HICAS and Drifting

Post by **surfwax95** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 3:47 pm

I'm looking to buy a 240sx SE Hatchback with the super hicas option. As a beginner drifter I really think that having 4 wheel steering would be unpredictable when drifting. Does anyone know from experience?

Post by **Dori Dori** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 4:31 pm

Yes, it sucks. If you get that car, get an elimiator bar.

Post by **DriftFactory** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 4:54 pm

It sucks big time. I took mine off

Post by **BuudWeizErr** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 10:06 pm

it's no good at all.

you can do a few things... easiest, though not cheapest is eliminator bars.

best way would be to get a new subframe. They are pretty common, but you will need to deal with the extra holes on the steering rack and the power steering pump. You can remove the fins on the ps pump for the rear hicas or get a non hicas pump. and the rack, you can get a nonhicas rack, or possibly plug the lines. I know plugging the lines is an option because hicas racks on non hicas cars is a pretty common mod.

Post by **Altiman94** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 4:04 pm

from the looks of it, I would stay away from the super hicas option if you plan to drift.

Post by **Dori Dori** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:23 am

It's free to disable (pull the fuse) and it's cheap to replace (lock bars are like $125). Plus, once it's replaced, you have toe adjustability and no bushings on the links (ball joints and rose joints). It's not really a bad thing...I wouldn't pass up a good car b/c of it that's for sure!

Post by **The Riot Hero** » Sat Sep 18, 2004 7:45 pm

personally ive drifted a hicas car quite sucessfully, switchbacks gt alittle weird but if you can feel the car its not a big deal at all. not mention it dominates autoXs, handles way better then any normal stock 240 ive driven.

Post by **ViolatoR** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 2:25 pm

on another thread it was mentioned that hicas equipped 240s also came with a good lsd... is that true of all hicas 240s? im gonna go get a hicas rear sway bar this week and was wondering if getting one of these lsd's at a junk yard be a good idea? or should i just get a new one, as they are sure to have tons of miles on them. i want a lsd for my 93 coupe, but i dont want to spend over a grand on it if i dont have to. unless the only way to ensure quality is to pay for it.

Post by **silkk** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 3:12 pm

It came with VLSD and ABS (I think).

Post by **Tsukai240** » Thu Oct 14, 2004 8:26 am

Dori Dori wrote:It's free to disable (pull the fuse) and it's cheap to replace !

whitch fuse?

Post by **Saru of the West** » Thu Oct 14, 2004 4:33 pm

Quote » it's no good at all.you can do a few things... easiest, though not cheapest is eliminator bars.

best way would be to get a new subframe. They are pretty common, but you will need to deal with the extra holes on the steering rack and the power steering pump. You can remove the fins on the ps pump for the rear hicas or get a non hicas pump. and the rack, you can get a nonhicas rack, or possibly plug the lines. I know plugging the lines is an option because hicas racks on non hicas cars is a pretty common mod.[/quote]that is alot of things to do. i am sure if he is a beginer he would not want to go throu all of that trouble. i suggest juts getting the hicas locks for now. and if you really want to drift buy another 240sx swap the steering rack, hicas sway bar over and sell the hicas car. easy as pie tahst what i am doing right now. swaping from my hicas car to my new car.

Post by **Tsukai240** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 5:18 am

Dori Dori wrote:It's free to disable (pull the fuse) and it's cheap to replace (lock bars are like $125). Plus, once it's replaced, you have toe adjustability and no bushings on the links (ball joints and rose joints). It's not really a bad thing...I wouldn't pass up a good car b/c of it that's for sure!

man it is not safe at all to just simply pull the fuse! if you take a sharp enough turn without the fuse in the HICAS system, the back wheels will uncontrolably pivot. it was pretty scary. the lock bars are essential!

Post by **Saint** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:23 pm

So how do you know if your 240 has HICAS?I an buying one this week, and I don't know where to look.

Post by **nismostate** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 8:35 pm

get hicas to drift since you have a lsd. buy the lock bars for safety. at least you don't have to spend the money on a real LSD yet. YES, it's a good idea to take the differential off of a hicas series 240. make sure you have the matching bolt patterns for the axles. if not the same, take the axles from the hicas also.

Post by **mikehutch711** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 7:12 pm

it doesnt really effect anything.I had hicas before and i found no problem.quit being a pouss and adjust to the hicas, the stupid system only works 5% of the time neway.

Post by **Dori Dori** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:18 am

Tsukai240 wrote:

man it is not safe at all to just simply pull the fuse! if you take a sharp enough turn without the fuse in the HICAS system, the back wheels will uncontrolably pivot. it was pretty scary. the lock bars are essential!

That's something else then. Anytime the Hicas computer senses a problem, it disables it. There's no pivoting back and forth.

Post by **Dori Dori** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:21 am

Saint wrote:So how do you know if your 240 has HICAS?I an buying one this week, and I don't know where to look.

Giant p/s fluid reservoir, extra lines, tie rods connecting to your rear knuckles, a big *** steering rack in the back, a red Hicas light in the car, the sticker on the side that says Super Hicas....the list goes on.

Post by **Saint** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:12 am

Thanks.

Post by **elwesso** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 7:11 pm

Dori Dori wrote:That's something else then. Anytime the Hicas computer senses a problem, it disables it. There's no pivoting back and forth.

Yes, there is a failsafe valve for HICAS, but with enough force (of drifting) you could possibly encounter the forces of the car causing the wheels to turn...

I was just going to start a topic on this, but i found one already going.. I have hicas on my 94 Q...

Post by **Dori Dori** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 12:43 pm

Nah, it never happened to me. The rack is still got pressure so it's the same. If it could give out b/c of drifting, the hicas system would never work.

Post by **justmerging** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 7:29 pm

The hicas system does get pretty unstable when you are trying to connect drifts but it's really not that bad. I auto-x also so I won't get rid of it but I'm not a hardcore drifter(got that out of my system with my sil80 when I was stationed in japan). I still get it sideways once in a while but nothing like i used to. If you are just learning you will be fine because you will adjust your driving style to the car(it's what you should be doing in the first place anyway). after you get better then consider removing it and see what the difference is. I don't understand why everybody hates it so much. The rear wheels only adjust i think a maximum of 5 degrees, if that. It's worth it just to start out with an lsd. i would say if the car is worth the money don't pass it up cuz it has HICAS. good s13's are hard to find these days. Hell mine was auto when I got it(not any more though )

Post by **hamsterball** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 2:48 am

Why would you want to switch out the steering rack of a HICAS 240 to a non HICAS rack..

the HICAS rack has a shorter steering ratio (i think that's nicer).

I say get the HICAS 240SX. The rack is nice =P And so is a VLSD =P

(I have a non hicas, with VLSD, but i sure would love to have that hicas rack)

Post by **Meantime** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 4:31 am

If it's a nice car don't hesitate to buy it. HICAS is not as big of a liability as people make it out to be and there are easy solutions to nullify the system if you wind up hating it.

I barely notice it's there even while drifting. Maybe I'm just used to it by now.

Keep in mind also that the HICAS editions are all manuals, too.

Post by **nismostate** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 6:42 am

hamsterball wrote:Why would you want to switch out the steering rack of a HICAS 240 to a non HICAS rack..

the HICAS rack has a shorter steering ratio (i think that's nicer).

I say get the HICAS 240SX. The rack is nice =P And so is a VLSD =P

(I have a non hicas, with VLSD, but i sure would love to have that hicas rack)

HICAS steering rack is better. if your nonhicas rack goes out, go with a HICAS steering rack.

Post by **justmerging** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 8:30 am

Meantime wrote:Keep in mind also that the HICAS editions are all manuals, too.

This is false, mine was an auto when I bought it, swapped in the 5spd with the sr. Hicas and abs make for one cramped engine bay no matter what motor you have.

Post by **Meantime** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 8:49 am

Hmm. Well, it would appear I'm a misinformed idiot then. Sorry...

Post by **justmerging** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:23 pm

not an idot persay, you were just misinformed by an idiot. j/k

Post by **midnightclubbaa** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 3:38 pm

justmerging wrote:
This is false, mine was an auto when I bought it, swapped in the 5spd with the sr. Hicas and abs make for one cramped engine bay no matter what motor you have.

i back this comment up i've known a few automatic HICAS 240sx

Post by **MaRcismO55** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 11:19 am

wow..this is a lot of info to take in. I didn't know about most of this stuff. I picked up my 91' hicas 240 for 800 so i didnt even think about it. I go drifting time to time and my hicas light doesn't even come on anymore. Oh yeah, how much of a weight difference in wieght do you think the hicas makes??

Post by **midnightclubbaa** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:46 am

has anyone experienced drifting with the HICAS light turned on

HICAS and Drifting

HICAS and Drifting

Re: HICAS and Drifting (surfwax95)

Re: (Altiman94)

Re: (Dori Dori)

Re: (Dori Dori)

Re: HICAS and Drifting (surfwax95)

Re: (Dori Dori)

Re: (Tsukai240)

Re: (Tsukai240)

Re: (Saint)

Re: (Dori Dori)

Re: (Dori Dori)

Re: (elwesso)

Re: (justmerging)

Re: (hamsterball)

Re: (Meantime)

Re: (justmerging)

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