EXTREME Torque Steer

S3PEG

S3PEG

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Hi all,

Recently fitted new outer track rods and track rod ends and one new tyre on the front of my 1999 S3. Ever since (about 2 weeks now) I have had extreme torque steer when accelerating. Happens under gentle and hard acceleration. The tracking has been checked and is spot on (apparently!) What else could it be??

 
One new tyre on the front? Sure it wouldn't cause such extreme issues, but uneven tyres at the front (brand new vs fairly old) could be a cause . . . ? Unsure though!
 
Could your haldex have stopped working? (i.e. all power going to front wheels) I know unlikely, but can't think of anything else.


EDIT: Have just seen your 'oil leak at rear of car' post. This would also suggest you have a problem with your haldex.
 
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I do have some oil leaking from the back end of the car and have created a new thread about this... hadn't connected the two issues!! Could that be Haldex oil and therefore responsible for the problem?
 
S3PEG said:
I do have some oil leaking from the back end of the car and have created a new thread about this... hadn't connected the two issues!! Could that be Haldex oil and therefore responsible for the problem?
Click to expand...

I'm no expert on the S3 myself, but I would think yes it is the haldex oil and therefore the haldex clutches aren't working, meaning no power transfer to the rear wheels.
 
I have had this before (extreme torque steer) and my haldex did not have enough oil in it. Buy some fresh oil from audi £12 ish and drop the oil from the haldex. Pretty straight forward where to find the plug for it, use a silicone gun to inject the new oil in there.

Should engage the haldex and shouldnt be as scary, let us know how you get on
 
silly question time..

the track rod ends were installed the right way up?

(so as not to create horrific bump steer)
 
Why would haldex unit make for torque steer? My haldex unit wasn't working at all and while it was more unpredictable i really didn't notice that much.
 
If your haldex isn't working you have a front wheel drive car not 4wd - hence all the power is being put down through the steered wheels and therefore you get torque steer.
 
Also worth noting, if the Haldex controller itself has failed it will show an error on the dash - IIRC the traction control light will stay light after the first time any slip from the front wheel is detected.

Like others have said check the oil.
 
Definately looks to be the haldex, you shouldn't get a hint of torque Steer with an S3 if it is working correctly...
 
torque steer is front wheels surely..
not haldex related.. pull the fuse and confirm this.. but it should'nt make any difference

tracking, camber, joint loose somewhere... wheel bearing?
 
Don't know if I'm being a little thick but I don't understand your last post badger ??

If the haldex isn't working due to oil or what have you then all of the power rather than being disributed through 4 wheels is all trying to go through the front wheels causing some nasty torque steer... ???
 
leggy said:
Don't know if I'm being a little thick but I don't understand your last post badger ??

If the haldex isn't working due to oil or what have you then all of the power rather than being disributed through 4 wheels is all trying to go through the front wheels causing some nasty torque steer... ???
Click to expand...

you dont understand how haldex shoudl work... until its told to its internal clutches dont activate, which means for the majority of the time your car is front wheel drive only... so unless, under violent acceleration, on loose ground, where front wheels would loose grip, the traction system woudl then engage the haldex to connect the prop to the rear diff, but quite how this would cause !torque steer", which is front end, escapes me..

as i suggested, removed the fuse will disable haldex, so if its still pulling badly, its one thing to eliminate
 
I do understand how the haldex works and that our cars are mainly front wheel drive until spin is detected, but to be fair you'll only get torque steer if your planting your foot, hence the need for the haldex to kick in...

@S3Peg, what is the car like in the rain ?? Does the car wheel spin in first or second at all ??

Try your car on some grass maybe to make sure the haldex is working...
 
audi upgrades
I've had haldex issues first hand and my car is the same as any other S3, it did NOT torque steer in any way. It was a little bit more lively in terms of traction and I might add a slight bit faster (felt like it) but handled dreadfully, even worse than it does in standard (working haldex) form.

I had the Yellow dash icon for TC lit up for months and then all of a sudden as quick as it came it was gone. No idea why it happened but it's fixed now. I've purchased a spare complete differential which includes the haldex unit just in case.

G
 
leggy said:
I do understand how the haldex works and that our cars are mainly front wheel drive until spin is detected, but to be fair you'll only get torque steer if your planting your foot, hence the need for the haldex to kick in...

@S3Peg, what is the car like in the rain ?? Does the car wheel spin in first or second at all ??

Try your car on some grass maybe to make sure the haldex is working...
Click to expand...

Torque steer is front wheels...

pull the damn fuse and try it.. no difference what so ever I bet

clue is in the OP I think
Recently fitted new outer track rods and track rod ends and one new tyre on the front of my 1999 S3. Ever since (about 2 weeks now) I have had extreme torque steer when accelerating
Click to expand...

... Ever since (about 2 weeks now) I have had extreme torque steer when accelerating
Click to expand...

tracking or camber check is 1st port of call... with actual print out numbers of what it is... not just reported as "ok"
 
Last edited:
I know torque steer is through the front wheels... I must be speaking a different language.

@Mr G, fair enough if you've never had torque steer along with your faulty haldex, i just thought it made sense alnog with is leaky oil buisness at the rear of the car...
 
leggy said:
I know torque steer is through the front wheels... I must be speaking a different language.
Click to expand...

yes I know I must also be speaking a different language to one you understand... as Haldex is not torque steer related (its at the back end of the car), and the clue, as I posted to hopfully make it clearer, is in what the OP posted..

"recently fitted..."
Click to expand...
"ever since....."
Click to expand...
"extreme torque steer....."
Click to expand...

hope this is clearer

Does the OP have anythign to add?
I notice he's said shag all lately
maybe in a hedge from the torque steer (hopefully not)

The only thing a non-functional haldex would do is make the S3 pull like a Leon Cupra-R would, and run in fwd permanently.. which do not torque steer like a mofo. you would expect to see and hear some fault codes if its out of oil (mightly thin stuff it is too)
 
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Just read the article, hope I have absorbed all properly?

Strongly suspect different front tyres; had s2000 , had a puncture and put an odd tyre on the rear to get me around till they were both replaced.
When accelerating hard sent me from one side of the road to the other.

As you say, it was the last thing you did, change the tyre before all this occurred.
 
Badger hit the nail on the head. That is exactly how my car was when my haldex unit was unfunctional, drove more like my friends Cupra R than an S3.

G
 
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