A quick question.. I have an '03 CL-S, 6 speed. Bone stock with 4K miles on it. I have noticed that it wants to drift left. The tendency is slight, but it is there. I originally thought it was an alignment issue, but recently realized that it only happens under power. In other words, it tracks perfectly straight if coasting in Neutral.

Is this a design issue inherent with the CL-6 speeds?

Any help would be appreciated.

Tom

 

FWD torque steer.

 

Thanks for the reply...

I realize what it is, but I have never owned a car that could not track straight on the highway (at steady speedy) due to torque steer. Are you saying that this is normal for all CL-S-6's? I would expect this under heavy acceleration, but not in constant speed situations.

 

Make sure the road you're driving on isn't "crowned".

 

I have "tested" it on almost every road I drive on, and it is definitely road independent.

 

Have you hit something, perhaps denting the rim? Any vibrations while driving?

 

No.. and it has been like this from day 1. I just called the dealer and he said that people have mentioned torque steer under acceleration, but not on the highway like I am noting. He's going to take a look at the alignment, so we'll see what he comes up with. I do not expect him to find an alignment problem (since it track perfect while not in gear), but we'll see.

 

No, what your saying isnt the case for all 6 speeds. Yes they all suffer torque steer cause of the fwd setup, but i only get it under heavy acceleration around a corner. You can also feel the limited slip kick in, which sometimes feels like its gonna ripp the steering wheel outta your hand.

 

Thanks, that is what I wanted to hear. Now we'll see what the dealer comes up with.

 

Interesting enough, my CL seems to pull to the Right a bit. I never thought about FWD torque steer. Is there anything to that can be done about it?

 

Mine is always pulling to right...very annoying. I've owned the car for about a year and even after two alignments...the pull is present. Not sure what it is.

Another related issue is that if you are slowing down to a stop (ex. 30mph to 0mph) while centering steering wheel and then letting go of it....by around 10mph, the steering wheel turns on is on about 30 degrees to the right. I almost always have to have both hands on the wheel when I stop.

 

If the wheel is slightly turned during acceleration you can feel the HLSD working and potentially pulling into the turn some. If it is present in a single direction regardless of wheel angle including straight it is something else and you may want to look into it.

The torque steer on this car is minimal to non-existent. I was testing this the other day and even with the supercharger at full steam and wheels hopping I was tracking straight when I started straight.

 

Totally. It's hardly an issue with this car. Hitting the gas in a corner tightens the line instead of causing understeer like an open diff equiped front driver will do but that's not really torque steer. I think the FWD/LSD combo in this car is amazing. Makes me wonder why they changed it on the TL. Oh to get back on topic, Have you checked the tire pressures? A difference right to left could cause some pulling.

 

Thanks for posting this question. I get the exact same thing with my 01 CL SA.