Topic: Right pull under acceleration

[mmret]

The TSX seems to be pulling right under acceleration. This is most obvious in the snow, because the wheels slip.
Once you get slippage there is a very drastic pull, but as long as there is lateral grip, all is well.

I literally have to turn the wheel 30 or 45 degrees left to compensate. Is this expected (FWD thing?) or is something horribly broken?

[Mike]

The TSX seems to be pulling right under acceleration. This is most obvious in the snow, because the wheels slip.
Once you get slippage there is a very drastic pull, but as long as there is lateral grip, all is well.

I literally have to turn the wheel 30 or 45 degrees left to compensate. Is this expected (FWD thing?) or is something horribly broken?

That my friend is torque steer.  The right wheel is getting less resistance and is spinning more freely which is pulling the car to the right.  Nothing broken.

Most FWD cars are set up to allow the right wheel to spin more freely so if extreme torque steer does occur you are more likely to drive into a curb/ditch rather than an oncoming car.

[Jaeger]

Has it always done this, or just all of a sudden?

Jaeger

[quadzilla]

That my friend is torque steer.

False, his car is made by Honda. 

Seriously though....Beside it being FWD, is it caused by having unequal lengths for the drive shaft or something like that?

[blur911]

Most FWD cars are set up to allow the right wheel to spin more freely so if extreme torque steer does occur you are more likely to drive into a curb/ditch rather than an oncoming car.

What?
How is this accomplished in RHD cars with the same drivetrain?

Sounds like car manufacturer spin, "It's not a bug, it's a feature". 

[Mike]

Most FWD cars are set up to allow the right wheel to spin more freely so if extreme torque steer does occur you are more likely to drive into a curb/ditch rather than an oncoming car.

What?
How is this accomplished in RHD cars with the same drivetrain?

Sounds like car manufacturer spin, "It's not a bug, it's a feature". 

I would assume it is in the differential.  Not hard to change that market specific

[safristi]

a 25cent test...................check the Air pressures in ALL the tyres...not Tires 'cos they suck.... ..ohh and while yer at it the tread wear too................they didn't vote me "most likely to burn rubber" fer nothing...........

[blur911]

Most FWD cars are set up to allow the right wheel to spin more freely so if extreme torque steer does occur you are more likely to drive into a curb/ditch rather than an oncoming car.

What?
How is this accomplished in RHD cars with the same drivetrain?

Sounds like car manufacturer spin, "It's not a bug, it's a feature". 

I would assume it is in the differential.  Not hard to change that market specific

AFAIK it's because of differing length axles as Quadzilla mentioned.  Never heard that they tune differentials which would imply that more torque is always sent to one side.
No torque steer in my Audis or my Subaru as they have a symmetrical layout, but I had a Probe GT with a transverse engine and different length axles and it was horrible.

If this problem just popped up recently in the TSX in question I'd check tie-rods, ball-joints and suspension bushings to see if something is moving or out of alignment.

[mmret]

Ah I had suspected something about an asymmetric drivetrain design.

Its been a while I believe. At least last winter this was the same. However I don't recall it being this bad in previous years....perhaps my tires were better then.

Next time, RWD or RWD based AWD.

[Danno001]

30 - 45 degree steering correction tells me something is not right with the suspension or driveline. I would have it checked before a 90 degree correction does not help you steer straight.

[Art]

Another possibility is that both front drive wheels have lost traction and are spinning.  When this happens the front of the car will move to the side, and with the road crowning this is often to the right, toward the curb.  Tire wear or a heavier foot or more slippery conditions since last year can cause the problem.  The immediate response is to get out of the throttle and ease back into the throttle more gently, steering correction is the secondary correction.

RWD cars will also exhibit this problem.

Good luck.

[mmret]

Yes, its only when the road is snow covered and I can break grip easily. The car barely moves forwards but moves rightwards pretty drastically.

Oddly enough the left front has less tread.

Car did have an accident and I'm pretty sure this didn't happen before when the car was new. So maybe that's it. Oh well, car's going to be gone soon enough.

[Mike]

Yes, its only when the road is snow covered and I can break grip easily. The car barely moves forwards but moves rightwards pretty drastically.

Oddly enough the left front has less tread.

Car did have an accident and I'm pretty sure this didn't happen before when the car was new. So maybe that's it. Oh well, car's going to be gone soon enough.

How many 'Hammy' threads should we expect? 

[blur911]

Yes, its only when the road is snow covered and I can break grip easily. The car barely moves forwards but moves rightwards pretty drastically.

Oddly enough the left front has less tread.

Car did have an accident and I'm pretty sure this didn't happen before when the car was new. So maybe that's it. Oh well, car's going to be gone soon enough.

Oh, ok, whatever it is, it isn't really torque steer.  It sounds like normal car behavior like Art said.

[Schmengie]

Pulls right, huh? Gotta be Harper's fault...

[mmret]

Yes, its only when the road is snow covered and I can break grip easily. The car barely moves forwards but moves rightwards pretty drastically.

Oddly enough the left front has less tread.

Car did have an accident and I'm pretty sure this didn't happen before when the car was new. So maybe that's it. Oh well, car's going to be gone soon enough.

How many 'Hammy' threads should we expect? 

[Vmango]

Lack of a limited slip? one wheel spinning one not?

[Mike]

Yes, its only when the road is snow covered and I can break grip easily. The car barely moves forwards but moves rightwards pretty drastically.

Oddly enough the left front has less tread.

Car did have an accident and I'm pretty sure this didn't happen before when the car was new. So maybe that's it. Oh well, car's going to be gone soon enough.

How many 'Hammy' threads should we expect? 

when you start searching for a new car

[Railton]

Pulls right, huh? Gotta be Harper's fault...

Railton

[Juke1]

What!!! How often have we talked about this on an Altima circa 05-06 and the terrible fault it was, but an Acura!!!!! No way