Oppo Opinion: Is Torque Steer Real?

"unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)" (unclevanos)
10/24/2014 at 23:58 • Filed to: FWD

While growing up on rwd, I've always thought about torque steer as this;

Can any fwd Jalops care to share some insight on torque steer? Is it noticeable or that annoying? I drove a fwd stick civic (98hp glory) and the hot hatch and manual bug has bit me....

DISCUSSION (25)

ly2v8-Brian > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 00:03

Not noticeable for most cars. Though it feels weird how the power delivery pulls you forward instead of pushes.

Nerd-Vol > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 00:08

I don't really notice it in my Speed 3. It's there, but I am not doing hard launches with my hands off the wheel.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 00:12

My Sportwagen doesn't have it and it has 240 tq (210 @ the wheels) going through 205/55R16's... it also has a weird little easter egg where if you have the steering wheel turned and you let out the clutch, it straightens out the front wheels by itself lol

area man > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 00:14

That video was kind of a bad demonstration because he immediately backs off as soon as the steering issue is really about to kick in. I've driven a Speed3 before and it will pull to the sides pretty hard in second if you really push it and sustain the acceleration, like on a quick merge onto a highway. I've also driven my dad's Volvo C30 R-Design and it's a similar story. You just have to keep a firm grip on the wheel. It's not like a bucking bronco but it will catch an inattentive driver with a loose wrist off guard.

But of course the severity depends on the amount of torque the engine has - I never felt it in the '98 Avalon that I drove in high school, and I stomped on it pretty much every time I got behind the wheel.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 00:16

Yes its real and if it happens above 60mph and your hands are on the wheel, it feels INCREDIBLE

pitstop_pitowski > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 00:22

If you really mash the go pedal a lot from a standing start you will notice it, for sure. I've had all types of trans & power trains, only noticed it on manuals. Got the Focus ST in March this year. I've only noticed the torque steer once, but then again I don't hoon it that much.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 00:29

Hell even mine does it. Goose it in first and it pulls hard to the right. Makes me wonder if given enough space if it'd make a complete circle.

JGrabowMSt > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 00:32

Torque steer is not limited to a hot hatch. In wet weather, I can get my Neon to pull really hard to the right under mild acceleration, and it can be a bitch to correct.

It's really any FWD car that can be affected...

It's noticeable when you drive like a douche. It's annoying when you try to drive like a hotshot.

When you're driving like a normal person, it's not an issue at all.

Remember kids, keep it on the track.

Gamecat235 > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 00:43

It's real. It's also part of why I really really want a Lotus Elan M100 (it's the only FWD performance car I know of without torque steer). They essentially redesigned the front suspension to eliminate it. It's also remarkably rigid for a convertible (especially of the era).

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 00:52

Uhh, yeah, it's real.

It can even show up on the dyno if you aren't strapped down tight enough... Ask me how I know.

I'm sitting at 250/200 currently, and it can be a bit of a handful on the street if I'm not paying attention. On the track not so much, the slicks help with that.

Kaizer Soze > Gamecat235
10/25/2014 at 01:08

Saab 9-5's no noticeable torque steer because of their equal length CV shafts.

Blue 300 > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 01:12

It is absolutely real.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 01:53

Grew up driving my parents' '04 Impala, 200 hp give or take. I'd have to look it up. It wasn't all that noticeable on dry pavement, although I did once get a bad scare with a bit of ice on the road. It's something you kinda just learn to live with, as it's not all that strong a pull.

My Lada's AWD, not FWD, but yesterday I got caught off guard. I was turning left so my wheels were at about half lock and I let the clutch out a lot faster than planned cause my gap in traffic was smaller than expected, and it pulled the wheel out of my loose left hand grip. That's the only time I've ever noticed it in the Lada.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > ly2v8-Brian
10/25/2014 at 01:53

Its noticeable in my dad's Odyssey at highway speeds, it feels awesome through the wheel. Another reason why I hate drive by wire, you wouldnt feel the torque steer through the wheel. But I hate drive by wire on principle alone, so....

atfsgeoff > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 02:24

Definitely real.

Tohru > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 03:36

Kinja'd!!!

Yes, torque-steer is real.

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 04:43

Let Jeremy Clarkson Enrich your mind:

Need moar insight? Have a look on the another in JC's Therapy:

ly2v8-Brian > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
10/25/2014 at 07:09

Yeah. That's right. My LeSabre was noticeable too probably the same reason. Probably why I feel nothing driving my mom's Cruze. The difference in torque has something to do with it.

crowmolly > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 09:55

I had a modified GTP that had a little but it actually wasn't too bad. I think it depends on the chassis design.

nermal > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/25/2014 at 11:54

I think it varies depending on car and tune. My MK6 GTI is stock except for tires, and it doesn't do it. I can mash the gas in 1st gear from a stop and it will pull straight with no issues.

If you over-cook it going into a turn and give it too much gas it will understeer, but the traction control will catch it before there's much drama.

Shiftright > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/30/2014 at 05:13

It's real, just like rear axle hop is real, but hardly seen nowadays due to technology. You won't encounter it much unless you're driving a very powerful FWD car from 10 years ago, say like a Saab 9-3 Viggen.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Shiftright
10/30/2014 at 16:31

I read the GTI, fiesta st counteracts torque steer with it E-LSD very well. For axle hop I've never felt it before when merging with solid axles cars only with IRS car I get geometric squat.

Shiftright > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/30/2014 at 16:55

The Abarth 500 does it in similar fashion. It's just not much of an issue anymore, just like turbos lagging or coking aren't anymore.

n54 & s38 > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/30/2014 at 17:28

Yes. My dad's old 2000 Nissan Maxima used to exhibit it when taking a corner fast or mashing it from a stop. It wasn't too bad though. The worst torque steer I've ever felt was in a Dodge Caliber SRT-4. Didn't help that the throttle wasn't progressive at all: more like an on/off switch. Other cars that I've heard are infamous for TS are the second-gen Mazdaspeed 3 and the old Saab 9-3 Viggen.

biker > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
10/30/2014 at 18:26

I bought a new car back in Feb 1985, a 150 hp FWD turbo, it would almost chage lanes you would have to turn steering wheel almost 90 degrees to stay straight if you launched it hard. a 84 Pontiac Sunbird turbo was the car