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From: msm@teddy.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: front wheel drive steering
Message-ID: <2134@teddy.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 20-Feb-86 15:03:09 EST
Article-I.D.: teddy.2134
Posted: Thu Feb 20 15:03:09 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 23-Feb-86 06:21:42 EST
References: <1127@ihlpa.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass.
Lines: 21

> Ok you net.auto fans, here's one for you.  I have only driven two
> front wheel drive cars,but noticed in both of them that they tend to
> drift to the right side of the road.  This is especially noticeable
> when accelerating.  Is this a phenomenom common to front wheel drive
> cars, or did I just get lucky to have two that were out of alignment
> in the same way?  Thanks in advance.
> 
> 					Addison
> 					ihnp4!ihlpa!ibyf
> 

Sound's like you are describing 'Torque-Steer' to me. This arises because
one wheel is closer to the engine than the other. The further wheel has a
longer shaft to get it's power from, and therefor develos more torque. This 
force imbalance will pull the car to one side when you boot it. The solution
is to put "half-shafts" into the drive train so that there is an equal length
of drive shaft leading to each side. My Dodge Daytona has this and even when 
I punch it (~150 hp) there is no pull whatsoever. The early Shelby Chargers, 
however, did not have this and were supposed to be real beasts to control.

                                                    MSM