Random questions about torque steer Options

[jtmlb3k]

So one of my buddies just got a 2009 Mazdaspeed 3 and was complaining that it has too much torque steer. Being totally clueless like I am, I have no idea what he is talking about, and when he tried to explain it (by saying that it happens in front wheel drive cars where one wheel gets more power than the other), it made even less sense.

Sooooo what is torque steer? Why don't all front wheel drive cars have it? And if it's the product of unequal distribution of power to the wheels, why doesn't something like Mazda's traction control help? Would a Celica with a swapped in 3sgte have the same issues? Is there any way to modify a car to avoid it?

Sorry for asking such potentially stupid questions. Like I said, I am totally clueless haha

[Smaay]

factory open differentials allow one wheel to spin at a different speed over the other. if not then any time you take a turn the inside wheel will turn slower than the outer wheel and it would skip or hop. just like when you get stuck in the mud or snow, you ever notice that only one wheel spins and the other does nothing. when you install an LSD the gears inside it allow for the wheel that starts to slip to now have traction.

so in higher HP FWD cars when torque is applied, the wheel getting the power will want to pull the car in one direction or the other. that is the torque steer.

most factory traction controls now days are in the computer so when the wheel sensor detects that one is spinning over the other it closes the throttle body basicall the same as letting off the gas, but it happens before the driver loses control of the car.