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lordbluf
Original Poster
344 posts
47 months
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Hi, Im looking to buy a Ferrari California but always felt they looked a little too pretty (smiley face etc) and not enough masculinity (i have sexuality issues...). Looking at these pics (http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/03/adv-1-wheels-gives-ferrari-california-a-manly-touch.html) I would like to get the suspension lowered (and wheels changed as well) Does anyone know where i can do this in the UK for Ferrari. The chaps in the US (for the car pictured) used Hamann from what i understand. Finally, I would usually agree with those that say messing with cars like this with after market mods is criminal - but does anyone else agree that this California looks so much better than the off the shelf one? Lord B. 
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voicey
1,151 posts
57 months
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Looking at the parts diagram it would seem the shocks have adjustable platforms. I would guess it's an easy job to lower the car by winding down the platform and then resetting the geo - I've done this on a 360 and it was a 2 hour job. http://www.eurospares.co.uk/partTable.asp?M=1&...
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sneaky schnell
1,147 posts
75 months
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That looks really good.
Are the wheels too big or is it the style that makes them appear that way?
Personally, I wouldn't adjust suspension just for aesthetic gains. The modification would also have to achieve a technical improvement with the aesthetic gains being a bonus.
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johnnyreggae
856 posts
30 months
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I think a lot of 430s were lowered for the same reason - I'd guess a main dealer would not but one of the specialists must have done especially if they also have racing experience - probably need a full reset of geo after
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UH-Matt
1,920 posts
110 months
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Should have adjustable suspension so you can actually do this on the stock suspension. My 430 was lowered on stock suspension, it's only about 2 hours labour and a geo check afterwards, most good specialists can do it for you. I used Backdraft Motorsport in milton keynes as they are excellent at fast road geo setups (had some camber added etc). Looks awsome, get it done 
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Cerbieherts
673 posts
11 months
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They can be lowered like the most of the others. The only thing to remember is that on the Ferrari shocks as you lower the spring platform you de-compress the spring, so you get a slightly softer ride. If this is a concern to you (IMHO it shouldn't be noticeable unless you track the car) then springs are available from Novitec but they are very expensive! As mentioned, you will need a full geometry check afterwards....
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bertie
5,690 posts
154 months
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Cerbieherts said: ....... The only thing to remember is that on the Ferrari shocks as you lower the spring platform you de-compress the spring, so you get a slightly softer ride. .... Eh? How? The spring is the same rate with the same weight on it so it must stay the same length or ammount of compression surely? Surely by altering the platform you are just moving one end?
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lordbluf
Original Poster
344 posts
47 months
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The wheels are also larger:
22's on rear, 21's on the front (ADV.1 Alloys). Low profile tyres.
The guys that did this one said the car was "lowered on Hamann lowering springs assembled into the oem coil overs. Giving the car an OEM ride quality while being lower"
Not sure what he means but it looks nice! I also going for satin red wrap to give it the wow factor.
I'll let you know how i get on, next stop: buy a Cali.
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Cerbieherts
673 posts
11 months
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bertie said: Eh? How?
The spring is the same rate with the same weight on it so it must stay the same length or ammount of compression surely?
Surely by altering the platform you are just moving one end? You are right, you only move one (lower) platform. The weight stays the same but you are taking compression out of the spring so therefore softening it. Ferrari coil springs have 3 different paint marks on them, at set-up the desired ride height dictates which spring is used...
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bertie
5,690 posts
154 months
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Cerbieherts said: You are right, you only move one (lower) platform. The weight stays the same but you are taking compression out of the spring so therefore softening it. Ferrari coil springs have 3 different paint marks on them, at set-up the desired ride height dictates which spring is used... How are you taking compression out of the spring? The ammount of weight on it and thus the ammount of comperssion / compressed spring length stays the same?
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Cerbieherts
673 posts
11 months
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The spring is compressed beyond the platform touching the spring. Both load and deflection are affected by compression. If you take compression out of the spring you affect the spring rate, since rate is inversely proportional to compression. That's why on many f-cars the springs are replaced with lowering springs from Afco or Novitec.
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bertie
5,690 posts
154 months
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Cerbieherts said: The spring is compressed beyond the platform touching the spring. Both load and deflection are affected by compression. If you take compression out of the spring you affect the spring rate, since rate is inversely proportional to compression. That's why on many f-cars the springs are replaced with lowering springs from Afco or Novitec. I'm still not getting this. I'm just talking static position here. You are not compressing or decompressing the spring, you aren't changing the spring at all, just changing the lingth of the mounting that stickes out the end?
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Cerbieherts
673 posts
11 months
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O.k, look at it this way. Stand two imaginary coil over shocks next to each other. Put a weight of 1/2 ton on the top of each. This compresses the spring a set amount. This is what you are conceiving as compression, but it's not the total compression applied to a spring. A spring has to have an access of stored energy to operate it properly. When the spring is compressed, it is compressed enough to have some stored energy in as well as taking the compression load of that 1/2 ton weight. As you lower the spring platform, the 1/2 ton still applies the same amount of compression to the spring, as you rightly say. However, as the weight is shifted to a lower position on the shock absorber, the compression applied to the top of the spring decreases. This actually increases the length of the spring, taking compression out and making it softer...
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Jagmanv12
490 posts
34 months
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One thing to bear in mind is by lowering it are there any parts that will contact the road when going over speed humps, etc?
My 550 had been lowered by the previous owner for aesthetic reasons. I raised it back to standard as the head of the radiator drain plug had been worn away due to contact with the road.
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bertie
5,690 posts
154 months
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Cerbieherts said: O.k, look at it this way. Stand two imaginary coil over shocks next to each other. Put a weight of 1/2 ton on the top of each. This compresses the spring a set amount. This is what you are conceiving as compression, but it's not the total compression applied to a spring. A spring has to have an access of stored energy to operate it properly. When the spring is compressed, it is compressed enough to have some stored energy in as well as taking the compression load of that 1/2 ton weight. As you lower the spring platform, the 1/2 ton still applies the same amount of compression to the spring, as you rightly say.... Yep with you..... Cerbieherts said: However, as the weight is shifted to a lower position on the shock absorber, the compression applied to the top of the spring decreases. This actually increases the length of the spring, taking compression out and making it softer... Nope, lost me. I agree you are moving the null point to a different point on the shock absorbers travel, but the shock absorber has no internal spring, it's just a damper. So why does the compression of the spring change?? We need some pictures to visualise this......but I'm crap at drawing!
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lordbluf
Original Poster
344 posts
47 months
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From what i understand the car was lowered by only 35mm. Seems not enough to me, but hey, it looks good.
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Cerbieherts
673 posts
11 months
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Yep, agree on the drawing! I'll see if I can dig one up, give me an hour or so Bertie.......
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bertie
5,690 posts
154 months
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Just to be clear, we are talking about adjustable spring platforms here like these........  I just cannot see how screwing that gold collar up or down has any effect on the spring, it just alters the length of thread sticking out the top! It makes the first one in theat line up into the second one, spring is the same!
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Cerbieherts
673 posts
11 months
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Ah! You beat me to it! If you unwound the collar the spring length would definitely change. If it didn't, you wouldn't need spring compressors to remove springs when the shock was off the car. If you sat a spring not fitted to a shock next to one fitted, they are a different length. They are compressed as you wind up the gold collar.
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Cerbieherts
673 posts
11 months
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Ah! You beat me to it! If you unwound the collar the spring length would definitely change. If it didn't, you wouldn't need spring compressors to remove springs when the shock was off the car. If you sat a spring not fitted to a shock next to one fitted, they are a different length. They are compressed as you wind up the gold collar.
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