I've heard of this on FWD cars but have no idea what it means. What is it?

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1970 Chevy Custom El Camino (http://www.dreamelectric.com)
Originally was & will be Green Mist & Silver w/Green Vinyl Top (now black/black)
350ci/300HP 4bbl & Dual Exhaust
TH-350 - 2.73 Posi Rear - Factory PS, PDB, PW, Tilt, A/C & More
1987 Chevy Caprice Classic Landau Coupe (http://www.dreamelectric.com/caprice.html)
Other Restorations - 1967 Sears Custom 600 Tractor (http://www.dreamelectric.com/1967Sears.html)

When you hit the gas and the car changes lanes by itself hehe its quite fun

Yep...usually only happens from a dead stop, and nailing the gas. All the engines torque is applied to the wheels that steer the car, so when the engine "torques over" quickly, it pulls the car to one side...kinda cool, but ill leave it fo rthe wrong wheel drivers...

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Bryan T.
-66 sedan-'glass hood, fenders,trunklid and bumpers(will be hugger orange)
-355, 11.4:1, 250/256 @.050, .555/.560 lift, ported tfs heads(270 @.550), Super Victor, 825 Mighty Demon, ATI converter, 'glide, moser 12 bolt w/4.88's, 4 wheel discs,and NOS Big Shot
-87 K20 350 tbi, 3"body lift, 4" susp. lift, and 38" meats

That must be hell when it happens in the snow! The FWD might be better for traction in icy conditions, but not for control.

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1970 Chevy Custom El Camino (http://www.dreamelectric.com)
Originally was & will be Green Mist & Silver w/Green Vinyl Top (now black/black)
350ci/300HP 4bbl & Dual Exhaust
TH-350 - 2.73 Posi Rear - Factory PS, PDB, PW, Tilt, A/C & More
1987 Chevy Caprice Classic Landau Coupe (http://www.dreamelectric.com/caprice.html)
Other Restorations - 1967 Sears Custom 600 Tractor (http://www.dreamelectric.com/1967Sears.html)

I was bored so, the high tech answer is this:
For some of you guys this is basic, for others it may be info that will lead you to interesting places http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif
There is a thing called scrub radius. What this is is the arc that describes the path that the tire must follow when the steering system makes it pivot. With me so far? Picture it like this: Draw a line through the centers of both upper and lower ball joints (or straight down the strut, as nearly all FWD cars are MacPherson strut fronts). Where this line hits the ground it is the center of the turning radius of the tire as you steer. When you steer your car, the tire pivots around this point. Notice that the line through the ball joints does not go straight down perpendicular to the ground, but is angled towards the tire at the bottom. One of the things that this does is it minimizes the lever created by the arc that the tire must travel. If the lever is too long, then steering is difficult.
This lever is also one of the things that causes torque steer. The tire turns under the impetus of the engine, and "pries on the lever" created by the scrub radius, causing the steering wheel to wiggle under your hands, and the car to do some strange, sometimes unexpected things. Especially when you are driving something like an Omni or a Citation with one front tire on a patch of ice. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif
You won't often see deep dish wheels on a FWD car (other than in So Cal http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif) and definitely not from the factory, because they are trying to minimize torque steer by stuffing the front suspension into the front wheels.
Differing lengths in the distance from the differential to the tire from side to side also contribute to torqe steer. THat has to do with the torsional rigidity of the axles and other bits in there.
Hope that helps somebody http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

K


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64 2 Door 400SB/TH350
Chevello Page (http://users.rcn.com/chevello)
"You laugh because I am different. I laugh because you are all the same."
TC Member #1155