WALCHAND COLLEGE OF

ENGINEERING, SANGLI
(A Government Aided Autonomous Institute)

A project report on
Four Wheel Steering Mechanism

Guided by :
Dr. K.H.Inamdar
(HoD , Department of Mechanical Engineering)
Submitted by :

Sr. Name PRN

No.
1. Vivek Bharat Sambherao 2020BTEME00040
2. Sarang Rajkumar Vasugade 2020BTEME00041
3. Rushikesh Anil Khoje 2020BTEME00044
4. Rohini Vithoba Shewale 2020BTEME00046
 WALCHAND COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, SANGLI
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Certificate

This is to certify that the project entitled “Four wheel steering

mechanism” has been carried out by Vivek Sambherao, Sarang Vasugade,
Rushikesh Khoje and Rohini Shewale students of third year mechanical
engineering under my supervision and guidance during the academic year
2022-2023.

Dr. K. H. Inamdar
(Project guide and HoD)
 Acknowledgement

It is our proud privilege and duty to acknowledge the kind of help and
guidance received from several people in preparation of this project.
First and foremost we express sincere gratitude to our guide Dr. K. H.
Inamdar, HoD Department of Mechanical Engineering, Walchand college
of Engineering, Sangli for his constant support and encouragement in the
preparation of this project. Our weekly discussions with him were
extremely helpful.
 Abstract

This prototype of the Four-wheel steering system is designed for a mini

project at UG level. Nowadays most of the vehicles are using a Two-
wheel steering system. Two-wheel steering system requires more turning
radius to turn the vehicle. Also the efficiency of two wheels is less than
that of a four-wheel steering system. So, instead of using a two-wheel
steering system, if we use a four wheel steering system we can achieve
more efficiency as well as decrease the turning radius of the vehicle. Four-
wheel steering system is the only method to overcome the problem of
oversteering and under-steering. The purpose of this project is to make all
four wheels movable simultaneously. This is done by using a linkage
mechanism. We have used Rack and pinion steering system for both front
and rear wheels. We have connected both the rack and pinion by a linkage
mechanism to change the angle of rotation of the vehicle.

Key words : Four-wheel steering, 4WS, Turning radius, oversteering, etc.

 Table of contents

Sr.
Content Page no.
No.
1 Introduction 7
2 Project objective & list of components 8
3 Working principles 10
4 Advantages 12
5 Limitations 14
6 Future scope 15
7 Conclusion 16
8 Reference 17
 Introduction

Four-wheel steering is also called rear wheel steering or all wheel steering.
It provides a means to actively steer the rear wheels during turning the
vehicle. The turning radius is reduced in the four wheel steering of the
vehicle which is effective in confined space.
While parking the vehicle, low speed cornering, driving in city conditions
with heavy traffic roads in such situations driving is very difficult due to
the large track width and wheelbase. Hence, there is a requirement of a
mechanism which results in less turning radius and it can be achieved by
implementing four-wheel steering.
In our project we have used a counter phase steering mechanism. When
the steering is steered the power is transferred to bevel gear which
converts rotary motion into translatory motion given to front wheels ,
other bevel gear is connected to transfer rod/connecting rod which gives
the power to rear wheels. The direction of steering the rear wheels relative
to the front wheels depends on the operating conditions. At low speed bill
movement is pronounced, so that the rear wheels are tired in the opposite
direction to that of front wheels. At high speed, when the steering
adjustments are subtle, the front wheels and the rear wheels turn in the
same direction. By changing the direction of the rear wheels there is a
reduction in turning radius of the vehicle which is efficient in parking, low
speed cornering and high speed lane change. In city driving conditions the
vehicle with higher wheelbase and track width face problems of turning
as the space is confined, the same problem is faced in low speed cornering.
Usually customers speak of the vehicle with a higher wheelbase and track
width for their comfort and face these problems, so to overcome this
problem a concept of four wheel steering can be adopted in the vehicle.
Project Objectives :

● To develop a working model of a four wheel steering system.

● To learn the advantages and benefits of the four-wheel steering system
with respect to the two-wheel steering system.
● Prepare 3D CAD model of Four-wheel steering system with the help of
modeling software.

Components of Four-wheel steering system :

● Rack and pinion arrangement (Front and rear)

● Wheel
● Steering
● Seat
● Fixer
● Transfer rod / Connecting rod
● Base
Assembly Model of four wheel steering
Working Principle :

Rear-wheel steering is a mechanism that, when the steering wheel is turned,

actuates the rear wheels’ angles and either turns them in tandem with the front
wheels or in the opposite direction to better increase a vehicle’s low- or high-
speed agility.

We’ll get into the different types of rear-wheel steering systems in a moment,
but the general premise of these systems is using a set of hydraulic or electric
actuators to change the toe of the rear wheels. Toe refers to the angle a wheel
is pointed in or out from the car, hence the terms “toe in” and “toe out.” Toe
can also be described as negative and positive.

In most situations, toe refers to a car’s front wheels and, depending on whether
both wheels are pointed in or out, it affects the car’s high-speed stability (toe
in) or low-speed agility (toe out). In rear-wheel steering, the vehicle’s system
changes both rear wheel’s toe in tandem, which means the rear wheels move
right or left in unison so they’re pointed in the same direction. This is the
complete opposite of how toe works on a vehicle’s front wheels. While each
system is unique, the resulting movement from the rear tires in four-wheel
steering is exactly the same across different systems. When the driver turns the
steering wheel, the front wheels turn in the direction of travel while the rear
wheels turn in the opposite direction, effectively reducing the car’s turning
circle. This makes low-speed maneuvers quicker and easier.
Advantages :
● Better Steering Response
With four-wheel steering, your vehicle will undoubtedly respond
faster when turning and switching lanes. More precise and
controllable steering is safer for you, fellow drivers, and pedestrians.
While it might not make a world of difference in everyday driving
scenarios, it can when an unexpected obstacle is in your way.
● Cornering Stability
When the roads are wet or icy, some corners can be quite
challenging. Four-wheel steering will help your car complete corner
turns with stability and control. With all four wheels turning, you’re
less likely to fishtail or get stuck.
● Tighter Turning
Four-wheel steering means all wheels steers. It doesn’t mean that
they all have to turn the same way, though! When you’re able to turn
the rear wheels in the opposite direction of your front wheels, this
allows you to complete smaller circular turns at lower speeds.
● Better on Tougher Terrains
Canadian winters can be pretty brutal. We’re all aware of the
benefits of four-wheel driving in the snow, but four-wheel steering
can be equally helpful. If you’re stuck in a patch of snow or hit ice
while driving, four-wheel steering can help you regain control more
quickly potentially saving you from an accident, with accompanying
repairs. No one likes to see their vehicle on the back of a tow truck
● Straight Line Stability
When you’re driving your vehicle on a straight road, four-wheel steering
can still help. The system will give you the best stability imaginable and
will let you handle potholes and high winds with minimal swaying.
● Changing Lanes
When you’re cruising on the highway and you need to change lanes
quickly, all-wheel steering works like a dream. You can easily cross over
without turning the wheel much at all and won’t need to accelerate as
much to maintain your speed.
Limitations of four-wheel steering :
● Expensive
The main disadvantage of 4WD is added cost for purchase,
maintenance, and fuel. The extra equipment (differentials, transfer
case, etc.) adds complexity and weight to the vehicle, increasing
initial market value, tire wear, and the cost of repairs and
maintenance
● Possibility of being inoperative
Since the system has a large number of electronic components, there
is always a possibility of the non-functioning of one part rendering
the complete system inoperative.
● Increases the Crabbing Effect
This is caused by a misalignment of the rear wheels on any given
vehicle and can be caused by bumping a curb while backing up or
by driving through deep potholes.
● The added power and weight of 4WD and AWD systems require
more fuel, making them less efficient than their 2WD counterparts.
Future scope
Four wheel steering is a relatively new technology that imposes
maneuverability in cars, trucks and trailers. In standard two wheel
steering vehicles, the rear set of wheels are always directed forward and
do not play an active role in controlling the steering. In the four wheel
steering system the rear wheel can turn left and right to keep the driving
controls as simple as possible. The aim of the 4WS system is better
stability during overtaking maneuvers, reduction of vehicle oscillation
around its vertical axis, reduced sensibility to lateral wind, and neutral
behavior during cornering. Etc., i.e. Improvement of active safety. The
concepts involved in our project are entirely different in that a single
unit is used for various purposes, which is not developed by any of the
other team members. The project carried out by us made an impressive
task in the field of automobile industries. It is very useful for drivers
while driving the vehicle. This project has also reduced the cost involved
in the concern. Project has been designed to perform the entire
requirement task which has also been provided. By doing this project we
gained the knowledge of various mechanisms, drives, fabrication with
welding and how it can be effectively used to control the steering for
light motor vehicles.
Conclusion

The FWS system has got superior cornering stability, quicker steering
response, faster lane changes and smaller turning radius. Although it is superior
to the two wheel steering system, FWS is complex and expensive. In the
current state of research, there is not much going on about practical use of
FWS.With its growing popularity, it can be expected that it will become
cheaper and come in more and more new vehicles in the future.
To get such a type of system practically, it has to be in a cost effective
manner.
References :

1.https://nevonprojects.com/four-wheel-steering-mechanism-project/
2.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steering
3.https://www.slideshare.net/mudassirkhan49/four-wheel-steering-
system-73059795
4.https://www.slideshare.net/GouravGowda/zero-radius-turning-and-
four-wheel-steering-system
5.https://www.irjet.net/archives/V7/i3/IRJET-V7I31089.pdf
6.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpug9Eg9PFk