Thoughts on Chevy/GMC Quadra-steer...

[Countryboy]

What are your thoughts on the Quadra-steer trucks that Chevy produced a couple years back? If you own or owned one, how is it holding up? Was it worth the extra money to have the extra steering capability?

I ask because a local guy is selling one with 32,000 miles on it for $16,000. This is a near perfect truck with no problems and is still under the extended warranty. I spoke to the guy and he said it was the worst purchase he ever made. The guy is a good friend of mine's dad so he is being truthful about why he is selling it. Its $20,000 for anybody else. He said that he wasted money on that option and that he shoulda spent the extra money on leather seats or something. He said it just wasn't for him but I think it could be for me, especially at that price. If worst comes to worst, I could always throw a solid axle under it and still be way ahead on the money and driving a fairly new truck.

I never really looked into the "workings" of this set up so I don't really know much about it. I do know that its no longer offered so that says alot about how it sold I guess. If it ain't no good then say so cause I can't never pass up a good deal on a unique truck. All wheel steer in the woods would be great but walking out of the woods cause its broke down sucks.

 

[nedly05]

It seems like a decent price, I would say that you'll know within a month if youre gonna like it. If not, like you said just swap out the rear axles. At work we have all chevy's from 2500's up to 7500's. I have my own 1500. All in total thats 5 chevy's I am affiliated with and the only thing I can say bad about them is that they don't plow snow worth a lick unless you have about a ton of weight in the box. That's no concern of yours though (you lucky devil) I would say buy it.

 

[HeyUvaVT]

if u want quadrasteer buy it..if you want to buy it to swap axles...i wouldnt be so quick to jump on it...the rears in those trucks are quite computerized...you should go to www.fullsizechevy.com and check with some of those guys..i think i read on there a nightmare tale of someone tryin to do just that to one and he had issues with everything from ABS to speedo (not the kind you wear when you go to the lake either CB)

its a good price for that truck if you want QS tho!

 

[Dozerboy]

I haven't heard anything bad about them other them it didn't come on bigger trucks. I drove a Burb with it for a few weeks and it was nice, but long term who knows how it will last. I would buy it if you can sell it for more $$$ or if you can't get a truck without it for any cheaper. It's only going to be a benefit to you if you pull a trailer often or do a lot of parallel parking.

 

[Countryboy]

That's no concern of yours though (you lucky devil) I would say buy it.

I dream of snow on hot sunny days but we don't never seem to get any, even in the dead of winter. :beatsme

if u want quadrasteer buy it..if you want to buy it to swap axles...i wouldnt be so quick to jump on it...the rears in those trucks are quite computerized...you should go to www.fullsizechevy.com and check with some of those guys..i think i read on there a nightmare tale of someone tryin to do just that to one and he had issues with everything from ABS to speedo (not the kind you wear when you go to the lake either CB)

Yeah, the axle swap stuff doesn't really intimidate me. I have swapped several of my buddies IFS front ends to a solid axle, with one being a '03 Silverado. The rear steer can't be much different than a front end. If it is, then it ain't nothing a torch and welder won't fix. :drinkup

Speedometer.....people actually use those and ABS doesn't do so well in the mud anywayz . My Nissan is the first truck than I have had that has ABS. :cool2

I would buy it if you can sell it for more $$$ or if you can't get a truck without it for any cheaper. It's only going to be a benefit to you if you pull a trailer often or do a lot of parallel parking.

I'm definately going to keep it if I buy it. The truck, inside and out, is spotless so the price is great. I was just wondering if anybody had this set up and how well it has held up. With more moving parts and such I can pretty much bet that it is weaker than a comparable load rated solid axle. This might be just the truck for them Unimog axles I have sitting in the garage.....:Cowboy

Great thoughts so far guys, keep it coming.....

 

[jazak]

I've only seen a few around...they must have had problems or didn't sell enough because I haven't seen one in a good 2-3 years...

 

[Countryboy]

I've only seen a few around...they must have had problems or didn't sell enough because I haven't seen one in a good 2-3 years...

A couple quotes from some articles I found:

Despite that reality, pickup buyers haven't really taken to the Delphi-designed system, which is called Quadrasteer.

That probably had more to do with what Quadrasteer cost, however, than what consumers thought of it; on top of the price of the truck itself, the system added about $5,600 to the sticker price.

GM insiders won't discuss the sales record of Quadrasteer to date, but the company's decision to more than halve the retail price of the technology on 2004 models of its pickups and SUVs suggests things have not gone as well as they'd hoped..........

For the 2004 model year, GM has indeed reduced the price of Quadrasteer -- from $4,495 to $1,995..........

link

Poor sales are forcing General Motors Corp. to put the brakes on Quadrasteer, its innovative but expensive four-wheel steering system. After this year, it will disappear from the automaker's optional equipment list........

In the showroom, it has failed to pull its weight, even with its current $2,000 price tag, which is below GM's cost, said spokeswoman Sharon Basel.

"We've thrown everything at this to make this successful from a sales standpoint," Basel said. "It just isn't a viable option anymore."

link

I talked to my buddy today and his dad had a guy offer the $20,000 he was asking. He called me to see if I still wanted it but I told him he would be crazy to sell me the truck for 16K when somebody else was offering 20K. If he wasn't a good friend then I would of taken that offer.......being friendly really sucks sometimes. :duh

 

[Slogo816]

Love my 2002 Chevy Quadrasteer

I have a 2002 Quadrasteer with 195000 miles on it. I have had no trouble with the 4 wheel steer. I leave it turned on all the time. If I could buy a new Quadrasteer today I would.

 

[inthedirt]

I talked to a guy that worked for GM and saw a bunch of pictures when they were "testing" the quadra-steer. They (Chevrolet engineers) took one of those and jacked it way up put some BIG mud tires on it and then went out and lived out every rednecks dream! I saw a picture of it throwing rooster tales in mud as deep as the tires. Their theory was that if it would hold up in the mud pit it would survive suburbia just fine. True story.

 

[ScottAR]

I knew a guy that had one and he loved it... I've since lost touch
with him but his reports were glowing...

Do know the shocks and some of the brake parts are different than
standard so parts might be an issue later.

 

[Slogo816]

Quadrasteer

I just replaced my shocks for the first time at 194000. I installed Chevy shocks for a Z71 package. They fit just fine but now can not adjust ride. That is a small price to pay for the $1100 I saved. I only used that option 10 times in the 7 years I have had the truck.