pivoting wheel skirt

[Piwoslaw]

Porsche type 64

[Xist]

Originally Posted by Piwoslaw

If only both axles had steering...

Sorry, I know that this is an old and forgotten thread, but you guys never invited me to your party!

I have liked all of my cars, but ever since my Prelude died, I have wanted another, specifically, a 1990-91 4WS. My '87 had legroom that I never found anywhere else, it had a relatively small engine, and it was officially fun to drive:

"In 1987, Road & Track published a test summary that shows the 1988 Honda Prelude 2.0Si 4WS outperforming every car of that year on the Slalom, including all Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Porsches. It went through the slalom at 65.5 mph (105.4 km/h), an amazing result for the time. For reference, the 1988 Corvette took the same course at 64.9 mph (104.4 km/h).

"The Prelude was Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for 1987."

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Prelude]

Since I found this site, I have wanted to aeromod a Prelude. I figured that if I found one that had been rear-ended, it would make it that much easier to make a boat tail, but only if I could make it look good.

With four-wheel steering, rear skirts would be more complicated, but no more than the front.

I think that could work out very nicely.

By the way, Steering - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia lists a bunch of 4WS vehicles.

[freebeard]

I've been going to stop my my mechanic, and measure a TDI drive train and McPherson struts. It might be a way to get 4WS in a Beetle.

Although '9-'96 Preludes (my favorite) are going for what I've got in my Beetle. What percentage of them had four wheel steering?

The Wikipedia article on Steering had some interesting stuff about passive rear steering. It might help with over/understeer; but it wouldn't help parking.

[arcosine]

[Xist]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Although '9-'96 Preludes (my favorite) are going for what I've got in my Beetle. What percentage of them had four wheel steering?

I cannot find any information on that, although there are nine 4WS for sale in the States our of 251. They only made 4WS for two of the six generations, so that does not help. When I tried to find production numbers I found a discussion in some Subaru forums. One guy said they were great track cars. Another guy called him an idiot (and worse) and back and forth they went.

At low speeds, the rear wheels turn opposite of the front, but at forty miles an hour, the rear wheels turn in the same direction. The only thing said of any importance in that forum is that if you take a corner going around 40 MPH, your rear wheels may change direction!

[freebeard]

Yikes! Is it progressive or all on/all off?

I can really see crab steering for towing trailers; but I think I'd want counter-steering under a button to hold down while you're parking.

[Xist]

It was always on, but there are plenty of clever people. Maybe it could be modified.

88-91 it was mechanical, so it would be tricky to modify. From 1992 to 1996, it was computerized, so I guess there is more hope there. Also, according to both sides in that forum argument, the electronic system was problematic.

Unless you are parking at more that forty miles an hour, you would have counter-steering.

[freebeard]

Unless you are parking at more that forty miles an hour, you would have counter-steering.

????

That's what I get for making up my own terms.

• crab steering = same-same
• counter steering = opposed

What good would the latter do between 5 and 40mph?

[Xist]

That is the image given on the Wiki page. You get tighter turning at low speeds and, to be honest, I am not sure how that is supposed to work 40+, except that the rear wheels never steer nearly as much as the front. I imagine it gliding from lane to lane, which would be fine, if you never needed to turn driving forty or faster!

[freebeard]

My curiosity was piqued because it seems one could have narrower pontoon fenders or front fender skirts and still do parking and U-turns.

In 40+ mode, towing a trailer, you'd be less likely to see it trying to pass you. But now I'm having trouble imagining the body roll you'd get in a downhill S-bend.

So I take it your '87 didn't have 4WS?