Every day tips for living with a 599
Discussion
Back to MDL Supercars for Lee and Ryan to change the pads and check the rear undertray bolts. Got to be a quick 30 min job this one.
Unfortunately we spot an oil leak on the rear undertray. Wasn't there at ring toys just a few days ago.
Tray off
Looks like a gearbox leak from the inspection hatch
A wipe off and run the car and initially it looks like the bottom of the inspection hatch but the bore scope shows it's actually leaking from the top
Access to this hatch requires removal of a section of the subframe bracing and exhaust
Exhaust looks like it's been in a accident but it is actually made this way
Old sealant and what looks like some damage
But once cleaned up it's all good
Drain plug shows some residue but no copper
New sealant
All buttoned back up and run. All looks dry. Will check again tomorrow
Unfortunately we spot an oil leak on the rear undertray. Wasn't there at ring toys just a few days ago.
Tray off
Looks like a gearbox leak from the inspection hatch
A wipe off and run the car and initially it looks like the bottom of the inspection hatch but the bore scope shows it's actually leaking from the top
Access to this hatch requires removal of a section of the subframe bracing and exhaust
Exhaust looks like it's been in a accident but it is actually made this way
Old sealant and what looks like some damage
But once cleaned up it's all good
Drain plug shows some residue but no copper
New sealant
All buttoned back up and run. All looks dry. Will check again tomorrow
Wheels off and brake check
Front discs have a lip near the hub
And the rear has minor scoring
Brake dust blown out of the discs
I'm should have worn a dust mask because now I am sure I have half an RSC1 pad in my lungs
Talking of pads, fronts:
You can just about see the line where the lip is being made in the pad but in general the wear is a lot better probably due to the additional time spent cooling down
Rears:
The scoring seen in the disc is also visible in the pad. Rear has plenty material left but changed anyway just incase something is embedded into the pad causing the scoring
The hub face on the rear wheels and discs also showed some strange wear pattern. Like the rim had been moving but the wheel bolts were all tight when taking off the rim.
Cleaned up the face
Put everything back together and bled the brakes
Front discs have a lip near the hub
And the rear has minor scoring
Brake dust blown out of the discs
I'm should have worn a dust mask because now I am sure I have half an RSC1 pad in my lungs
Talking of pads, fronts:
You can just about see the line where the lip is being made in the pad but in general the wear is a lot better probably due to the additional time spent cooling down
Rears:
The scoring seen in the disc is also visible in the pad. Rear has plenty material left but changed anyway just incase something is embedded into the pad causing the scoring
The hub face on the rear wheels and discs also showed some strange wear pattern. Like the rim had been moving but the wheel bolts were all tight when taking off the rim.
Cleaned up the face
Put everything back together and bled the brakes
Tyres are actually not as nicely worn as they looked at ring toys. The outside edge, particularly on the rear is worn significantly with most of the tyre looking new. It looks as though I'm going over the edge of the tyre too just a little.
Rear shoulder
Remaining 3/4 of the tyre, looks almost new
This despite almost 2° of camber. I wonder if I can get a set of custom camber shims made to go to 2.2° or even 2.5° as suggested by one of the ring instructors?
Front outside shoulder is not too bad.
Wheel arches liners are also getting damaged
Rear
Front
These will need replacing eventually.
The floor where the nut was secured (to hold the bolt for the undertray) have been completely ripped off. Same on both sides and for the front two securing points
You can also see where the floor dragged on the tarmac
Rear shoulder
Remaining 3/4 of the tyre, looks almost new
This despite almost 2° of camber. I wonder if I can get a set of custom camber shims made to go to 2.2° or even 2.5° as suggested by one of the ring instructors?
Front outside shoulder is not too bad.
Wheel arches liners are also getting damaged
Rear
Front
These will need replacing eventually.
The floor where the nut was secured (to hold the bolt for the undertray) have been completely ripped off. Same on both sides and for the front two securing points
You can also see where the floor dragged on the tarmac
Up at Mum's and one of her neighbours came to chat to me about the car while I was checking it over. I think it was just a pretext from him to ask me help him move stuff out of his house to his garage 
Anyway, wheel bolts are all okay and no visible leaks
We'll need to check again when the car has been run hard.
Anyway, wheel bolts are all okay and no visible leaks
We'll need to check again when the car has been run hard.
Was this the first time you'd gotten the new wheels properly hot since fitting them? There's a thread with someone who had a new wheel come undone at a track day and someone explained:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Krikkit said:
The powdercoat goes a bit soft when the wheels get hot, eventually the friction from the underside of the nuts/bolts rubs it out from the hole seats in places, which lets the bolts loosen a fraction, rinse and repeat until they're properly loose.
Which was news to me!https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
seefarr said:
Was this the first time you'd gotten the new wheels properly hot since fitting them? There's a thread with someone who had a new wheel come undone at a track day and someone explained:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
The F12 rims and Ti bolts have done a few trackdays but this is probably the hardest I've worked them. I'll remember this and check the Torque more regularly.Krikkit said:
The powdercoat goes a bit soft when the wheels get hot, eventually the friction from the underside of the nuts/bolts rubs it out from the hole seats in places, which lets the bolts loosen a fraction, rinse and repeat until they're properly loose.
Which was news to me!https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
This section of his post reminds me of my thoughts almost every time I look at the car or get in and drive. I was actually just behind the pinderwagen when he crashed at foxhole (the left just after the compression)
Wh00sher said:
I was driving to go on track mid afternoon and was thinking to myself 'This is MY car' I still find myself thinking that. It's always been an aspirational car but I didn't think I'd ever own one, never mind take it on track and drive it as hard as I did.
Diving it and even looking at it makes me very happy indeed. Do I think this was the right choice ? Yes, absolutely.
928 GTS said:
Just about every car ever made with plastic undertrays have same problem. Too small washers under mounting bolts. Another problem for past 20+ years is self-destructing plastic parts. Ferraris are no exception.
The plastic really is horrible and getting brittle but it's also surprising how thin the metal is where the rivnuts are. Washers are suitably large and lots of bolts to keep the floor secure.
A guy I met through FOC and Club Scuderia is an aeronautical engineer for Ferrari and worked on the FXX. He said that the 599 suffered from a lack of high speed testing and was continually updated with customer feedback. But I think everyone does that now.
ANOpax said:
cake eater said:
Nearly 6 hours later the 30 min job is over.
Time to head to Scotland to see Mum.
Good Lord, those boys at MDL certainly earn their keep!Time to head to Scotland to see Mum.
A bit more on the brakes.
I have always had concerns over the performance and feel from the CCM brakes on the 599. Everyone just says that's how they are, rubbish compared to PCCB.
Tried pads and fluids and steel lines but not much improvement. The bottom half of the pedal was rubbish and I could push it to the floor. It never felt right.
New discs installed and three pad changes later and the brakes are getting better and better. I have I proper hard pedal, can't push the pedal to the floor. ABS activation on hard braking is more common and stopping power seems much improved. Though on track I have a big safety margin in braking.
I wonder why the brakes are getting better? Is it just the heat cycles from trackdays helping? Pad material transferred? The brakes have been bled a lot has there always been air trapped in the system?
Disc wear looks okay but obviously faster than I'd like.
I want to continue improving the stopping power and ultimately the aim is to go to carborake gen 3.
MDL have suggested the GTO master cylinder to help the feel from the pedal and prevent potential
failure of the servo (known problem on older cars)
I can't see a difference between GTO and GTB but Ferrari service say there is but won't say what. They / MDL did say the upgrade is a faff.
And the price is more like 1200!
I was also looking at the GTO caliper but they also look the same except for the cover (item 11) and can't find any information on what it does
Anyway, more research and longer term financial planning required
I have always had concerns over the performance and feel from the CCM brakes on the 599. Everyone just says that's how they are, rubbish compared to PCCB.
Tried pads and fluids and steel lines but not much improvement. The bottom half of the pedal was rubbish and I could push it to the floor. It never felt right.
New discs installed and three pad changes later and the brakes are getting better and better. I have I proper hard pedal, can't push the pedal to the floor. ABS activation on hard braking is more common and stopping power seems much improved. Though on track I have a big safety margin in braking.
I wonder why the brakes are getting better? Is it just the heat cycles from trackdays helping? Pad material transferred? The brakes have been bled a lot has there always been air trapped in the system?
Disc wear looks okay but obviously faster than I'd like.
I want to continue improving the stopping power and ultimately the aim is to go to carborake gen 3.
MDL have suggested the GTO master cylinder to help the feel from the pedal and prevent potential
failure of the servo (known problem on older cars)
I can't see a difference between GTO and GTB but Ferrari service say there is but won't say what. They / MDL did say the upgrade is a faff.
And the price is more like 1200!
I was also looking at the GTO caliper but they also look the same except for the cover (item 11) and can't find any information on what it does
Anyway, more research and longer term financial planning required
cake eater said:
PGNSagaris said:
Cake, it’s been a pleasure to read this whole thread the last few days.
I’ve always loved the 599 (preferred it to the 550/575 and even the F12) but this thread and multiple pictures of that utter beauty has left me with a deep and urgent yearning for a 599
Hold my
Hi PNGSagaris,I’ve always loved the 599 (preferred it to the 550/575 and even the F12) but this thread and multiple pictures of that utter beauty has left me with a deep and urgent yearning for a 599
Hold my
I've got the beer and looking forward to hearing about your purchase
PGNSagaris said:
cake eater said:
PGNSagaris said:
Cake, it’s been a pleasure to read this whole thread the last few days.
I’ve always loved the 599 (preferred it to the 550/575 and even the F12) but this thread and multiple pictures of that utter beauty has left me with a deep and urgent yearning for a 599
Hold my
Hi PNGSagaris,I’ve always loved the 599 (preferred it to the 550/575 and even the F12) but this thread and multiple pictures of that utter beauty has left me with a deep and urgent yearning for a 599
Hold my
I've got the beer and looking forward to hearing about your purchase
Great colour combo
I think you deserve more than a beer!
cake eater said:
PGNSagaris said:
cake eater said:
PGNSagaris said:
Cake, it’s been a pleasure to read this whole thread the last few days.
I’ve always loved the 599 (preferred it to the 550/575 and even the F12) but this thread and multiple pictures of that utter beauty has left me with a deep and urgent yearning for a 599
Hold my
Hi PNGSagaris,I’ve always loved the 599 (preferred it to the 550/575 and even the F12) but this thread and multiple pictures of that utter beauty has left me with a deep and urgent yearning for a 599
Hold my
I've got the beer and looking forward to hearing about your purchase
Great colour combo
I think you deserve more than a beer!
How many miles have you done in it? Done anything silly yet? Be great to meet up and compare notes
cake eater said:
PNGSagaris,
How many miles have you done in it? Done anything silly yet? Be great to meet up and compare notes
I collected it today around 1 and have done about 150 miles. How many miles have you done in it? Done anything silly yet? Be great to meet up and compare notes
It’s supremely comfortable on a motorway or just cruising along.
Then put it in race and floor it and it’s f
king madness. Almost uncontrollable. Does need a geo (booked for 8th July with suspension secrets) and overall the tyres just don’t stand a chance. They’re 3 years old MPS4S’s but f
k me that engine is savage. The ICE is unintelligible, there are no cup holders and the heated seat turned itself on.
And I got a mannetino fault, suspension fault, CST failure as I was pulling away from the dealer!
They plugged it in and it’s down to a brake pedal sensor (£20 part to them) but takes 90 minutes to sort and I couldn’t twait so I’ll bring back late next week after a Euro trip. Not affecting the driving currently.
It also has an aftermarket exhaust. Glorious sound, especially in race mode and high up the rev range. It absolutely screams.
It’s so very special. For the money, nothing I’ve owned comes remotely close.
Looking forward too meeting up Cake
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