599 shocking shock absorbers

[fitzmoresco]

Font near-side shock is weeping. Unlike 456 and even 612 my servicing folks tell me they can't be reconditioned, only come in pairs as OEM parts and are £1300 EACH without fitting. I know they are rheomagnetic blah blah blah but one of you smart folks must have a cheaper fix or alternative idea...help please

[TISPKJ]

Try a company called Leda suspension if still going or try bilstein Uk,

[fitzmoresco]

Thanks will keep you updated

[Bluebottle911]

I had a similar problem on my Bentley, except that they were £3K the pair! Although I did replace mine with the original items, some owners have opted for cheaper Bilsteins without the active ride feature. There may be a similar fix for 599s, but IMO that would defeat the object of having a car like that in the first place. I fear you may just have to face up to the fact that running a Ferrari is not an inexpensive pastime, take a deep breath and hit the plastic.

[TISPKJ]

Hear what your saying but at the end of the day it's a suspension unit with gas oil and seals etc, it must be a serviceable unit if you take it to the right people, Ferrari of course will try and make you buy a new one, also the unit will be a bilstein or similar anyway with a Ferrari or bentley sticker

[Carbonio]

TISPKJ said:

Hear what your saying but at the end of the day it's a suspension unit with gas oil and seals etc, it must be a serviceable unit if you take it to the right people, Ferrari of course will try and make you buy a new one, also the unit will be a bilstein or similar anyway with a Ferrari or bentley sticker

It's a Delphi unit.

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/29/ferrari-to-use-...

http://www.ferrari.com/english/ferrari_tv/Pages/fe...

[johnnyreggae]

The Delphis on the 599 (& Corvette) are mag shocks and use a special oil with magnetic properties that varies the viscosity with applied voltage and I'm guessing you can't buy trick oil like that at Halfords

[Carbonio]

johnnyreggae said:

The Delphis on the 599 (& Corvette) are mag shocks and use a special oil with magnetic properties that varies the viscosity with applied voltage and I'm guessing you can't buy trick oil like that at Halfords

Exactly, don't think anyone rebuilds them.

Post on Club Scuderia, maybe a solution has recently come about.

[fitzmoresco]

apparently the OEM supplier has the ability to recondition them but guess what would rather sell a new pair at £2600. My servicing guy tells me they are seeing this problem increasingly on Californias, Maseratis and a few other related models. could be a known trend…

[F355GTS]

fitzmoresco said:

apparently the OEM supplier has the ability to recondition them but guess what would rather sell a new pair at £2600. My servicing guy tells me they are seeing this problem increasingly on Californias, Maseratis and a few other related models. could be a known trend…

Certainly becoming common on 599's

[belleair302]

Years ago the BMW E34 M5's had this issue and the EDC switchable dampers were close to £700 each plus fitting and only available in pairs....Many owners just went over to adjustable more modern kits.

[fitzmoresco]

FWIW garage tells me they are Sachs (?) supplied parts not bilstein. not sure this helps either way….

[willy wombat]

18 months ago Joe Mac said one of my front shocks (599)was weeping slightly but no action required other than check it at the next service. 12 months later, at the next service they told me it had stopped weeping! We will see what happens in 6 months time at the next service but the moral of the story could be not to rush to replace but rather see what happens over a few months.

[TISPKJ]

I would try speaking to sachs Uk if possible.
Did you try and get hold of Leda ?

[fitzmoresco]

i passed on the L suggestion to my garage. they know them from reconditioning other units but had struck out on the 599