Change Springs

Tufan

Member
Messages
233
And It's going to get worse after Brexit next March.. as all the rules will change, just stick to the standard spec for now

You can just see all the insurance companies lining up to make a killing if you slip up!

Dave

I'm in Turkey and never heard of insurance being void due to mods to improve the handling/safety of the car. The OEM way seems far more risky anyway. Glad we'll keep the topic to performance focus only.

IMG_20181108_041703.jpg
 

Mr.Cambio

Member
Messages
7,096
I come regularly to Athens and I'm there next Tuesday as well. Would be great to meet.

"Pirelli Zero Trofeo R" track tire (Road legal while illegal to wallet).

https://www.pirelli.com/tires/en-us/motorsport/all-tires/products-sheet/pzero-trofeo-r

I was offered them a couple of years before, but i scared to put them on, and so i chose corsas instead. How do they perform on road and wet?

Poor man...why you have to travel to Greece?... As a civilian, i had enough of this country.
 

Tufan

Member
Messages
233
I only take the car at dry, no idea of wet. Both very good on road and track if dry, they are not all season for sure. But reviews are OK for wet but need to stay away from puddles. Obviously best track semi slick in the market but melts quickly in Summer temps on track.

Coming for customer visits. We'll talk more hopefully when we can meet ;)

Edit: As a traveller, I really enjoy the city, especially the Glyfada area up to Vouliagmeni. Nice beach, nice restaurants. Interesting the road at night converts into a race track and so far not any single speed cams. As a citizen I feel for you as I know many Greek friends for long years suffered but we are not so different around here nowadays with miracles of Erdogan. Anyway, I'll keep politics out :)
 
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TimR

Member
Messages
2,656
What do we think about poly bushes..? Do they not hey tend to squeak ? That'd drive me to despair.

Has anyone tried, or know of anyone who services the Skyhook dampers..?
I think with respect to R&D, you need to factor in the chronological elements. My facelift car is a late (october) 2005 car with @60K on the tacho..R&D has moved on, The telescopes are well used & likely in need of servicing. They are at least ten year old tech.. Maserati changed up the programming for the GS, indicative of the R&D curve. They managed to forego the rear ARB altogether on my car ! :oops:
Love 'em or hate 'em..just dont take them too seriously... !?

:)
 

Mr.Cambio

Member
Messages
7,096
I only take the car at dry, no idea of wet. Both very good on road and track if dry, they are not all season for sure. But reviews are OK for wet but need to stay away from puddles. Obviously best track semi slick in the market but melts quickly in Summer temps on track.

Coming for customer visits. We'll talk more hopefully when we can meet ;)

Edit: As a traveller, I really enjoy the city, especially the Glyfada area up to Vouliagmeni. Nice beach, nice restaurants. Interesting the road at night converts into a race track and so far not any single speed cams. As a citizen I feel for you as I know many Greek friends for long years suffered but we are not so different around here nowadays with miracles of Erdogan. Anyway, I'll keep politics out :)


Just pm me when you are here and we'll figure something out hopefully.
Nice two areas you mentioned, they are very crowded though.

Can you compare trofeo vs corsa? it looks like you have tried both. I am very satisfied with corsas, but would give a try when the Rs are a lot more sticky.
 

masertel

Member
Messages
102
Don't forget, driving a track set up car down your local high street on your way to Sainsbury's it's going to feel like shite!

This is why manufacture's take years of R&D with there road cars to try and find a happy medium!

Buying a couple dampers and a spring kit on eBay for a grand or so and you think you've cracked it:rolleyes: … and they most probably don't have EU certification so there not legal for road use in the UK and would void your insurance!

Dave
Pleased to advise that the FD setup is a good compromise for both road and track and really sharpens up the handling of the 4200. If anyone is concerned about comfort just fit the stiffer ARB as the ride will remain the same but massively reduce body roll in the corners.

Regarding insurance agree that the insurance company needs to be made aware of all mod's. I noted all mod's on my policy and only put the premium up by £100. Mod's include FD springs, FD ARB, FD DBW ( even though it's a manual and doesn't affect the gear change the throttle response is much sharper), FD ECU module,Full Larini exhaust, Big brakes, 19 in wheels and last but not least Nitrous Install. Total premium from memory £650 ish with maximum NCB.
 

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
Pleased to advise that the FD setup is a good compromise for both road and track and really sharpens up the handling of the 4200. If anyone is concerned about comfort just fit the stiffer ARB as the ride will remain the same but massively reduce body roll in the corners.

Thanks that is a good nugget of advice, I nearly pulled the trigger on the "sway bars" direct from FD a couple of years ago when they were reprogramming my ECM... they put me off by saying that I must buy the springs first as stage 1 and then the ARBs as stage 2... but I wasn't sure on compromising on comfort as the soft springs are the only give in the suspension and I do not track my car other than the odd parade lap - maybe FD were hoping I would buy both at the same time but they put me off buying either.

I would like to dial my car in slightly so it is more of a fast road set up... the skyhook shock absorbers are very crashy so with hard springs I think I would ruin the car for myself hence why I would consider asjustable coilovers for when the time comes to replace the shocks entirely. For now I think I will replace my old springs with new OEM ones (as there is some rust developing) and save up my pennies for that ARB kit

Agree with Tim's point on the FD ARB having the poly bushes the rear one will dry out and cause get noisy
 

TimR

Member
Messages
2,656
Great thread...! :cool:

As mine is without an ARB at all across the rear axle, it would always have to have been my first port of call...
Regardless of whether I keep OEM springs, go with FD springs ( Im loathe to lower the car for practical reasons) or go with a decent set of adjustable coil overs, feed back from experience is invaluable...!
I look forward to seeing how the KWs go with the ARB from FD. :p
 

TimR

Member
Messages
2,656
£100 more including nitrous?!! You're having a laugh!
Eb
Agreed- Im paying more than that for a bog standard car.
+18 yrs NCB, three bikes with the same underwriter & Im over 50yrs old...!
You know when you've been tango'ed...:rolleyes:
 

masertel

Member
Messages
102
Dear Masertel, decision already made on FD springs and sway bar. And I'm really happy to read your positive feedback. Problems you state are my biggest issues costing me lots for tyre wear as well as track joy.

Great cars you shared, looks like you also changed rims.

I looked at Tarox discs but no fitment I found to GS. Is there a direct fit or you'll play with it? In my case, I already had a Q7 Caliper/Disc set new available for a very good price so I went 6 Piston + 350mm way. I noticed many AudiR8 8 pistons available used in good condition as they switch to ceramics.

Hi Tufan

The Tarox brake kit is a direct replacement- the GS uses the same brakes as the 3200 and 4200 which Tarox list for. I have 3 extra sets of 19 inch wheels- FD Veloce, Bola and a set of Ace Mesh-7 and keep the old 18 inch wheels for winter and track tyres. The Bola where very reasonable at £880 per set and the Mesh around £1500. It's very important to get the correct offset (ET) for aftermarket wheels as the brake caliper sits very close to the wheel. I purchased Front 8.5 X 19 ET42 and Rear 10 X 19 ET45 and they are a nice fit.

Good luck getting the car sorted
 

Mr.Cambio

Member
Messages
7,096
Is there a part number for the tarox brake kit?

Hi Tufan

The Tarox brake kit is a direct replacement- the GS uses the same brakes as the 3200 and 4200 which Tarox list for. I have 3 extra sets of 19 inch wheels- FD Veloce, Bola and a set of Ace Mesh-7 and keep the old 18 inch wheels for winter and track tyres. The Bola where very reasonable at £880 per set and the Mesh around £1500. It's very important to get the correct offset (ET) for aftermarket wheels as the brake caliper sits very close to the wheel. I purchased Front 8.5 X 19 ET42 and Rear 10 X 19 ET45 and they are a nice fit.

Good luck getting the car sorted
 

Tufan

Member
Messages
233
I thought there was not an Aftermarket option for us and that's why there's a group buy on the forum. But Tarox price of course is not for everyone. How much are the kit with 350mm? There's a kit with 390mm with price tag of €4250, not my league and probably way too big and heavy discs.

I wanted 360mm or 370mm for fronts but my set came with 350mm flat surface disk. We have it machined to a EBC like design. That 20mm bigger size and much bigger air inlets for sure will cool pretty good vs previous 330mm.

The rears seem not doing job, pads look new in my case when front pads are killed. Is it the same for you?

Why you prefer 18" original rims for track? Which tyres?
 

Tufan

Member
Messages
233
Is it this?

https://www.bigbrakes4u.co.uk/tarox...0mm-16pot-brake-conversion-kit/prod_4542.html

Nb. disc size stated as 360 & not the 390 in the title.

That's 16 pistons, smaller pots for more for even distribution probably. Could be marketing tricks, too.

8 pot with 390mm discs (seems with adopters for calipers):
https://www.tarox.co.uk/?s=&ymm_sea...type=product&_make=Maserati&_model=Grandsport

And only 329mm discs for 4200, then a cheaper kit again for 3200. Not sure if they know what they're offering.
 

masertel

Member
Messages
102
£100 more including nitrous?!! You're having a laugh!
Eb

Seriously- insurance premium is £583 for my 4200 with all mods listed inc Nitrous. Last year I was paying £490 with no nitrous installed so slightly less than £100 with mods- would I lie!!! 56 yr old with clean licence and max no claims see attached Adrian Flux Insurance statement of fact.
 

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masertel

Member
Messages
102
I thought there was not an Aftermarket option for us and that's why there's a group buy on the forum. But Tarox price of course is not for everyone. How much are the kit with 350mm? There's a kit with 390mm with price tag of €4250, not my league and probably way too big and heavy discs.

I wanted 360mm or 370mm for fronts but my set came with 350mm flat surface disk. We have it machined to a EBC like design. That 20mm bigger size and much bigger air inlets for sure will cool pretty good vs previous 330mm.

The rears seem not doing job, pads look new in my case when front pads are killed. Is it the same for you?

Why you prefer 18" original rims for track? Which tyres?

The forum discs are a great value and better all round IMO than OEM. The Tarox are expensive but if they perform and stop you crashing on track then money well spent (have attached details of the kit I purchased from GSM Performance). Tarox do several kits 350mm, 360mm and 390mm - I opted for the 350mm as the kit will fit 18in wheels. The 19in wheels look better and perform better on the road but on track when hitting the curbs hard the low profile tyre can unsettle the car. With the 18in wheel there is a much wider selection of track tyre to choose from and the slightly higher profile helps over the curbs so that's why I use them. Also I have a contact that supplies me with used Michelin slicks that the Porsche Cup guys discard after a few laps racing- there's still plenty of life in them for the odd track day and at £40 each good value. Just happens that the front and rear tyres on the Porsche Cup racers are a perfect fit for the standard 18in 4200 wheels- Result!!!

On Track the front pads wear out much fast than the rear for obvious reason- expect to replace 3 sets of front pads for one set of rears. At a recent track day it was getting dark and the fronts were glowing much more than the rear. If your car is nose diving under braking the back wheels will be losing grip and the EBD will ease braking on the rear calipers to stop the back locking up. Stiffer springs lessen this so the back brakes can work better- when they work better the pads will wear faster but the upside is the cars braking is more balanced (see attached photo of back and front brakes lighting up).

I'm looking forward to fitting out the car I plan to use for track only - have attached some photos of the shiny new bits I plan to install.

All the best
 

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