I have a 2008 Panda 100hp and have noticed when accelerating hard, say when overtaking a car, it seem to pull to the left or right, sort of steering itself! I have to correct it or would end up in a ditch! Any ideas?

I think Torque steer is the proper english term for this FWD behaviour.
How are the fronttires?

gr J

Yes its torque steer. The front tyres are in good order, but cheapies though, matched pair, were on the car when bought. Have a set of Toyo Proxies to fit soon.

Experience has shown me (on all cars of all horse powers) to avoid cheap tyres.

Although this is mostly based upon very bad traction (especially in the wet) ; on one 170hp car I had (not a Fiat Panda) torque steer did manifest itself on cheap tyres (tyres inherited from the previous owner).

However with the car on "proper" "established" brand tyres; then all seemed fine.

The Panda is also a relatively narrow car; on relatively stiff suspension. This potentially can make them susceptible to "tramline".

Amongst my cars is a Fiat Panda 1242cc 60hp ( so a standard Panda); which because I am used to "floating" Citroens the Panda is hard on the suspension. One reason I did not get a 100hp Panda is because other owners have said they are too hard/stiff.

The harder the suspension the more likely a car is to tramline. If you switch a car from normal road wheels to low profile tyres (harder) you can feel this difference.

Tramlining is when the car follows depressions in the road caused by the surface, but mostly caused by the weight of trucks creating depressions; and sometimes it is like the car is on railtracks; as it tries to steer this way or that from side to side. This is a separate thing to torque steer; but the two can go hand in hand and compliment each other.

Because heavy vehicles have a wider track than the Fiat Panda; the Fiat (or any narrow car) can "wonder" a bit; especially when pulling off from traffic lights/roundabouts where heavy vehicles have sat waiting and squashed the road even more. Then when the heavy vehicles put the torque power down it makes these depressions worse....and so on.

Also because the Panda is a short wheelbase car (as well as narrow) any tramlining (or skid also) is more apparent; compared to a longer wheelbase car.

Are your dampers ok? Our Panda got a leaky one on the front before it had done 15,000 miles. That caused asymmetric tyre wear; and you could sometimes hear it straining. Is your mileage higher than that? Maybe worth a check to see and rule that out in/out too.

Maybe try it out on country roads too so then you can decide how much of the component is torque steer and how much maybe tramlining.

Topical question.


I've just swapped the 100HP from its summer to winter shoes.


On the Uniroyal Rainsport summer tyres there's none of the bad behaviour you describe. Now it's on the winter tyres, it's pretty much as you desrcribe (and also expected to some degree with the nature of winter tyres).

Are your wishbone bushes OK?

AB100 said:

Topical question.


I've just swapped the 100HP from its summer to winter shoes.


On the Uniroyal Rainsport summer tyres there's none of the bad behaviour you describe. Now it's on the winter tyres, it's pretty much as you desrcribe (and also expected to some degree with the nature of winter tyres).

Click to expand...

That is mostly due to the tread blocks being soft and moving around.

Simple solution would be to put the Proxes's on.

gr J

Thanks for the replies. Yes am going to fit the Proxes and get it tracked up this week. Then will investigate wishbones and shocks.

Just thank your lucky stars you don't own a corsa vxr...

Or a 1989 157bhp 1000kg Opel KADETT GSi 16v ( Vauxhall Astra GTE without the girly bits ...like ABS ,sunroof,alloys ,headlamp washers,front fog lights etc )That yoke was a beast for torque steer - scarey tight , slow handling but firmly planted on a fast sweeping bend

From a previous thread

"Yep thats torque steer ...not really that bad in 100hp but there nevertheless...you wanna experience it in a 1989 Opel Kadette (Vauxhall Astra) GSI/GTE 16V 157bhp and lighter than Panda 100hp!


I'll agree with you on that one, had a MK2 GTE 16v and I swear if you floored it in third it would change lanes. Almost bordering on scary.

The 100hp does get a little torque steer, but it's very close to being a non-issue I think.

Just hold the steering wheel when flooring it."

Wonder if any of you guys are into boats?
With a big single outboard, floored, that's torque-steer! (Slightly different reason - similar effect).
Volvo and others make two contra-rotating props on one shaft which neutralises this. Remember the dreadful accident some months ago when a family got flipped from their boat and it kept circling and hitting them?
Thank goodness it's not so severe in a car.

Sweetsixteen said:

Wonder if any of you guys are into boats?
With a big single outboard, floored, that's torque-steer! (Slightly different reason - similar effect).
Volvo and others make two contra-rotating props on one shaft which neutralises this. Remember the dreadful accident some months ago when a family got flipped from their boat and it kept circling and hitting them?
Thank goodness it's not so severe in a car.

Click to expand...

Your not in Portugal are you?....Ahhhh

Gavv8 said:

Your not in Portugal are you?....Ahhhh

Click to expand...

No.
Gozo, with Boston Whaler Dauntless.
Winters in Wales.

Sweetsixteen said:

Wonder if any of you guys are into boats?
With a big single outboard, floored, that's torque-steer! (Slightly different reason - similar effect).
Volvo and others make two contra-rotating props on one shaft which neutralises this. Remember the dreadful accident some months ago when a family got flipped from their boat and it kept circling and hitting them?
Thank goodness it's not so severe in a car.

Click to expand...

I have a slightly overpowered (50Hp Yamaha autolube) 3.80 m SIB, so yeah I know exactly what you mean.
Always wear the MOBcord is a good advise.

gr J