Lowering a 4200
Discussion
I have recently bought a used 4200. Having just spent last weekend doing nearly 3000 miles around Europe I am very impressed with car. The one thing I would like to change is the ride height. I am told that the standard shocks are adjustable and can therefore be lowered. Does anybody have any experience/advice on this?
Cheers Jonathan
Cheers Jonathan
The springs are on adjustable platforms which can be adjusted to change the height. This is in theory ideal but good old fashioned weather has a tendancy to seize everything up. The dampers have a threaded external body which has two platform plates locked together preventing any movements. The rings corrode together as well as to the damper thus creating a problem when trying to move them. Ideally when someone trys to move the platforms they come unlocked and can be moved downwards, on the damper, thus reducing the height.
A little patience and some care you could be have no problems but worst case you made unlock a big can of worms.
Good luck
A little patience and some care you could be have no problems but worst case you made unlock a big can of worms.
Good luck
wicked1 said:
The springs are on adjustable platforms which can be adjusted to change the height. This is in theory ideal but good old fashioned weather has a tendancy to seize everything up. The dampers have a threaded external body which has two platform plates locked together preventing any movements. The rings corrode together as well as to the damper thus creating a problem when trying to move them. Ideally when someone trys to move the platforms they come unlocked and can be moved downwards, on the damper, thus reducing the height.
A little patience and some care you could be have no problems but worst case you made unlock a big can of worms.
Good luck
Personally I've had the dealer do mine, they have the geometry equipment too.
sjp63 said:
The springs are on adjustable platforms which can be adjusted to change the height. This is in theory ideal but good old fashioned weather has a tendancy to seize everything up. The dampers have a threaded external body which has two platform plates locked together preventing any movements. The rings corrode together as well as to the damper thus creating a problem when trying to move them. Ideally when someone trys to move the platforms they come unlocked and can be moved downwards, on the damper, thus reducing the height.
A little patience and some care you could be have no problems but worst case you made unlock a big can of worms.
Good luck
Personally I've had the dealer do mine, they have the geometry equipment too.
Sounds like the sensible way to do it.
Can you tell me what opinions you have on the change. Any significant changes other than visual - handling etc? Did you have to change any components. ie springs. roll bars. And have you tried putting wheel spacers on?
Cheers Jonathan
PS Do you have any pictures that you can post?
Resetting ride height to any significant degree, other than to obtain optimum geometry, by simply lowering the adjustable spring base is just plain daft. You will adversely and possibly dangerously affect the handling characteristics by introducing / increasing bump steer with a strong possibility of bottoming out at full travel.
Fortunately help is at hand courtesy of Maserati themselves so you can do the job properly and professionally. The 3200GT springs come in 2 flavours - Std and Race Spec (aka Assetto Corsa) which are approx 20mm lower AND crucially stiffer to match the reduced ride height. The part numbers for the std springs are identical to the 4200 and therefore the 3200 race spec items should do the job if properly set up although I have no guarantee you will not experience other probs. At approx £35 per brand new spring, courtesy of Eurospares new partsbook-on-line service, it is cheap enough to give it a try but do get the geo professionally checked if you don't have the right kit yourself.
Part Nos as follows:
Race spec Front - 183775 (Std 386600336)
Race spec Rear - 183776 (Std 163653 superceded from 387000336)
Hope this helps
Fortunately help is at hand courtesy of Maserati themselves so you can do the job properly and professionally. The 3200GT springs come in 2 flavours - Std and Race Spec (aka Assetto Corsa) which are approx 20mm lower AND crucially stiffer to match the reduced ride height. The part numbers for the std springs are identical to the 4200 and therefore the 3200 race spec items should do the job if properly set up although I have no guarantee you will not experience other probs. At approx £35 per brand new spring, courtesy of Eurospares new partsbook-on-line service, it is cheap enough to give it a try but do get the geo professionally checked if you don't have the right kit yourself.
Part Nos as follows:
Race spec Front - 183775 (Std 386600336)
Race spec Rear - 183776 (Std 163653 superceded from 387000336)
Hope this helps
Edited by nigelo on Monday 3rd July 22:56
Tex said:
Try the Maserati Forum - loads of posts on this subject...
Tex, this IS the Maserati Forum with a ton of useful info if you search for it. If you have a link and/or a quote from another site perhaps you could share it with us. Otherwise, we might as well answer every single post with "try googling"
No, this is the Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini forum, below is the Maserati forum:
www.maseratilife.com/forums/
www.maseratilife.com/forums/
Chaps
Clearly there is limited experience/input/interest from Maserati owners on this forum. I guess I have been spoilt coming from the Porsche forum where there is bundles of help and experience with these sorts of questions. I'm supprised that this is the case as I thought that there may be more interest in such matters from UK Maserati owners.
Nigelo. Thanks for your advice. I am currently exploring the idea of putting the Gransport springs on my 4200. Just waiting to hear if this is possible.
Clearly there is limited experience/input/interest from Maserati owners on this forum. I guess I have been spoilt coming from the Porsche forum where there is bundles of help and experience with these sorts of questions. I'm supprised that this is the case as I thought that there may be more interest in such matters from UK Maserati owners.
Nigelo. Thanks for your advice. I am currently exploring the idea of putting the Gransport springs on my 4200. Just waiting to hear if this is possible.
Jonathon
I don't think it's apathy or lack of helpfulness as your last post implies, I suspect few have ever had the work done or considered it, I'd guess that the general view is that the manufacturer will have designed the car with optimal settings for all situations, no doubt it is a compromise.
What do you feel is wrong with the Car?
I don't think it's apathy or lack of helpfulness as your last post implies, I suspect few have ever had the work done or considered it, I'd guess that the general view is that the manufacturer will have designed the car with optimal settings for all situations, no doubt it is a compromise.
What do you feel is wrong with the Car?
Jcosh said:
Chaps
Clearly there is limited experience/input/interest from Maserati owners on this forum. I guess I have been spoilt coming from the Porsche forum where there is bundles of help and experience with these sorts of questions. I'm supprised that this is the case as I thought that there may be more interest in such matters from UK Maserati owners.
Nigelo. Thanks for your advice. I am currently exploring the idea of putting the Gransport springs on my 4200. Just waiting to hear if this is possible.
Clearly there is limited experience/input/interest from Maserati owners on this forum. I guess I have been spoilt coming from the Porsche forum where there is bundles of help and experience with these sorts of questions. I'm supprised that this is the case as I thought that there may be more interest in such matters from UK Maserati owners.
Nigelo. Thanks for your advice. I am currently exploring the idea of putting the Gransport springs on my 4200. Just waiting to hear if this is possible.
I think there is lots of interest - probably to a higher percentage of maser owners! I.e. theres a hell of a lot less masers in the UK than porkers so the number of people posting will be a lot less. Also the masers arn't "usually" modded or tuned hence the lack of responses - a tubi and the hi-fi is about as far as most people go.
Cheers
Dave
F355GTS said:
Jonathon
I don't think it's apathy or lack of helpfulness as your last post implies, I suspect few have ever had the work done or considered it, I'd guess that the general view is that the manufacturer will have designed the car with optimal settings for all situations, no doubt it is a compromise.
What do you feel is wrong with the Car?
I don't think it's apathy or lack of helpfulness as your last post implies, I suspect few have ever had the work done or considered it, I'd guess that the general view is that the manufacturer will have designed the car with optimal settings for all situations, no doubt it is a compromise.
What do you feel is wrong with the Car?
There is nothing actually wrong with the car. However, it is clearly set up for a comfy GT type ride and I am wanting to explore the idea of firming up the ride, lowering the ride height and reducing body roll. Perhaps something closer to an A Corsa or Gransport type set up. It can't be that difficult as the parts are out and being used in the cars that I've just mentioned. Just wanted to hear if anybody had actually done it.
Please don't tell me I should have bought an A Corsa or a Gransport. There are very good reasons as to why I didn't buy either of those cars.
Cheers Jonathan
David A said:
Jcosh said:
Chaps
Clearly there is limited experience/input/interest from Maserati owners on this forum. I guess I have been spoilt coming from the Porsche forum where there is bundles of help and experience with these sorts of questions. I'm supprised that this is the case as I thought that there may be more interest in such matters from UK Maserati owners.
Nigelo. Thanks for your advice. I am currently exploring the idea of putting the Gransport springs on my 4200. Just waiting to hear if this is possible.
Clearly there is limited experience/input/interest from Maserati owners on this forum. I guess I have been spoilt coming from the Porsche forum where there is bundles of help and experience with these sorts of questions. I'm supprised that this is the case as I thought that there may be more interest in such matters from UK Maserati owners.
Nigelo. Thanks for your advice. I am currently exploring the idea of putting the Gransport springs on my 4200. Just waiting to hear if this is possible.
I think there is lots of interest - probably to a higher percentage of maser owners! I.e. theres a hell of a lot less masers in the UK than porkers so the number of people posting will be a lot less. Also the masers arn't "usually" modded or tuned hence the lack of responses - a tubi and the hi-fi is about as far as most people go.
Cheers
Dave
Dave
I realise that the numbers between Maserati ownership and Porsche is much lower. And this is partly why I bought one.
I guess I will just have to rely less on the forums for info like this. Good job I have got a good specialsit that seems to know his stuff.
Cheers Jonathan
PS Anybody had an ECU remap? I'm told (buy the people that offer this service) that they repond very well.
Hi,
There are loads of posts on here www.maseratilife.com/forums/ from people who have lowered their Mazza's (those with skyhook suspension).
Most found the car handled much better. I am going to lower mine by around 1 inch when it goes in for it's next service.
regards
There are loads of posts on here www.maseratilife.com/forums/ from people who have lowered their Mazza's (those with skyhook suspension).
Most found the car handled much better. I am going to lower mine by around 1 inch when it goes in for it's next service.
regards
A point of interest, by lowering your car and using assetto corsa springs will not necessarily make your car handle like an assetto corsa. There are other differences, like the steering rack for example. I would also like to point out that getting the geometery done after any suspension lowering is very important.
wicked1 said:
A point of interest, by lowering your car and using assetto corsa springs will not necessarily make your car handle like an assetto corsa. There are other differences, like the steering rack for example. I would also like to point out that getting the geometery done after any suspension lowering is very important.
The car is currently having gransport springs fitted and a complete geometerty check/set up. Should be back in a few days.
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