Four-wheel steering on cars is nothing new. Various makes and models have used this technology for decades, improving the car’s handling and stability. This technology adds cost and complexity, but the new Garage 54 YouTube video presents a cheaper, do-it-yourself solution. The crew added four steering wheels to the mid-90s Lada Samara, one to control each wheel.
Previous project cars had two steering wheels, one controlling the front axle and the other turning the rear. But the additional modification adds two more steering wheels in the back seat of the Lada, requiring four people to operate the car. Each steering wheel controls a modified steering rack located under the vehicle.
The first outing didn’t go well after the car was on the track. The steering rack flipped, meaning two drivers had to turn in the opposite direction from the other, which took several minutes to figure out. Once everyone was on the same page, the four drivers started trying to figure out how to control the vehicle.
Drivers turn in all directions to learn what is and isn’t possible, and following directions isn’t always easy either. The car struggled a few times, and the out-of-control driving resulted in the hatch hitting a pile of tires and sliding into the grass on more than one occasion. But low-speed fun keeps everyone safe from injury.
Lada also completed the slalom twice, once with front-wheel drive and one with rear-wheel drive. The four-wheel steering also allows for sharp turns, although the driver has difficulty controlling it. While four-wheel steering often improves handling, the fast construction of the Lada system leads to poor wheel alignment, which undermines its sports car-like stability.
Four-wheel steering may seem like something for a high-performance sports car, but big luxury vehicles and crossovers use it too. The technology helps make large vehicles feel smaller to control from behind the wheel while also making it easier to maneuver in tight spaces, such as parking lots or congested city streets.
