GranSport (Fuji White) Running report

Wattie

Member
Messages
8,640
Well I for one am seriously impressed with your mechanical skills. Good luck sorting out the niggles. Lovely car you got there!
 

Chris155

Member
Messages
196
Firstly good work.

Thanks

This is the first issue I have read about with that union, so you will probably have to investigate further.

Yep, access is an issue though.

Regarding the suspension, you are right, UK supplied Gransports all had skyhook suspension which would have the adjustable platforms, yours clearly doesn’t have that.

I'm not sure if that's good thing or not, but I do feel disappointed.

There shouldn’t be any movement in the ball joints. The only solution is replacement arms I’m afraid. ES do pattern replacements.

Do they? I can't find them...
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
Regarding the suspension, you are right, UK supplied Gransports all had skyhook suspension which would have the adjustable platforms, yours clearly doesn’t have that.

Yes when I phoned Maserati UK for the build spec on my 4200, the adviser did comment that all UK 4200s and GSs where delivered with skyhook suspension, even though certainly for the 4200, it was actually listed as an option on the price list.
 

hashluck

Member
Messages
1,515
Yes when I phoned Maserati UK for the build spec on my 4200, the adviser did comment that all UK 4200s and GSs where delivered with skyhook suspension, even though certainly for the 4200, it was actually listed as an option on the price list.

Yes Skyhook was certainly standard on UK GS. See last paragraph below. But it certainly was not standard in all markets. Actually not having Skyhook might not be a bad thing since the most common complaint of engaging Sport mode on the GS for faster gearchange and better exhaust note is the suspension mode not being independent of that

<extract from UK GS Brochure>
maximum power delivery has been upped from the original 390 hp to 400 hp (295 kW)
too, thanks to special development work to reduce internal attrition and careful work on
the intake manifolds and valve seats. The engine has been combined with a sports exhaust
system that is instantly recognisable, thanks to the unusual design of its twin chrome
exhausts and was designed to give enthusiasts that instantly recognisable deep, full-bodied
rumble. Thanks to an electronically controlled pneumatic valve system, even more can be
made of the exhaust by pressing the “Sport” button on the central console too.

The Maserati GranSport is only available with the six-speed
electro-hydraulic transmission in which the gears are changed
using paddles mounted behind the steering wheel, a feature that
further enhances the car’s sporty personality. The Cambiocorsa
systems allows drivers to choose between various gear shifting
modes (Normal, Sport, Automatic and Low Grip), and in the case of
the Maserati GranSport, is controlled by specific software to
speed up gear changing in all driving conditions. Even with
respect to already very highly developed Coupe Cambiocorsa
system, the Sport mode in the GranSport offers 35% faster gear
changing on average and also boasts automatic heeling and
toeing to make dropping down a gear even faster.
Thanks to the new Cambiocorsa
software, the Maserati GranSport can sprint a whole kilometre from standstill in a
breathtaking 23 seconds flat.

The gear shift ratios are specific too, with the adoption of a sixth gear that is 5% longer,
which, in combination with its more powerful engine and improved aerodynamics, allows
the Maserati GranSport to improve on the already blistering speeds of the Coue,
delivering a top speed of 290 km/h.
As with the other models in the Maserati range, the driver can choose between two levels of
gear changing. Normal mode is more comfortable and typical of
Grand Tourer driving, while with a touch of the Sport button on
the central console they get to feel the true power of the car. The
Sport mode delivers a much faster gear changing, a deeper
exhaust sound and less invasive use of the MSP stability and
traction control system. The Skyhook suspension
system, which offers continuous damping control, is also affected
by the driver’s choice of Normal or Sport modes
<end>
 

TimR

Member
Messages
2,654
Am in the process of removing Skyhook from my facelift 4200 - so if you want four working dampers and springs...let me know. They will only be gathering dust.
Pretty sure an SD2/3 will "enable" Skyhook once fitted.
You'd be advised to check for the necessary wiring in the loom, and you'd need a Suspension ECU too, which I will also be removing...!!
 
Last edited:

Evo Cymru

Member
Messages
688
Am in the process of removing Skyhook from my facelift 4200 - so if you want four working dampers and springs...let me know. They will only be gathering dust.
Pretty sure an SD2/3 will "enable" Skyhook once fitted.
You'd be advised to check for the necessary wiring in the loom, and you'd need a Suspension ECU too, which I will also be removing...!!


That's interesting - what are you changing to?
 

RobinL

Member
Messages
456
Hi Chris, glad you found the car you were looking for. Though I would have been happier if you'd selected my 4200 in Llandudno!
So, I have. Scudding Swiss F1 Electronic Relay I took of mine before sale. I paid £220 including import so feel free to make an offer? Also on the shelf in my garage are Quicksilver Super Sport rear boxes and a Quicksilver Centre Pipe! To be honest either would sound awesome but both together is a bit much for most civilisations so I'599745997559976m prepared to split.
 

Chris155

Member
Messages
196
Hi Robin.

After finding the issues with the rear suspension I'm starting to think yours would've been the better choice.

I've found replacements but they have cost £1k.

Consequently, I'm skint. Otherwise I would be interested in the F1 relay. But thanks for the offer.
 

RobinL

Member
Messages
456
Hi Robin.

After finding the issues with the rear suspension I'm starting to think yours would've been the better choice.

I've found replacements but they have cost £1k.

Consequently, I'm skint. Otherwise I would be interested in the F1 relay. But thanks for the offer.
At least was 'only' 1K........ I had a similar issue with my Bentley GTC. The conversation with Bentley went like this at their 'free' health check.
Sir there is play in the upper forward front passenger side suspension bush. It will cost £190 plus fitting.
Me: 190 for 1 bush?
No 190 for the arm with two bushes. Stripping and fitting single bush would only cost £10 less after labour. If you buy the whole arm it is also under warranty for 12 months.
Me: Ok I'll take one.
Bentley: You'll need two. We only replace them in matched pairs.
Ok.
Bentley: on examination we would suggest replacing upper and lower sets.......
Bentley: we can't get the alignment to stay in tolerance. Looks like you need front suspension rear control arm sets as well.

So 8 different arms later, parts, and labour over 3K plus I think around 350 for alignment.

Didn't feel any different. Still understeered at 150 :)

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk
 

hunta

Member
Messages
405
Hi Robin.

After finding the issues with the rear suspension I'm starting to think yours would've been the better choice.

I've found replacements but they have cost £1k.

Consequently, I'm skint. Otherwise I would be interested in the F1 relay. But thanks for the offer.
I sympathise.

I'd be interested to know which dampers you bought the car with. As others have suggested, the Skyhook system isn't to everyone's taste, especially if it's costing serious cash to reinstate versus a sensible alternative.
 

Chris155

Member
Messages
196
A black 159 Sportwagon AND a GranSport. A man of fine taste!
2, in fact... And a GTA, Brera and an unusual 156 - Facelift V6 SW in the same colour as the Maser...

IMG_0918 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_8811 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9717 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_8844 by Chris, on Flickr

And that's just between my parents and I... My brother has a Ghibli but the other brother has made the ultimate betrayal. He has a 2018 Audi S3...:eek: :lol: