Quadrasteer
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Quadrasteer is the name of a 4 wheel steering system developed by Delphi Corporation while under the ownership of General Motors for use in automobiles. It was available as an option on GM's full-size pickup trucks and 2500 suburbans for model years 2002 to 2005, inclusive. [1] Such a system is a tremendously useful feature to people who tow regularly, as it enables a person to turn their vehicle in much tighter spaces than if they had a regular steering system. It is costly, adding as much as $5,600 initially (later reduced to about $2,000 and then $1,000 to boost acceptance) to the price of the vehicle. Many people, especially those who tow boats, fifth wheels, or other large equipment found the system useful enough to justify the expense.
Mechanics
The system was primarily used on pickup trucks, so utility, safety, and performance are key. At lower speeds, it turns in the opposite direction of the forward wheels to a maximum of 12°, decreasing the turning radius as much as 21% (on the Silverado 2500 / Sierra 2500). At higher speeds the system will turn the rear wheels slightly in the direction of the front wheels so as to increase stability and control. The rear axle is based on the Dana 60 axle. Vehicles that offered the upgrade include:
Future
Although GM currently has complete control of Quadrasteer, Delphi insiders claim that there will be Quadrasteer systems on other pickup models in the near future. Since Ford decided not to proliferate on the system because it originally did not seem productive, the only models left are the Dodge Ram, Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan.[2]