Don't you get better traction on a front wheel drive car then a rear wheel drive car since the weight of the car is heavier up front where the engine is?
Whats this torque steer issue with cars with too much power should be rear wheel drive. Either way the tires spin even more so I would think in the rear where its lighter.

Drove my car today in the rain. From a stop sign tap the gas abruptly up to around 2000 rpm's, and the brand new RSA's spin, and spin until I let off the gas some. (Ridiculous no traction at all on brand new tread from my recall. Your right.)

 

fwd is trying to move the car and steer. that makes it inferior in handling to rwd. doesn't matter where the weight is located so much, especially since cars are closer to 50/50. plus weight shifts back when accelerating. you can feel the front lifting if you launch hard enough.

RSAs are terrible traction wise. even worse in wet conditions.

 

All new tires have mold release chemicals on them that take a few hundred miles to wear off before you get full traction.

Any wet or damp street will make it much easier to spin your wheels. front or back.

The 04 Max is producing in excess of 200 ft/lbs of torque at 2000 RPM.

Any of these factors make it easy to spin your tires no matter what brand.

 

Unequal length shafts (CV axles) is partly if not mot importantly responsible for that. GM seems to have the secret, but they don't share it, or of they do, no one follows.

 

Really? In what vehicles?

 

Doesn't the new Altima have the new setup that has eliminated the torque steer?

 

I think you're right. Most new FWD dont have as much if any torque steer. I know my brother 07 v6 camry doesnt torque steer at all.

 

Maybe he doesn't have enough torque

 

 

this is a little off topic but i think i would prefer a a rwd. i had a lil problem yesterday with my car spinning out on me on this curve on the highway (thank god nothing happened to me or the car). I lost grip in the back and basically spun out, doubt that would have happened with a rwd.

 

Yeah, my GF has an '06 camry and it's not exactly a ball buster. LOL. Great car though.

 

...................................LOL, you bad...

 

I've taken some pretty good 50-70mph curves and my car sticks like rails, maybe you should consider some suspension/tire upgrades...

 

You can spin out anything if you try hard enough. Weight distribution has more to do with that than location of the driven wheels. As does suspension setup etc. If you enter a turn sharply and hit the brakes you will break the rear end loose no matter what you are driving. A rear engine Porsche will do 360's if you do that. Esp the old ones. You always want to brake coming up to the turn then go through it slightly on the gas to plant the rear tires and get ready for accelerating once you are out of the turn. The not hitting the brakes in the middle of the turn is more of a safety thing than a racing technique. On a wet road it can save your butt.

 

 

true but being young, reckless, and speedy gonzalez i decided to go against a mustang right after it rained since i thought the car could handle that turn but guess i was very very wrong.

ya i was thinking about that when i spun out like damn i should have bought those springs from you, they could have helped. but i decided just to save my money up for coilovers.

 

WTF wet roads?

 

ya i know

 

LOL, I know that's just a joke. those cars have about as much torque as our Max's though, according to factory spec sheets.

 

Just hit the throttle when it's little damp in curve with RWD, let me know how many times you spin around

 

Can you show specs of the 4cyl version?

 

2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve
VVT-i 4-cylinder
158 hp @ 6000 rpm/
161 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

But why?

 

Just don't tell me that You don't wish Your maxima would be RWD.

About hitting throttle: TCS will help You in both situations RWD and FWD, putting TCS aside - You wouldn't want to hit throttle in FWD either - You'll be going straight regardless where You turn Your wheels, or I'm wrong?

Lots of people says that FWD is better in a snow - I partially agree, BUT if you lost traction in FWD- bye, bye - You have on control till the car slows down and your front tires start to grip. in RWD with a little knowledge and driving skills You can regain traction.

Just my 2c.

P.S. If they made M35 - 6speed - I wouldn't be driving maxima.

 

Tire size and suspension setup, but not on all GM cars. The Impala SS has massive torque steer, but the Gran Prix GXP has much less on the same platform/engine. Read it in a car mag, plus these are among my other regular rental cars.

 

TCS doesn't help if both wheels drive wheels lost control and spinning euqally, regardless of FWD or RWD.

I've spun out in a RWD w/ TCS on in the rain, and I wasn't going fast either. Dynamic control is the way to go in wet/snow.

 

TCS works by retarding the timing, according to Tadashi at TS.

 

He's wrong.

 

While TCS on, the ECU does retard the timing for less initial torque. It does not adjust the timing after the wheel/wheels slip. It uses either brakes or throttle to control wheels after slip is detected

 

No timing.

Fuel/Brakes/Throttle

 

I believe in our cars when slip is detected, only the throttle is cut right?

 

Hmm, take a look at my post, it's from the FSM.

 

Sorry, I will tell you "I don't wish my Maxima was RWD" In the rain or in the snow I prefer the superior traction of FWD. But I do wish my Maxima FWD was a LSD

 

i don't think so from times when i would just do a churp and the slip alert would come up my throttle is still high till it gets grip again

 

I guess no one read my post?

 

I read your post. =)

to bdmax, you definitely get a loss of power right after the tires chirp though, you can really feel it up till about 3500rpms is where the power starts to come back. knowing how to launch it without the traction control could give you better results in terms of hard acceleration.

 

Timing is also pulled out so detenation does not occur. Nissan would not cut fuel without cutting back on timing.

 

I still want to know if its possible to get TCS after the fact. My Maxima didn't come with it, only feature I really wish it had... Seems like I could just swap out the ECU...

 

And add a switch/wiring/fuse?

OR, how about you use your foot+common sense .02

 

ECU+Key+dealer reprogramming key + add switches @ dash.

 

How much do dealers usually charge for the reprogram?

Do I have to buy a new key? I am seeing some used ECUs on eBay for $130 or so.