2003 Chevrolet Silverado C1500 Quadrasteer

Chevy's Silverado full-size pickup truck line offers an astounding array of equipment and configurations for 2003. One of the roster's standout packages is the 1500 (1/2-ton) model with the Quadrasteer four-wheel-steering system.

Quadrasteer
This setup is a blessing for anyone who regularly tows 8,600 pounds or less. In fact, four-wheel steering just might be the most important technological breakthrough since electronic fuel injection, at least in the full-size truck/SUV market. The concept isn't new, though: Heavy equipment and even exhibition monster trucks have had rear-wheel steering for years. But for passenger vehicles, rear steering is in its infancy. (Early exercises in four-wheel steering included the '94 Honda Prelude. Unfortunately, the car's short wheelbase minimized the benefits of a tighter turning radius.)


Computer-technology advances made foolproof rear steering a reality for the new millennium. Following 10 years of R&D, GM and Delphi launched the Quadrasteer system on the 2002 GMC Sierra Denali pickup, then made it available for 1/2-ton Silverados later in the '02 model year.


Quadrasteer is an electromechanical system. Its componentry includes a front steering-wheel position sensor, a steerable rear axle, and an electric motor-drive actuator and control unit. The system allows the rear wheels to turn up to 12 degrees, yielding about a 20% tighter turning diameter (46.6 feet for the C1500 Extended Cab in front-steer mode compared to 37.4 feet with Quadrasteer activated).

Mode Control
The system offers three driver-selectable modes: 2WS, 4WS and 4WS Tow. Normal front-steer operation is achieved in 2WS. In 4WS, Quadrasteer's computer senses vehicle speed and steering-wheel position to automatically turn the rear wheels. At slow speeds, the rears turn the opposite direction of the fronts for squeezing into tight parking spaces or making U-turns that might otherwise be multi-pointers. The rear wheels remain straight at moderate speeds. At higher speeds, the rear wheels turn the same direction as the fronts to reduce yaw, which increases stability.