Torque steer

[The d Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close The d]

Hey guys,

I just picked up my 150 series second hand. Drives beautifully. But I have noticed that when cruising if I accelerate it slightly wanders to the right then when I back off the accelerator it drifts back to the left.

Are there any common causes or fixes to this solution.
My GX has 107,000km 2012 model.

Thanks.

[SWR Banned Find all posts View Profile Close SWR]

Gday The d

I have noticed that when cruising if I accelerate it slightly wanders to the right then when I back off the accelerator it drifts back to the left.

#1 Make sure both tyres are the same brand and both evenly worn EG: Both tyres worn the same and not one at 10% worn and other 20-30% worn).... Will cause torque steer and wined the diff up!

#2 both tyres have the same tyre pressures.

#3 Wheel alignment would be the third approach of attack to make sure caster is correct (Keeps vehicle in straight line as well as compensates the camber of the road) and wheel camber keeps the vehicle on road when going into corners & toe is for wheel inclination on excel and de-cell)... Front suspension is independent and not a live axle. EG: Back axle is live.

ALSO! If back axle control arm bushes are worn this can cause the back axle to torque steer the rear end of vehicle out which can cause back end to kick out when under excel or de-cell.

Without getting too technical too fast check tyres/Pressures & then wheel alignment and if still not cured then investigate bushes!

[The d Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close The d]

Hey SWR,

Thanks for the quick reply, it doesn't feel as harsh as worn rear end bushes, but I will get the wheel alignment done tomorrow.
Jut wanted to see if there were any common toyota issues in regards to it. I did a quick search and couldn't see too much info on steering issues.

[SWR Banned Find all posts View Profile Close SWR]

Yo The d

Jut wanted to see if there were any common toyota issues in regards to it.

The prado's are pretty good when it comes to torque steer but will start to feel "ODD" if the basics are allowed to stray!! ...

[Ben2000 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ben2000]

I've felt this in my car from new, (therefore brand new busings, tyres and balanced pressures) recently I had extra caster put on and it's still the same, I'm putting it down to the nature of the tyres. keen to see if you get to the bottom of this.

[The d Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close The d]

So I got my wheel alignment done. Still exactly the same.
I wonder if this is a characteristic of the vehicle?

[leethal1 Member Find all posts View Profile Close leethal1]

It's not normal for the car. I would be looking at the rear drivers side suspension bushes and checking that they are all tight And there is no signs of wear. If that fails follow your car and see if it is driving straight(not crabbing)
it has not been in any major accidents?

[The d Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close The d]

When it was up on the list I checked over the whole undercarriage and looked straight as, bushes were all tight and not worn.
The wheel aligner ran his spanner over all the bolts on the front and rear suspension for me.
I'm stumped!

[SWR Banned Find all posts View Profile Close SWR]

Gday The d

I am not convinced that your mechanic has checked the suspension bushes properly?

Looking at them and running a spanner over them is not the proper way to check for worn bushes?

A pry bar needs to be used physically on the bushes to see if they are ripped/torn or worn!

ALSO! is the rig stock out of the box or does it have add-ons?.. If so what are they?

Is the suspension upgraded or stock?

Is there any leaking shock absorbers or front strutts?

Note: If heavy extras are added to stock suspension it can make the vehicle a bit of a sloth going into corners etc and be a bit awkward recovering from pot-holes if worn shock absorbers/ Strutts and tends to have a heavy listing when going into corners which in turn changes all the characteristics of the suspension geometry and can be anything but a comfortable experience!

Make sure that the front upper/Lower wishbone bushes was checked (with a pry bar) then get your rear upper/Lower control arm bushes checked (With a pry bar) and also check the rear Panhard rod bushes (With a pry bar).

Also! Just for the hell of it (Shouldn't need doing if wheel alignment was done properly as it would have picked it up) but measure from the front wheel rim (Passenger side) to the rear wheel rim and write down the measurement!

Then do exactly the same procedure on the drivers side and you should get the same numbers or extremely close!

If not then you might have a bent sway bar or rear control arm but i still suspect bushes or weak shock absorbers!

If there is weak shock absorbers/bushes or bent component a suspension expert will fined it!

[The d Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close The d]

Hey SWR

Thanks for your help. The car is stock as a rock. Not accessories at all.
A panhard rod sounds like the symptoms Im Getting, I think I will check it out when I fit the towbar today!