Drifting with open diff

tmwnn88

tmwnn88

Spectator
I want to ask experienced drivers, just how much its possible to do continuous drifts with an open diff. Lets say I take a turn, then I'll clutch kick, in some cases ebrake, to get the rear out and start giving it throttle accordingly.
But Im unable to keep the drift going for a long distance, it just feels like the car's weight will shift, and the only way to keep sliding is by manji'ing. If I try to keep it sideways in the same direction for long by giving it too much throttle , it'll spin out. Ever since installing coilovers(no more boat wobbling, what a huuuge difference) I've been able to link a decent number of manjis by weight shifting and throttle input but I can never lock into a long, continuous slide.

Is this the limitation of an open diff/lack of power, or is there a technique to do it right and should I technically be able to pull a long slide with an open diff by further adjustment of suspension, tires, or driver input etc?

And yes I already have a welded diff ready to go in, I know a proper diff and suspension > power. I'm just trying to find out how much you can do with an open one before switching
 
Last edited:
there isn't much you can really do with an open diff, if you have a welded just go ahead and swap it. You won't regret it.
 
This is not rocket science the purpose of an open diff is to stop the car from drifting if anything. When you go aground a turn the inside wheel spins slower than the outside wheel. this keeps the car on a steady path around a turn with no front wheel scrub. For example if you ever try ed road racing or solo cross with a welded diff you will ether over steer i.e. drift or under-steer and plow through turns because the inside wheel is traveling at the same rate of speed as the outside wheel forcing the car to essentially want to stay in a strait line. The only way to drift a open diff is maximum angle the less angle the car has to the turn the more the wheel with less grip is going to spin trying to get the car straight. That's why open diffs don't step out in a drift unless you flick the car very violently. The more sideways the car is the open diff is not going to sense the difference in traction as much and the car will drift. essentially the most you can ever do with an open diff is one turn at a time. You may get lucky with switchbacks once and a while but you will be very inconstant in the long run.

Hope this helps.
 
open diff is VERY possible. I did ocala GP in my sohc open diff and comboed all of the linkable sections and even manji'd a straight to connect it. here is a video of my at a skidpad loooon ago, same car...

[ame="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=3044887"]Drifting in 04 Video by Boxhole - MySpace Video@@AMEPARAM@@http://mediaservices.myspace.com/Services/Media/Embed.aspx/m=3044887@@AMEPARAM@@mediaservices@@AMEPARAM@@myspace@@AMEPARAM@@Services/Media/Embed@@AMEPARAM@@aspx/m@@AMEPARAM@@3044887[/ame]

its not that hard, but you are fighting the wheel thats just draggin with you, and it does have a weird feeing on transitions as the opposite tire gets power. i would totally put a welded in, but open diff can combo turns, just takes more aggression/weight transfer just to transition it.
 
I was open diff for a longgg time when i started. Its very possible, you just have to get the hang of dealing with it. Sometimes i would have to clutch kick a million times during a turn to stay sideways, but its all about learning the car and feeling when you need to do what. a welded or lsd is definitely easier, but open isnt impossible.

P.S. The car in my sig was an open diff, stock ka and only had aftermarket springs and shocks.
 
im open diff all day, its all about transfering weight and having the correct steering input, unlike a welded u cant correct with power so your steering has to be on point
 
I am sure this has been covered like 20 times. Drifting 101 should have all this information in it thats why its stickied at the top.


The internet is not that hard.

USE THE SEARCH FEATURE.

Toyota has it right I just wish everyone else started to learn. Make accelerator's stick to kill off all the dumb people.
 
Tim, Box Mod, KoukiBass, and singleslammer, thank you for your answers.:bigthumbu Its exactly the kind of input I was looking for. I'll try clutch kicking more to see how long I can keep it in the same direction, but as soon as Im done getting footage of a little project I'm working on the welded is going in.

Boxmod, you were killing it in that vid. Can't believe its an open diff...really answered my question about just what is possible with an open diff. Koukibass if that pic is any indication shit looks straight on point. And singleslammer I think I met you at the skatepark to give you some tie rods and I've seen you at the skidpad once and I didn't know you used an open diff..def. gangster!

Offcdangle : :ugh: :rolleyes: this is all the "drifting 101" says about open diff: "The essentials for drifting would be an Limited Slip Differential, If the car dosn't come with one your gonna have to source one or weld your stock open diff". Huuuuge help.
I've read that entire thread and many more and know very well that lsd/welded is the way to go, but I was looking for the input of "experienced drivers" who are locals, frequent the skidpad/other events, knew exactly what the limits of an open diff were and just how much it depends on driver's input/weight shifting and techniques to keep it sliding longer bla bla bla
 
thanks. it takes more aggression is all. ocala gp entry was 3rd gear... i would clutch kick to ebrake to clutch kick to ebrake to clutch kick to ebrake to clutch kick to downshift 2nd and mash throttle down just to complete the first sweeper and be ready for next turn haha.

first time i drove a welded it was like the easy button. then you get power and its like... video game status.
 
boxmod said:
thanks. it takes more aggression is all. ocala gp entry was 3rd gear... i would clutch kick to ebrake to clutch kick to ebrake to clutch kick to ebrake to clutch kick to downshift 2nd and mash throttle down just to complete the first sweeper and be ready for next turn haha.

first time i drove a welded it was like the easy button. then you get power and its like... video game status.
Click to expand...


Hahaha epic post in so few words!

I'll be honest Ive never tried to clutch-ebrake-clutch repeat, I feel like I don't have enough time before the car starts shifting its weight to the other side... sounds like something I gotta try next time my reaction tiems are prob just slow. Do you think it would be possible to link the skid pad that way then? Since the skid pad has a long "semi circle" before you switch sides. I dont know if that made any sense

the way I see it, if you learn on stock shit first you'll see a big difference once you go with a proper suspension/diff...hopefully I can finish filming once this semester is over so I can switch to a welded and start learning with it over the summer
 
i used to drift my coupe with an open diff... its possible but you have to be much more aggressive with the car.. welded is the way to go
 
tmwnn88 said:
Hahaha epic post in so few words!

I'll be honest Ive never tried to clutch-ebrake-clutch repeat, I feel like I don't have enough time before the car starts shifting its weight to the other side... sounds like something I gotta try next time my reaction tiems are prob just slow. Do you think it would be possible to link the skid pad that way then? Since the skid pad has a long "semi circle" before you switch sides. I dont know if that made any sense

the way I see it, if you learn on stock shit first you'll see a big difference once you go with a proper suspension/diff...hopefully I can finish filming once this semester is over so I can switch to a welded and start learning with it over the summer
Click to expand...

well you dont have much time but you have to keep the gas down as you ebrake/clutchin so its already revved when you drop back. ive also had to do the SAME thing in my sr20det car in tandem before when you get REALLY close to a slower car.

what size tires are you running? should be like 185s...195 TOPS. get some 14s or 15s. the less tire/wheel that you have, the less work your single wheel has to do to spin, and the less the other one drags you. All my open diff stories were on 185/??/14 and they were the worst tires ever; but it worked great for that setup :)
 
Last edited:
tmwnn88 said:
...Is this the limitation of an open diff/lack of power, or is there a technique to do it right and should I technically be able to pull a long slide with an open diff by further adjustment of suspension, tires, or driver input etc?...
Click to expand...

unless u come with a lot of momentum, faster u initiate farther u can go. other than that put the welded in or get an actual lsd.
 
Here's some more inspiration for OP. 100% bone stock, open differential, and automatic in these videos. I've gone from a open to a J30, from a J30 to a welded. A welded diff is the way to go and cheapest. I recommend learning as much as you can in a open, don't feel that you need this and that in order to drift. Drifting isn't about what parts you have. Mastering how to drift with a open will teach you throttle and steering work.

.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I used to rock an open diff. You just need to go a bit faster then normal, but to me exiting a corner is easier and more controllable. And don't listen to Ofc. Dangle, he never has anything useful to say anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom