Torque Steer- Solved

[Indiana80]

Trying to get my 05 LX470 (AHC deleted by Slee) dialed in. I’m getting closer- pretty much all components in front end are new- OME shocks and torsion bars. SPC UCAs. Toyota OEM LCAs. New VGRS steering rack a few years ago. The original installing Toyota dealer of front suspension refresh didn’t get control arms or shocks tightened enough. I ended up taking it to a dealer in Indy (known for quality LC work) and they found that installing dealer didn’t get control arms tightened to spec. And, shocks weren’t tight enough, either. They torqued control arms to spec and realigned. Made a world of difference in improving my handling. However, I’m still feeling some torque steer under moderate to hard acceleration on the highway. I’m always keeping a little pressure to the left with steering wheel to track straight. Under load, it feels like the truck wants to go to 1 o’clock and I need to keep the steering wheel at 11 or 11:30. Could I have worn new LCA bushings out by driving with the LCA bolts loose for 2 or 3000 miles? I also hear some front end suspension metallic creaking when turning left in parking lots. I plan to take back to Indy dealer for them to have another go at it. BTW, I’ve got an OME 1 or 1.5” lift in rear. Front hub center to fender opening measurements are 21-3/4” FL and 22” FR. Rear measurements, respectively, are the same as front measurements. The only remaining suspension components I need to replace are front sway bar to frame D bushings and rear control arms. Truck has 215K miles on it. Alignment sheet, after most recent control arm bolt tightening, is attached. What would you guys be targeting as the culprit of torque steer / pulling right?

 

[2000UZJ]

How are your rear control arm bushings? Are you feeling torque steer through the steering wheel?

If you don’t have additional weight on the front, the OME can have a tad too much preload causing the front to lift excessively and induce torque steer due to the limited travel/droop

 

[Indiana80]

How are your rear control arm bushings? Are you feeling torque steer through the steering wheel?

If you don’t have additional weight on the front, the OME can have a tad too much preload causing the front to lift excessively and induce torque steer due to the limited travel/droop

Yes, feeling torque steer through steering wheel. With the smallest lift OME springs in the rear, would I be better served with Toyota OEM torsion springs in the front? No severe off roading- just moderate off road on logging trails.

 

[ga12r1]

If you are still on the factory trailing arm and panhard bushings they need to be replaced. Time is the enemy here.

 

[Indiana80]

Yes, feeling torque steer through steering wheel. With the smallest lift OME springs in the rear, would I be better served with Toyota OEM torsion springs in the front? No severe off roading- just moderate off road on logging trails.

UPDATE: I switched the front tires from side to side. Drives pretty straight at low speeds in town. On a smooth highway, especially when accelerating, I now have to apply pressure a bit to the right with steering wheel to go straight- opposite of what I had to do before the front tire swap. So, I’m thinking the pull is all, or mostly, in the tire wear. I checked droop. I’m at least 50mm of droop on both front corners. Front left might be closer to 60mm. Wheels on the ground, both my center of hub to fender opening measurements are about 21.5”. I don’t think my rear tires have been up front for at least 10K miles, so tomorrow I’ll probably do a full rotation and see if she tracks straight under load on the highway. Any advice appreciated!

 

[Indiana80]

UPDATE: I switched the front tires from side to side. Drives pretty straight at low speeds in town. On a smooth highway, especially when accelerating, I now have to apply pressure a bit to the right with steering wheel to go straight- opposite of what I had to do before the front tire swap. So, I’m thinking the pull is all, or mostly, in the tire wear. I checked droop. I’m at least 50mm of droop on both front corners. Front left might be closer to 60mm. Wheels on the ground, both my center of hub to fender opening measurements are about 21.5”. I don’t think my rear tires have been up front for at least 10K miles, so tomorrow I’ll probably do a full rotation and see if she tracks straight under load on the highway. Any advice appreciated!

UPDATE: I switched the front tires from side to side. Drives pretty straight at low speeds in town. On a smooth highway, especially when accelerating, I now have to apply pressure a bit to the right with steering wheel to go straight- opposite of what I had to do before the front tire swap. So, I’m thinking the pull is all, or mostly, in the tire wear. I checked droop. I’m at least 50mm of droop on both front corners. Front left might be closer to 60mm. Wheels on the ground, both my center of hub to fender opening measurements are about 21.5”. I don’t think my rear tires have been up front for at least 10K miles, so tomorrow I’ll probably do a full rotation and see if she tracks straight under load on the highway. Any advice appreciated!

I love it when I can end a trouble shooting message with “Solved.” Ended up moving the front tires to the rear and cross-rotating rears to the front. Tracks straight. No more torque steer. Best I can figure is that dealer that installed my control arms and didn’t get them torqued to spec left me wearing the front tires goofy for 2-3K miles until Ed Martin Toyota got the control arms addressed and realigned. Thankful for Ed Martin; too bad they’re 100 miles from me. They told me it had a slight drift right on roads that were crowned and truck handled as it should. I can’t blame them for calling it good, but after 30 years of owning 4WD and AWD trucks I know a pull when I drive. Now I figure I’ll drive about 10K on this rotation and see if the weird wear comes out of the back tires. These KO2s have way too much life left in them to send them to the recycler. On a positive note, I had some extra time today to service front and rear diffs and t-case. Amazing how well these trucks drive after almost 20 years with a little TLC.