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View Full Version : Review: Driftspeed High Angle Knuckles


vvtisupra
09-28-2010, 02:51 PM
Not too long ago i sent my car to driftspeed to have them do their driftspeed high angle kit on my 240.

Background on my car

300 hp, rarely street driven, Just Drift Top Drift contender.

my car hadn't been align forever so i just let them do evertying.

Front wheel specs 18X9.5 +22 with a 20mm spacer so effectively 18X9.5 +2 with a 225/40/18 Federal RSR At full lock the wheels rub the frame rail even after being hammered down. I feel as if a 17X9 -15 would be the shiet.

Despite rubbing frame i can make a Uturn with probably about a 1.5 lane radius. My friend with the same setup but with 17X9 0 can make it slightly tighter.


Steering response is very similar to aftermarket tie rods + spacers on a stock knuckle. The tie rods installed were longer but did not use spacers.

Strength wise i have not seen any issues. I haven't really dropped a wheel at full lock but i have extended the angle enough to get the wobble numberous of times and the car still drives straight.

On the track. With the alignment settings Koji suggested similar to their S15 the steering felt responsive but not overly heavy. Camber maxed out was ~ -3.5 deg i think. I did notice with square sidewalls at a certain point the wheel wanted to go full lock. A tire with more stretch will be more progressive

Testing grounds- Balcony Version 3 Top Drift Series Final Round.

Steeering response is awesome. Many of you are familiar with the track lay out. On entry weight transfer is effortless. Even with running 255's in the rear i had enough steering reponse to flick the car into the turn without clutch kicking to break loose. This is super beneficial to my drivetrain as it is all stock transmission/axels and driveshafts which lasted me a whole season and hopefully a lot more seasons (knock on wood).

Switching back. Switching back after a downshift from 3rd to second at full throttle was cake. Again i am impressed how similar the steering rate is to my old set up (stock knuckles, Tein Tie rods/ spacers /ends) but with tons more angle. Its seriously really hard to spin this car !

Steering lock (or lack there of), I hit full lock quite a lot.... well full lock is relative as the only thing that prevented me from getting more angle was my wheel rubbing against the frame. I didn't really notice a lock up like S13's get when they over extend the tie rod. Major plus because i hate having to fight the wheel to bring it back


Mid angle steering, was also on point. I contribute this to the steering ratio again. Around the green brick thing along the haybails i was able to set the steering angle early which was a mid angle turn and go wide open throttle along the haybails. This served as a plus because thats where I was able to make tremendous smoke.


Slow speed High angle situations... generally i see end up in a catastrophy, with a spin.... not with these bad boys. Coming off the haybails and hitting the last judge clipping point I was able to rotate that car to the point where it was an illusion of spinning and was able to maintain angle and keep the drift and really slow it down during tandem. Plus because with the added smoke created the illusion of spinning which keeps followers on their toes and always thinking. Sort of like a psych out.

End result 3rd place.


Not bad considering the awesome talent that is always at Top Drift series.

Pictures will come soon

I don't speak for Driftspeed. I'm just a fan of their service and products and knowledge.

don't ask me on pricing as I am not sure because they have several package deals. You'll have to hit them up.


In the end i am very satisfied with the product. I heart super sick steering angle. Now I can enter like a boss and not be afraid of spinning.

fckillerbee
09-28-2010, 02:57 PM
legit steve...must post pictures...and I want to drive this beast.

Csomme
09-28-2010, 06:00 PM
Great review. All it needs is pictures. I want to see the knuckles as well as your pics from the event!

Would you mind sharing your front alignment? A lot of people run crazy different alignments with knuckles. Mainly, what's you're toe and caster like in the front?

vvtisupra
09-28-2010, 06:24 PM
hahah to be honest toe was set as close to zero as possible and caster was set to whatever won't hit the front of the tub or the back of the tub

aled
09-28-2010, 07:55 PM
Great Review.
I'm in for pictures as well. I'm looking forward to adding a Super Angle Kit to my car.

Thanks fer sharing.

SinGarage
09-29-2010, 11:09 AM
Thanks for the review. I was actually looking at these a couple of weeks ago when I was down there the first time.

My first impression of Driftspeed:

Said hello within a minute of walking in the store. Asked if I had any questions. Very helpful and knowledgeable staff. Had a variety of quality parts. Also have In house dyno and tuning. Only thing was the salesman was not in that Saturday so no definitive pricing on some items I inquired about.

Overall good impression and I will definitely try them out.

vvtisupra
09-30-2010, 01:34 AM
hope pictures will pop up soon

found a video. Its hard to see how much angle i'm steering with but what you can see are the switch backs and the ability to steer using throttle once the angle is set. mashed on the gas and let it rip!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXere7XBP10&feature=related

wow-thats-a-cool-car
09-30-2010, 01:59 AM
they make more angle but do they correct the roll centre like the pbm ones?

Csomme
09-30-2010, 09:03 AM
If they dont you could always tackle that yourself.

vvtisupra
09-30-2010, 09:34 AM
Devin what do you mean by roll center correction?

Are you talking about lowering the control arm height by modifying the spindle. I'd have to look into the pbm part to see how they would accomplish that. I know moon eyes has roll center correction ball joints that raise the spindle height.

Haven't really looked at the driftspeed knuckle much so I am not sure. But i can't imagine my low offset wheels and lowered stance helps much to benefit "roll center"

and in all honesty while sliding at full lock i don't think roll center is a priority. You might say it can affect switching back and transfer of weight, but you also have to keep in mind the effects of "jacking" with changing scrub radius by changing wheel offset and or adding spacers to accept more steering angle.

maybe if you're road racing.... but then again you'll also deal with ackerman issues.

I'm just happy there are no binding issues with my driftspeed setup at full lock

vvtisupra
09-30-2010, 09:59 AM
photos are copyrighted by my boy drew

My car is the hps stickered one
my friends is the white one minus the hps stickers

All sizes | DSC_0668 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/buttoneyephoto/5038674948/sizes/m/in/set-72157625065034946/)

All sizes | DSC_0441 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/buttoneyephoto/5038671974/sizes/m/in/set-72157625065034946/)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/buttoneyephoto/5038671974/sizes/m/in/set-72157625065034946/