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we have AWD - why not four wheel steering?

U

Ultima

Platinum Member
We already have AWD out there to split the task of moving the car between all four wheels, why not four-wheel steering? You turn the front wheel and the back wheels move the same distance but the other direction. It seems to me that if all four wheels could steer as well handling would be improved. Or am I wrong? Is there a reason why we don't see this on expensive sport/sporty cars?
 
Don't rush to the patent office just yet. I'm pretty sure GMC is using this system on some trucks, and probably some other auto makers as well. I think for smaller cars, it adds unnecessary complexity, so no one bothers.
 
We already saw it on a handfull of cars in the late 80s - early 90s. Honda, Nissan, and Mazda sold a few each. The benefits, for the most part, did not outweigh the disadvantages in cost, complexity, and weight. You've already got several maintenance items up front, while the rear end of most vehicles requires relatively little maintenance. Who wants twice as many parts that will wear out?
 
One of my cars (Mitsu 3000 GT VR-4) has had 4 wheel steering for years, and I know other cars have had it too. I know some of the GM trucks have it as well. It's a nice idea in theory, but I'm guessing it's expensive, adds weight and complexity, and in reality doesn't add that much to the handling for the car. It's very similar to 4WD, it might take a wile, but I'm guessing it will at some point become standard on all cars.
 
Further proof all nerds are complexity freaks 😀

4 wheel steering never took off because it adds unneeded complexity, it's expensive, and it's one more thing to break.
 
I clearly remember the high end prelude in the late 80's that had 4 wheel steering...and recently the GMC SUV... can't remember the model right now.....

/EDIT/ the Denali .. thats it... thanks murphy.. /EDIT/
 
Originally posted by: AmusedOne
Further proof all nerds are complexity freaks 😀

4 wheel steering never took off because it adds unneeded complexity, it's expensive, and it's one more thing to break.
Click to expand...

What? 🙂

I'm not saying it has to be on all cars, I'm just curious why I haven't seen it on any cars, especially the expensive ones which are complex and overpriced anyways. The only car I've heard of having this is some preludes.
 
4-wheel steering does add a ton of extra weight. It also only turns the rear wears a few degrees... It's not like they are turning 45 degrees for a turn, it's about 3 or 4 if I remember correctly.
 
i had a toyota celica in japan that had 4 wheel steering.. it was like a 1990 or something like that.. granted the back wheels didnt turn as much as the front wheels but they did turn a few degrees, which helped immensely with the tight parking and driving in japan...
 
Originally posted by: Ultima
Originally posted by: AmusedOne
Further proof all nerds are complexity freaks 😀

4 wheel steering never took off because it adds unneeded complexity, it's expensive, and it's one more thing to break.
Click to expand...

What? 🙂

I'm not saying it has to be on all cars, I'm just curious why I haven't seen it on any cars, especially the expensive ones which are complex and overpriced anyways. The only car I've heard of having this is some preludes.
Click to expand...

Honda dropped it for the reasons above, and that's why no one has tried it again with the exception of a large SUV recently. IIRC, Honda had a service nightmare with their systems.
 
We do have it, but AFAIK the only vehicles currently in production with it are GMC truck platforms.

It only really makes sense from a cost/benefit standpoint on large vehicles, a Prelude is pretty damn manueverable as it is - But a full size truck is not.

Viper GTS
 
General Motors plans to introduce 4-wheel steering on all their big trucks.

In addition, the new $200,000 V-16 Cadillac Fleetwood super sedan which debuts next year at the NAIAS, will have 4-wheel steering, to give it better manueverability than Rolls-Royce, Bentley, etc.
 
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