Drifting is one of the most exhilarating motorsports out there—balancing your car through tight corners with tires smoking and the rear end sliding at extreme angles can be both thrilling and challenging. But as with any high-performance driving technique, many enthusiasts often ask the same question: Does drifting damage my car?
The short answer is yes—drifting can cause wear and tear on various components of your vehicle. However, understanding how and where this damage occurs can help you take the necessary steps to minimize it and keep your car in peak condition. In this blog, we’ll break down the most common types of damage that can occur when drifting and what you can do to prevent excessive wear, keeping your car drift-ready for the long haul.
What Parts of Your Car Are Most Affected by Drifting?
When you’re drifting, the car is under significantly more stress than during normal driving or even standard track racing. Let’s explore the key areas of your vehicle that are most affected by drifting:
1. Tires
Tires are, unsurprisingly, the first component to experience significant wear during drifting. The constant sliding, aggressive cornering, and spinning result in tire burnout far faster than in regular driving conditions. It’s common for drifters to go through a set of tires after just a few runs, especially if you’re participating in a competitive event or practice day.
Solution: Running affordable, harder compound tires on the rear can help minimize costs since these will wear slower than soft performance tires. Keep a spare set of tires on hand for drift days.
2. Suspension Components
The suspension system plays a critical role in maintaining control while drifting, and it’s one of the areas that endures the most stress. Aggressive weight transfers, high-angle cornering, and hard landings can lead to wear on control arms, bushings, and coilovers.
Upgrading your suspension components with drift-specific parts—like SLRspeed angle kits, BMW control arms, and toe plates—can help reduce wear and improve handling, as they’re designed to withstand the forces involved in drifting.
Solution: Regularly inspect your suspension components for wear, and consider upgrading to drift-specific parts like SLRspeed’s angle kits for increased durability and performance.
3. Differential and Drivetrain
The differential and drivetrain are essential to a successful drift, as they are responsible for transferring power to the wheels during slides. Locking differentials (welded diffs or limited-slip differentials) are often used to ensure both rear wheels spin together, but this puts a lot of stress on the drivetrain, potentially leading to premature wear.
The constant high RPMs and sudden directional changes during a drift can put pressure on your axles, CV joints, and transmission, leading to wear and potential failure if not properly maintained.
Solution: Regular maintenance and checking fluid levels in your transmission and differential are essential. If you’re serious about drifting, consider upgrading to heavy-duty drivetrain components that can handle the strain.
4. Engine Wear
Drifting puts a lot of strain on your engine, especially during extended drift sessions. High RPMs, heat buildup, and rapid throttle changes can lead to engine wear over time. If the engine isn’t properly maintained, this can result in overheating, oil starvation, or even engine failure.
Solution: Regularly change your oil, upgrade to higher-performance engine cooling systems, and keep an eye on your gauges to avoid overheating. A high-quality oil cooler can make a significant difference in engine longevity during drifting.
5. Brakes
While you might think drifting doesn’t use the brakes as much as track racing, they still take a beating. Hand brake usage is often a key part of initiating drifts, and rear brake components can experience accelerated wear as a result. The hand brake, calipers, and rotors can overheat and wear down quicker than during normal driving.
Solution: Upgrading your braking system to a more drift-specific setup, including a hydraulic handbrake, can help reduce wear. Regular brake fluid changes and high-performance brake pads can also extend the lifespan of your braking system.
Does Drifting Damage the Frame or Chassis?
The chassis itself can be exposed to stress during drifting, especially if the car is regularly subjected to hard landings, curbing, or contact with walls. Over time, this can lead to frame bending or cracking in extreme cases, particularly with cars that have not been reinforced.
If your car isn’t equipped with a roll cage, subframe reinforcements, or chassis bracing, it may develop weak points under the constant stress of aggressive drifting. However, this is more common in older vehicles that may already have structural weaknesses.
Solution: Reinforcing your car’s chassis with subframe braces, strut bars, and a roll cage can help prevent frame damage and increase the car’s overall rigidity, leading to better performance and less risk of long-term damage.
How to Minimize Drift Damage
While drifting can indeed cause wear and tear on your car, there are steps you can take to minimize the damage and keep your car in good condition for longer.
- Regular Maintenance: The most important thing you can do is maintain your car meticulously. This means regularly changing your oil, checking your suspension, and inspecting your drivetrain components for wear.
- Upgrade to Performance Parts: Investing in high-quality, drift-specific components can help reduce the strain on your car. SLRspeed’s angle kits, toe plates, and low profile car ramps make it easier to manage your car’s alignment and performance, giving you the tools you need to maintain your car in top shape.
- Use Proper Tires: Be prepared to go through tires frequently, but using harder compound tires on the rear can help reduce the cost while maintaining traction. Always have spares ready for drift days.
- Improve Cooling: Drifting puts a lot of strain on your engine and transmission. Installing oil coolers, upgraded radiators, and keeping an eye on temperature gauges can help prevent overheating.
- Reinforce the Chassis: If you’re serious about drifting, consider reinforcing the chassis with subframe reinforcements and braces. This can prevent frame damage and increase handling stability.
- Monitor Brake Wear: Drifting requires precise braking, especially if you’re using the hand brake to initiate slides. Upgrading your brake system and regularly checking your pads and rotors can reduce wear and improve performance.
Final Thoughts: Is Drifting Worth the Damage?
Yes, drifting can cause wear and tear on your vehicle, but with the proper maintenance and upgrades, you can reduce the impact and keep your car running smoothly. At SLRspeed, we offer high-quality parts like angle kits, toe plates, carbon fiber shift knobs, and low profile car ramps to help you maintain your car for drifting.
The key is to be proactive with your car’s care, upgrading weak points before they become problems, and staying on top of maintenance. Drifting is an incredible experience, and with the right setup and attention to detail, the potential damage can be managed to keep your car sliding for years to come.
Explore SLRspeed’s full range of drift-specific products to upgrade your car and keep it performing at its best, whether you’re hitting the track or drifting in a local competition.
