need to fix "torque steering"

[aebstract]

Torque steering is the influence of the engine torque on the steering for some front-wheel drive vehicles. For example, during full acceleration the steering may pull to one side, which may be disturbing to the driver. This either causes a tugging sensation in the steering wheel, or else the car veers from the intended path. As the torque steer effect is directly related to the engine torque capabilities, this problem becomes more and more evident with high output engines with strong torque in the low RPM range.

Some of you may not experience this problem if you do mostly casual driving, especially in the 2.0. Actually not sure if the 2.0 would ever really experience this problem. I experience this shifting in to 2nd and 3rd and a lot on some turns and whatnot.. just varies a lot. I'm not sure what I need to do to get this under control, but I can see it as being a pretty big problem in the future!

[SPOOM]

1. Use less throttle,

or

2. Countersteer.

[aebstract]

Use less throttle when I'm trying to push myself through turns and get back up to speed as quickly as possible? No thank you. I'm going to go under the assumption that you have never experienced this problem or if you have, it wasn't bad enough for you to really realize what is going on. It's not a 1 inch jerk, it can be bad enough to almost pull me in to the other lane at times. I'm not gonna say that I can't keep my car under control and that I can't completely prevent this from not staying high rpms, but that defeats the whole purpose. I know there has to be things that aid in fixing this issue. I'm sure wider tires would be a little bit of help, some sort of custom suspensions supports maybe.

[djtorello]

I too have severe torque steer in my SE-R. I have tried a few things including poly filling the mounts, and another engine brace. A nice set of grippy tires helped quite a bit. For those with the SpecV, best bet is the optional LSD. If you already have the LSD, grippy tires, and proper suspension geometery is really the only things you can do currently.

Only a few times have i had bump steer problems, and thats easy to eliminate. http://www.longacreracing.com/...ID=13

[aebstract]

I think I've had bump steer a few times, this isn't during very hard acceleration or real tight turning, right? Just cruising and it kind of jerks/shifts to the side a little? You said those are the only thing you can do currently, as in no one is making what needs to be made? I've got a complete machine shop with everything I could possibly need to build anything I want, feet from me every day. Let me know what we need and I won't hesitate to jump on it! I'm gonna have to check to see if I got the LSD in the package. I was unaware that it was an option with the Spec V and the dealer didn't mention it. Is there a way to visually tell if I have it installed or do I need to go lift it and see if both wheels spin? (I heard that is a way to tell if you have one or not)
Modified by aebstract at 4:02 PM 1/21/2010

[aebstract]

Still looking in to this, have found some more information. It seems to be an issue that can be fixed, or at the very least tamed down quite a bit better than it is right now. Still not sure about the LSD on my car.

Check this link out, has a lot of useful information on the issue:http://www.aa1car.com/library/torque_steer.htm

[djtorello]

lucky you. If i had a full machine shop near by, my fiance would have me slaving on parts for her car as well.

Have you ever did a burn out? Did 1 wheel spin, or both?

Bump steer is when you hit a bump at speed, and the car just pulls to one side hard. I usually get bump steer on these hwy's in NY, or some few times at barely maintained tracks.

Products that need to be made are solid and polyurethane motor mounts, A front strut mount stiffener, like a strut bar, a lower tie bar upgrade, etc....

Though the B16 aftermarket has started out slow, the car is quite good to start off with. However, as well start to push the platform, there will always be a need for a fix or an upgrade.

[aebstract]

"burnout" lolHow do I do one sitting still, if possible? Anyway I was gonna try it today after I got off work but its kind of wet out so it would f*** the results up. I'll try tomorrow morning or something. Whenever I do one though, I just go straight quite a bit while spinning. Can't keep myself still, I probably just don't know how lol. I've actually made a front strut bar for my car: and sold one:

That one had extra mounts. I didn't get to test it, but the one I made myself, I noticed results instantly leaving the shop. I've got a few things I've wanted to look into working on. I wanted to make my own cai, I was getting people telling me I would probably run in to MAF issues, but I don't see how I could if I keep the mounting the exact same. *shrug*I'll look in to some of those parts that you mentioned and see what I can do.

Oh and I got a buddy of mine that has helped me on some of this stuff including those bars, hes been going to school for machining and just got switched to the machining side of our shop, soon as he learns to run the cnc mills I'm going to be pumping out some lightweight flywheels and s***

[SPOOM]

Use less throttle when I'm trying to push myself through turns and get back up to speed as quickly as possible? No thank you. I'm going to go under the assumption that you have never experienced this problem or if you have, it wasn't bad enough for you to really realize what is going on. It's not a 1 inch jerk, it can be bad enough to almost pull me in to the other lane at times. I'm not gonna say that I can't keep my car under control and that I can't completely prevent this from not staying high rpms, but that defeats the whole purpose. I know there has to be things that aid in fixing this issue. I'm sure wider tires would be a little bit of help, some sort of custom suspensions supports maybe.

Your assumption would be completely wrong.

I built/owned a '92 FWD Talon TSi with an EVO III 16G @ 21 psi, Supra SMIC, 660s, 3" exhaust, (yada yada yada) with between 300 and 350 whp for the last 11 years. It was hard to avoid rolling burnouts all the way through 2nd gear (60+ mph), and 3rd gear rolling burnouts were possible in 3rd when the weather was cool. It trapped at 89 mph in the 1/8th and over 110 in the 1/4 on 93 octane. If I punched the gas and it hooked, it would literally jump into the next lane if you didn't have both hands on the wheel.

The torque steer on my new Spec V is incredibly mild in comparison. You can minimize torque steer with equal length halfshafts and a few other tricks, but you aren't going to eliminate it. Having said that, torque steer was always part of the excitement of driving a powerful FWD car. I suggest you embrace it as part of the driving experience.

Either way, good luck.
Modified by SPOOM at 6:38 PM 1/21/2010

[nametakennow]

Torque steer is a fact of life in FWD cars with even a moderate amount of power. Trick differentials (think QUAIFE) help, but aside from that, good tires, LSD, and motor mounts are the only significant cures. More front bracing (strut/sway bards) could help too.

[brilliantspecv]

for 2010 the lsd is part of an options package, if you have a sunroof and upgraded stereo then you have an lsd if you dont have a sunroof and upgraded stereo then you dont have lsd im not 100% sure that this is true for all pre 2010 b16's but i would imagine it is. otherwise if you can give me the trans code i can tell you if it has an lsd. Getting the lsd if you dont have one might be a little hard, nissans parts information system requires a vin to look up parts and if you use your vin the parts system will only show an open diff because putting in an lsd even though it was an option in other trim levels is still considered customization which nissan does not like, so if you need to buy one make sure to use the vin of a car that was originally equipped with lsd.

[djtorello]

the 2007 and 2008 had the LSD as a $400 option, regardless if you had sunroof or the audio package. I dont know the 2009 though.

[mmm240]

What ever happened to jacking the car up and finding out? You lazy fools. lol. That's one of the reasons I take a jack with me when I look at cars.

Turn one wheel, if the other turns the same way, you have an LSD.

And as stated already, torque steer is part of owning a FWD. Don't want it? Buy RWD. It doesn't bother me so much, and I'm putting out around 230-240 in a 2400lb B13. Man up!

[aebstract]

I'm not sure if you're used to driving mountains, fast, but I don't like the fact that something I CAN do something about could possibly f*** me up badly. Turns in mountains have dips, bumps, waves, etc. Come down in to a turn, down shift and get insane pull towards a rock wall, rail, or cliff is not cool.

[mmm240]

Then you are out driving the capabilities of your car. Is it set up for mountain driving? Do you understand what is required? You need a FULL performance suspension if you expect it to handle in a performance environment.

A "custom strut bar" ain't gonna cut it.

Remember you bought an economy car, just because it's a spec V doesn't make it a performance vehicle.

[aebstract]

Obviously I'm not trying to say that a strut bar takes a car to amazing performance omg leet s***. Dude, I ask for help on an issue and you just want to criticize me, why even come in, or comment at that? Obviously, I have plans of doing a lot to the car.. aka: making it more performance natured. When I ask for help on something, I am open to all suggestions, aftermarket parts, building parts, whatever it takes. Not stuck up responses that do me no good. Sorry for being a prick, I'm in a somewhat bad mood and you came in here giving me information that has more to do with me than the car.

[mmm240]

you came in here giving me information that has more to do with me than the car.

That's my point, YOU'RE pushing the car too hard. It's not built for what you want it to do. If you're serious you will upgrade everything. Start small start big, whatever. As you stated you noticed an improvement with your strut bar. Continue.

[aebstract]

Obviously I will be upgrading parts.. I noticed an improvement with the bar, yes. Did it do ANYTHING to help torque steer? NO

[VMPhil]

i was under the impression that LSD exacerbates (Sounds dirty) the problem of torque steer?

[nametakennow]

It depends on who you ask. From what I've noticed, it cuts out some of the general day-to-day torque steer, but that when you push it hard the onset of torque steer can be later, but more sudden with an LSD.

I find it difficult to imagine that the Spec puts out bad enough torque steer to actually push you out of control if you have a good grip on the wheel. I don't know anything about you, but if you don't have a lot of hand and arm strength, consider working out. Race drivers are athletes, after all.

Sticky tires are the best thing you can do for any car you regularly drive hard.

[mmm240]

i was under the impression that LSD exacerbates (Sounds dirty) the problem of torque steer?

http://www.yoostar.com/perform...=6324

Click the 'original' tab

[VMPhil]

http://www.yoostar.com/perform...=6324

Click the 'original' tab

i love that movie

[aebstract]

Did a burnout last night, no LSD