GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Pontiac 🢒 1998 🢒 Bonneville 🢒 Suspension 🢒 Suspension General Diagnosis 🢒 Torque Steer

Step

Action

Value(s)

Yes

No

Torque steer occurs during hard acceleration and engine braking. During hard acceleration the vehicle will pull to one side. During deceleration the vehicle will pull to the opposite side. All front wheel drive vehicles exhibit some torque steering. In most cases, excessive torque steering is caused by one or more of the following conditions:

    • Incorrect tire pressure
    • Unequal tire pressure
    • Mismatched tires
    • Unequal tire diameters
    • The engine or transaxle is not level in the frame.

If the tire pressures are correct, move the front tire and wheel assemblies to the rear, one side at a time, in order to determine which tire is causing the problem. Drive the vehicle after each switch in order to determine if the problem has been corrected. Replace the defective tire.

1
  1. Check the drive wheel tires for the following items:
    2. • Equal tread depth
    • Same size
    • Same make
    • Adjusted to pressure specification
  2. Inspect for loose, worn, damaged or incorrect suspension components.
  3. Road test the vehicle.

Does the vehicle lead/pull with the transmission in neutral?

--

Go to Step 2

System OK

2

Refer to Vehicle Leads/Pulls .

Does the vehicle lead/pull under engine torque?

--

Go to Step 3

System OK

3
  1. Swap the front tire and wheel assemblies.
  2. Road test the vehicle.

Does the vehicle lead/pull under engine torque?

--

Go to Step 4

System OK

4

Road test the vehicle.

Is the torque steer in the opposite direction?

--

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 7

5
  1. Swap the left front tire and wheel assembly with the left rear tire and wheel assembly.
  2. Road test the vehicle.

Does the vehicle still torque steer?

--

Go to Step 6

Go to Step 7

6
  1. Swap the right front tire and wheel assembly with the right rear tire and wheel assembly.
  2. Road test the vehicle.

Does the vehicle still torque steer?

--

Go to Step 7

System OK

7
  1. Position the tire and wheel assemblies to produce minimum torque steer before proceeding.
  2. Measure the vehicle's Z heights.

Is the left to right difference more than 6 mm?

--

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 9

8
  1. Correct the Z heights.
  2. Reset the camber and toe.
  3. Road test the vehicle.

Does the vehicle still torque steer?

--

Go to Step 10

System OK

9

Measure the vehicle's Z heights.

Is the left to right difference less than 6 mm?

--

Go to Step 10

System OK

10

Measure the transaxle height.

Is the left to right difference more than 6 mm?

--

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 12

11
  1. Correct the cause for the height difference.
  2. Check the engine/transaxle mounts.
  3. Road test the vehicle.

Does the vehicle still torque steer?

--

Go to Step 13

Go to Step 14

12

Measure the transaxle height.

Is the left to right difference less than 6 mm?

--

Go to Step 13

System OK

13

Align the vehicle to specifications.

Does the vehicle torque steer left?

--

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 16

14
  1. Set the camber -0.5° left and +0.5° right.
  2. Road test the vehicle.

Does the vehicle still torque steer left?

--

Go to Step 15

System OK

15
  1. Set the camber -1.0° left and +1.0° right.
  2. Road test the vehicle.

Does the vehicle still torque steer left?

--

Go to Step 17

System OK

16
  1. Set the camber +0.5° left and -0.5° right.
  2. Road test the vehicle.

Does the vehicle still torque steer right?

--

Go to Step 18

System OK

17

Set the camber -1.0° left and +1.0° right.

Does the vehicle still torque lead?

--

--

System OK

18

Set the camber +1.0° left and -1.0° right.

Does the vehicle still torque lead?

--

--

System OK