RX8 and Drifting......
12-22-2009, 04:57 PM
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RX8 and Drifting......
It's nice to see a little change on this forum. I wanted to get a discussion started on what items you would change on the car to help the car sustain a drift, give it a deeper angle, transition quicker, and/or etc.
I bring up this topic because it was brought up on www.s2ki.com (I'm a former AP2 S2000 owner) before. The S2000 had a short wheelbase and a narrow powerband. They also didn't have the steering angle from the stock steering rack. When RSR campaigned the S2000 as their drift car, many guys were interested in seeing the changes they had to make to make it competitive in its series.
The RX8 is definitely more favorable in terms of wheelbase. The power? It's definitely on the low side, but it can still work. The steering angle? I guess I'll leave the rest up to you guys to decide.
Who knows......maybe one of the professionals will come and join the discussion.
I bring up this topic because it was brought up on www.s2ki.com (I'm a former AP2 S2000 owner) before. The S2000 had a short wheelbase and a narrow powerband. They also didn't have the steering angle from the stock steering rack. When RSR campaigned the S2000 as their drift car, many guys were interested in seeing the changes they had to make to make it competitive in its series.
The RX8 is definitely more favorable in terms of wheelbase. The power? It's definitely on the low side, but it can still work. The steering angle? I guess I'll leave the rest up to you guys to decide.
Who knows......maybe one of the professionals will come and join the discussion.
12-22-2009, 05:30 PM
#3
the rx8 is an complex car to drift due to low torque so u have to rev it high to keep it sideways... the suspension plays a good role in the drifting so i would say the first thing is to work the suspension a lil...
i dnt drift like a pro but i usually drift when it rains and my car is totally stock suspension but one of the other guys have a lowered 8 and it handles better
i dnt drift like a pro but i usually drift when it rains and my car is totally stock suspension but one of the other guys have a lowered 8 and it handles better
12-22-2009, 07:36 PM
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Next time Jordan or J drifts I will get some vids and post them up if they run the Jan event. Last I checked Jordan only has springs and drifts the 8 realy good. J has coilovers but had a lot of under-steer the last time I seen him drift. I dont pretend to drift but I like to kick my 8 side ways and sustan it through the turn. One way I have been able to improve this is by upgrading to some stiff *** rear sway bars and endlinks and streatched tires helped too lol I dont plan on drifting my car but I think the way its set up would be a easy 8 to slide
01-02-2010, 04:06 PM
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There are several important factors to improve "driftability". More specifically for cars that are somewhat underpowered (especially torque-wise) you want to focus on drivetrain and suspension.
I'm not hugely knowledgeable about the differentials available to the 8, but a 2-way locking diff does wonders. I've seen factory 350Z's with only a 2-way diff drift circles (literally) around cars with thousands in tuning.
You'll want to get the car as stiff as possible as well. This can be as complex as:
Coilovers pushing more than 4-5kgm, some kits we used had 10kgm.
Stiffened rear end with much thicker rear sway bars.
Polyurethane bushings all around, sway bar bushings, control arms, tie rods, and even subframe.
Stiffer quicker action clutch setups to snap the car loose with the clutch at higher speeds.
Or as simple as:
Narrower thinner sidewall tires at higher pressures in the rear.
Adjusting your camber and toe for maximum turn in capability.
Rigging the ebrake to not lock for quick tugs to maintain long slides or initiate drifts or flip directions.
But the number one way to improve your skill is simply to practice at sanctioned safe events with a well cared after vehicle that you can trust.
My buddies and I were "in the scene" a while ago before it blew up, I've got a mini documentary that you guys might enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/slackslider
I'm not hugely knowledgeable about the differentials available to the 8, but a 2-way locking diff does wonders. I've seen factory 350Z's with only a 2-way diff drift circles (literally) around cars with thousands in tuning.
You'll want to get the car as stiff as possible as well. This can be as complex as:
Coilovers pushing more than 4-5kgm, some kits we used had 10kgm.
Stiffened rear end with much thicker rear sway bars.
Polyurethane bushings all around, sway bar bushings, control arms, tie rods, and even subframe.
Stiffer quicker action clutch setups to snap the car loose with the clutch at higher speeds.
Or as simple as:
Narrower thinner sidewall tires at higher pressures in the rear.
Adjusting your camber and toe for maximum turn in capability.
Rigging the ebrake to not lock for quick tugs to maintain long slides or initiate drifts or flip directions.
But the number one way to improve your skill is simply to practice at sanctioned safe events with a well cared after vehicle that you can trust.
My buddies and I were "in the scene" a while ago before it blew up, I've got a mini documentary that you guys might enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/slackslider
01-04-2010, 11:26 PM
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Heel Tastic Review
HI I am Seymour from Austria. I love drifting and when I am old enough to drive I am going to go to Drift meets and learn from the Pro's! So I wanted a list of some good cars to learn to drift in and good cars to Drift in. Heel Tastic Review
01-05-2010, 03:14 PM
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well i mean i love to drift here in Virginia with my buddy and his nismo z and i'm stock suspension and injen intake also AT and i dont have a problem doing it. we dont drift at high speeds mostly under 30mph at old boat landings
01-07-2010, 10:59 AM
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im not sure i even want to post in this thread.. i guess i will though
ive been drifting since 2004? for a while anyway. started with an fc then moved to the s13 then back to an fc.. picked up an fe for the newer suspension geometry and updated chassis.
i would say the 3 biggest things to help with drifting are
1. most important.. practice practice practice...
i can successfully drift almost any fr car.. even 130hp 250k mile chassis stock suspension AE86. sure more power is nice but not necessary. the point is that even though you spent 10k+ on your car to make it a drift monster, it wont help you if you dont know what youre doing
2. diff.
its really difficult and sloppy looking to even try and drift an open diff car. if someone asks me to drive their 300hp sr powered s13 with an open diff, i quietly decline and tell them to get a diff or weld the open one. the rx8s torsen diff isnt ideal but better than open. really you should be upgrading this. i doubt anyone would want to weld it so go buy a 1.5 or 2 way clutch type diff
3. suspension
your cut springs and stock dampers may be enough for a while but you arent using the chassis to its full potential. even a nice strut spring combo is a marked improvement. as far as toe and camber settings go..
3* toe out in front (helps with turn in and helps achieve a deeper angle which results in more tire smoke and higher speeds).
0* toe in rear.
2.5* negative camber in front.
0 to 1* camber in rear. bigger contact patch will give you more grip, allowing you to stay on the throttle longer again increasing speed angle and smoke.
i see far too many people focusing on horsepower.. 200hp is more than enough to drift and have fun. some of the best drivers in my area drive the typical s13 with a welded diff a decent suspension and either a stock ka-de or stock sr.. not one single guy here has spent money on horsepower and we are all able to do 3rd and 4th gear drifts and completely link our 4 mile hometown racetrack.
if you guys want more info i can give you ideas about how to easily and effectively increase steering angle and other more serious mods but they lessen the streetability of your car.
ive been drifting since 2004? for a while anyway. started with an fc then moved to the s13 then back to an fc.. picked up an fe for the newer suspension geometry and updated chassis.
i would say the 3 biggest things to help with drifting are
1. most important.. practice practice practice...
i can successfully drift almost any fr car.. even 130hp 250k mile chassis stock suspension AE86. sure more power is nice but not necessary. the point is that even though you spent 10k+ on your car to make it a drift monster, it wont help you if you dont know what youre doing
2. diff.
its really difficult and sloppy looking to even try and drift an open diff car. if someone asks me to drive their 300hp sr powered s13 with an open diff, i quietly decline and tell them to get a diff or weld the open one. the rx8s torsen diff isnt ideal but better than open. really you should be upgrading this. i doubt anyone would want to weld it so go buy a 1.5 or 2 way clutch type diff
3. suspension
your cut springs and stock dampers may be enough for a while but you arent using the chassis to its full potential. even a nice strut spring combo is a marked improvement. as far as toe and camber settings go..
3* toe out in front (helps with turn in and helps achieve a deeper angle which results in more tire smoke and higher speeds).
0* toe in rear.
2.5* negative camber in front.
0 to 1* camber in rear. bigger contact patch will give you more grip, allowing you to stay on the throttle longer again increasing speed angle and smoke.
i see far too many people focusing on horsepower.. 200hp is more than enough to drift and have fun. some of the best drivers in my area drive the typical s13 with a welded diff a decent suspension and either a stock ka-de or stock sr.. not one single guy here has spent money on horsepower and we are all able to do 3rd and 4th gear drifts and completely link our 4 mile hometown racetrack.
if you guys want more info i can give you ideas about how to easily and effectively increase steering angle and other more serious mods but they lessen the streetability of your car.
Last edited by derekfc; 01-07-2010 at 11:02 AM.
01-10-2010, 08:10 PM
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I found a great video on drifting the other day by Keiichi Tsuchiya, its not specificly for the rx8 but in part 3 or 4 they talk about drifting different types of cars(low hp and torque, bad suspension or not made to drift, etc) they also go into the different ways you can start a drift. A good watch for anyone even if you already know what your doing I would think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzlrQHJYedk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzlrQHJYedk
01-14-2010, 03:06 PM
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I drift an AP1 regularly. The RX8 is far easier to drift than the S2. The suspension could be a bit stiffer but not to much I like to have grip when drifting to keep the speed up. it could also use some more power of course.
01-15-2010, 07:10 PM
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01-22-2010, 03:53 AM
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RX8 HA HA
01-23-2010, 09:08 PM
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