User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: the effect of drifting on the rear axle and chassis

  1. #1
    Tyre Kicker

    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    Sheffield
    Posts
    38
    Thanks
    43
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    the effect of drifting on the rear axle and chassis

    Hi all,

    Hopefully someone can fill me in.
    When I picture a Mk1/Mk2 Escort I do see a car that occasionally gets driven sideways (which I like very much).
    How much does this affect the rear axle (location) and will this lead to a dislocated rear axle or even worse cracks in the chassis around the pick up points?

    If you like to drive your Mk1/Mk2 like this, can you just lower it, single leave springs and leave it standard,or do you have to 5-link it to cope with the strains of drifting?

    I do understand it's better to 5-link it, but could I for the time being leave it original and just play with it?

    John

  2. #2
    Mechanic

    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Essex
    Age
    53
    Posts
    790
    Thanks
    100
    Thanked 114 Times in 100 Posts

    Re: the effect of drifting on the rear axle and chassis

    A Mk1 or 2 Escort will happily go around corners sideways as standard from the factory. All the mods people do are to improve the handling, stability and predictability in line with what is normally an increase of power.
    So the more you do the more difficult it will be to slide.
    Lowering improves handling but is also used simply because people like the look.
    The effect of sliding the car will be increased wear on the busses and bearings. Unless you hit something you’re not likely to damage the rear axel, chassis or springs.
    My advice would be, buy a bog standard car and sign up to a days driving course with somewhere that has Mk2 Escorts, or at least rear wheel drive cars. Maybe the drifting world has courses ? Then see how you find your car Vs your skill level and modify as you gain experience. I wouldn’t think any more than bushes, and up rated springs and dampers (to reduce body roll) maybe lower it a bit, noting as above all this stuff makes it more stable so more difficult to get sideways, but with increasing skill the mods also improve the stability and predictability of the car when it’s sliding. Hope that helps.

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to Zakspak For This Useful Post:


  4. #3
    TURBOSPORT SPONSOR Turbosport Subscriber
    Turbosport Moderator
    Turbosport Administrator
    Graham's Avatar
    My Race Car
    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Ely, Cambs
    Age
    56
    Posts
    25,110
    Thanks
    310
    Thanked 2,476 Times in 2,250 Posts

    Re: the effect of drifting on the rear axle and chassis

    back in the day i had a bog standard fairly worn out 1300 mk1 escort, 155x12 tyres i used to drift that and go sideways in it

    as the post above said, you dont really need to uprate anything to get sideways in an escort, most mods improve axle location and make it harder to slide and it break away more suddenly. a lot of aftermarket axle location bits actually cause problems because they are not substantial enough to handle the loads and cause cracking where otherwise you wouldn't get any. if you want to improve it a bit without going over the top, just replace the bushes and chuck away the spring saddle bushes, that will firm up the axle location and make the rear end feel better

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to Graham For This Useful Post:


  6. #4
    Racer Decade Plus User

    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Camberley, Surrey
    Posts
    3,237
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked 353 Times in 339 Posts

    Re: the effect of drifting on the rear axle and chassis

    Easiest way to drift / get tail happy is increase the power and do nothing else LOL! As long as there is sufficient power to the wheels and they can spin - you can drift! Obviously to be 'cool' both wheels should be smokin' so a LSD is a requirement and wide tyres are nice to have for the looks but they will pull the engine down to the point of needing gravel or wet tarmac to get sideways.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to katana For This Useful Post:


  8. #5
    Tyre Kicker

    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    Sheffield
    Posts
    38
    Thanks
    43
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Re: the effect of drifting on the rear axle and chassis

    Thanks guys for your replies. So to sum it up, Ford already did a reasonable job and 6-linking the car is okay as long as I reinforce the new pick up points/brackets that connect the Watts link bars to the car. I guess rally cars upgrade the brackets for the Watts linkage on teir cars then, as they get the cars sideways all the time???
    Quote Originally Posted by Graham View Post
    ... just replace the bushes and chuck away the spring saddle bushes ...
    What do these 'spring saddle bushes' look like or do you mean the standard bushes? (sorry, have a BMW E30 background) John

  9. #6
    Tyre Kicker

    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    Sheffield
    Posts
    38
    Thanks
    43
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Re: the effect of drifting on the rear axle and chassis

    Over the years I did some drifting.
    This is a video of my 15 year old son at a drift circuit in his E30.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrfbqLHUKoQ

    John

  10. #7
    TURBOSPORT SPONSOR Turbosport Subscriber
    Turbosport Moderator
    Turbosport Administrator
    Graham's Avatar
    My Race Car
    My 1st Project
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Ely, Cambs
    Age
    56
    Posts
    25,110
    Thanks
    310
    Thanked 2,476 Times in 2,250 Posts

    Re: the effect of drifting on the rear axle and chassis

    Quote Originally Posted by m3dtm View Post
    Thanks guys for your replies. So to sum it up, Ford already did a reasonable job and 6-linking the car is okay as long as I reinforce the new pick up points/brackets that connect the Watts link bars to the car. I guess rally cars upgrade the brackets for the Watts linkage on teir cars then, as they get the cars sideways all the time??? What do these 'spring saddle bushes' look like or do you mean the standard bushes? (sorry, have a BMW E30 background) John
    They are flat pads which sandwich the rear leaf springs where the U bolts attach the axle to the springs

  11. The Following User Says Thank You to Graham For This Useful Post:


  12. #8
    Tyre Kicker

    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    Sheffield
    Posts
    38
    Thanks
    43
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Re: the effect of drifting on the rear axle and chassis

    Thanks Graham!

    John

  13. #9
    Tyre Kicker

    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    Sheffield
    Posts
    38
    Thanks
    43
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Re: the effect of drifting on the rear axle and chassis

    Couple of years later, this is my youngest son drifting at only 12 years of age.
    He could hardly see over the steering wheel, but managed pretty well.
    Now he wants to go drifting every weekend.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKExfvyeJeI


    John

+ Reply to Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts