Skyhook suspension issue

A

alfacorse

Junior Member
Messages
67
Hi to all, I'm not writing here since few years but always reading your very nice forum.

I've a Skyhook suspensions-issue on my 2013 GTS Sport Auto: my car has now 153.000 km (almost trouble-free) and at 140.000 km I had the suspensions rebuilt by a local specialist. After the job they were running fine as new, the car was very comfortable on the bumps but at the same time stable at any speed, the behavior was the same of when I purchased it 10 years ago, so I was very happy of the job done.

At 150.000km. (2 months ago) I had the car serviced for regular maintenance and in that occasion it was loaded in the ECU an updated engine map (official Maserati map, not tuning or other things) and some days after getting back in my car I was driving on a fast motorway and immediately noted that the car was weaving a lot on any bump, as happens when the suspensions are too-soft. Switching to 'Sport' mode worked to make it stiff and stable, but on 'Normal' mode the suspensions are now totally soft and uncontrolled.
The first thing I thought was a suspension hydraulic failure, but this is very strange because it can't happen on all of the 4 units at the same time (also because in 'Sport' mode they still work perfectly), so it seems to me more a software issue: could be that the engine map update has somehow changed the suspension software mapping?
 
Bebs

Bebs

Member
Messages
3,335
alfacorse said:
Hi to all, I'm not writing here since few years but always reading your very nice forum.

I've a Skyhook suspensions-issue on my 2013 GTS Sport Auto: my car has now 153.000 km (almost trouble-free) and at 140.000 km I had the suspensions rebuilt by a local specialist. After the job they were running fine as new, the car was very comfortable on the bumps but at the same time stable at any speed, the behavior was the same of when I purchased it 10 years ago, so I was very happy of the job done.

At 150.000km. (2 months ago) I had the car serviced for regular maintenance and in that occasion it was loaded in the ECU an updated engine map (official Maserati map, not tuning or other things) and some days after getting back in my car I was driving on a fast motorway and immediately noted that the car was weaving a lot on any bump, as happens when the suspensions are too-soft. Switching to 'Sport' mode worked to make it stiff and stable, but on 'Normal' mode the suspensions are now totally soft and uncontrolled.
The first thing I thought was a suspension hydraulic failure, but this is very strange because it can't happen on all of the 4 units at the same time (also because in 'Sport' mode they still work perfectly), so it seems to me more a software issue: could be that the engine map update has somehow changed the suspension software mapping?
Click to expand...
I’ve had the same issue for a couple of years and I have not had any official Maserati mapping done. (2010 GT-S with 75,000 miles)
In ‘normal’ mode the car moves about, is unstable on uneven roads or in the wet, and almost jumps a lane when at full throttle in 3rd gear, changing to 4th at 6-7000 rpm! Very unsettling. This is almost all negated when in ‘Sport’ mode and the car moves about far less and feels more stable.
AV Engineering have spent a lot of time checking the suspension, bushes etc and have not found any issues or problems.
We have concluded that the issue must be down to faulty Skyhook shock absorbers either front or rear (I’m leaning towards the rear as I can literally feel it moving about on the rear)
On balance I think we are going to replace the rear shocks for new units (£790.40 + VAT each) and see what happens.
The front shocks are more costly at £965.20 + VAT each.
Unfortunately nobody seems to be able to rebuild the Skyhook shocks.
Any thoughts on this Matt @conaero ?
 
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A

alfacorse

Junior Member
Messages
67
thanks for the feedback, very interesting. My case seems pretty similar, but after the rebuild of the shocks it was perfect. I did 10.000km. after the rebuild and the car was really good, 95% of time in 'Normal' mode.
The problem came out all in a sudden after the 150.000km service (with ECU update), this is why I'm suspecting that something has happened. Clearly the dealer says it is 'impossible' but I should better investigate...

P.S. if you want I can give you the contact of the company (in Italy) which is doing the rebuild of the shocks...
 
philw696

philw696

Member
Messages
25,377
Having worked for several Dealers including Maserati that is normal practice to not accept responsibility.
Yes the Skyhook shocks are rebuild able it's just not easy finding a specialist to do it so a link to the company in Italy would be useful please.
 
A

alfacorse

Junior Member
Messages
67
regarding the ECU: is there a way to check (with a diag tool) which suspension map is loaded? Any code/number which helps to identify if it's correct or not?
 
A

alfacorse

Junior Member
Messages
67
ok thanks. And is there a separate code for the suspension map or is it all packed into the engine map?
 
A

alfacorse

Junior Member
Messages
67
thanks a lot for your help, will try to connect a diag tool and see if I can retrieve some helpflul information
 
A

alfacorse

Junior Member
Messages
67
Bebs said:
Thank you for the details. Could you confirm timeframe for the rebuild of shocks and if possible, approximate Euro cost?
Click to expand...

I had the shocks removed from my tire-shop, shipped them out to the suspension guys and received back in 7/8 days, ready for re-fitting on the car.
I don't recall the exact cost, but it was in the range of €1.300/1.500 + VAT for the rebuilding job (+ the cost of removing/refitting on the car + wheels alignment). The bad part of the story is that the car should lay on the lifter for several days waiting for the shocks, and this could be a problem if the garage hasn't the possibility of keeping a lifter busy for you.
 
Bebs

Bebs

Member
Messages
3,335
alfacorse said:
I had the shocks removed from my tire-shop, shipped them out to the suspension guys and received back in 7/8 days, ready for re-fitting on the car.
I don't recall the exact cost, but it was in the range of €1.300/1.500 + VAT for the rebuilding job (+ the cost of removing/refitting on the car + wheels alignment). The bad part of the story is that the car should lay on the lifter for several days waiting for the shocks, and this could be a problem if the garage hasn't the possibility of keeping a lifter busy for you.
Click to expand...

Thank you for those details. I will make contact with Orap and speak with my service center to see if we can arrange this.
Please let us all know on here what the eventual outcome is of your suspension issue? (Could one or more of the rebuilt shocks have failed again possibly?
 
Oneball

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,107
Did the rebuilt shocks come with a dyno print out?

Get the shocks off and get them on a dyno, it’ll give you the info you need rather than just guessing.
 
Bebs

Bebs

Member
Messages
3,335
philw696 said:
First take a visual inspection to see if the seal has failed by seeing oil covered shocks.
Click to expand...
Thanks Phil. In my case AV engineering simply cannot find anything obvious neither front or rear, including visual inspection of the springs, shocks, bushes etc.
They actually recently had the rear springs off when I replaced them with lower versions as you’ll no doubt recall and therefore were able to thoroughly inspect the rear for any issues.
They do agree however, that the car does not behave correctly in ‘normal mode’ and is moving around all over the place. Aldous is of the opinion that if ‘Sport mode’ transforms the handling and somewhat negates the unruly suspension behaviour, then it must be some or all of the shocks that are the issue..?
 
Bebs

Bebs

Member
Messages
3,335
Oneball said:
Did the rebuilt shocks come with a dyno print out?

Get the shocks off and get them on a dyno, it’ll give you the info you need rather than just guessing.
Click to expand...
Thanks Oneball. I wasn’t aware you could ‘dyno’ the shocks for integrity. Who could do this?
 
Oneball

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,107
Bebs said:
Thanks Oneball. I wasn’t aware you could ‘dyno’ the shocks for integrity. Who could do this?
Click to expand...

Most race suspension people do it. Have a google for someone local to you.

eg
www.penskeshocks.co.uk

Dyno Testing

Utilising our SPA Technique Dynamometers connection allows us not only test Penske shock, we can test all makes of dampers and a selection of MacPherson strut assemblies, with our wide range of brackets and dyno fitting.
www.penskeshocks.co.uk www.penskeshocks.co.uk
 
philw696

philw696

Member
Messages
25,377
I wonder if they would be interested in having a look at skyhook shocks to strip assess and rebuild ?
Look a really good set up there.
 
A

alfacorse

Junior Member
Messages
67
philw696 said:
First take a visual inspection to see if the seal has failed by seeing oil covered shocks.
Click to expand...

Done, all of them are perfect, no leaks.

And I don't think it's a failure of a single-shock because this would be evident while driving: before the reconstruction job it WAS evident (the response of the single shocks was different, the front-left unit was clearly out of hydraulic power) but now it's the whole car wobbling up/down but it stays aligned...the feeling is totally different.
 
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