I'm a newbie here, so forgive me if this is a dumb question.
When I drive the 02 SE and accelerate quickly, I notice the front of the car moves wildly- not always completely in a straight line.
Someone told me this is called torque steer, and results from the impressive power of the engine & front-wheel drive.
Is this a correct explanation? Is this just something the driver needs to put up with in exchange for vast power?

thanks for any insight!

 

Yes - it is an inherent problem of front wheel drive. That's why Audi invented Quattro - they determined that 200hp was the practical limit for f**ked wheel drive. You can mitigate the torque steer somewhat by making sure the toe-in is definitely in, not 0. A front strut brace helps too, as does making sure the tire pressures are exactly equal side-to-side.

 

You got it. That is why you may notice that most vehicles with more HP than the 02 max for example are either rwd or awd.

 

There is definately torque steer, worse when turning or on a bumpy or uneaven road but I would not call it "wildly"??

 

i get it all the time in my car.. cept wat happens is that the steering wheel turns and locks in the fwd position and my 6 speed max sometimes tends to drift a little to the left if itz just me driving

 

I have alot of it too, and I think that the 02 is a bit on the extreme side of it at least mine is with my driving.

 

I notice it a lot more than my 2k1 5 speed.

 

I agree, more than my 97. Guess more power, more torque = more torque steer.

 

You need LSD!!!!

I test drove one new Max without it before getting mine. A huge difference. I still get a little, but nothing like the one I drive without it. HLSD is the way to go.

 

well having 280 torque at crank will sure do this....

 

Who has 280 at the crank?

 

all of the 2k2s that have been dynoed show that there is way more than 246 at the crank, I don't know about 280 but definitly more than 246

 

Now that I think about it, even though I have not seen any dynos on stock 2k2's that sounds like something Nissan would do for marketing purposes. I mean they have the same engine, more or less in 4 different vehicles (without even considering Infiniti), with torque ratings all over the place. It would hurt them to show the public that one of their sedans has almost the rating as their sports car!