[hikingmike]

I'm digging up this old thread since I had an odd situation with the torque-steer. I hit something with my front passenger wheel directly on at very low speed (the base of a light pole I was parked next to), and had alignment done and still thought I had something going on. Then after more driving I realized it was torque steer, but I hadn't noticed it like this before. It was strange because it seemed so obvious now, I thought for sure it was a big enough change to notice.

So I had it checked out again and alignment checked out spot on again and there is nothing at all wrong with the steering and suspension components, and they drove it and didn't notice anything strange. The service adviser of course mentioned the natural torque-steer and the slope of most roads. Well it's definitely good news nothing is wrong, and good to see others notice the torque-steer so it could be normal but it still seems a bit odd to me. I had been driving it for a week to make sure it was really something. Maybe I really was oblivious before? However I really notice it on acceleration, the more acceleration the more torque-steer. And at stops, it seems like I'm steering back and forth as I slow down and stop and then start going again. If I'm on a straight road going 55 and I let off the gas for a few seconds to slow down and hit it again, it drifts right. It's not bad but seems obvious to me and I don't remember it from before. Maybe I just compensated without thinking before and never noticed, and now I'm paying more attention and notice it. I would probably have to drive another xB to really know.

 

[hikingmike]

@hikingmike: I would bet it has always been there. Now that you hit something and were worried, you were paying extra attention to how it handled. Now that you noticed it, you can't unnotice it.

Son of a *****! I was afraid that might be it. The **** thing goes into the curb after a few seconds if I don't correct, ack. So obvious to me now. I hope I can forget with time. Might have to call the Men In Black.
Hey Chance - forget you ever saw this thread or it will happen to you too.

You want some torque steer, drive a Mini Cooper S model (turbo). It wants to pull the wheel out of your hands!

I actually drove my wife's Mini Cooper (non-S) while my car was at the dealer - which can still really dig in with the 6 gears - and didn't notice the torque-steer as much. It's like the wheel does get pulled a little here and there but it's not as predictable as my box. Maybe the non-S is different.

 

[hikingmike]

My 2010 5 speed has had a slight pull to the right ever since upgrading to 19" TRDs on the Proxes. When I had it in the alignment shop the owner told me I have a torque pull which is caused by the tires. He told me to swap the two front tires and see if the pullin goes away or switches sides.Sure enough I tried it and went away. So I just ignore it. Only notice it when takin off from a light in 1st pretty hard. Also the slightest slope in the road causes my front end to drift that way. The slightest ruts pull on the steering wheel.

Well that's interesting because I also just got my 15,000 mile service and tire rotation. I thought there was a chance that had something to do with it but didn't think it would be torque-steer. I figured if that did something to cause drift, it would be consistent steering to one side even at constant speed if that was the cause, and that's not the problem I have.

 

[hikingmike]

Coincidentally, I just bought my daughter a non-S Cooper last night (2008) with a manual trans and it doesn't have any torque-steer. My wife has a Clubman S with an automatic transmission with lots of torque-steer. I doubt the auto vs. manual has much to do with it, so I assume it's the extra power.

Ha. Ok good to know.

By the way, forgot to mention that my torque-steer I notice even with keeping the wheel steady in one spot - so if I am on a straight road going a constant speed, then accelerate while holding the wheel straight still, the car goes right pretty obviously. That is definitely not the road slope then of course but I don't know what that says beyond that.

@2010SWxb That's interesting and a good test to see if the tires were affecting things. I may have to do that to test as well, but of course move it back after. I'm starting a long driving trip next week to Yellowstone though so won't be checking for a while. I guess you don't have directional tires then because if so switching sides is a nono. The bolts you tightened is good to know. I'm pleasantly surprised that is in the manual.

Anyhoo I guess I'll just consider it the torque-steer that was always there and I'm just not noticing it since I paid close attention, and maybe the tire rotation had a slight effect also. Next time they're rotated I'll check again, lol, or I'll temporarily swap front tires as a test like 2010SWxb.

 

[hikingmike]

Interesting, thanks for letting me know. Well you'd think the best thing to fix it would be to actually alter the drive axles to match - maybe make the longer one thicker or something so it can't twist as much.

Well after reading the wiki page, it can really be caused from a lot of different things
Torque steering - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I still get the feeling it didn't do this before, so now I'm leaning toward thinking the tire rotation which happened at the same time had some effect. I will wait and see what I notice over time. I'm going to drive around 3000 miles in the next couple weeks and maybe that will do something

 

[hikingmike]

Definitely some mixed thoughts about the torque dampers on scionlife and clubxb

Engine Torque Dampers - Scion xB Suspension & Chasis Modification - Scion xB Forum

Torque Dampers are they worth it? - Scionlife.com

(sorry wish I could edit my previous)