Helping a young friend with her car, just basic oil changes etc. and noticed it really wanders around while accelerating and decelerating. So we've got a couple of new tyres on the front, had a wheel alignment done. Problem not resolved. Where to look next! Cheers for the help.
2004 Ford Mondeo. Auto. (blue) cos I know someone will ask.
mrfxit,
Aug 18, 12:42am
Does it have a factory steering damper Sticking brake caliper or blocked hose. Alignment can do some strange things to steering, how positive are you it was set to factory settings How good are all the suspension joints, have they been checked SPECIFICALLY (wheel aligners are famous for missing worn bits)
bellky,
Aug 18, 12:44am
Isn't that what fwd cars do.
splinter67,
Aug 18, 12:50am
If you'd actually driven a front wheel drive car you would know dud
mugenb20b,
Aug 18, 12:56am
No bellky, not any more. You see, modern FWD cars have equal length driveshafts to prevent torque steer.
mrfxit,
Aug 18, 12:56am
^ ^ (std statement as expected from a Jim Henson tv show creation) ^ ^
OMG . just a tad simplistic ;-) .lol Yes all fwd cars torque steer to some degree but 99% of ppl don't notice it because the car is working correctly as intended by the factory design.
mrfxit,
Aug 18, 12:57am
+ Also minor correction . To counter the effects along with other advanced suspension designs
tatts2,
Aug 18, 1:44am
2004 Ford Mondeo. Auto. (blue) cos I know someone will ask. There is your problem its blue red ones don't do that.
pc_evo,
Aug 18, 2:09am
LOL, decelerating, if under braking, could be brake imbalance.
You did get THE SAME type of tread pattern for all tyres didnt you! And you balanced the tyres, and you have a firm grip on the steering wheel! not to be smart, but you do have to steer and if the road aint flat thatll do it.
When you say wonder, how bad!
pge,
Aug 18, 2:27am
Could be getting 'bump-steer' also.
Get a proper mechanic to check ALL the front suspension dimensions, including the length of the track-arms, compare the travel-arc of them with the travel-arc of the wishbones, etc.
Good luck
bubbles244,
Aug 18, 2:47am
seriously people! Have not found a front wheel drive car yet that does not torque steer to some degree.
and who ever said they have equal length drive shafts is B.S.
simple things such as low tyre pressure on one side can create torque steer as one side has a smaller rolling diameter when not inflated correctly makes it easier to turn,/ or create more rolling resistance making it easier for the other side to turn( take your pick).
A dry CV joint can cause it, a bearing on its way out, a brake cylinder sticking/ not retracting properly, rear wheel alignment can also create drag under acceleration.
They all suffer some form of torque steer. ford mondeo's are not race cars, when you start pushing 190 200 kws through a FWD set up then you will get torque steer that becomes lethal.
even older rear wheel drive/ four wheel drive vehicles with offset diffs (see land cruiser/ land rover) can give the effect of torque steer.
mrfxit,
Aug 18, 2:52am
My old 88 V6 3ltr manual,only torque steered badly when booting it on gravel. Was fine on the road (mostly)
unbeatabull,
Aug 18, 2:53am
Mondeo's don't have equal length driveshafts.
They can torque steer if you let go of the wheel and full throttle. I've never had one thats done under Decel though, or been enough to fight you when holding the steering, other then the XR5 Turbo's, some of the Turbo Diesels and the new Ecoboost engine, but they are all the newer model.
As others suggested, I'd be getting all the suspension, driveline, wheels, brakes etc checked out
mugenb20b,
Aug 18, 2:58am
Do they not have a bearing bolted to the back of the engine block that supports the first piece of axle that comes out of the gearbox!
unbeatabull,
Aug 18, 3:07am
They do, but they still aren't equal lengths. It helps, but certainly doesn't eliminate it.
unbeatabull,
Aug 18, 4:03am
To expand since it won't let me edit, when they do torque steer (at least I have found anyway) It always pulls to the left. Which is the shorter shaft = more torque to the wheel.
It wouldn't surprise me if OP says it pulls right sometimes as well, which would further indicate something else wrong in the car.
serf407,
Aug 18, 7:41pm
I wonder if the bodyshell of the carhas been tweaked. Is there any previous accident damage !
intrade,
Aug 18, 7:52pm
are you sure its torque steering not just worn bush adjusting caster! Because to get torquesteering you need some mighty power from a fwd car. my bora tdi gets torquesteering if your not carfull with the throttle , and its due to the not thick enough sidewalls of the tyres, in other words the tyres are not up to the transmitted power, I somwhat doubt your 2004 produces that mutch power So as above get the suspension wishbone bushings and rubber checked i would say you got play backwards and forwards on one or both sides
intrade,
Aug 18, 7:56pm
http://www.onlineautomotive.co.uk/ProductImages/FASS419.jpg see the rubbers likely one like them are broken and need replacing possibile whole arm also if it is that then get a free wheelalignement again from the place as it cant be accurate with rooted suspension. While alignment places are suposed to check and demand suspension gets repaired as it will be complete wrong with parts wobbeling all over the place.
boss_hogg,
Aug 18, 8:50pm
thanks guys. just to be perfectly clear, the car wanders even under light acceleration and does the same if you maintain a constant speed then take your foot off the gas. In the other direction of course. It has been to a specialist wheel alignment shop yesterday to alleviate the problem but it still remains.
cheers
intrade,
Aug 18, 9:04pm
You need a big mother crowbar to check the rubbers . even wof placescan pass busted rubbers. check for cracks in the rubbers i posted a picture all modeo seem to have these some 2 like in pix some only one acording to google immages. and what you discribe fits what i tell you. All rubbers need replacing from a to Z on suspension. only other reason would be huge wheel bearing play or balljoints etc all parts to be checked for play.
splinter67,
Aug 18, 9:07pm
boss_hogg wrote: thanks guys. just to be perfectly clear, the car wanders even under light acceleration and does the same if you maintain a constant speed then take your foot off the gas. In the other direction of course. It has been to a specialist wheel alignment shop yesterday to alleviate the problem but it still remains. Are the front tyres exactly the same as in same tyres if not check they are the same size run a tape measure round them
Yep, it's also worth mentioning that when travelling on roads with significant camber or rutting that this can tug on the steering wheel too and exaggerate any deviations from centre inherant in the vehicle.
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