Rear Wheel Steering Keeps Showing Up In More Models

The concept of steering the rear wheel along with the front ones has been used over several decades to allow us to have a steering advantage on the road. The early systems that were offered ended up being extremely short-lived and never really caught on. Honda was one of the first to bring this system to market in the late 1980s, but we saw Nissan, GM, and Porsche use a small rear steering movement to give an advantage. Unfortunately, most of the rear steering systems ended up costing too much and weren’t reliable enough to be trusted.

What are the Effects of Rear Wheel Steering?

If the rear wheels move with or against the front wheels, there are advantages that you can enjoy when you drive. These include increased stability, improved maneuverability, and a decreased turning radius. Unfortunately, one of the main reasons these systems haven’t been more widely used is the fact that a rear steering system means more steering parts to wear out and eventually fail. If the manufacturer discontinues the system, the parts become difficult to find in order to have them replaced when they fail and you need to have the vehicle fixed.

The Return of Rear Wheel Steering

Recently, we’ve seen a return of this steering system in Audi, Cadillac, Porsche, Lamborghini, Acura, BMW, and Ferrari. Because cars are getting wider and longer, the turning radius is growing, which can be a challenge in the tight city conditions that are offered in a variety of markets around the world. This means there needs to be a solution offered that can allow a larger vehicle to turn tighter in the city, and that solution is rear wheel steering, which is becoming more common in the models we see on the market today.

How Does this System Work?

As lower speeds, the rear wheels will turn the opposite way as the front wheels, reducing the turning radius. By doing this, the vehicle pivots on its center axis and we’ve seen many larger vehicles have a turning radius that’s greatly reduced by using this system. At higher speeds, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front ones, which allow the vehicle to make a diagonal move on the road, which is perfect for lane changes, especially when you’re towing a trailer. This steering system reduces sway and gives you the move you want into the next lane.

The Right Way to Make this System Work Today

There aren’t any steering arms or parts that connect to the column with the rear wheel steering systems offered in today’s world. Instead, the controls are made via computer which can determine what you’re doing or what you want to do when you drive so that you can drive and the vehicle can turn the way you need it to. With the advancements made, it’s possible we may see the rear wheel steering offered more widely and kept on the market for good this time.