<Li> Torque steer is the tendency for some front - wheel - drive cars to pull to the left or right under hard acceleration . It is a result of the offset between the point about which the wheel steers (it is aligned with the points where the wheel is connected to the steering mechanisms) and the centroid of its contact patch . The tractive force acts through the centroid of the contact patch, and the offset of the steering point means that a turning moment about the axis of steering is generated . In an ideal situation, the left and right wheels would generate equal and opposite moments, canceling each other out; however, in reality, this is less likely to happen . Torque steer can be addressed by using a longitudinal layout, equal length drive shafts, half shafts, a multilink suspension or centre - point steering geometry . </Li> <Li> In a vehicle, the weight shifts back during acceleration, giving more traction to the rear wheels . This is one of the main reasons nearly all racing cars are rear - wheel drive . However, since front - wheel - drive cars have the weight of the engine over the driving wheels, the problem only applies in extreme conditions such as attempting to accelerate up a wet hill or attempting to beat another RWD car off the line . </Li> <Li> In some towing situations, front - wheel - drive cars can be at a traction disadvantage since there will be less weight on the driving wheels . The weight of the trailer pushes down on the towbar at the rear of the car . The car pivots on the rear wheels and raises the front wheels, which now have less grip . Because of this, the weight that the vehicle is rated to safely tow is likely to be less than that of a rear - wheel - drive or four - wheel - drive vehicle of the same size and power . </Li> <Li> Due to geometry and packaging constraints, the CV joints (constant - velocity joints) attached to the wheel hub have a tendency to wear out much earlier than the universal joints typically used in their rear - wheel - drive counterparts (although rear - wheel - drive vehicles with independent rear suspension also employ CV joints and half - shafts). The significantly shorter drive axles on a front - wheel - drive car causes the joint to flex through a much wider degree of motion, compounded by additional stress and angles of steering, while the CV joints of a rear - wheel - drive car regularly see angles and wear of less than half that of front - wheel - drive vehicles . </Li>

Advantages and disadvantages of front engine front wheel drive