Does anyone know where I could find some information on drifting imprezas in general? I'd also like some impreza specific information about suspension parts/tuning for drifting (if they exist). Thanks to anyone who can help me!

It has to do more about the drivetrain than suspension.
Drifting requires LSD in any drift car.
In case of Impreza, get rear LSD and possibly CUSCO tarmac gear for the center diff. It'll make the torque split of 35/65.
You can make the car RWD too.

Softer suspension is easier for beginners because it's easier to shift weight, but as you get better at it, stiffer suspension will make the car snap really fast.

Ah, very intersting information, do you know where I could find more information about the CUSCO part your describing? I found a funny video with a CUSCO impreza and it looks as if they are installing a front lsd and testing it. The passenger looks very sick near the end :) I have a 2000 RS, I belive it already has a rear LSD but if it's not up to par I'm willing to replace it.

You want to drift with a GC8?

Just put the stickiest tires you can find on the front, and then leave the stock RE-92's on the rear. Guaranteed drift in wet and dry...

For better results, try michelin green X's.

drift for life =D i "drifted" in my stock gda...but then idk depends on what you consider drifting O_o

I can drift my car as it is. Although, i did a more "Initial-D" style drift when I had more understeer than I do now...

Note: All of Kostamojens drifting was done on a closed course under strict supervision (Autocross :p )

Definition of drift is not clear but if you want Initail D style which drift through a couple of turns continuously, then you'll need a proper set up (rear LSD). To me, drifting is turning into apex with oversteer. Sliding out after the apex is just sliding. Other people may disagree but there is no answer to this so it doesn't matter.

This movie is a good example of Impreza drift
http://www1.plala.or.jp/imf/drift/mov/02_10_13imf_free.rm
It's drifting all the time on the track. I don't think it's gripping even a second.

Unfortunately I haven't seen anybody on i-club with Cusco tarmac gear... The info is here, in Japanese though
http://www.cusco.co.jp/02ctlg/4lsd/lsd_tg.jpg
This or Driver's Control Center Diff (DCCD) will make drift a lot easier.

You can get the tail out in stock form, but you won't be able to continue the oversteer into the next turn without LSD. That's the difference between just slide or drifting (to me).

You'll probably find it easier to just start from 240SX or AE86 to drift. Impreza is not a good drift car because it's AWD and takes a lot of money to do it.

Nice video :)

~v6

another movie, this is what I consider drift
http://www1.plala.or.jp/imf/drift/mov/02_4_24imf.rm

One thing you have to be careful about the Cusco tarmac gear is.. it's not LSD so you'll need front and rear LSD. Stock viscous center diff is weak LSD but this one is open.

If you are serious.....

If you have adjustable sus. then adj. the rears stiffer than you normally would. Also consider altering your spring rates that way also if you are serious about drifting. Might or might not be streetable. Depending on your final set-up.

An LSD is mandatory for drifting. Something you can rebuild. Because you KNOW you will rebuild.

And about using stock crap tires for drifting, good idea to keep the cost down for when you are begining, but like all good drifters, you will need/want to to get stickier tires all away around so you can have better control. Look at every drifter in the D1 championships.

Also you will ulitmately want to up grade to wider rims, to increase track width and increase control. This all comes with skill and time. You dont see skinny-ass wheels on any of the drift cars comming out of Japan, even the hatchi's.

Of course, I.M.Humble.O.

-scu

HAH!!! I love it.

Got anymore? Thats great... I wonder how long your tires last doing that :D

~v6

Originally posted by V6turboTA
HAH!!! I love it.

Got anymore? Thats great... I wonder how long your tires last doing that :D

~v6

It's not me BTW, I found the movie on Japanese website. They had more before but looks like they are taken down already. I don't see many drifting Impreza movie around.

This guy uses HKS hyper coilovers
he says it's harsh on street but very easy to shift weight on track.

The one accurate thing about initial D and AWD drifting is that it takes pushing the car 100% to drift through a corner. I had to go into the corner too hot to actually do a drift and not just a powerslide like everyone does and thinks they are drifting... (I have a video of my car "powersliding": http://allaboutspeed.net/DriftingL.wmv )
Ive only done a real drift right once, attempted it twice but missed the exit of the corner the 2nd time, but I could reproduce it with a simular corner. No way would I try outside of an autocross... You have to push the car way to hard, it would be stupid to try on the street. And yes, I dont have any LSD at all and if you saw what I did in person (I WISH it got recorded! ARG) everyone would agree it was a real drift and would be aplauding after seeing it :( Oh well...

Originally posted by Shin RS
You want to drift with a GC8?

Just put the stickiest tires you can find on the front, and then leave the stock RE-92's on the rear. Guaranteed drift in wet and dry...

For better results, try michelin green X's.

How did I know you would post that:)

Shin did you want the other set of RE-92's I got?

Of course!

There's a test and tune this sunday right? MMmmm test and drift...

Originally posted by Shin RS
Of course!

There's a test and tune this sunday right? MMmmm test and drift...

Yeah, you are already 2 seconds faster than you closest competion so why not just goof off?

-scu

1st off: don't drift on the street, it's a really good way to mess up your car and hurt people / trees/ animals. If you want to be like Keiichi, or Takumi, or those Options guys, don't do it on public roads. If you do choose to purposefully lose traction on public roads, you would be wise to either block off the road (cones, friends' cars) or have a spotter drive in front of you to make sure everything's clear.

To make your car oversteer instead of understeer, you'll want more grip in the front than stock setup comes with. Stiffen up the rear suspension (increased spring rates, bigger swaybars, stiffer bushings & stuff like that), and either leave the front or only stiffen things a little bit compared to the rear.

Get more camber in front, and less in the rear, something like -2 (f) and -0.75 (r) ought to do well. Also add some caster in front, a la Whiteline Anti-Lift Kit.

Stiff sidewalled tires will help, super-sticky tires will make it tougher (you'll have more traction, so you'll have to react quicker, and you'll be at higher speeds when you lose control = more damage). I don't know what to do about that, maybe get crappy tires and overinflate them. Most 'sport' tires sold in america are sticky but w/ soft sidewalls. Bigger rims w/ crappy tires might do the trick, actually.

Look at Whiteline rear subframe lock bolts, I've heard they help.


Good luck 'drifting' , I think it's played out though. Try it on dirt or snow, you can go slower (slightly less danger, assuming the road's clear) and still have fun.

-scott-

I think I've just seen too much drifting the last three years cause now I don't even want to watch the stuff let alone take part in it. Expensive as hell on tires, very hard on the car and very few people have nice unsmashed up cars. Keep in mind the Options people roll through cars. Watch one of the drifting competition videos at the end up it they show some of the wrecks. If you've got alot of money to waste then go for it but if you don't then don't even start.

Thanks for all the great information guys. Yes, I have plenty of money to waste, plenty of daily drivers, and yes drifting as a scene is played out. I like to do it because I'm personally amused by it. I admit I've never even drifted a 4wd car, but I've drifted plenty of 240's and even a hachi a local so genrously trusted me with. Oh yeah, and If you are actually dumb enough to try this on a street or near objects like telephone poles, you deserve to crash ;) Now I just need to learn japanese so I can read these damn pages!

p.s. If this warm winter ever gives up and lets some snow fall, i plan on having some fun :D