Does the Steering Wheel Control the Front Wheels or the Rear Wheels?

[McEvelyn]

Steering wheels are used to control the direction of the front wheels, constantly adjusting their orientation. In general household vehicles, such as sedans and MPVs, the steering wheel controls the front wheels for turning. However, in special vehicles like forklifts and large excavators, the steering wheel is used to control the rear wheels for turning. The reasons for not controlling the rear wheels in most vehicles are: 1. Instability: Steering with only the rear wheels provides extremely poor stability, making it difficult to control at high speeds, which goes against normal driving logic. 2. Cost-ineffectiveness: Currently, power steering systems are divided into hydraulic and electronic types. Electronic power steering theoretically allows turning without mechanical assistance, so if only the rear wheels were to be steered, it might be possible to eliminate mechanical backup in the middle. However, without mechanical backup, if the vehicle malfunctions, steering control would be lost. If mechanical backup is used, it would require a steering rod as long as 1 to 2 meters. Given that current vehicle manufacturing prioritizes cost as a decisive factor, such a design would never be permitted.