help me setup my fd for drifting
 

I need help setting the car up for drifting as the title says. i have a pretty good start. so far it has stance gr+pro coilovers with 10k springs. Its has a big single turbo and makes quite a bit of power. bad part is it takes quite awhile to spool it up.

I need help pick some parts.

WHAT DO I NEED!?!?!

so far I've decided to get new toe links, trailing arms, and swaybars. suggestions on best brands would be helpful.

any other parts you think i will need or help for drifting please feel free to chime in.

Top 10 most important parts you need to drift. anything helps

seat time...

tons of seat time. learn to slide the car stock, and upgrade/repair as it breaks.
get tons of tires, and make sure the car gets all the proper maintenance/reliability mods as you can afford them.

get the cooling system incheck first and foremost..


fd's are snap happy. i got to slide my friends R1, and that thing was a handfull compared to an FC.

My FC is really snappy... :dunno:

Then again I've never driven an FD (ever) so I can't compare.

From a friend, and this is just drifting in general not FD specific.

thanks for the input so far keep it coming!!! this is helping alot

Dunno if fd chassis is all that different from fc but when i removed my sway bars.....wow. Made ALOT of difference in handling. All the snap my car had is now gone. It's not sloppy by any means. Just butter smooth for drifting and just driving in general. If you have good coilovers, you dont need the sway bars anyway for roll control.

Try it out when you get a chance!


Alot of guys say angle mods are a band aid but i raise the bs flag and say anyone who drifts can benifit from angle mods. Even if you dont use it all, you wont be spinning out as much.

one more question i have. my spring rates on my coilovers are 10k all around. should i go higher? should i make it so the rear is softer then the front. input greatly appreciated. if i should change it what spring rates should i go with?

That is the dumbest arguement ever. Sure it helps to learn with less angle. It makes you learn better car control, but when you get better, you want more angle because its fun as hell.

wow at this thread.. (not op)

anyway. you need seat time and a smaller turbo. car snappyness is directly related to toe and camber settings. if it snaps too much then dial out some front toe. run close to 0 or even -.5* feels strange in the straight but you have better turn in. keep your camber angles low too. better tire contact patch will keep you in control of your car. but the main thing is drive drive drive and def keep your cooling/reliability mods at the top of the list. if you still have issues learning on the fd, go buy a 500$ s13 and play with that for a few months, it will help you get the basics down and show you how to point the car, some throttle control and how to act instead of react.


10k spring rates seem a bit high but once you get used to it you should be fine.

funny you say that. I am about to pickup a s13 for 500 in a few days :) should be nice to learn some car control and the esentials for drifting. And if it gets crashed fuck it its a $500 240sx no big deal :lol:

also one more thing. my clutch is just starting to be on its way out. what should i get. im looking for something cheap and good for drifting. I'm looking around on ebay right now

DK is running a stage III xtd clutch. No problems on his end.

That's cheap.

If you are unsure about putting one in your car, just go for a sure thing and get an act six puck or something.

diff
seat time
you dont NEED angle mods

And next step, because FDs are not FCs ... hydro handbrake ^^ in same time of the angle mod if you want to get 2 or 3 orgasms by track lap :D

+1 on the hydro e brake. or at least upgrade the pads
our steering angle also sucks. putting on a tie rod spacer will give you about the same as a stock FC/240sx.

word. Anything to make it easier.

Might think about changing to a turbo with better response too.

I overlooked the fact you dont like how your turbo spools. Check the single turbo forums. I'm not too familiar with the rew but from what i hear, you'd like a gt35r. Look into it.

I've been hearing this a lot, I need to try that.

steering angle - S14>S13>FC>FD

FD's are way worse than FC's. the FD's ebrake works good in the 2 that i got to session. but it's way awkward being as far away as it is in comparison to an FC, same with the RX8, it's awkward..

best advice i can give you:
Get your cooling system up to date, and in good order, unless you can afford a rebuild if you overheat your car, because you can't monitor gauges while trying to control the car. the less on your mind while sliding, will give you more of your mind, to focus on your mistakes, and inputs, and how to figure out what the car is doing via those said inputs.. that's why people learn so much more on track, than on the street. not worrying about cops is nice. i learned on the streets, so i can't say anything, but DEFINTELY make it to atleast one event. the progression from one event compared to a weekends worth of street drifting is night and day.

once your car is in check, and running good:
ONLY THEN, i suggest you to go out and learn to slide your car stock.
learn stock, learn how the car reacts. i hate how everyone says all this stupid shit like you need angle kits, and hydro ebrakes. shit's dumb to say that, it's gangster for someone who's put in the time to benefit by it, but for a beginner, just go slide the shit out of your car, you'll progress in no time, then you can upgrade your suspension/power/etc, and actually BENEFIT, AND REALIZE WTF your car is doing, and how it's helping.

SO MANY DUDES IN FULLY BUILT ASS CARS TALK THE TALK, but can't drive for shit.
/thread.

not saying an angle kit won't help. it will.

if you're street drifting, i say get it, ONLY because it's a band-aid to save your ass incase you're on your way to spinning. if you don't have it, you'll either get good quick, or kill the shit out of your car from spinning, and hitting something.

He should get it anyway.

Fd's aren't cheap.......

do they make a steering knuckle mod for the fd that you can buy. i want more angle but at the same time if there isn't a kit i don't trust myself to do it on my own...

I think u good with stock diff..........just start feeling the car.

does anyone know if someone makes a steering knuckle mod for the fd?

i agree with the Diff.. . im currently workin on driftin my FD. i still have the torsen and it will be swapped for a 2way soon enough. after u do that then id worry about other mods "more angle" and stuff like that. work on Diff/seat time/cooling

thanks man. would love to see some pictures of your car

As far as modded knuckles, there's two things you can do:

1. Email parts shop max (powered by max/gt factory) that's based out of cali and see what they can do for you. I mean, they do sell diy kits but you have to grind them to fit an fc knuckle. I dunno if they have fd knuckles available to know if it's feasable to use their diy kits with them so you'll have to ask. At the most, they'll charge you about $450 to do it but it's worth it b/c you'll have a shitload of angle WITH bumpsteer correction built in so you can use stock tie rods and tie rod ends if you so choose to.

2. cut your stock knucks shorter and have them re-welded. Test with 5 lb sledge to see if they're safe and bolt em in...... The new greddy drift fd has some really trick custom knuckles but i'm willing to bet they are out of a "reasonable" price range for most considering the alternatives.

Dont think about it too much. You're just moving the tie rod pivot point closer to the center of the hub...... As long as both sides are even and you're not changing ackerman angle drastically no worries.

Alot of people do this mod on alot of cars. Just not rx7s or 240s, but corollas, JZ chassis cars (chasers, supras, altezza's, aristo, cefiero, etc), bimmers..........

There is another method that requires modding the rack itself such as having a machine shop cut an extra tooth or so but i'm sure that's further than you're willing to go over the first two mods i listed.

Just hit up parts shop max. See what they can do for you.