Does Drifting Damage Your Car?

For driving enthusiasts, drifting is a unique technique in which the driver oversteers purposefully, and this causes the rear tires to lose their grip on the road. Many drivers find drifting to be cool, but many of them may not be aware of the potential damages to the car caused by it.

If you are wondering, is drifting bad for your car, you need to keep in mind that the rear tires of your vehicles may not last long from the friction. It would help replace them, but it all depends on your drifting session.

Other than that, exterior damages are the most common damages caused by drifting. No matter how experienced you are, you are sure to lose control and crash into something if you are into drifting.

How does drifting work?

Drifting happens when the vehicle's rear slips because the rear tires start losing their grip. Although the rear of the car will kick out, the driver remains in control, allowing the rear end to slip, but this can be compensated by having the front tires apply force in the opposite direction.

It is worth mentioning that drifting is controlled oversteering, and oversteering can happen when you steer too much and accelerate the vehicle very fast. When extreme force is applied to the rear tires for the handling of the grip, then this can cause the back end to kick out and the car to spin.

Therefore, it is essential to compensate for the lost grip on the rear tires by turning the steering in the opposite direction. This way, the car will not lose control.

Why do people love drifting?

People find drifting to be fun.

Drifting can indeed be challenging, but it can also be satisfying when done correctly. When people are on track, every corner becomes a mission for them to nail the drift. You must remember that drifting can be dangerous, as losing control can cause the car to spin, proving fatal.

It keeps the RPM up

Many track racers perform drifting for its speed. When taking a corner, the driver needs to lower the speed and the car's RPM and then rev the RPM up. Therefore, it becomes possible to quickly regain the initial momentum because the acceleration and the RPM are still in place.

It helps the vehicle to get correctly positioned.

Positioning of the vehicle is another main reason for drifting. When drift is performed on a sharp corner, the car gets positioned correctly to go straight ahead. It means that drifting can help save split seconds, which is about winning or losing the racing.

What damages does drifting cause?

Damage to the tires

Damage caused to the tires is the most obvious because the tires can generate friction and heat when you drift. This can quickly wear out the tires, and sometimes, even smoke can come off the tires when people drift. Usually, the drifters bring a set of tires, and they can quickly swap them when a pair of tires wear out during a session.

Car body damages

Although the internal damages are more critical, drifting also causes external damage to the vehicles. These exterior damages are pretty standard, and no matter how good a drifter is, he is bound to lose control and crash into something. Injuries to the bumper and skirting are the most common body damage types.

Wear on different engine parts

Many stress and heat are caused by drifting on the vehicle’s engine parts. Suspension and clutch are the most common ones, but some extra pressure gets placed on the suspension when one takes a high-speed corner. If the vehicle isn't already equipped with the coil overs, then the stock suspension spring may not last for a long time.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that drifting gives an exciting edge to the drivers during racing events, but it is not something to be tried out in real-life circumstances. It is not as easy as it looks in movies and is undoubtedly bad if you lose control. If you are wondering, 'is drifting bad for your car?' you should keep in mind that it can cause wear and tear damages to your vehicle, while it can also cause your transmission and clutch to overheat, thus causing massive injuries.