Suspension

[Sn4zzle]

I was talking to a friend that drifts and he said most people around here run 240sx, I would not be allowed to drift at the track for 2 years so that gives me lots of time to get accustomed to the car. They all told me one thing at the track, whether I get a 240sx or some other rwd like an ae86 they all told me to replace some of the suspension. They said they are old cars so make sure you get new struts, coilovers, and a lighter fly wheel and better clutch. I asked about anything else and they said maybe a new strut bar and new brakes also. Total that would all run like $2500 (I think right? $350 for new struts, $800 on new coilovers, $850 on the brakes, $100 on the strut bar, $200 on the sway bars and $300 for a F1 lighter flywheel/pro clutch combo) and they said in the end I would actually save money off insurance because all those things make my car overall safer. I don't care about the insurance part but even though it would be 2 years before I do anything big with my car do you think doing these upgrades along the way will be a good idea?

P.S. What about upping the sway bars too?

[moso]

As much fun as replacing all those parts sound, the 240 will drift perfectly fine completely stock. provided its in good shape. replacing suspension parts and upgrading to better performing parts is recommended but not necessary. Seeing as your clearly a novice my recommendations are as follows.

1- start with a happy motor, fix any broken parts, general tune up
2- check the stock braking system, fix any broken parts (most upgrades are from other stock nissans and tho it is reccomended to upgrade the stock system is perfectly fine for a beginner)
3- check the stock suspension, replace any worn or broken parts (any time is a good time to upgrade suspension, i suggest aftermarket struts and springs for beginners as coilovers can be expensive and difficult to adjust correctly) pay particular attention to the stock rubber bushings as they tend to go bad and will make the car tough to control during a slide. I suggest the Energy Suspension bushing kit along with some sort of rear subframe bushing kit.

Once you have completed those you can move on to more radical upgrades such as a performance clutch and flywheel combo, well built exhaust, big brake packages, and so on. Keep in mind that every modification you do is going to have an effect on how the car performs on the track as well as affecting its overall reliability. Modifications take time to get right and can often take longer than you initially expect. Also keep in mind that no upgrade is going to make you a better driver, If you dont have the skill to pilot your car, making it more powerful and more drift happy will only make it more difficult on a novice driver.

[liquid_cool]

my advise to a begging drifter is to start out bone stock with a welded diff....you need to learn to handle your car when its in the worst of shape .....if you jump to higher power lvl's and or suspention levels you will make learning harder on you...with a stock set up...you can feel the wieght x-fers and the way the car will move throu-out the track...with a modifyed suspention..its harder to feel those minute changes in the dynamics of the suspention system...learning bone stock, gives a drifter the ability to adjust to changes later on ..no matter what car they drive..it becomes second nature...i hope this info serves you well..and if your ever in vegas..look up our team..we will be happy to have a newbie ride along with us and or just chill!

[moso]

I agree and disagree. bone stock is better to learn on BECAUSE it SUCKS, learn to drift in the worst of conditions and your will drift better in the best of conditions. plain and simple.