Well I had always heard about torque steer, but never really had an FWD car capable of it until now. It really is a weird feeling putting your foot down, feeling the front end get light and the steering wheel/car trying to yank you over to one side. I think my car has about 260BHP, at what limit does torque steer start? 150BHP? 175BHP? or does it vary from car to car?

Thinking that my next car is likely to be either RWD or AWD at this rate, its rare that I take off from a standing start quickly, and I have also had torque steer when flooring it from about 15-20MPH but it can be pretty unnerving when it happens.

It varies from car to car, on many things.
A good lsd can help and sticky tyres, also,
FWD powers a 1,400 bhp drag car, so who knows what 'the limit' is!
For an average road hatchback, about 200 bhp is where problems begin, generally.

I'd say it just depends on when there's most torque, i.e. at what revs the torque peaks, but I'm no expert.

I'd hate torque steer, especially on a motorway or something

I think torque steer will only be an issue when coming from a standstill or very low speeds. Not likely on the motorway unless you dump the clutch at 1st or 2nd after revving the car to peak torque. Actually i used to get torque steer in my 1.4 litre micra (89 bhp)from standstill when i rev the nuts off it.

It's a bit strange to begin with, but you get used to it and correct it without thinking after a while. It's nothing to do with torque curves or whatever. Slippery roads make it several times worse too, or bad surfaces!

What car have you got, K?

quote:

Originally posted by Knockside:
It's a bit strange to begin with, but you get used to it and correct it without thinking after a while. It's nothing to do with torque curves or whatever. Slippery roads make it several times worse too, or bad surfaces!

What car have you got, K?

I think this morning the road was slippery, which you are right, makes it worse. I have a Nissan Maxima (don't think they are available in the UK).

I know of them. You'll find you do get used to it after a while and don't even think about it. When I first got the Tomcat, even when it was down on power at about 180bhp, it was very un-nerving putting the power down. It felt like it was floating, dancing on the road while the steering went totally light and yanked around... now it's running 220-230bhp and I don't even think about it.

When my Focus RS was putting out 257 bhp, it was an animal on torque steer.
Several times, it tried to turn right into the central barrier.

quote:

Originally posted by kdgsayg:
Thinking that my next car is likely to be either RWD or AWD at this rate, its rare that I take off from a standing start quickly, and I have also had torque steer when flooring it from about 15-20MPH but it can be pretty unnerving when it happens.

You won't go far wrong with AWD. However, RWD has its own strengths and weaknesses, comparable in their nastinesss to torque steer. (Even with all the elctronic aids they put on the cars these days)

Avoid RWD unlerss you are a real enthusiast / skilled driver. As I am neither, I shall take my own advice when I next change cars!

Aye, all have their plusses!

Oddly I don't have a problem with torque steer with fwd, 230bhp and 273 lb/ft. I have experienced it in my previous car in the wet with 115bhp and 101 lb/ft. I do have a problem with wheelspin though especially in the wet and as such will probably opt for AWD next time.

I havent really had torque steer problems in any of my fwd cars, not even the powerful V6 one, but did with my 87 Suzuki Swift GTi (though badged as a Holden Barina GTi) probably because it weighed as as much as a mini, with about 80ish hp... That thing had a great ability to randomly lift off oversteer...

quote:

Originally posted by Si_NZ:
I havent really had torque steer problems in any of my fwd cars. . .

I'm guessing that this is because you drive appropriately to the prevailing road conditions. Most of these problems of torque steer, under steer, over steer, wheel slippage etc etc only occur because of the determination of the immature male to travel faster than the circumstances warrant.

Blame it on the testosterone if you want, or addiction to the adrenalin rush of mild danger.

Doesn't really explain why my Focus RS would sometimes want to suddenly turn right on a summers day with a good road surface!

Sounds a bit puzzling. Good road surface. Hmm. .......Were you going in a straight line at the time, or were you turning slightly?
And what sort of speed did this happen at?

It was generally coming out of bends, onto the straight.
I lost out to cars with 50 bhp less, fairly regularly, as i just couldn't get the power down.
OK, mine had 257 bhp, up from 212 bhp standard, but even stock, it was very poor on traction and torque steer.
That car was brilliant in some ways, appalling on others.
A friend's Civic Type R, with 197 bhp, would keep up most days.

Incorrect. My car torque steers from 2500rpm, especially in wet conditions.

True. I can't see why FWD and high power should surprise anyone when it equals torque-steer.

Or you're just turning right out of a side road, uphill, in the wet using only about 20% throttle travel and the wheels scrabble for grip, as happened to me yesterday. Not all wheelspin, torque steer in caused by lunacy.

Correct. Big power and FWD is the ideal recipe.

Usually due to one shaft being longer than the other on front wheel drive cars. My old saab 93 used to be a bit of a handful under hard acceration pulling to the left. I must have looked quite daft to other motorists when I was sawing at the wheel.

My left hand driveshaft is about a yard shorter than the right! an intermittent bearing can help

How is the old 220 going now?

Still not missed a beat, very happy with it. Very reliable for a change for my cars! Might be resting it for a while and letting a ZX TD Estate take over due to work though.

I can't imagine that: NEWSFLASH - Nox Drives Diesel