Drifting is often associated with manual transmissions, where drivers use clutch kicks and precise gear changes to initiate and sustain slides. But what about automatics? Can you still join the sideways fun with an automatic car? The answer is yes, but it requires a good understanding of your car’s mechanics, strategic modifications, and plenty of practice.
In this guide, we’ll break down the science behind drifting an automatic, explain key concepts like weight transfer and body roll, and highlight how SLRspeed’s drift-spec coilovers and angle kits can help you master the art.
The Basics of Drifting an Automatic
Drifting an automatic car requires adapting to its unique characteristics. Automatic transmissions don’t give you the same control over gear selection and power delivery as manuals, but you can still initiate and maintain a drift by leveraging throttle modulation, weight transfer, and momentum.
Throttle Modulation
In an automatic, throttle control is your primary tool for adjusting the car’s attitude mid-slide. You can’t rely on a clutch kick, so instead, use aggressive throttle inputs to break traction and maintain the slide by feathering the accelerator.
Downshifting
Many modern automatics have manual modes or paddle shifters, allowing you to pre-select lower gears for better control. This can be crucial for initiating a drift or maintaining the powerband through corners.
Brake Drifting
In the absence of a clutch kick, brake drifting becomes an effective technique. This involves applying the brakes to shift weight forward, reduce rear grip, and initiate a slide.
Weight Transfer and Body Roll: The Keys to Control
Drifting isn’t just about breaking traction—it’s about maintaining control. Two critical concepts in this process are weight transfer and body roll.
Weight Transfer
Weight transfer occurs as the car’s mass shifts between its wheels during acceleration, braking, and cornering. In drifting, you use weight transfer to influence traction. For example, lifting off the throttle shifts weight to the front wheels, reducing rear grip and making it easier to slide.
Body Roll
Body roll refers to the side-to-side motion of a car’s body as it corners. Excessive body roll can make your car feel unpredictable during a drift, but some roll is beneficial for weight transfer and control.
SLRspeed’s drift-spec coilovers are specifically designed to minimize unwanted body roll while maintaining enough suspension travel to handle aggressive drifting maneuvers. These coilovers provide the perfect balance of stiffness and compliance, ensuring your car stays planted and predictable during slides.
The Role of Suspension and Steering
Drift-Spec Coilovers
Coilovers are the foundation of any drift car’s suspension setup. SLRspeed’s coilovers are engineered for ultimate drift performance, offering adjustable damping, ride height, and spring rates. This allows you to fine-tune your car’s suspension for optimal weight transfer and grip balance.
Even in an automatic car, coilovers help reduce body roll and improve cornering dynamics, giving you better control throughout the drift.
Angle Kits
One of the biggest challenges in drifting is maintaining steering angle during high-speed slides. SLRspeed’s angle kits dramatically increase your car’s maximum steering angle, allowing for more aggressive entries and sustained slides.
If an angle kit is available for your car, it’s a game-changer, especially when paired with a well-tuned suspension. Together, these upgrades can transform even an automatic car into a capable drift machine.
Practical Tips for Drifting an Automatic
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Upgrade Your Tires
Run grippier tires up front for better steering response and less grippy tires in the rear to make initiating drifts easier. -
Install a Limited-Slip Differential (LSD)
An LSD ensures both rear wheels spin together, making it much easier to break traction and sustain slides. -
Use Manual Mode
If your automatic has a manual mode, use it to keep the car in the ideal gear for drifting. -
Practice Momentum Drifting
In automatics, momentum is key. Practice entering corners at higher speeds to compensate for the lack of clutch kicks. -
Refine Your Throttle Control
Smooth and precise throttle inputs are critical. Sudden jerks can destabilize the car, especially in an automatic where gear shifts can disrupt power delivery.
Can You Drift an Automatic? Absolutely.
Drifting an automatic car requires a different approach, but it’s far from impossible. By mastering weight transfer, optimizing your suspension with SLRspeed’s drift-spec coilovers, and increasing steering angle with an angle kit, you can turn an automatic into a drift-ready machine.
So, if you’re ready to make the most of what you’ve got, visit SLRspeed for all your drift performance needs. From coilovers to angle kits, we’ve got you covered. Now, hit the track and start sliding!
