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Ferrari Cars ›› Ferrari Mondial ›› Suspension
Ferrari Mondial Suspension
The Mondial's suspension followed the successful model of the 308 with coil springs over Koni shock absorbers, located at all four corners by dual unequal length wishbones. Front and rear anti-roll bars were provided to improve cornering. In keeping with its purpose as a luxury touring car, and due to its greater weight, the Mondial was given a softer suspension than its two-seat counterparts. Combined with its stretched wheelbase, the suspension bestows upon the Mondial an extremely stable and supple but controlled ride. When ABS was offered on the Mondial in 1987, the suspension geometry was revised to reduce dive and squat. The Mondial t was given electronically adjustable shock absorbers, offering three settings selected from within the cabin.
Steering was by rack and pinion, with slower and easier ratios than the two-seat cars. The Mondial t was the first Ferrari to offer hydraulically assisted steering. Braking is by power assisted twin piston calipers acting on vented discs. Front and rear brakes are controlled by separate circuits, providing security through redundancy.
The traditional Ferrari five spoke light alloy wheels fitted to the Mondial retained their dull silver shading throughout the model's run. The wheels of cars fitted with ABS were slightly convex from center to rim.
Wheels on the Mondial 8 and qv were metric sized 18TR390 front and rear, carrying 240/55 VR390 tires.
In North America the Mondial 3.2 was shod with 7X16" wheels and 205/55 VR16 tires at the front, and 8X16" wheels and 225/55 VR16 tires at the rear.
The more powerful Mondial t retained the wheels and tires of the 3.2, but its tires carried the new Z rating for speeds over 150mph.
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