My GTS purchase, service requirements and upgrades

[Cyclone1]

Was just interested. So the assumption is the properties of the spring are are the same just slightly shorter? What do you sacrifice by having shorter springs, all else being equal? Is it just you're more likely to hit the bump stop?

Don't you also need to do something to the shock absorbers as well to lower the car?
Eb

Manufactured using the spec of the OEM spring as guidance. Spring rate is 325lbs as per the part number. Drop at 25mm isn’t drastic when you consider the H&R equivalent is 35mm with no reported issues with the bump stops. I’m not sure what the travel is on the OEM set up, but guess it’s long enough to negate issues with a 25mm lower spring.

Hope this helps.

 

[Andyk]

Haven’t collected car yet but here she is ready at AV. The custom lowering rear springs from Faulkner appear to have done a fine job of matching the OEM arch gap on the front axle.
I will put up some before and after close ups and comment on the new brakes when I get it home.

View attachment 99208

Looks so much better. The one thing Maserati got wrong with the car and that was the massive gap between wheel and body work. Looks perfect now.

 

[Bebs]

Looks so much better. The one thing Maserati got wrong with the car and that was the massive gap between wheel and body work. Looks perfect now.

Thanks Andy, I completely agree. It is such a phenomenal and beautifully classic design but the somewhat retracted wheels and in particular the rear arch gap has always slightly annoyed me. I fitted 22/25 mm spacers back in January 2020, but that comes with its own problems in that it actually accentuates the rear arch gap. I was hoping the Faulkner springs would rectify this.

It isn’t the greatest photo post fitment above, there’s a downwards slope and right hand side slope on that driveway behind AV. I’ve got some pre fitment side on pics from my own driveway so I will replicate those when I get it back, that should give a clear indication of the difference and also show the size difference on the now larger diameter front and rear brake discs.

 

[Zep]

Looking at the spring in the picture, the top coils seem to be closer together, so I suspect the springs themselves are the same length but with a dual rate (softer at the top) to give the lower ride height. At least they should be, as a shorter spring would fall out of the cups at full extension, and if Aldous has fitted them I am sure they will be.

@Ebenezer with slightly lower springs it just changes operating point of the damper piston in the tube and won’t cause an issue, when cars are lowered a lot it can do this to the point where there isn’t enough stroke left in the damper to control the mass, then you need different dampers.

 

[Gazcw]

Was just interested. So the assumption is the properties of the spring are are the same just slightly shorter? What do you sacrifice by having shorter springs, all else being equal? Is it just you're more likely to hit the bump stop?

Don't you also need to do something to the shock absorbers as well to lower the car?
Eb

My qp was lowered 35mm all round and never hit the bump stop and was no more harsh. It was actually better in sport mode than normal afterwards. Speed bumps were a nightmare however on the front.

 

[Sam McGoo]

Unfortunately neither the braided brake hoses, nor the black spacers were a correct fit -

Ah...that's not good to hear. Was that the pro-brake ones? What is the issue?
As I have a set myself that I was planning on fitting next week.

 

[Sam McGoo]

Haven’t collected car yet but here she is ready at AV. The custom lowering rear springs from Faulkner appear to have done a fine job of matching the OEM arch gap on the front axle.
I will put up some before and after close ups and comment on the new brakes when I get it home.

View attachment 99208

Much better!

 

[Sam McGoo]

A few people have asked for further details of the new rear springs:

D Faulkner Springs
www.dfaulknersprings.com
sales@dfaulknersprings.com

Special Spring 270s325x83mm i.d. DF/7638
Unit price £95 ex VAT and shipping.

They drop the rear approximately 25 mm to match the arch gap on the front of the car.
More detailed before/after pics to follow.

View attachment 99231

I wonder if they are able to do a lowered rear spring to match the Strad/MC handling pack?
I love that mine is 10mm lower than stock on the handling pack, but as you say, the rear could do with levelling out. It would also have the benefit of lifting the nose a little, which is the only thing that ever scrapes on mine.

I definitely wouldn't want it to alter the ride/handling though, as it feels just right.

 

[Sam McGoo]

Ah...that's not good to hear. Was that the pro-brake ones? What is the issue?
As I have a set myself that I was planning on fitting next week.

Just looking at your first post and the pic of the hoses, it looks like they are part no. A05549?
The ones I have are A05550....so fingers crossed, that's the difference I need for them to fit.

 

[Bebs]

Just looking at your first post and the pic of the hoses, it looks like they are part no. A05549?
The ones I have are A05550....so fingers crossed, that's the difference I need for them to fit.

Hi Sam,
I’ll check the ProBrake part number supplied to me later today.
The problem was the end block on the front caliper hoses, where the hose attaches to the caliper itself. The block was too wide and did not fit plus the hole diameter for the banjo bolt in the center of that block was also too large so it would not seal. ProBrake have offered to replace for the correct ones but it is obviously slightly annoying since everything was apart for the new uprated discs and pads. Pics from AV.

 

[Bebs]

I wonder if they are able to do a lowered rear spring to match the Strad/MC handling pack?
I love that mine is 10mm lower than stock on the handling pack, but as you say, the rear could do with levelling out. It would also have the benefit of lifting the nose a little, which is the only thing that ever scrapes on mine.

I definitely wouldn't want it to alter the ride/handling though, as it feels just right.

I’m pretty sure they could manufacture whatever drop you wanted.

 

[lozcb]

That's how cars should come from the Factory.
I remember having Audi VW cars back in the 80'S and 90'S that would haemorrhage wax on hot Summer days.
It was everything else we were welding up for MOT or scrapping then.

My only ever new car was a Lancia Beta HPE Volumex , had the complete Zeibart treatment throughout and that used to be a bugger working on anything underneath , sticky everywhere on a hot day after stretching its legs, but years later it showed as it was one of the best ones around that hadnt started to suffer from the reclaimed steel syndrome

 

[Bebs]

Car collected and have taken some pics for comparison.
Firstly, hand on heart, I cannot feel any difference in either ‘normal’ or ’sport’ mode in terms of handling or feel. The suspension behaves and feels exactly as it did with the OEM springs.
It does look different though, amazing what just 25 mm can do. You will notice that the wheel to arch gap on front and rear are now identical.
BEFORE —>



AFTER—>

 

[Bebs]

Here is the exact before and after gap on the rear

 

[Andyk]

Yep, definitely should have come out if the factory like that. Looks great.

 

[Bebs]

Next up, the new brakes. I was trying to bed them in on the 80 mile journey home but not easy in bank holiday traffic. What I can say is that I now have the confidence that it will stop properly when asked to. The OEM brakes where adequate at best.. the feel and power of Zep’s uprated discs is something else. To elaborate they are 380 mm fronts, fully floating with an aluminium bell and curved internal cooling vanes (Up from 360 mm OEM)
The rears are 342 mm fixed aluminium bell, straight internal cooling vanes (up from 330 mm OEM)
Both sets weigh a great deal less than the OEM discs - and they just look absolutely great in the arches behind the Neptunes. I’ve got a road trip to France coming up so I will report back on the brakes once properly bedded in and exercised around the twisty roads of the Loire Valley.
Here are some close up pics, although they don’t really do them justice.

 

[Bebs]

I had the Stindig paddles fitted and they look and feel great over the standard plastic items. A worthwhile upgrade along with the RoyalSteeringWheels flat bottom steering wheel modification. It’s a much more tactile feel and interconnection with the car.

 

[Bebs]

Lastly, we fitted new door striker plates and new boot struts (what a difference - it no longer slams shut!)

 

[Felonious Crud]

Here is the exact before and after gap on the rear

View attachment 99261View attachment 99262

You nailed it! Great work, a very good and tasteful mod.

 

[Bebs]

A few more gratuitous pics