Four-Wheel Steering: A New Way to Play? An Insight into Honda's PAWS System

Four-Wheel Steering: A New Way to Play? An Insight into Honda's PAWS System
Original Author: Honda誌
Published on: December 2, 2024

Currently, the most common automotive drivetrain and layout worldwide is the front-engine, front-wheel-drive design, also known as FF. This layout aims to theoretically reduce manufacturing costs while increasing interior space. However, from the perspective of vehicle weight distribution, front-wheel-drive cars often eliminate components like the driveshaft and rear differential, which objectively results in heavier front ends compared to the rear. This can affect handling and lead to understeer. However, this is not a universal outcome but rather a theoretical one, influenced by factors like suspension geometry settings.


Drivetrain Types: 4WD, FR, RR, FF, MR, R4, and M4.

To address the potential understeer in front-wheel-drive vehicles, many manufacturers introduced a technology called rear-wheel steering decades ago. This technology slightly adjusts the rear wheels' toe angle when the front wheels turn, improving cornering stability and reducing understeer. On racetracks, when drivers experience understeer due to excessive corner entry speed, they might use the handbrake to briefly lock the rear wheels, creating an opportunity to realign the car's trajectory. This highlights the importance of rear-wheel control for front-wheel-drive cars' handling performance.

Many vehicles with rear-wheel steering can be found around us. Older examples include the Citroën ZX and Toyota Cressida, while closer to home, the eighth-generation Honda Accord and Acura RLX feature Honda's PAWS technology.

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Honda's PAWS system works on principles similar to Porsche's four-wheel steering system but differs significantly in operation and functionality. Honda's rear-wheel steering technology dates back to the 1990s, aimed at improving the cornering characteristics of FF vehicles by adjusting rear toe angles rather than full four-wheel steering.

What is PAWS?
PAWS, or Precision All Wheel Steer, is an electronically controlled system that manages rear-wheel toe angles using a central control unit. During a turn, data is transmitted to the central control unit, which adjusts the toe angles of the rear wheels via electronic actuators, optimizing the vehicle's path and reducing driver effort.

Diagram: RLX's Rear Suspension (with PAWS Servo System)
The RLX's rear suspension features a dual-wishbone design with servo systems adjusting toe angles by up to 2°. This ensures better cornering stability and response.

When making sharp right-hand turns, the central control unit coordinates slight adjustments to the rear toe angles in the opposite direction, stabilizing the vehicle's trajectory and reducing steering effort. The same principle applies to left-hand turns. The PAWS system also intervenes during braking by adjusting the rear toe angles into a "toe-out" position, enhancing vehicle stability during deceleration.

1️⃣ Straight Line Driving: Rear wheels maintain a normal "toe-in" configuration.
2️⃣ Cornering: The system adjusts the outer rear wheel to "toe-out," maintaining stability and reducing understeer.
3️⃣ Braking: Rear wheels adopt a "toe-out" configuration, improving stability during deceleration.

In simpler terms, the PAWS system functions as a more advanced version of four-wheel steering. Unlike traditional systems where both rear wheels move together, PAWS independently adjusts the toe angles of each rear wheel.

Honda's commitment to handling performance is evident through innovations like PAWS. While the brand is renowned for its engines, its exploration of advanced handling technologies showcases a genuine passion for automotive excellence. This is why Honda remains a respected automaker, despite producing fewer vehicles than the industry's giants.