How to Get Rid of Torque Steer

Torque steer can make driving a FWD car both frustrating and, on occasion, frightening. I can remember a car back in the eighties that actually jumped onto the shoulder of the road whenever the accelerator was pressed hard. Fast cars are not fun if they don’t go where they are pointed. Torque steer can be eased or eliminated in one of three ways:

Drive Shaft Replacement

Most cars are designed to make Torque Steer invisible to the driver. When you have been driving for a while you may notice that Torque Steer begins to become more noticeable. GM engineers discovered early on that Torque Steer could be ameliorated by providing a means for the axle to change its’ length as the wheel moved up and down and rotated about the steering axis. On your car the inner CV joint is designed to perform that function but, when the lubrication begins to dry up, will bind and cause the unrelieved forces to be expressed through the steering. Rebuilt axles are very cheap and easily installed.

Anti-Roll Bar Adjustment

Almost all modern cars are fitted with an anti-roll bar (sometimes called a sway bar). Its’ chief purpose is to transfer force from the outside tire to the inside tire during cornering, resulting in less body roll and a more even distribution of forces on the tires. If the bar is modified with adjustable end links, which are available at any speed parts establishment, it can be biased slightly in one direction or the other to compensate for the turning tendency which is the real-world manifestation of torque steer.

Wheel Alignment

Wheel alignment in most modern cars is biased to the left to compensate for the crown in the road, which tends to pull the car slightly to the right. Torque steer, in most cars, pulls in the same direction. Asking the alignment tech to add a little more (a very little) can virtually eliminate the sensation of Torque Steer without causing any harm other than a slight increase in the wear rate of the tires (and if you rotate them properly, that won’t be a problem).

So, you can see that you are not doomed to tolerate Torque Steer. Making your car go straight has to do with more than holding the wheel firmly. A few simple steps can make your driving a lot more pleasant and even a little safer.