Drifting

[rsawatson]

Apart from perhaps wearing your tyres out, does drifting or power-sliding on a regular basis have any adverse effects on the condition of the Minor? As admittedly, I do like to fling mine round wet (and dry!) roundabouts - the opportunity is just too tempting sometimes!

And, for those of you that perhaps enjoy a bit of drifting as well, any tips you can share?

Ryan

[les]

Maybe you could give me a tip. -----let me know when you're in my area, I'll stay in!!

[MarkyB]

Get uprated halfshafts?

[andrew.searston]

is it even possible to drift on dry roads in a moggy??
has a moggy got enough power to wheel spin?

[MarkyB]

If you unload the inside wheel enough it has.
When the load comes back on the stronger halfshafts come into play.

[andrew.searston]

so its well worth the stronger halfshafts

[Alex'n'Ane]

Drifting a moggy is easy, even in the dry, wet roundabouts are just too easy.. I find if you have a bit of weight in the back (a friend) the back end is slightly more stable, and thefore you can get the longer slides, but harder to get to twitch. And yes on standard rims, you can get wheel spin starts out of a standard 1098, just make sure your axle mounts aren't rusted or you could have problems with the axle twisting out of place. I guess anti tramp bars would also help as you do tend to get the jutters when sliding, but haven't had any fitted so cant really judge

[bmcecosse]

If the cops see you 'drifting' on a public highway - you are likely to be charged with not being in control. It is very difficult to sustain any form of 'drift' unless you have a very tight limited slip (or locked !) differential. And yes - the new half-shafts will soon be required - I know from past experience.

[Blaketon]

My father had a Cooper JAP many years ago and that had no diff, so you had no choice but to slide in that. However he said it was very controllable. Maybe the police driving schools should get a couple of old Coopers .

[rsawatson]

I can't believe some people have asked whether it is even possible to drift a Moggy! It happens soooo easily, and it's one of the funnest parts about owning one as far as I'm concerned. Plus, the fact that you can achieve them at slow speeds and the reaction is predictable makes it relatively safe to perform.

I generally get the back end out by accelerating hard whilst turning, e.g. at a roundabout, thus causing the rear wheels to lose traction slightly and to make the car oversteer. Then, turning the wheel the opposite way, and balancing the accelerator, you can secure a beautiful drift - even in the dry (although it's smoother in the wet) . I suppose this is what they'd call an 'opposite lock poweslide'.

It's annoying to hear that it wears out your half-shafts - I'm sure it'll be okay, they've lasted so far .

See this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooBJ2Z2sZvo

Ryan

[bmcecosse]

You must have incredibly knackered tyres.......... It doesn't wear out the half shafts - it snaps them.

[GeorgeHurst]

I'll second how easy it is, I nearly did a complete 360 at a roundabout a few months ago in the wet, I was going at snails pace and didn't even do it on purpose, the back of the car just took off!
I must admit a guilty pleasure in doing it though round roundabouts and sharp turns, the joy is, as you say, that you can do it at low speeds so it theoretically isn't that dangerous

[ferret76]

Maybe the police driving schools should get a couple of old Coopers .

NSW Police used to have Cooper Pursuit Cars. Went like stink!

[bmcecosse]

Hmmm - like this ?[frame][/frame]

[dp]

Although leaf springs are deemed old-fashioned, there's something very elegant looking in using one transversely, dual role as upper suspension arm.

[bmcecosse]

Except when it's a Triumph Herald..............

[cadetchris]

i do know that donuts can cause the diff to brake into little bite sized bits
my brother did this when he had primrose. his excuse was that he some how put the car in reverse whilst doing 55mph forward. the words i replied to this cannot be aired in polite company, but its a physical impossibility and would of knackered up the gearbox not the diff.

[MarkyB]

I've known people break Minor halfshafts by selecting first when they were rolling backwards quite slowly.
Well, only one person, but it wasn't while we were in this country, which added to his woes.
Happily someone on the MOT had packed one but the lesson was salutary, stop first, then go forwards.

[webbnuts]

sliding a Morris is ace. Fact.

[hotrodder13]

i love sliding in mine and my m8s think its cool, but i do have to say i havnt don it much with the new fatter tyres cause i can feel they get better grip