct 29, 2020.

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  1. AutoFanaticF355

    AutoFanaticF355 Karting

    Aug 13, 2020
    53
    NY
    Full Name:
    Philip
    #1 AutoFanaticF355, Oct 29, 2020
    I just got new shock collar parts from Hill Engineering since mine are all cruddy from age. My OEM springs feel a bit soft most likely due to age and physics of metal fatigue,

    I was contemplating if I just remove the OEM springs and have them refinished to look like new or buy brand new springs from Superformance UK? There is no technical mention of the springs Superformance offers except their site saying they are valid for the Fiorano Handling package.

    Does anyone have experience with these springs to share with me?

    I would not mind a new stiffer rate spring but i also worry how it will mate up to the original shocks which are in good working order. My 1995 355 drives nice and comfy now, sits nice at its current ride height but i would not mind a bit more sportiness/

    have any of you guys used the SuperFormance UK springs? I do not want to buy progressive lowering coils so that is not an option.

    my options are keep the originals and refinish them for cosmetics or buy the Superformance springs.
     
  2. Jackie and bill

    Jackie and bill Formula Junior

    Nov 29, 2014
    795
    GB
    Full Name:
    William
    #2 Jackie and bill, Oct 29, 2020
    I bought a set of the so called fiorano spec springs from superformance about 4 years ago. Sold them again on ebay within weeks.
    The problem was that they sat the car up to high, even when the platforms were wound right down. So it was difficult to set the suspension up correctly with them. On top of that they were far to hard.
    I buy quite a bit of gear from superformance and have never had any other problem apart from the springs.
     
  3. AutoFanaticF355

    AutoFanaticF355 Karting

    Aug 13, 2020
    53
    NY
    Full Name:
    Philip
    #3 AutoFanaticF355, Oct 29, 2020
    Thanks so much for replying so quickly, I also buy from them often and their service is impeccable and love how fast i get parts from them quicker than any Ferrari supplier in the states. What you experienced with the springs causing the ride height too tall is also a concern I had because I love how my car sits. Looks like keeping what I have and sending them out to be freshly refinished makes the most sense. What did you end up doing on your car?
     
  4. MAD828

    MAD828 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 8, 2011
    2,618
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Elliott Caras
    #4 MAD828, Oct 29, 2020
    I had a set of Superformance springs I never fitted, sold them to a client who I rebuilt his shocks to suit the spring rates via Bilstein. The ride was not noticeably harder but as mentioned above the ride height was much higher and I had to wind down the perches a lot to get it even close to sitting right. I was hoping the springs would settle but after a year it still sits a touch high. I could probably lower it a touch more on the perches, but after not noticing too much handling difference (if any) I opted to leave my OEM springs in situ and just change the bushings.
     
  5. Jackie and bill

    Jackie and bill Formula Junior

    Nov 29, 2014
    795
    GB
    Full Name:
    William
    #5 Jackie and bill, Oct 29, 2020
    I sorced a brand new set of OE springs from Germany and sent my shocks to be re built by Bilstein in the UK.
    One of the best upgrades for the tired 355 suspension is to replace all the bushes front and rear to. I replaced mine with poly bushes, using plenty of silicone grease to stop any squeaking ;)
    Anyway, that's what I did.
     
  6. AutoFanaticF355

    AutoFanaticF355 Karting

    Aug 13, 2020
    53
    NY
    Full Name:
    Philip
    #6 AutoFanaticF355, Oct 29, 2020
    Nice the bushings have been tempting me did you do the Powerflex ones and did you notice if this affected the ride quality at all? MY OEM bushes are perfect but of course 26 years on anything rubber is not going to be as good as new. the Poly bushes also are much easier to install than the OEM style steel sleeved units since you do not need to press them in with a special device. So glad i got some feedback on the springs this saved me money and a headache of tearing my car down twice.
     
  7. Jackie and bill

    Jackie and bill Formula Junior

    Nov 29, 2014
    795
    GB
    Full Name:
    William
    #7 Jackie and bill, Oct 29, 2020
    Changing the bushes is a very involving job. You will need a press to remove the old units. Pressing in new bushes be it standard or polly is nothing compared to removing the old bushes. It's a lot of work only for the dedicated.
     
  8. AutoFanaticF355

    AutoFanaticF355 Karting

    Aug 13, 2020
    53
    NY
    Full Name:
    Philip
    #8 AutoFanaticF355, Oct 29, 2020
    Yes bushes on any older car can be a PITA but i have just about every tool for these jobs and 2 presses in my workshop we use to do bushings for many local car shops over the years in our fab shop they would drop off the control arms as side work for our guys, usually some heat helps in my cases. the new Poly units should just pop right in with a rubber mallet and some poly grease. If i decide over the winter to do the bushes il also powder coat all the wishbones to make them absolutely perfect , why not
     
  9. A348W

    A348W Formula 3

    Jun 28, 2017
    1,839
    North Wiltshire, UK
    #9 A348W, Oct 30, 2020
    Why not replace with oem springs; they are available?
     
  10. AutoFanaticF355

    AutoFanaticF355 Karting

    Aug 13, 2020
    53
    NY
    Full Name:
    Philip
    #10 AutoFanaticF355, Oct 30, 2020
    Hi that was my fist attempt but after calling all the dealers and parts suppliers the quotes i got were from $1300-$1700 a set of 4 springs which is crazy, if you have a good source who can supply these at a fair price let me know ASAP
     
  11. A348W

    A348W Formula 3

    Jun 28, 2017
    1,839
    North Wiltshire, UK
    #11 A348W, Oct 30, 2020
  12. John Glen

    John Glen Formula Junior

    Dec 30, 2009
    490
    Victoria, B.C, Can.
    Full Name:
    John Glen Wesanko
    #12 John Glen, Oct 30, 2020
    Just rebuilt my rear suspension on my 348. Original coil springs came in 3 different specs. Red (hardest) Yellow (medium) and no colour (soft) Mine had the hardest (Red) coded springs as indicated by red paint brushed on a few coils. I re-bushed all the susp arms and re painted all components including the springs. Bushings were replaced with Superformance bushing kit. These springs are very stiff and I wouldn't expect them to soften much with age unless used "very" hard. Bushings are a lot of work to replace and despite looking aged and weather checked in the "squeeze out" area at the end of each bush the integrity of all but the shock bushes was fine. JGW
     

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