I have a 2001 w/ 33,000 miles on her. I can't figure out if I am imagining this or not. Have any of you noticed if under hard acceleration that when you shift the car kicks to the right? There are no noises or rattles associated w/ it. The wheels are tight and it has had an alignment in the last 8 months. Do any of you guys have any ideas?

Thanks,
Charles

 

I had this same thing happen when one of my tires was going flat. This is what made me stop and check the pressure. Only to find that is was 20lbs. So now that I know this, I check the pressure if I feel anything like this. Normally I can feel a 1-2lbs differance under hard acceleration.

 

i thought only front wheel drive cars torque steered. The 255 hp nissan maxima being the worst one i have experienced as far as torque steer. (otherwise, great car! )

 

I'm not sure if I would call this torque steer...

To answer your question I would check tire pressures first and see if it still happens. The other thing that quickly comes to my mind is the crown of the road, often they slope downward from the center out.

 

tire pressure differences
out of alignment
most likely the road is weird.
it will happen under braking too.

 

What s2kpdx01 said, as well as tire wear differences. I had a nearly bald inside 1/2" or so on my right tire that you couldn't tell was different than the left tire until you compared them side by side. The car skittered all over in between 1st and 2nd or if I broke the tires loose any other time (while driving in a straight line).

 

Was it raining? Your rear tires could have lost traction for a moment and slid to the left, pointing the front of your car to the right.

 

Ditto! My drivers rear tire was at 19PSI with a 5" screw stuck in it. Everytime I stepped on the gas, the car would steer to the left. If I let off the gas, it would pull to the right.

 

i guess you've never driven a SAAB 93... now THAT car has serious torque steer...

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by VTEC_Junkie
[B]

i guess you've never driven a SAAB 93...