Torque Steer
Thread Starter
Joined: 06-24-2011
Posts: 2
From: Los Angeles
Torque Steer
Hello all,
I'm currently shopping for an SS. My friend has a regular LS and loves it. I have driven it a few times and like it. The SS version ticks all my boxes: plenty of cargo space, decent reliability, great mpg, and European esque performance. BUT, here's the deal. Yesterday I test drove my first SS and I have to say I'm way disappointed. Not in the handling or the braking or the acceleration or the comfort or the aesthetics (it looks pretty retro cool to me). The torque steer was unbelievable! Now, I will admit, I'm a rear-drive guy. But I am no slouch behind the wheel. I have road racing experience in everything from GT cars to Formula Atlantic. I know how to get it done in the car control department. But WOW! The thing damn near completely changed lanes on me when I got on it hard. The poor sales lady's eyes were like saucers. I don't have enough experience with this specific vehicle to know if this is a special case or if they are all like this. I don't see too many people complaining about it so I am stumped. Oh, for those that are about to ask, no, it did not have a LSD. Obviously that would help, but is that all I need, or maybe this particular car is just jacked up in some way? Do you folks have any advice here?
I'm currently shopping for an SS. My friend has a regular LS and loves it. I have driven it a few times and like it. The SS version ticks all my boxes: plenty of cargo space, decent reliability, great mpg, and European esque performance. BUT, here's the deal. Yesterday I test drove my first SS and I have to say I'm way disappointed. Not in the handling or the braking or the acceleration or the comfort or the aesthetics (it looks pretty retro cool to me). The torque steer was unbelievable! Now, I will admit, I'm a rear-drive guy. But I am no slouch behind the wheel. I have road racing experience in everything from GT cars to Formula Atlantic. I know how to get it done in the car control department. But WOW! The thing damn near completely changed lanes on me when I got on it hard. The poor sales lady's eyes were like saucers. I don't have enough experience with this specific vehicle to know if this is a special case or if they are all like this. I don't see too many people complaining about it so I am stumped. Oh, for those that are about to ask, no, it did not have a LSD. Obviously that would help, but is that all I need, or maybe this particular car is just jacked up in some way? Do you folks have any advice here?
Senior Member
Joined: 09-20-2009
Posts: 1,058
From: Hayward, Ca.
I'm sure with your driving experience, you have'nt driven many FWD cars. Some have a lot of torque steer, and so very little. The SS has a little torque steer that you have to get used to, but it's very controlable. If it was getting wicked torque steer, then something was'nt right in the running gear.
I have a SS auto, with a trifecta tune[around 300 h.P.] and have track time on the autocross course, and I have very little touque steer. You got have to hold the steering wheel tighter, and drive though it. FWD cars are generally point, gas it, and steer where you want to go. A tuned SS, properly set up. is a real hoot to drive, and surprisingly quick. Oh, I don't have LSD either. "Moon"
I have a SS auto, with a trifecta tune[around 300 h.P.] and have track time on the autocross course, and I have very little touque steer. You got have to hold the steering wheel tighter, and drive though it. FWD cars are generally point, gas it, and steer where you want to go. A tuned SS, properly set up. is a real hoot to drive, and surprisingly quick. Oh, I don't have LSD either. "Moon"
Senior Member
Joined: 05-18-2010
Posts: 313
From: Roseville, Mi
Try driving a Neon or Caliber SRT4. The HHR SS is one of the few high performance fwd cars with the least minimal torque steer, even with the five speed. With any performance Fwd, your going to recieve some torque steer. The HHR SS is also better than the Cobalt SS/TC IMO.
Dave
Dave
Senior Member
Joined: 03-22-2010
Posts: 2,108
From: Russia Ekaterinburg
Hi, namesake. Welcome and greetings to you.
With regard to your question. You're right, HHR has this property. My HHR 2.4 LT. I sat on it after a four-wheel drive Toyota. It was winter and the first time every day I extracted my car of the snowdrifts. But after a week I get used to control these animal.
Demolition culprit - a bad weight distribution, combined with a powerful engine and a dynamic transmission. HHR has a heavy muzzle, besides center of gravity is high located. The situation changes if a in your HHR load 300 - 400 kg. HHR is a truck, regardless of different opinions. HHR has the manners of a truck.
Here are techniques that I use for driving on slippery roads.
1. I'm working on the pedal pulses. Short pressing of varying intensity. This applies to all the pedals. And the brake and gas pedal. Gas pedal - in the first place.
2. If the car wrong entered in the turn and my manipulation of the pedals are not removed the problem - I remove the foot off the pedal at all. I work only on the steering wheel. The car left to himself, he puts himself on the right path. The first time was scary to do it. But there's a feeling HHR (like warhorse) can choose their own way if you do not unnerve him plenty of orders.
And the last. Methods of driving rear-wheel drive and front-wheel drive cars are very different. If you use the "rear-wheel drive" methods for HHR - he does not listen to you. Classified information - HHR does not listen to you even if you use the "front-wheel drive" methods of driving. HHR - naughty animal, but good-natured and Hardy. You'll love it when you make friends.
With regard to your question. You're right, HHR has this property. My HHR 2.4 LT. I sat on it after a four-wheel drive Toyota. It was winter and the first time every day I extracted my car of the snowdrifts. But after a week I get used to control these animal.
Demolition culprit - a bad weight distribution, combined with a powerful engine and a dynamic transmission. HHR has a heavy muzzle, besides center of gravity is high located. The situation changes if a in your HHR load 300 - 400 kg. HHR is a truck, regardless of different opinions. HHR has the manners of a truck.
Here are techniques that I use for driving on slippery roads.
1. I'm working on the pedal pulses. Short pressing of varying intensity. This applies to all the pedals. And the brake and gas pedal. Gas pedal - in the first place.
2. If the car wrong entered in the turn and my manipulation of the pedals are not removed the problem - I remove the foot off the pedal at all. I work only on the steering wheel. The car left to himself, he puts himself on the right path. The first time was scary to do it. But there's a feeling HHR (like warhorse) can choose their own way if you do not unnerve him plenty of orders.
And the last. Methods of driving rear-wheel drive and front-wheel drive cars are very different. If you use the "rear-wheel drive" methods for HHR - he does not listen to you. Classified information - HHR does not listen to you even if you use the "front-wheel drive" methods of driving. HHR - naughty animal, but good-natured and Hardy. You'll love it when you make friends.
Senior Member
Joined: 06-25-2008
Posts: 305
From: Austin, TX
It'll definitely jump around a bit on you if you're not holding the wheel steady, especially if you have the GMPP kit or a tune. I haven't driven an SRT4, Cobalt SS or MS3 but I've heard all three are worse off in the torque steer department. Once you get used to it you just know that you have to hold the wheel a little stiffer when you jump on the gas, and it's no big deal.
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
If you have enough room, and I mean ENOUGH room, grab a Neon SRT4 and keep your hands off the wheel while flooring it in a lower gear. You will, as demonstrated to me by a friend, go around in a large circle ending up where you started...that is torque steer in its extreme form.
Normal HHR's have a bit of torque steer, and the two SS's that I've driven had a bit more, but changing lanes by itself suggests that you weren't driving a healthy example of the species. You do tend to notice torque steer more when you've been driving RWD vehicles primarily, once you've driven a front wheel drive more than a few days you automatically dial in just the right amount of opposite lock to keep things on the straight and narrow.
Normal HHR's have a bit of torque steer, and the two SS's that I've driven had a bit more, but changing lanes by itself suggests that you weren't driving a healthy example of the species. You do tend to notice torque steer more when you've been driving RWD vehicles primarily, once you've driven a front wheel drive more than a few days you automatically dial in just the right amount of opposite lock to keep things on the straight and narrow.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
I too have to pass along that the SS is one of the best FWD performance applications. It does have more pull than a RWD but GMPD did a good job on removing most of it.
For the most I see little problem with it. Once in a while I to get a good tug but often it depends on how the road surface is and how how the tires are biting.
Many of the older FWD performance applications would make hard right for the ditich. My SSEI was like that and to a lesser degree my GTP.
For the most the SS may pull a little but as long as you keep a grip on the wheel for the times it may kick it is not going anywhere. One hand is enough to hold it in line.
It is not too much different than my RWD Posi cars and trucks that could hook on me once in awhile. Went they would go you would really have to crank the wheel if it started to step out at times. My 68 Chevelle SS with no powersteering was a pain as the steering was so slow it was hard to bring it back once it stepped out.
Not sure what you had going on but the SS is my first FWD for myself to drive daily [wife got the FWD cars] and I for the most was shock how well my SS is for a FWD. I did not want a 4 cylinder, a HHR or FWD but after I drove the first SS I was sold on it and bought one.
I have no issues taking this and autocrossing it. It should do right well. I even had a couple laps at Mid Ohio last year and it did well.
For the most I see little problem with it. Once in a while I to get a good tug but often it depends on how the road surface is and how how the tires are biting.
Many of the older FWD performance applications would make hard right for the ditich. My SSEI was like that and to a lesser degree my GTP.
For the most the SS may pull a little but as long as you keep a grip on the wheel for the times it may kick it is not going anywhere. One hand is enough to hold it in line.
It is not too much different than my RWD Posi cars and trucks that could hook on me once in awhile. Went they would go you would really have to crank the wheel if it started to step out at times. My 68 Chevelle SS with no powersteering was a pain as the steering was so slow it was hard to bring it back once it stepped out.
Not sure what you had going on but the SS is my first FWD for myself to drive daily [wife got the FWD cars] and I for the most was shock how well my SS is for a FWD. I did not want a 4 cylinder, a HHR or FWD but after I drove the first SS I was sold on it and bought one.
I have no issues taking this and autocrossing it. It should do right well. I even had a couple laps at Mid Ohio last year and it did well.
Senior Member
Joined: 08-14-2010
Posts: 147
From: Central Florida
As others have indicated, there are some things to be aware of with near 300HP in the FWD application. I have a 5spd with the LSD option and the power upgrade. The road surface that you ride on will definitely wake you up if you are in hard acceleration as one wheel will lose traction and the traction control will kick in, which can get very exciting. You can either turn it off OR in the case with the SS, go into competitive mode which turns OFF traction control and initiates Enhanced Stability Control. I find this very helpfull. And yes, when you gas it definitely grab the wheel tightly. Do the same thing on a smooth road and a rough rode and you will see what I am trying to say.
