Help me understand: Subaru passive steering

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Mar 11, 2004 | 07:01 AM

CofCSubie

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Help me understand: Subaru passive steering

Subaru America's site says that Subarus feature passive rear wheel steering. Is this something unique to Subaru, or do all vehicles with 4-wheel independent suspensions have passive rear wheel steering due to something inherent in the design of independent suspensions?

Anyway, I'm hoping to purchase a Forester X 5-spd this summer to use as a daily driver throughout the rest of my college years and beyond. Can't afford an XT or a WRX.

But I like that fact that the Forester is a safe car with a good rep, AWD, nice boxer engine, and "Made in Japan."

This forum seems to be really cool, there are a ton of crappy car forums out there. Looking forward to being a part of this. :banana:

Last edited by Wingless Wonder; Mar 12, 2004 at 07:31 AM.

Mar 11, 2004 | 08:46 AM

1 Lucky Texan

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IIRC the passive rear steering is nothing more than a little toe-ing in of the outside wheel in a corner to help prevent the rear from kicking out when the body roll compresses the suspension. It is designed into the suspension componenets and probably not unique to Subaru.

Last edited by Wingless Wonder; Mar 12, 2004 at 07:34 AM.

Mar 19, 2004 | 10:09 PM

caterpill

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From: In my BUBBLE

Car Info: Rust bucketo

I think newer volkswagen golfs/gti's (00-03) have a similar thing going on.

The golf/gti's rear suspension begins to toe in under hard compression; this could probably be a similar action in cornering as subaru's have. When you drop golfs or gti's real low though, the rear tires start to toe in excessively. I wonder if this applies to subaru's too?