Do AWD cars have torque steer?

[RevolveR]

My car (S60R) is meant to be AWD but I get torque steer if I put my foot down. Are all AWD cars like this e.g. VW 4Motion or Audi Quattro systems? Would something like an Evo or Imprezza be better?

[jon-]

At a pure guess, you've a front bias AWD system which only sends chunks of power to the rear when there's front slip.

Something like a scoob, with a better split of torque would likely be better, yes.

I'm sure someone who knows what they're talking about will come along soon and answer.

[TheHeretic]

I thought torque steer was due to different length diff shafts? If so, then I can see how they could.

[Watchman]

I don't get it from my 3-litre Subaru Legacy. I never had it with my Cavalier GSi 4X4 either, but that didn't really have a lot of grunt.

I've only ever felt it with one of those little Suzuki "jeeps" but it was largely cured by correct tracking.

[John145]

You cannot determine the level of torque steer from simply looking at the powertrain layout. Best advice would be to talk to people who've driven the cars you're interested in and see what they think.

[Dave Hedgehog]

depends on the car i guess, never had it on my 2 scoobys (poth PPP Sti's) or my evo VI, a6 quattro would spin a front wheel if you gave it full boot whilst turning, B8 RS4 no chance of upsetting a front wheel

[schmalex]

Never had torque steer on my B7 S4

[Zwolf]

You shouldn't in a healthy S60 R and I never did when we had them around as new cars and demos.

I'd have a garage check the viscous coupling at the rear axle out to see if any drive is actually making it out as they do sometimes have a penchant for losing drive to the rear axle, which only gets noticed when temperatures drop, pre-2006MY XC70/90s are similarly afflicted and we saw quite a few FWD cars coming back in after 5 yrs/80k+ miles.

[Steffan]

Torque steer is essentially the reaction of transmission to the power output (torque) of the engine. Very noticeable in my 1800cc K series Classic Mini Cooper. Undriveable on full power. Wheel spin is so severe with deadly torque steer I shall have to fit a LSD.

Most AWD cars will be pretty unaffected. However badly maintained or specified cars might have the characteristic. Most AWD cars like my Freelander are largely unaffected but in extreme conditions or very icy weather it could happen. But unlikely.

[Alex]

There is drive going through the front wheels so torquesteer is possible. In my Impreza when it's slippery and I put my foot down I can feel the front wheels struggling for grip momentarily before the diff sends the power to the rear.

[JM5]

I never experienced torque steer in my STI.

[Steffan]

doogz said:

What does wheelspin have to do with torque steer?

Using the Wikpedia definition:

"Torque steering is the influence of engine torque on the steering, especially in front-wheel drive vehicles. For example, during heavy acceleration the steering may pull to one side, which may be disturbing to the driver. The effect is manifested either as a tugging sensation in the steering wheel, or a veering of the vehicle from the intended path. Torque steer is directly related to differences in the forces in the contact patches of the left and right drive wheels. The effect becomes more evident when high torques are applied to the drive wheels either because of low transmission gearing, high engine torque, or some combination of the two. Torque steering is distinct from steering kickback."

The sentence "Torque steer is directly related to differences in the forces in the contact patches of the left and right drive wheels." highlights the connection for me, The spinning wheels directly affect the contact.

[kambites]

TheHeretic said:

I thought torque steer was due to different length diff shafts? If so, then I can see how they could.

Generally speaking longitudinally engined cars wont have it, transverse engined ones will.

[Alex]

doogz said:

That is not torque steer.

Depends how you define it. I can feel it through steering wheel so it's having a slight steering effect.

If you define torquesteer as "pulls violently to the right or left", then no, my Scooby does not have torquesteer.

[Alex]

kambites said:

Generally speaking longitudinally engined cars wont have it, transverse engined ones will.

Have you ever driven an Alfasud?

[kambites]

Alex said:

kambites said:

Generally speaking longitudinally engined cars wont have it, transverse engined ones will.

Have you ever driven an Alfasud?

No, actually. Why?

[Alex]

kambites said:

No, actually. Why?

FWD, Longitudinal engine, even-length driveshafts, torquesteer like a bd. Still great to drive though.

[kambites]

Alex said:

kambites said:

No, actually. Why?

FWD, Longitudinal engine, even-length driveshafts, torquesteer like a bd. Still great to drive though.

Curious; I wonder why. Something must be asymmetric to cause the unequal loading.

[Alex]

kambites said:

Curious; I wonder why. Something must be asymmetric to cause the unequal loading.

Well a knowledgable Alfa specialist that I used to know said it could be cured by a modification to the REAR suspension, but he would never tell me what it was!

[kambites]

Has anyone ever been able to detect torque steer in a RWD car? Presumably it's theoretically there in things with transverse rear engined layouts like the Elise, I'm intrigued as to whether anyone can feel it.