Torque Steer? I don't think so.

[diddly]

I've got a '99 4-cyl. automatic, 93K miles. Just had the front struts and mounts replaced. While it was in the shop, I told them to align the front end as well, since I also had just installed a brand new set of tires. When I picked up the car, I noticed that it pulled to the right moderately. I had the mechanic check it out again: He found that it only pulls when the car is under acceleration (which he is correct about). He also noticed that the whole engine rose up and twisted (toward the driver side) when he put it in gear, one foot on brake and gassed it. The steering wheel would also turn clockwise, 'all by itself'. He suggested that I replace the 'dogbone' engine mount and the front mount (at the bottom of the radiator) and that should take care of it. So I did that, BUT; the problem still exists. I can't tell that there is any difference at all. The old parts were bad, so it wasn't a waste of $$, but I would like to know what is going on with this car: Any ideas? Could this be a problem with the front differential? Is it torque steer? (It happens under very gentle acceleration, as well as hard acceleration.) Any ideas would be appreciated...thanks!

[73sport]

Hello and welcome - -

Interesting questions. . .
Most all cars have some degree of torque steer. Most people compensate and really don't even realize they do so.

Example: On a straight, flat, level, un-grooved highway drive the car holding the wheel dead steady going strainght ahead at a cruising speed. Let off the gas ever so slightly and it drifts a little left. Apply gas to return to cruise and it goes ever so slightly to the right. Most of people just correct for it until it becomes excessive.

Loose steering parts exasperate this condition. Example and case in point is my 95 w/220,000 miles on it. The replacement inner tie rod ends have noticeable free play in them such that I can rock both front wheel a small amount by grabbing the tire at 9-O'clock & 3-O'clock and feel and see the wheel move. With Zero toe it drives fine on a flat un-groved road. If I stand on the gas it darts. Mostly right but depending on the groves worn in the road can go left.

Other worn components like lower ball joints, lower A-arm bushings, and the rack mount itself can if loose, add to the torque steer condition.

Someone else needs to chime in but front wheel drives cars with higher output typically have equal length drive shafts to reduce this as it distributes the power more evenly to both drive axles (not sure if yours is or not?).

I will say that tire air pressure and tire quality play a role in this also. Try playing with the air pressure and see if that helps. 30-33 rear, 36 to 38 front. Read the glove box data and try those recommendations too!

I doubt the motor mounts would play too much of roll in this unless accelerating real hard.

Did it do this before?

Enjoy the forum,
73

[diddly]

Thanks for the reply: I'm not sure what to think just yet. I don't remember the car doing it before hand, but I changed the tires very soon after buying the car, because the tires on the car were total junk and like I mentioned, I was putting my 16 year old daughter in the car: I didn't want her driving on those old tires at all!
I thought it might be a clue that the the steering wheel turns itself, right here on my driveway, when all I do is put it in drive, left foot on brake, right foot on gas and give it some juice: The steering wheel turns like I'm heading into a right turn. It's just what the mechanic described to me.
If I'm cruising down the street and I let my foot off the gas pedal; that car tracks straight as an arrow. Touch the gas, and a right we will go. It's not drastic, but it's what I would call moderate. The stronger the acceleration, the harder it goes right. (I'm pretty sure anyway.) It's definitely more than subtle: It's annoying!
The tire pressures are set dead on what Toyota calls for; 30 psi all around.

[73sport]

Originally Posted by diddly

Thanks for the reply:
I thought it might be a clue that the the steering wheel turns itself, right here on my driveway, when all I do is put it in drive, left foot on brake, right foot on gas and give it some juice: The steering wheel turns like I'm heading into a right turn. It's just what the mechanic described to me.

Now that sounds like the spool valve inside the rack has an internal leak but even that might be jumping to conclusions.

This is important: does it slowly keep creeping until its turned all the way right or does it just turn a little and stop?

Find a polished garage floor and let it do its thing. If it steers on its own purely by revving the engine the rack is bad and needs to be replaced. This one rates as "unsafe to drive" as it could but unlikely have a catastrophic failure and just power the rack to the right so park it and fix it before it causes an accident.

It seems a little early age and miles wise for such a thing, but these things do happen.

Ask if you have more questions. Use the Search function first tho!

Regards,
73