The Drifting Thread

[Grip Ronin]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

How stiff do you have the damping set in the rear?

I run exactly mid way up front (might go a tad more stiff) and full stiff in the rear.

At the time I was at 12 front 18 rear cuz the nose wasn't bitting. I wasn't entering crazy and never spun

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by Grip Ronin

At the time I was at 12 front 18 rear cuz the nose wasn't bitting. I wasn't entering crazy and never spun

You could try stiffening up the rear a bit. Depending on your rear alignment and what tires you're using, that will also effect how the rear end of the car feels. I'm running almost -2 degrees and on stock tires so the car pitched out in 3rd gear pretty easy. But the lack of contact patch and grip in the rear made the car a bit too unsettled when it was sideways at higher speeds. Had a couple spinouts but was able to make the needed corrections after a couple runs.

With a better tire, and less rear camber, the car would be PERFECT.

Depending on how you drive, you might want different settings for your car. Next event, try a bit more aggressive of an initiation and while you're sideways, if you feel the rear end starting to get that traction back and the rpms are dropping too low, kick the clutch again and it should help keep it going.

[Scalzo]

Stupid question, but how does one drift?
I've tried the e-brake, not really working , i gotta do the clutch kick and it gets tail happy but i can't seem to hold the sideways-ness for long.

Setup
HSD coilovers
Micheline PS2 tires 225/40 FR 255/35 RR
Enkei Raijin 18s
Cusco drift knob
Cusco Front/rear strut bars
Catless front pipe Invidia
Catback Invidia Q300
FA20CLUB tuned

I'll be turbo'd next week. but i want to drift a bit in N/A get a feel of it.. Any tips? i'm going to a local drift night this saturday night to try it out.
I also need a wheel alignment, what specs should i be getting?

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by Scalzo

Stupid question, but how does one drift?
I've tried the e-brake, not really working , i gotta do the clutch kick and it gets tail happy but i can't seem to hold the sideways-ness for long.

Setup
HSD coilovers
Micheline PS2 tires 225/40 FR 255/35 RR
Enkei Raijin 18s
Cusco drift knob
Cusco Front/rear strut bars
Catless front pipe Invidia
Catback Invidia Q300
FA20CLUB tuned

I'll be turbo'd next week. but i want to drift a bit in N/A get a feel of it.. Any tips? i'm going to a local drift night this saturday night to try it out.
I also need a wheel alignment, what specs should i be getting?

Two basic and easy techniques are ebrake and clutch kick. There are loads of others but given the lower power of our cars, those two methods are the easiest and most consistant ways to get the rear end out right when you want it.

When you go to the event, have somebody with some track time ride shotgun and give you some pointers. People always tend to be pretty willing to help at events for those who ask. You'll start to get it after a few runs. Spinning out is normal so don't get frustrated or embarassed cause you look like a "noob". You're still having more fun than the guys on the side lines watching.

As far as suspension goes, my only recommendation is when you get to the track, lift up the front and add more negative camber. It will help your turn in and front end grip so much. The car will feel a lot more responsive to your steering inputs. You don't have to go crazy but I would run at least -2. I run near -4 at the track. For the rear, in my opinion, I would run as little camber as possible. No more than -1. More contact patch and the rear end will feel more planted. Won't feel like it's getting out of shape so fast. For toe, zero or VERY minor toe in on the rear. For the front, I would run zero so when you camber in the front wheels more at the track, they will naturally push the toe out a little bit.

These are based off my personal preference though and you might find different setups work better for how you drive.

It's a mixture of throttle and steering (brake and clutch if you know how) inputs. In short and a very small nutshell, think of it this way. The amount of throttle you use determines your speed and rotation while your steering inputs determine the line and general path of the car. Inputs on both determine where the car will go and how much angle and fast it gets there.

There's a lot more to it than that but it really just takes seat time. If you concentrate and put in some effort to learn, by the end of the event, you'll probably be linking close to the entire course.


Also, I would run stock tires in the back. 255 Michelins in the back won't work very well...and be expensive haha

[xero404]

I had a chance to do a drift clinic with just drift at WSIR balcony. I wanted to have a baseline with a stock car so the only thing it had was 16x6.5 wrx wheels with some falken ziex as my drift spares in the back and the stockers on the front. Only adjustments made were whiteline camber bolts up front with an alignment of 1.5 and 1.7 on the passenger side trying to max them out. My buddy who did the alignment also gave a bit of toe out to prevent chunking of the stock tire.

My first impressions in this car are:

1. Donuts are much easier in this car than my previous NB miata. Power and throttle response was smooth.

2. Figure 8's just needed a touch of clutch kick and ebrake. Drift knob would've made the day much easier.

3. Big sweepers in 2nd gear were very snap oversteery with a bit of roll. 3rd gear needed alot more clutch to keep the revs up.

4. The steering feel was great for the donuts but the bigger drifts it was a bit floaty compared to the manual rack the miata had so counter steering needed getting used to. Needed smooth inputs to initiate but and rough counters to get the wheel at the right place.

5. Stock steering angle kinda sucks but it was the same way with the stock miata. I guess i was spoiled with the 240.

Power was great for donuts but i feel that the car needs that extra 50hp to keep the rear happier. But then again i was babying the car around the walls so it wasn't something a little more speed could fix once i get more confident.

Now my baseline is done the next event will see some suspension upgrades and some wider wheels. Tire choice probably be Achilles since they are so cheap for drift spare.

[Scalzo]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

Two basic and easy techniques are ebrake and clutch kick. There are loads of others but given the lower power of our cars, those two methods are the easiest and most consistant ways to get the rear end out right when you want it.

When you go to the event, have somebody with some track time ride shotgun and give you some pointers. People always tend to be pretty willing to help at events for those who ask. You'll start to get it after a few runs. Spinning out is normal so don't get frustrated or embarassed cause you look like a "noob". You're still having more fun than the guys on the side lines watching.

As far as suspension goes, my only recommendation is when you get to the track, lift up the front and add more negative camber. It will help your turn in and front end grip so much. The car will feel a lot more responsive to your steering inputs. You don't have to go crazy but I would run at least -2. I run near -4 at the track. For the rear, in my opinion, I would run as little camber as possible. No more than -1. More contact patch and the rear end will feel more planted. Won't feel like it's getting out of shape so fast. For toe, zero or VERY minor toe in on the rear. For the front, I would run zero so when you camber in the front wheels more at the track, they will naturally push the toe out a little bit.

These are based off my personal preference though and you might find different setups work better for how you drive.

It's a mixture of throttle and steering (brake and clutch if you know how) inputs. In short and a very small nutshell, think of it this way. The amount of throttle you use determines your speed and rotation while your steering inputs determine the line and general path of the car. Inputs on both determine where the car will go and how much angle and fast it gets there.

There's a lot more to it than that but it really just takes seat time. If you concentrate and put in some effort to learn, by the end of the event, you'll probably be linking close to the entire course.


Also, I would run stock tires in the back. 255 Michelins in the back won't work very well...and be expensive haha

GREAT information, thanks a lot!
If you check my Build in my sig, i'm pretty low.

255s in the back just for the looks, probably going to buy a new set up for drifting with cheap tires next year. When i rip through 2nd and try ebrake nothing happens, like absolutely nothing unless it wet out i'll slide. What about sway bars? Should i be upgrading these?

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by Scalzo

GREAT information, thanks a lot!
If you check my Build in my sig, i'm pretty low.

255s in the back just for the looks, probably going to buy a new set up for drifting with cheap tires next year. When i rip through 2nd and try ebrake nothing happens, like absolutely nothing unless it wet out i'll slide. What about sway bars? Should i be upgrading these?

You COULD but it's not necessary. I would see how the car feels before making more changes. You might find out that the car drives perfectly how you want it with the setup you run at the event. No need in changing it if you like it the way it is. After you get the turbo setup, go to another event and see how it is then. At that point, you'll be able to run wider tires too and make other suspension/alignment changes.

I know I am going to upgrade sway bars but I made that decision after driving it at the event. For my setup, I could utilize the changes from thicker sway bars.

[Grip Ronin]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

You could try stiffening up the rear a bit. Depending on your rear alignment and what tires you're using, that will also effect how the rear end of the car feels. I'm running almost -2 degrees and on stock tires so the car pitched out in 3rd gear pretty easy. But the lack of contact patch and grip in the rear made the car a bit too unsettled when it was sideways at higher speeds. Had a couple spinouts but was able to make the needed corrections after a couple runs.

With a better tire, and less rear camber, the car would be PERFECT.

Depending on how you drive, you might want different settings for your car. Next event, try a bit more aggressive of an initiation and while you're sideways, if you feel the rear end starting to get that traction back and the rpms are dropping too low, kick the clutch again and it should help keep it going.

ya thanx i try not to beat on it too much cause i dont want to stretch the eb cables so i user mostly momentum entries when messing around but 3rd jus always seemed to die out hmm gonna have to work the rpm band a lil more

[ultra]

How to the clutch, gearbox and rear end (diff & axles) hold up on this car?

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by ultra

How to the clutch, gearbox and rear end (diff & axles) hold up on this car?

Havent heard of any issues yet. I tore a cv boot at the last event...but that was from running the tires until they exploded haha

[namdoog]

Originally Posted by enjoyminutemaid

I'll be at ECB too, though I might not have my BRZ there. My friends drive two turbo E36s, one black, one red convertible. Oh, and another friend has a dark green LS swapped FC.

Nice man, look for me. I'll have the black BRZ with stockers and Bronze MB weapons. Registered to drive Sunday but I'll be up Saturday night I think.

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

Tires and seat time is the best thing to spend money on for drifting. With this car, I do an event, see what changes I would like to make. Then after I make them, I do another event. The car will slowly progress as I drive more and more.

This is great advice, I should have done it this way when I was drifting my 350Z.

[namdoog]

Bump, anyone driving at Club Loose East Coast Bash this weekend? I will be there Sunday.

[FRS-Jonathan]

thinking about spectating on sunday depends on how much coin I got

[namdoog]

Cool, come say what's up if you see me.. back brz in c group