torque steer

[danimal95]

is ther anything that can be done to prevent or reduce the amount of torque steer?since i put the locker in up front i have noticed a dramatic increase in the amount of ts that im getting...i know it is cause by the locker but i dont want to change it back if at all possible.i really like the manors of the truck with the locker installed,doesnt wander at all on the highway,makes zero amounts of noise,and gets rediculose traction on the street

 

[jpalmer]

Re: torque steer

A steering stabilizer would help, but i can't think of anything else. the help the stabilizer will give you is really just stiffer steering, but could not see it hurting.

 

[bezerk]

Re: torque steer

that is the reason why everybode takes them out after installing them.
there are lots of threads on this site about the horror of the locks in the front diff.
the problem is the torqeu lifts up the front driversside wheel, and hardly has traction, and than i comes down pulling the car to the right.

maybe you can add weight to the drivers side or something? front end lmiters?

 

[Windedv6]

Re: torque steer

I run coil vers on the front with my locker diff and tighten the adjustable shocks down until the torq steer goes away. My Ty pulls straight. If you look in the video run in my signature you will see that I have very little "unloading" in my front suspension and I come out straight and flat. I run 1.45s - 1.48s 60 fts. Keeping the front on the ground is the ticket with a locker.
Love my locker...wouldn't even think of taking it out.
John

 

[danimal95]

Re: torque steer

I run coil vers on the front with my locker diff and tighten the adjustable shocks down until the torq steer goes away. My Ty pulls straight. If you look in the video run in my signature you will see that I have very little "unloading" in my front suspension and I come out straight and flat. I run 1.45s - 1.48s 60 fts. Keeping the front on the ground is the ticket with a locker.
Love my locker...wouldn't even think of taking it out.
John

that was my thought,i love mine as well just need to get the ts to stop....im doing coil overs over winter justy need a fix for the rest of this year.i do tighten my front end down with limiters,guess ill have to try and get the drivers side alittle tighter,thanks alot good info guys

 

[qbnkiller]

Re: torque steer

I had TS quite a bit at first. The front-end limiters help greatly! I had a couple corn-fed boys sit on the core support while I cranked down on the limiters. Problem solved!

 

[syclone383]

Re: torque steer

I had TS quite a bit at first. The front-end limiters help greatly! I had a couple corn-fed boys sit on the core support while I cranked down on the limiters. Problem solved!

The reason this works is because it reduces the horrendous Bump Steer inherent in the S-Series front suspension. Check it out. :myclone:

 

[turbodig]

Re: torque steer

The underlying cause, that I've observed, is that big HP trucks cause quite a bit of frame twist while building launch boost. When the boost is let go, the left front tire has considerably less weight on it than the right front. This causes the front to "tractor" as the right gets traction, but the left not so much.

An open diff in the front will cause the less-loaded wheel to spin, and the loaded one to not, so it stays straighter.

Guys tightening the front limiters down keep the front from lifting as much, so there isn't as much of a difference in the right to left traction.

There still is quite a bit of frame twist involved, even with the limiters, so a bit extra pre-load in the right rear will keep the chassis straighter. Combined with the tight front limiters, it'll come out of the hole much straighter.

Have someone watch/video as you build boost to 5, 10, 15+ at a standstill. You'll be able to see how much preload you need to get the rear of the truck balanced out. Then, crank the limiters down.

 

[Treymen]

Re: torque steer

Hey Winded, what steering wheel is that that you have on there in the ride along vid?

 

[turboj91]

Re: torque steer

Dig is right on. IMO there is more to it than front end limiters. Think of an older GM A body like a Chevelle, GTO ect... They torque up the left front considerably. They will actually pull the left front tire while the right front stays planted. Same basic theory with our trucks. In a Chevelle we put an air bag in the right rear and preload that side to get the car level in the front. Along with some other tricks, you can get those cars to hook and go straight very nicely and be in the 9's and safe.

Again, Dig has the scenario. You don't want all weight transfer to the rear as you need the tires planted in the front. Front end travel limitation helps. You want to have the front tires with the same downforce on each side. This will never happen due to the laws of physics but you can adjust things to make it close enough where the truck can go straight.

You can also change (as an adjustment option) the rear leafs to a fully custom set but that takes time, money and alot of truck info. Look at some NHRA stockers. They are limited on their rear tire size. Read the spec and you will be amazed to find that the stick cars can side step the clutch at 7K and the car hooks. No traction bar, no slapper just a custom made multi leaf. Someday when I get to it I will have all the chassis info data for these trucks and have a set made. I'll pass on the info when I get there.

 

[danimal95]

Re: torque steer

Dig is right on. IMO there is more to it than front end limiters. Think of an older GM A body like a Chevelle, GTO ect... They torque up the left front considerably. They will actually pull the left front tire while the right front stays planted. Same basic theory with our trucks. In a Chevelle we put an air bag in the right rear and preload that side to get the car level in the front. Along with some other tricks, you can get those cars to hook and go straight very nicely and be in the 9's and safe.

Again, Dig has the scenario. You don't want all weight transfer to the rear as you need the tires planted in the front. Front end travel limitation helps. You want to have the front tires with the same downforce on each side. This will never happen due to the laws of physics but you can adjust things to make it close enough where the truck can go straight.

You can also change (as an adjustment option) the rear leafs to a fully custom set but that takes time, money and alot of truck info. Look at some NHRA stockers. They are limited on their rear tire size. Read the spec and you will be amazed to find that the stick cars can side step the clutch at 7K and the car hooks. No traction bar, no slapper just a custom made multi leaf. Someday when I get to it I will have all the chassis info data for these trucks and have a set made. I'll pass on the info when I get there.

i agree with what you guys are telling me and i have adjustable shocks with coil overs in the rear,i tighten them all the way down so it really doesnt get much rear squat,and honestly after watching the last video which was taken from directly behind the truck it doesnt have any twist sitting on the 2 step,only on the launch.i may try to fab a mount to get an air bag under the right rear,but i think im out of real estate,the 4" exhaust takes up alot of space

 

[turbodig]

Re: torque steer

i agree with what you guys are telling me and i have adjustable shocks with coil overs in the rear,i tighten them all the way down so it really doesnt get much rear squat,and honestly after watching the last video which was taken from directly behind the truck it doesnt have any twist sitting on the 2 step,only on the launch.i may try to fab a mount to get an air bag under the right rear,but i think im out of real estate,the 4" exhaust takes up alot of space

The air lift bags fit right under the frame rail... plate goes under the spring perch, bracket mounts to the outside of the frame. I've got a used set, I think, if you're looking for some.

If you have any extra adjust left on your coils in the rear, bias the right side as much as you can.
With tight front limiters, you might not need as much spring on both sides of the rear... just on the right.
(ie, you can take some out of the left rear)

If you do need more spring, you can always up the spring rates. Kinda hurts the ride quality, but if ya gotta...

 

[turboj91]

Re: torque steer

Are you using a trans brake?

 

[danimal95]

Re: torque steer

Are you using a trans brake?

no trans brake,fot brake on a 2step,holds at about 4200rpm and leaves with 4-7 lbs of boost depending on how long i sit on it.i ahsve tought about a heavier rate spring on the right but as u stated ride quality would suffer.ill have to look to see if i have room for a bag,i dont have leaf springs any more and with the 4" exhaust snaking its way around the axle and controll arms back there i may not have to room....thanks a ton for all the advice guys it is really helpful:tup:

 

[turboj91]

Re: torque steer

No leafs, so I will assume 4 link? If so, many possibilities for adjustment including location and angle of the 4 link brackets. It's all about the geometry. A 4 link opens a whole new world. Way too much to go into here.

 

[danimal95]

Re: torque steer

No leafs, so I will assume 4 link? If so, many possibilities for adjustment including location and angle of the 4 link brackets. It's all about the geometry. A 4 link opens a whole new world. Way too much to go into here.

yes 4 link,basically a g- body set up,built for comfort and strength,traction was just a by-product when i desighned it

 

[Windedv6]

Re: torque steer

I boxed my frame rails and welded the crossmembers that originally had rivets plus added some small gussets to hold the frame from twisting. I also run a roll bar with a drivers side door bar. All this helps keep the drivers side frame from pulling up on the launch. Keeping the weight down on the front is the trick to launch these trucks straight. I also loosen the rear shocks slightly to soften the hit on the rears which also helps keep the more front weight up front.

John

 

[danimal95]

Re: torque steer

I boxed my frame rails and welded the crossmembers that originally had rivets plus added some small gussets to hold the frame from twisting. I also run a roll bar with a drivers side door bar. All this helps keep the drivers side frame from pulling up on the launch. Keeping the weight down on the front is the trick to launch these trucks straight. I also loosen the rear shocks slightly to soften the hit on the rears which also helps keep the more front weight up front.

John

good advice,i plan on doing coil overs this winter,at that time ai also planned on doing the same as you,by welding the crossmembers and adding more plus gussets....still tryinng to decide if i want to put a roll bar in it.for the limited track use it see's i really cant justify it