Torque steering issue + 200 BHP
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi TM,

a very good friend of mine are having some serious issues with his car when the torque is seting in,
when the car goes from 2nd to third, sometimes 1st to 2nd, it actually shifts lane within a few feet without turning the steering wheel :( - he`s just holding on - the car goes strait most of the time but occasionally it does this weird thing, and its imposssible to control

The car is producing around 200 + bhp atw and 230ish in torque.

Hopefully some of you have the key to solve this problem.

Edited by Gomme on 12th Jan, 2016.

A bit more info:

Technical Specification
Modified 1980 Mini Clubman Estate
8 Engine: 1275cc A+ bored 0.020-inch to 1293cc . JE 11cc
dished pistons . Kent Automotive Developments 16-valve
short-cam Road 150 cylinder head . KAD A-Series 16-valve
Road 150 billet camshafts . modified A+ crankshaft . Garrett
T25 ball-bearing water-cooled turbo . DTA S40 ECU . throttle
potentiometer . MAP sensor . wide-band lambda sensor .
deep-impeller water pump . Bosch 044 fuel pump . stainless
steel fuel pipes . Allegro Industries electronic cooling fan .
Ford wasted-spark coil pack . Thansen stainless steel silencer
back box . NGK Iridium spark plugs . alloy 4-core rad . BMW
intercooler . Bougicord Class F silicone HT leads . Tial 38mm
wastegate . BMW 60mm throttle body . two oil coolers
(one for water) . RC 440ml injectors . Weber fuel pressure
regulator . custom stainless steel 2.5-inch plenum chamber,
fuel rail, inlet manifold, exhaust manifold, swirl pot
8 Gearbox: MED 4-speed straight-cut, close-ratio
A+ Clubman 4-synchro gear set . Mini Spares 45/45
Evolution Rally LSD . Jack Knight 1:1 straight-cut drop
gears . Mini Spares straight-cut crownwheel, pinion .
3.47:1 final drive . AP sintered clutch plate . double grey
clutch diaphragm . custom quickshift, long selector
8 Brakes: Mini Sport 4-pot alloy front brake calipers .
Mini Sport vented, grooved 7.9-inch front discs . KAD rear
disc conversion . 1988-on brake master cylinder, servo
8 Suspension: Seam-welded, strengthened
front subframe . KAD alloy radius arms . Koni
dampers . KAD alloy drive flanges . KAD alloy
uprights . custom adjustable tie bars
8 Wheels/Tyres: 7x13-inch Force Racing SLR 5 split-rim
alloys . Yokohama A048 175/50xR13 radial tyres
8 Interior: Custom rollhoop . Sparco front seats
. 4-point harnesses . carbon fibre laminated dash
. additional VDO gauges: fuel, oil tempurature, oil
pressure . shift light . Sparco black suede steering
wheel . lengthened gear lever . black headlining
8 Exterior: 1980 Mini Clubman Estate shell . reinforced
front bulkhead . British Racing Green 2-pack paint . custom
wheel arches . clear-lens, rear pattern headlamps . chrome
door mirrors . Lexan side windows . Aerocatch bonnet locks
8 Performance: 204hp, 234N/m at 0.9-Bar
boost . fuel consumption 10km/ltr [approximately
28.25mpg] . estimated 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds

Look at suspension geometry, perticularly corner weights
Me and a mate built similar engines together and his went into a reletively stock car mine went into a reasonably well settup one all be it with a fair bit of negative camber, but importantly with near perfect corner weights

Mine would pull straight at 28psi boost unless it spun a wheel
My mates ( benny on here ) was an animal even in boost as low as 15psi it would often take up 2 nearly 3 lanes when boost came on

Yes i moved to the darkside

Instagram @jdm_brett

It's a combination of the 7" wide wheels, the LSD and I suspect how the power is made and driving style.

I set up a very nice mini on force 10" wheels (6" I think) and and ATB. It was virtually undriveable because of the torque steer. The only thing that wasn't right was the ball joints were tight. You could drive through it by regulating the throttle, but it was hard work.

I set up another mini on 6x13, same geometry, which had similar power and boost and an ATB, and it drove perfectly.

With 7x13 and an ATB you're always on a loser. I ended up with traction control on the hillclimber, which worked a treat.

What are the current settings of the suspension?

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

Its worth making sure the front tracking is toe out and rear tracking is toe in, as in this modern world, that somehow translates differently. Not sure where the issue is, but ive seen it twice recently.

Swap the shocks and dognuts for new ones !! If not already new aswell

as an experiment ,try it with stock mini offset wheels , and see if its better .

Medusa + injection = too much torque for the dyno ..https://youtu.be/qg5o0_tJxYM

Has anyone here tried an equal length driveshaft kit? It should help in theory but I don't know how much it would do so in such a case.

http://www.jbperf.com/

I thought TD debunked hat with maths years ago.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

Hi everyone,

thanks for all your input - another of our friends have similar problems with his clubby GT running with a V-tec engine - BHP are similar.

Maybe its just a case of to much BHP/Torque for the classic mini body???.

Again thanks for your input - will be sure to tell you if and when we find the problem :).

enjoy your holidays

Gomme

Edited by Gomme on 12th Jan, 2016.

I am running around these numbers at around 10psi with my little 10x 4.5 and I don't see much torque steer at all, as said above make sure your shocks are set up and your car is flat. I find it helps to set this up off the drive shafts.

I only see torque steer when I go over the what I think is the 200+ market at around 25-30psi, this is normally to the right, I put this down to my weight on the right hand side of the car, this time around I will get the car set up with me in it..

I have started posting on Instagram also my name on there is turbomk1golf

Nothing is impossible it just costs more and takes longer.

What is the suspension all set to?

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

Firstly I would bin the poly bushes for rose joints, I'd also wounder why it's only got 200bhp?

Team Racing

Lol Jim 😂😂😂😂😂

I have started posting on Instagram also my name on there is turbomk1golf

Nothing is impossible it just costs more and takes longer.

I wasn't having a dog, but the engine spec is much higher than mine. No doubt cost twice the price, I'd of expected close to 300bhp

Team Racing

That's what I was thinking mate.

I have started posting on Instagram also my name on there is turbomk1golf

Nothing is impossible it just costs more and takes longer.

Thanks again for your ideas/info.

Edited by Gomme on 12th Jan, 2016.

Btw, hole front end is rose jointed now.
That didnt fix the issue with the steering though.

What are the roads like there?

Mine goes straight as an arrow unless the road is wonky.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

Got to keep an eye out for them pot holes!

I have started posting on Instagram also my name on there is turbomk1golf

Nothing is impossible it just costs more and takes longer.

Mine can be very viscous! It was a lot worst before haveing the tracking done... im sure i could make it much better with a number of different things.. but im used to it now n just put it down to nature of the beast!!! Matt woods said in one of its original feature once "i over took a car by steering into it" and i never really understood this until i drove mine!!! I wouldnt worry...

Don't always look for problems at the front of the car, the weight transfer to the rear under acceleration, it's really a case of making sure everything is square. I'd find a race team local to where you are, give them a hundred quid and a box of teabags and I'm sure with a proper full setup this would transform the car.

Team Racing

I had exactly the same issues when I fitted my lsd but with half that power. I sorted it by making sure the rear wheels actually point forward first. Set the castor angle to 4 degrees, camber 0 to 1/2 degree negative and get the corner weights set properly. My biggest improvement came from setting the front track parallel rather than toe out

I seriously doubt it!

What's the steering rack and rack ends etc , are you witnessing bump steer when shutting off the throttle , when your excelerating the front will be lifted then dive down when you shut off !!

Hi all,

Thanks for all your input - we will be sure to check corner weights etc.

the roads are fine over here, no holes or anything like that.

kind and best regards gomme.

Edited by Gomme on 12th Jan, 2016.