*Help* Low Power Drifting

[FluffyBunnyFeet]

Here is where i need some help.

Ive got a 4AC powered open diff SR5 coupe corolla.

I recently went drifting with some locals and they gave me some tips and got me out sideways. Here is the problem, i can start the drift, keep it until the center (or apex) of the corner but i lack the power to keep it through the corner. I was thinking of clutch kicking it to keep it going but im not sure how bad that is going to be on my tranny. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance

-Mike

[Aiki-Drift]

Those are the woes of driving an underpowered car. I'd clutch kick it bro. F!%k it! Just do it! Once, twice. three times won't hurt. Put some el crapo tires in the back and I don't see why it should be a problem every once and a while.

Drift on! <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm414YYUS' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_27.gif' alt='Head Banger' border=0></a>

[cfrost]

just clutch kick, you're in a corolla...your tranny should be okay, just get a new clutch when the time comes.

Have you thought about welding your diff?

[soultron]

Same as above, clutch kick and crappy rears, however, if you can get a stiffer sway bar, or harder shocks and springs, that can help a bit.

[Nemesis]

stiffen up the rear, sways and what not...fabricate your own stuff if u have too...

do NOT get bad rear tires, but get all weather type tires...you might mistake some of the guys' advice for getting *censored* tires in the rear..which should not be...just get all weather type tires from like pepboys or someone as such...

i would do this but i know some would object, but have you thought about lowering the center of gravity? Like chopping springs...*cough*cough*...or cheap lowering springs or something...

also clutching kicking is a good idea, but if your worried about that, try entering the corner with some more speed...that's the cool thing about under powered car's it gives you the ability to enter corner's faster...

[SidewaysGts]

It does? Why?

I see nothing wrong with cheapo tires, its a great and easy way to experience oversteer while your new, it WONT lead to the "best" drifting- but at this point its not an issue. Its all about learning to control going sideways. Besides, id rather burn up 20 bucks then 100.+

[Nemesis]

It does? Why?

I see nothing wrong with cheapo tires, its a great and easy way to experience oversteer while your new, it WONT lead to the "best" drifting- but at this point its not an issue. Its all about learning to control going sideways. Besides, id rather burn up 20 bucks then 100.+

yea cheap tires are good...not BAD tires...like...cracked and stuff, but do get some decent tires..especially if your car is for daily use...

[Mike_S13]

clutch kick man...i clutch kick all day. I'm mr.clutch-kick to my pal. My tranny is fine so far.

[driftersil80]

I posted a question a while back about clutch kicking safety. Its fine. Do it. Kick that clutch, then kick it again. Kick it all day. Eventually all you will need is a new clutch but those arent expensive. So yea, enjoy yourself!

[TIREKILLER]

Hi all,first let me introduce myself a bit.

I drive a pretty stock S13 coupe. I have roughly 130HP at the wheels and my car weighs around 2600Lbs. I consider myself somewhat low powered, although I do have the advantage of having more torque than a Corolla. I dont have a ton of money I can spend on my car, so I do the best I can with what I have. For a long time I just used my open diff (now i have a VLSD).

The thing I found that helped was to try not to lift EVER. With an open diff. and low power if you lift its over. I try to enter with as much speed as posible, and stay on throttle all the way through the corner. If you do need to slow down a little or increase your angle to tackle a decreasing radius,you can feather the brakes with your left foot without lifting with you right foot. For a larger radius turn your gonna have to sacrifice some angle to be able to cary your drift as far as you need to.

When its all said and done the only way to really get better is to practice practice practice.

[soultron]

stiffen up the rear, sways and what not...fabricate your own stuff if u have too...

do NOT get bad rear tires, but get all weather type tires...you might mistake some of the guys' advice for getting *censored* tires in the rear..which should not be...just get all weather type tires from like pepboys or someone as such...

Yeah, my bad, I meant cheapo walmart bargin bin tires, not baldies.

[TIREKILLER]

I run used tires that I dig out of the dumpster at my local tire shops. I run those on the rear and Azenis sports up front. Even ran that setup at both FormulaD events so far, and won The Houston DriftShowoff event on em too.

[Nemesis]

ok let me make self straight

tires are a great place to start when it comes to trying to get better @ drifting, i again will not agree with getting BAD tires, used tires are ok, but i would still reccomend cheap tires form walmart or pepboys...even @ events used tires are good, but they wear down faster and u spend more time changing tires than drifting, so i'd still say get some cheap tires from walmart and drift those...i too have gotten old used tires from a local tire shop for FREE but i checked all of them through to make sure they were in decent enough condition for daily driving but also had enough treat to last longer than a month (including the occasional drift session); they go on a set of practice wheels i have so during the summer i drive with them on...and yea...you know the rest...

make sure your tires are in good condition, i can not stress this enough...difting is about controlled grip...keep that in mind

weld your spider gears if you plan on gettina LSD in the near future

[FluffyBunnyFeet]

Hey, well before i read any of the replys, i went out and tried the clutch kick mid drift and YEAH BOYEE! Sideways. Amazing how simple it was. I was actualy able to go around 1 corner and 1/2 way choku dori to another cone but i ran the cone over from not enough practice, still was fun as hell though. Ill post up some pics in the photo video gallery. Ill have video up on sunday or monday. Thanks a bunch

[FluffyBunnyFeet]

ok let me make self straight

tires are a great place to start when it comes to trying to get better @ drifting, i again will not agree with getting BAD tires, used tires are ok, but i would still reccomend cheap tires form walmart or pepboys...even @ events used tires are good, but they wear down faster and u spend more time changing tires than drifting, so i'd still say get some cheap tires from walmart and drift those...

Lucky me, a local tire shop sells tires that will fit my 13" meshes for $12 a peice

$24 and slap some new rubber on the rear. WOOT


Oh ya, btw

Here is a clip of how bad the understeer "was"



I'll post up better once i go back this sunday. Thanks again
-Mike