Battle Magazine — March 1997

…the ideal setup differs with the road surface, tires, and so on. A car that drifts easily downhill will not necessarily drift easily uphill. At minimum, I want separate setups for wet and dry mountain roads and for the circuit. Based on what I have tried so far with the AE92, the setup that makes the rear step out most easily is shown in the table. Use this as a starting point and adjust it to your own skill…

…then work toward a setup closer to stock while considering your skill and how accustomed you are to the car. Brake work, clutch work, and caster angle are other factors, but I will leave those for another time. Once you know the course and settle on a setup, you can also do inertia drifts and flick transitions without the handbrake. All you FF drivers, keep at it! Team “F-dori and Friends” is recruiting members.

A6 = X. Upgrading only the front makes front lock more likely and causes understeer under braking. A7 = X. The rear may step out, but the front/rear balance is badly disturbed and handling becomes unstable. A8 = X. Change the springs or fit adjustable-height suspension; ordinary aftermarket springs should not cause this. A9 = X. Rear traction falls, making throttle control during a power slide harder. A10 = △. It depends on degree: a modest increase, around 1–2 mm, may be acceptable; for a large increase, consider balance with the front stabilizer. A11 = X. Normally use the same tires front and rear; otherwise the tail may swing out dangerously in fast corners. Improve your skill instead. A12 = △.

A12: It is acceptable if the front also has reasonably uprated pads, but dangerous if only the rear bites strongly and the front remains stock. A13 = O. With an LSD, drifting is possible even on stock suspension. A14 = △. If you are dissatisfied with handling, it may be worth trying, but be cautious because extreme front/rear imbalance can be dangerous. A15 = △. It depends on how much; acceptable if ground clearance remains at least 9 cm. A16 = X. The spring or shock may not suit the car, or may be from a different maker. It might not come loose, but it will not stroke properly and is dangerous. A17 = X. It may work mechanically, but violates regulations and can earn a ticket; cutting also changes spring rate and can be unsafe. A18 = X. If the car is not bouncy, the spring is probably stiff; an oil leak means the shock has failed—replace it promptly. A19 = O. Some gymkhana tuners use one stock pad and one modified pad per wheel pair, on the outer or inner side; do the same on both sides. A20 = X. Shocks are matched front to rear; use the same brand. Used shocks may be worn and are not recommended.