Ferrari 456 GT & GTA Suspension

The 456 was equipped with four wheel independent suspension using unequal-length, non-parallel arms, helical coil springs and telescopic dampers with stabilizer bars both front and rear. The suspension incorporated a system allowing the damping to be manually selected from three programs, each corresponding to individual Intermediate, Sport, and Touring damping curves. The stiffness of each damper changed internally within each setting as a function of the car's speed. A CPU ensured a switch to stiffer damping automatically when it was deemed necessary, in order to ensure an adequate response in all driving conditions. This was determined by sensors transmitting the steering angle, the longitudinal acceleration, the vertical acceleration, and as a consequence of the appropriate algorithm. The rear suspension was equipped with a self-leveling device to maintain load-independent ride height. The constant height of the rear suspension guaranteed optimal road holding by maintaining the rear geometry settings as well as improving passenger comfort.

The length of the locating arms was chosen to keep track and camber changes to a minimum. The front and rear suspension had wishbones and reaction arms that acted on spring and damper by way of a push-rod system. The dampers were specially developed by Bilstein.

Encouraging a safe tendency to understeer, the front track was wider than the rear. The spring and damper control mechanism was linked to an electronic damper control system using lateral acceleration, the steering angle and longitudinal acceleration to determine settings.

The ZF "Servotronic" power assisted rack and pinion steering varied the steering ratio as well as the level of assistance in order to ensure adequate response to the steering wheel in varying conditions. The power steering pump also provided the pressure for the self-leveling system.

The braking system comprised four ventilated discs with aluminum calipers and an ATE mark IV Antiskid system. The control logic ensured a degree of intervention in all conditions to optimize tire grip.