Has anyone put 4WS from a prelude on?

[Rezz]

I was looking into adding 4WS (4 wheel steering) from an older prelude on my cb9 (one reason I was thinking of doing widebody in the rear as mentioned in another thread). Has anyone done it? It has to be able to be done, and given the similarities, it shouldn't even be THAT difficult. I know I would need the 4WS computer, the wiring and then of course the actual rear subframe and tie rods etc... My questions are though, what components aside from those do I need to replace and which ones can I keep? Do I need knuckles, struts, etc... or can I keep certain parts from mine?

[deevergote]

CBs actually came with 4WS in other markets... just not the US, sadly.

Years ago, one of our Australian members provided us with detailed pictures of his 4WS system. The entire rear suspension was VERY different, and there was a tunnel in the floor (much like a driveshaft tunnel on RWD cars, only not as large) to accommodate the linkage.

If you wanted to attempt it, you'd probably have far more luck trying to import all the 4WS stuff. It would still require considerable modification of your car, but it'd be easier to fit.
Hell, it'd probably be easier yet just to import an entire 4WS car!
People have looked into the conversion, and decided it wasn't worth the hassle. I don't believe anyone has ever tried it with Prelude parts, though. To my knowledge, you're the first to even bring it up on here!

[marcusv8thunder]

As I have a 4ws Accord I feel I should mention that there is alot of different things. Mainly the centre tunnel that is bigger and extends into the car more, which makes for a shallower centre console.

The rear top wishbone is more like a A arm of the front. there is a steering propshaft that runs to a steering diff at the rear, and there is ball joints and tie rod ends. Basically its like having 4 front corners.

The steering is better than the 2ws, more Mitsubishi Evo like in directness but not quite as good

Can you put one into a 2ws CB yes, but major centre tunnel work would be needed.

[deevergote]

It'd likely take just as much work to make a CB 4WS as it would be to make it RWD.

[Grahf]

I want to do this project to my cb7 myself one of these days. I plan on keeping my car for the rest of my life in all seriousness. If someone can maintain their cb7 over a million miles on the original engine and most parts, it definitely should outlast my lifetime. Although passing smog sucks. ha It would be awesome if someone actually completed this procedure.

[deevergote]

I wonder if a 4WS CB would be considered close enough to the USDM models to be easily imported before they're 25 years old.

I don't know if 4WS started in 90 or 91 (or even 89 in Japan)... but those cars are only a couple years away from the 25 year mark as it is!

Importing one would be a better idea than trying to gut a USDM model like a fish.

[Rezz]

Well I would much prefer to change the one I have rather than import one and such. Especially with the possibility of using prelude parts. I'll probably go to a scrapyard like Pick'N'Pull here before long and at least get measurements off of a Prelude, maybe even grab the parts. I'm really good at fabricating whatever I need and I have a feeling I could manage the setup. Now, Marcusv8thunder, Would you mind taking some pictures of the underside? And especially where the shaft that runs from the front to the rear steering connects on each end? I've seen plenty of pictures of the rear, but few of where it connects to the front. Another thing... Do you have the same power steering pump we do or with 4WS does yours have a different one?

P.S.- My wagon doesn't have a center console. It has the adjustable arm rest on the seat and plastic housing over the e-brake.

[marcusv8thunder]

Yes no problem when i return from work, ill jack it up and take some pics. Ill put them in my members ride page as I should have pics of that in there anyway. Ill put a link here to that later. Im currently dailying the 4ws at the moment as my main cb is under the h22a knife.

[steelbluesleepR]

I wonder if a 4WS CB would be considered close enough to the USDM models to be easily imported before they're 25 years old.

I don't know if 4WS started in 90 or 91 (or even 89 in Japan)... but those cars are only a couple years away from the 25 year mark as it is!

Importing one would be a better idea than trying to gut a USDM model like a fish.

Yeah, it should be relatively straightforward, as opposed to something like a Toyota Century or a Skyline.

[marcusv8thunder]

It was too dark tonight by the time I got back, and it needs alot of light to be pictured clearly. Ill try tomorrow.

[Rezz]

Alright, no worries. The main things I'm wanting to see after reading into it some more are as follow: the upper strut mounting (from inside the car), the rear upper control arms, the rear gearbox including any lines to and from, the rear knuckles, lower control arms and whatever sort of computer that your vehicle has to operate it. I'm not sure but does yours have angle sensors and everything like someone was telling me the prelude setup does? What does the computer on it essentially operate? Could you run it without the computer or does it help for high speeds where it might be unsafe to have 4ws? If you don't necessarily know, maybe someone does? The latter questions are in reference to the 4ws for accord or prelude.

[marcusv8thunder]

Alright later than I planned but ive added 2 extra pics to my MRT on the first page. So that all 4ws pics are next to each other.

The system is fully mechanically, there is no electronics or sensors, this is why its still working

http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthre...arcusv8thunder

[Rezz]

All mechanical sounds wonderful but I cant find a single one in the U.S. with 4WS and I can't even find parts online like rear tie rods... How do you get replacement parts for it? (Sorry I was gone for so long. I had to care for someone in the family who was having severe medical problems)

[deevergote]

They didn't exist in the US. That's why you can't find one. I don't think anyone has ever tried to import one. They may be different enough from the USDM models to be ineligible for import without DOT approved crash testing. For whatever reason, Honda doesn't seem to allow the sale of parts not intended for cars in a particular market... so any parts that are specific to non-US models won't be available through a US Honda dealership.

You could potentially contact companies overseas in markets that had the 4ws models (Australia, UK, Japan) and inquire about obtaining parts. You'd still need to do MAJOR modifications to your car to make it work... including hacking up the floor to make a tunnel for the 4ws linkage.

[Rezz]

They didn't exist in the US. That's why you can't find one. I don't think anyone has ever tried to import one. They may be different enough from the USDM models to be ineligible for import without DOT approved crash testing. For whatever reason, Honda doesn't seem to allow the sale of parts not intended for cars in a particular market... so any parts that are specific to non-US models won't be available through a US Honda dealership.

You could potentially contact companies overseas in markets that had the 4ws models (Australia, UK, Japan) and inquire about obtaining parts. You'd still need to do MAJOR modifications to your car to make it work... including hacking up the floor to make a tunnel for the 4ws linkage.

I have even tried searching foreign companies for the parts without luck though unfortunately. The modification is not beyond my skill or determination, the hassle of replacement parts though... may prove to be. But even 4WS prelude rear steering parts are next to impossible to find online.