Skyhook Dampers / Coilovers

[Twinspark]

I found another oddity in my car, while looking underneath I found that my shock absorbers are leaking. Whats different however is that all the shocks in this car are yellow whereas all 4200 dampers I’ve seen are grey.

Are these non skyhook dampers? They dont look like a KW / FD coilover option either. To me it looks like a Quattroporte item or just some cheap item the previous owner botched in.

They also do not have the wires coming out of the shock towers.

 

[alfatwo]

There not original Sachs dampers, plus there's no spring height adjustment
Some after market stuff suppose
Dave

 

[Navcorr]

Skyhook was an option - these look like the standard rate dampers. Which are indeed yellow. Part# 191418
Your 5+2 module should have a PWR button rather than a Sport button

 

[Twinspark]

I guess then its a no brainer to move to coilovers, its odd considering I’ve never had the skyhook warning lights.

Now to just wait until the Black Friday/Christmas sales...

Skyhook was an option - these look like the standard rate dampers. Which are indeed yellow. Part# 191418
Your 5+2 module should have a PWR button rather than a Sport button

That’s one thing I’ve heard but since my Sport(actually Power) switch has faded i was unable to tell.

 

[alfatwo]

I guess then its a no brainer to move to coilovers, its odd considering I’ve never had the skyhook warning lights.

Now to just wait until the Black Friday/Christmas sales...


That’s one thing I’ve heard but since my Sport(actually Power) switch has faded i was unable to tell.

David A might well have a set on the self, could save you a fortune!

Dave

 

[Twinspark]

David A might well have a set on the self, could save you a fortune!

Dave

May as well contact him.

The KWs are cheaper than FormulaDynamics by a good bit, they’re usually just under £2k with some websites having them cheaper. However some of these have a shady image(Gazzella).

FD are more expensive but I think they annually have a christmas sale which might drop the price a bit more.

Quality wise I’m not sure if theres a significant difference between the two. If anyone has installed them or knows someone who did I’d like to hear their opinion, and if there’s enough interest I can try to contact either vendor for a group buy discount.

 

[Navcorr]

If anyone has installed them or knows someone who did I’d like to hear their opinion,

TimR installed KW a while ago. Quite likely a number on MaseratiLife have installed FD.

 

[Lozzer]

I found another oddity in my car, while looking underneath I found that my shock absorbers are leaking. Whats different however is that all the shocks in this car are yellow whereas all 4200 dampers I’ve seen are grey.

Are these non skyhook dampers? They dont look like a KW / FD coilover option either. To me it looks like a Quattroporte item or just some cheap item the previous owner botched in.

They also do not have the wires coming out of the shock towers.

Those look like the ones on my 3200..

 

[mjheathcote]

TimR installed KW a while ago. Quite likely a number on MaseratiLife have installed FD.

It's unlikely FD are unique, probably rebranded, like their wheels being Forgestar F14's.

 

[Twinspark]

Those look like the ones on my 3200..

The 3200 has a Bilstein set which are supposedly rebuildable. The 4200 switched to Sachs like the contemporary Ferraris which are not rebuildable.

I’m not sure what brand the non Skyhook 4200 uses, it could very well be a carryover part but non Skyhook cars are rare so there’s little information.

It's unlikely FD are unique, probably rebranded, like their wheels being Forgestar F14's.

Some older posts on ML imply that its based off the KW with some further adjustments. They fundamentally look alike so the adjustments may very well be just a new coat of paint.

 

[Navcorr]

It's unlikely FD are unique, probably rebranded, like their wheels being Forgestar F14's.

Did someone suggest recently that FD's 4200 brake kit was a.n.other standard rotor with the hat machined to fit? Maybe on ML again.

 

[Twinspark]

Did someone suggest recently that FD's 4200 brake kit was a.n.other standard rotor with the hat machined to fit? Maybe on ML again.

My car has their 6-pot BBK, it has a 4-pot caliper at the rear. I’m not sure if the rear caliper is OEM or part of their kit.

I can take pictures of the setup sometime later.

 

[TimR]

Did someone suggest recently that FD's 4200 brake kit was a.n.other standard rotor with the hat machined to fit? Maybe on ML again.

The rotors will almost certainly be an off the shelf unit. Manufactured to order as they offer drilled or grooved...I believe they may well have gone with an off the shelf bell and machined it to fit. Possibly not in the most intelligent of ways either but I’m not really in a position to confirm that....

My car has their 6-pot BBK, it has a 4-pot caliper at the rear. I’m not sure if the rear caliper is OEM or part of their kit.

I can take pictures of the setup sometime later.

Pretty sure the BBK with Brembo 6 pots only extends to front end...
Check out ML. Think it’s been suggested the oem gs/4200 front & rear calipers are basically the same but made to look different. I serviced mine but can’t remember the piston sizes off the top of my head....

 

[Twinspark]

Does the 4200 normally come with 4 pots all around? I reckoned they’d have a 2 pot in the rear.

In that case if they were interchangeable it seems like the 6 pots were installed while the OEM 4 pots were moved to the back in my car.

 

[TimR]

Post some pics...
Or... confirm with images from eBay - there’s always a bunch of calipers on there....

 

[Twinspark]

Post some pics...
Or... confirm with images from eBay - there’s always a bunch of calipers on there....

Can't tell from the current pics I have, next time I'll be able to identify.

Now back on topic... how are the KWs over the standard setup?

 

[Lavazza]

If they're Bilstein, then you should be able to get them rebuilt by the manufacturer.

Centre Gravity provided me with the contact details.

 

[philw696]

Does the 4200 normally come with 4 pots all around? I reckoned they’d have a 2 pot in the rear.

In that case if they were interchangeable it seems like the 6 pots were installed while the OEM 4 pots were moved to the back in my car.

4 pots all-round is standard set up on 4200/GS.

 

[alfatwo]

If they're Bilstein, then you should be able to get them rebuilt by the manufacturer.

Centre Gravity provided me with the contact details.

Yes they can there across the road from Eibach in Leicestershire, not cheap though

Its mostly only the top oil seal that fails, David A's JLR man mods them and fits the later twin seal Ferrari item, there very reliable after that

Dave

 

[Twinspark]

@alfatwo I’ve messaged David A and he didn’t have a set sadly.

Eurospares sells the 4 dampers for £1000 brand new, cheapest I’ve seen coilovers are around twice that but I reckon its worthwile.

The non Skyhook GS uses the same ones as the normal 4200, it rides stiffer due to the 19s but retains a lot of bodyroll.