Drift Questions

[S13wanabe]

I'm having trouble keeping control of my car in a drift. I usually use a clutch kick drift and occasionally an e-brake drift. The slide is pretty good but when I try to straighten out I fish tail and half the time I spin out. My 1991 240SX is bone stock, so I'm wondering if my open diff or stock suspension has something to do with it. Any help is great. I'm pretty new to drifting but I get out and try it at least once a week.

[drftk1d]

have you watched drift bible yet?

[S13wanabe]

Yeah I own it. I've watched it many times. Still can't figure it out. I think it might be caused from my body roll when I start to transition to straight.

[drftk1d]

well it might be a problem with the way you steer, but i don't think i can give tips on that becuase my FC has manual steering (and on top of that has shitty steering angle).

Oh and btw is your car open diff?

[S13wanabe]

Yeah it is. Can't afford an LSD yet. But it is probably going to be my second mod after suspension.

[drftk1d]

i would reccomend the diff first.
have you tried finding a safe environment to push your car around at its limit and find the cars natural limit. Once again, as i've only driven an s13 normally before i cant give you major advice.

[S13wanabe]

I do need a bigger area. I usually wait till really late and do it around turns where I have four lanes to use. So you think I should get the LSD first?

[drftk1d]

yes definitely. you can learn to control drifts more with it.

[SHIFT_KA24DE]

for your specific problem i doubt it has anything to do with a LSD. Try practicing it in the rain first... it'll be easier to experience the "feel" for it first.

As for the exit fishtailing try and NOT let go of the gas completely after you get your car sliding. Many beginners will get scared once they slide out and, by instinct, let off the gas abruptly... this causes the rear tires to regain traction... and weight to move to the front... so your trying to counteract with the fishtailing in the end. Try and gradually let off the gas as you exit the corner ... haha but make sure you coordinate it with your steering or else you will end up at the sidewalk.

For 90 degree corners... you really don't need a LSD unless your taking crazy angles. For figure 8's you might need a LSD... which means for continuous track drifting (i.e. - inertia, feint, etc...)

[S13wanabe]

Thanks for the help. I think I might be doing that. I'll try and make sure I don't next time. See you in the 240sx forum.

[imcguire]

Get track time. The more you drive/drift the more confident you are, the more you know your car, and your reflexes get better. That's my only suggestion.

[SHIFT_KA24DE]

^ amen... nothing beats seat time.

[str8drift]

Originally Posted by SHIFT_KA24DE

^ amen... nothing beats seat time.

Exactly!
Instead of asking questions in forums, reading magazines, and watching videos on drifting...Go outside and put at least 7 hours a week into drifting...wehther you want to spread it out over the week with one hour a day for 7 days or 7 hours into one day...PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE....and if you still cant' do it, give up, & buy a honda.

[str8drift]

Originally Posted by SHIFT_KA24DE

^ amen... nothing beats seat time.

Exactly!
Instead of asking questions in forums, reading magazines, and watching videos on drifting...Go outside and put at least 7 hours a week into drifting...whether you want to spread it out over the week with one hour a day for 7 days or 7 hours into one day...PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE....and if you still cant' do it, give up, & buy a honda.

[S13wanabe]

First off, this is an old thread. Second, people learn by doing and asking questions. If you practice doing things wrong, then you never get better. It was a simple question as to why the same thing was consistantly going wrong. I want to practice the right way. That is also why I'm going to racing school in June. I want to learn the correct way to race. And I do already have a Civic. And it's being built into my track car. I also have my 240SX and I also have a 1964 Chevy Pickup that I'm restoring. Money doesn't grow on trees, and with my bad record I can't afford to get any more tickets. There are no big parking lots around my house and time is taken up by the 50 hours I spend a week at work and my full time student work at Cal State Fullerton. I pay for all this myself. Time and money aren't on my side, but I still manage to do it all.