Rear-Wheel-Steering: Myth or Miracle?

PDSides · #1 12-13-2006, 05:22 PM

Anybody here an expert on rear-wheel-steering as rumored on JDM SVXs? I am wondering how complicated an active rws system has to be in order to be workable and practical. Was the JDM rws system active or passive, and if it was active, how was it powered and how did the system work? I may have posted this in the wrong section but wanted to scare up an expert if one exists on this forum. Thanks.
Preston
PS - I once had a swing-axle Corvair that essentially had passive rws that kicked in at just the wrong moment.

Budfreak · #2 12-13-2006, 05:25 PM

We have at least 2 members here that have an AWS SVX. I'm not sure who they are, But I'm sure somebody will chime in.

Earthworm · #3 12-13-2006, 05:33 PM

The rear wheel steering on those ones are active. I believe they were operated by an electric motor and could turn the wheels up to 15° in a direction determined by vehicle speed. The rest of them have "passive" rear wheel steering.

Ron Mummert · #4 12-13-2006, 08:11 PM

[QUOTE=PDSides]Anybody here an expert on rear-wheel-steering as rumored on JDM SVXs?

Perhaps Aredubjay will emerge from his hiding place, & provide us with enlightenment on this once beaten-to-death subject

Ron. (Where for art thou, eddycat?)

PDSides · #5 12-14-2006, 08:53 AM

"Perhaps Aredubjay will emerge from his hiding place, & provide us with enlightenment on this once beaten-to-death subject."

Ron, I'm sure it was "beaten-to-death" and I hesitated to bring it up again, but GM's use of rws on its light-duty pickup trucks and Lexus' use of rws on its "parks itself" LS450 has given me pause to wonder how an active rws system works. Seems to me that only low-speed use of such a system is practical because of all the position sensors and instant reaction mechanical gizmos that would be necessary for high-speed use. Passive, on the other hand, makes more sense to me for everyday driving, although I'm on the skeptical side when it comes to altering a car's "normal" steering response, especially at high speed. OK Aredubjay, send me something offline so we can trash this thread.
Preston

huck369 · #6 12-14-2006, 10:45 AM

Can you read Japanese?

PDSides · #7 12-15-2006, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huck369

Can you read Japanese?

No, I couldn't read it but it gave me a pretty good idea of how the rws was designed to work in the SVX. It read steering input, probably coupled with speed readings to determine the degree of rear-wheel turn out/in. This is pretty much what I suspected it to be but with fewer mechanical gizmos to do the job. I'm not a fan of such a system which, to my way of thinking is likely to be more trouble than it's worth. Again, I'm glad they didn't export this to the USA. I'll stick with low-speed rws as the practical application of such technology, for use in parking a trailer, getting into a very tight spot, or for parallel parking (maybe other low-speed uses - my list is not complete). Thanks for the info.
Preston

SubaRyu · #8 12-15-2006, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huck369

Can you read Japanese?

Yes I can. I have problems with English though

It basically says

Some SVX equipped with electric controlled AWS system. It only activates in mid-hi speed range, up to only 1.5 degrees.(rear steers same direction as front) Meaning it doensn't work when you are parking or etc. It was only meant for hi speed stability improvement. The steer angle is determined by the speed sensor.

Since it's not oil pressured pump system, it won't put any load on the engine.

When the system failed, it will cut the power to the motor immediately and hold the angle at that point. (means may not be streight)

Make sense?

Trevor · #9 12-15-2006, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SubaRyu

Yes I can. I have problems with English though

It basically says

Some SVX equipped with electric controlled AWS system. It only activates in mid-hi speed range, up to only 1.5 degrees.(rear steers same direction as front) Meaning it doensn't work when you are parking or etc. It was only meant for hi speed stability improvement. The steer angle is determined by the speed sensor.

Since it's not oil pressured pump system, it won't put any load on the engine.

When the system failed, it will cut the power to the motor immediately and hold the angle at that point. (means may not be streight)

Make sense?

I was told several years ago, by the wife of an SVX owner with AWS, that she hated the car, because the AWS caused complete confusion when trying to park, particularly when reversing into a space..

Aredubjay · #10 01-23-2007, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDSides

"Perhaps Aredubjay will emerge from his hiding place, & provide us with enlightenment on this once beaten-to-death subject."

Ron, I'm sure it was "beaten-to-death" and I hesitated to bring it up again, but GM's use of rws on its light-duty pickup trucks and Lexus' use of rws on its "parks itself" LS450 has given me pause to wonder how an active rws system works. Seems to me that only low-speed use of such a system is practical because of all the position sensors and instant reaction mechanical gizmos that would be necessary for high-speed use. Passive, on the other hand, makes more sense to me for everyday driving, although I'm on the skeptical side when it comes to altering a car's "normal" steering response, especially at high speed. OK Aredubjay, send me something offline so we can trash this thread.
Preston

I'm just now finding this thread and can't help but laugh. The horse is dead! Long live the horse!

Nice to "see" you, Preston. I think of you when I visit my stepson and daughter in Dallas. Next time, maybe I can take a few extra days and look you up.

Take good care, my friend.

svxistentialist · #11 01-23-2007, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aredubjay

I'm just now finding this thread and can't help but laugh. The horse is dead! Long live the horse!

Nice to "see" you, Preston. I think of you when I visit my stepson and daughter in Dallas. Next time, maybe I can take a few extra days and look you up.

Take good care, my friend.

It's just like him Randy, isn't it?

He breezes in from Yahoo!, and stirs up all this ancient dust, long settled.

That's Texans for you.