How To Setup a SOLID AXLE For DRIFTING. Can it be THE BEST?

In this video, we'll go through the various modifications you can make to your solid axle car to make it more suitable for drifting. We'll cover topics such as shocks, control arm geometry, and spring rates, explaining how each of these modifications can affect the way your car handles.
The goal is to help fine-tune your car to your personal driving style, and give more confidence to drive hard!
As stated in the video, some of the parts on my car are “not ideal” for drifting but we have had success with them, so use at your own risk.
If you’d like to support and grab some mech, check out fun-haver.com

[@MrMcleod89]

Chassis and suspension setup is something that I really enjoy. I'm no expert myself, I just love learning how different disciplines and different people inside of those disciplines get ever little edge out of their car. Although time isn't "free" dialing in parts that you already own is theoretically free. It's something that can make a budget build great and fun to drive.

[@stenooo2439]

Same for me. I especially love that Chelsea has been getting into setting up older Ford stuff since I drift an sn95 mustang.

[@jstample]

There just doesn’t seem to be a ton of in-depth info on setting up a non-IRS drift car out there so this channel has taught me a ton and given me some direction on setup

[@chE3z1]

@@jstample You'd think there would be more considering how popular the AE86 is though

[@tea5264]

Cannot wait to apply of this knowledge to my 60hp corolla

[@kennethgamble5498]

Love these technical and in depth videos

[@King-Zeekhiel]

Same really enjoyed and learned some more myself🙏🏼🤙🏼

[@JCaviness_Drift]

I always felt like I struggled understanding solid axle suspension but I definitely feel like I have a better idea of the concept now

[@timelessdave]

Thank you for explaining it in such an easy to understand way. I have a notepad with notes from your previous suspension video that I keep in the car for reference. Awesome video thanks for all the helpful info!

[@Phil60084]

Man… this video is a gem! Simple explanation of difficult concepts!

[@Dildon]

I’m really enjoying these technical suspension videos, not only the fox body video but the other ones are very educational and extremely helpful. Please do more of these

[@CC-vm3lb]

Loving these new videos. This is going to really help grow your channel. 15-20mins is my favorite. I struggle to get in your 56 minute videos but enjoy them all.

[@vandettabuilds6641]

Dude you always have so much information it’s insane!!! Terrific video!!! Thank you

[@R32BIGBOYPANTS]

I like watching these videos. Always has alot of information that help you advance in suspension and set up knowledge 👌🏼

[@jeremybelbeck2860]

beauty, this is perfect. We will be on the rear sus tuning in our own dirftfox in a couple of weeks once the powerplant is back together and in place, so the timing is impeccable. thanks!

[@Dusty.Does.it.]

This is exactly what I would imagine his videos be. He’s very technical and talented. Love the ecoboost but I’m considering a L3B GM 4cyl With the dual volute system might be a great competitor.

[@JonezN4k]

Ayo that pan hard bar car, bar was hard! get this man a mixtape. 🔥🔥

[@White_Fox_5.0]

My brain

[@Ben_here_b4]

Love hearing your knowledge on suspension geometry and your experience with it, super cool stuff!

[@angelmotorsports]

Gonna bring your my rx7 to set up my solid axle soon 😂

[@foamdataservices]

This is a colab we all want to see!

[@nebraskaskater]

This couldnt have come at a better time. Just picked up a New Edge SN95 and am figuring out what parts to order and how to setup. Thank you!

[@FrankFlatOut]

I’ve been waiting for this. I have a 08 drift car and I’m wanting to learn more on how to make it faster with what I got.

[@michaelr5545]

YES !!! Thank you for sharing your wisdom. Nerding out on topics like this is what I want to watch. Keep em coming ! I'd like to hear about how you've set up your ae86. Solid axle car but very different overall. After you get it dialed in I'd appreciate a video breakdown

[@bennyb.1742]

YES! I've been hoping you'd make this video ever since you built the fox. Thanks Chelsea. What about a Watts Link? Watts setups are pretty off the shelf for 8.8 rear ends and let you screw around with roll center.

[@chelseadenofa]

Trash for drifting. They over extend and cause a really unbalanced ramp of grip. The theory is there, it just doesn’t work with how soft and much you need the rear end to move. The pivot would have to be 30” long lol.

[@bennyb.1742]

@@chelseadenofa No shit? Thanks man! I was going to build one for my car in the spring. Just saved me a lot of hassle.

[@1Jestr1]

​@@bennyb.1742same here! I'll focus more on other areas after watching this. Live axle drift life!

[@EdiZaxBest]

What a piece of information!!! Love it!

[@mxmang]

This is the best video of its type. Thanks Chelsea

[@lb9gta307]

Afer all these years of hearing people discount live axle cars (despite the championships they've won in FD Pro and Pro 2) it's nice to hear a pro that those people look up to explain at least this type of live axle suspension and show that they do work.

[@brendannunya77]

Love these tech tips mate. Thanks

[@TearothDK]

This is great stuff, Chelsea! I'll experiment a bit with this on my KE70.

[@timhelton4288]

Really appreciate the shared knowledge. It keeps me from wasting time and hard earned money with a setup that doesn’t work well.

[@mudvayne9790]

Love the informational content. I don’t understand most of it but it’s still interesting. I’ll learn little by little

[@buildingsalvage]

10:30 wow I thought I knew a decent bit about suspension but that a new one. Man love these technical videos

[@troygreen2727]

Yo thanks for the video bruh ! The foxbody mustang is my favorite I’m still waiting too get mine this video is going too help me a lot building my car . I really hope you get this car up too your drifting spec and find out how too make this thing slide like your BMW’s or get super close 🔥😎💪🏽

[@lancecrowe2565]

Great geometry lesson.

[@dan1906]

Outstanding. How about a video like this on the trailing arm E-chassis BMWs? Seems like you would be the guy for that.

[@chelseadenofa]

I have done them. Check my page. ALSO, e36/46 would be similar to this solid axle.

[@loii88]

I found the same upfront to be true as you, but i run a super stiff front swaybar. Also forward bite seemed to improve with lower anti squat, that is on a custom 3link rear setup in a volvo 940. Thanks for the great suspension videos.

[@gloriousimpactdeath877]

Chelsea this is awesome! cant wait to see a video on setting up a low power 86 to be easier to drive

[@foamdataservices]

More Super Science from Dr Drift and that’s fine with me! Great content lately.

[@cheynelehnick7291]

Can't even watch yet but throwing the like and comment before I forget because I've been waiting on this breakdown. Just starting to touch the rear end of my drift fox

[@The_DriftStang]

This helped so much I love you

[@korbinbarkhouse2873]

Very informative, I'd like to see a video like this on the corolla with a panhard bar 4 link setup. I've got an ae72 corolla with a 8.8 rear end and all the adjustments available. I'd be super interested in hearing your thoughts on setting that up properly.

[@dustinedmonds3635]

Thanks for the technical videos. These chassis dominate local dirt tracks in the mininstock classes, which is practically drifting. Might be able to look into that market for suspension help and needs. C-clip eliminators are well worth the hassle. Bouncing a axle, loosing the factory c-clip out, and then loosing the axles is no fun.

[@tonistaru]

this is the best type of free knowledge

[@R19Robbin]

These videos are always so interesting to watch 👌

[@garlenseong38]

Definitely alot more science n stuff that goes into setting up suspension on a drift car....

[@IDlikeanEvo]

Great video !

[@mattiaskarlsson1718]

Good information, this is interesting👍🏼 We have a lot of solid axle drift cars in Sweden, but way to many doesnt adjust their cars 😅

[@autosenses2960]

insane knowledge learned. Awesome.

[@raulzombiemachete]

I relocated my sway bar on my 98 on the front with some homemade brackets. Lowered and moved further back from its original mounting point on the chassis. No more wheel rub.

[@wakemanfussell1351]

This is great I’m in the process of building a drift fox

[@salsavillo9146]

Great video

[@nismofreak33]

dude, thankyou so much for this!

[@tim_misfitmfg]

Solid axle setup is pretty crazy.

[@KitTheGearhead]

Awesome videos. Good Job on the stang it looks like a fun drive. Shifting the tops of the rear shock inboard would help the natural movement of the axel and improve your side load resistance. It is not a easy modification since the the frame rail doesnt allow for it and only solution is to go inboard is with cantiliver setup but it will help keep the left and right ballance especially mid corner.

[@chelseadenofa]

Yea! I agree!

[@driftergonewild]

Awesome! Good info!

[@Its_Mike_Myke]

Good info. I have feal true style coilovers on my set up with a pan hard bar. I also have a torque arm that I’ve been thinking about putting on. I’m just worried that the torque arm will want to straighten out the cccar off throttle. Would love to see you so the Panhard bar and torque arm to get a professional comparison

[@rickmitchell5415]

Way to teach yourself,nice job

[@eddiej7011]

Really awesome video! How do you feel about differences with short and longer wheelbase affects in drift cars?

[@Barry.ONeill]

Hey Chelsea if you look up the fully floating atlas axel they use in Mk2 escort tarmac rally cars the fancy ones have toe adjustableity. They use equal length 4 link and a Watts linkage instead of a pan hard bar .

[@shaunfitzgerald7181]

Have you looked into a "J bar" setup as opposed to the panhard bar? We have used them in the dirt racing world for years and I believe it would be hugely beneficial in this application. A little fabrication required but you can really fine tune the roll center and the way the car reacts on and off throttle. Might be worth looking into especially when you go to a quick change.

[@chelseadenofa]

Yea i feel that might be the ticket

[@86Spain]

what a masterclass

[@Chris.Pendarvis]

Thanks for the video man. I was just trying to figure out how to set up my rear end in the colorado that I’m building. Chris Rudnik and I are having a friendly build off and drifting is part of it. Maybe you can drive the truck and give me some pointers on the suspension! Lmk

[@kellysandford1877]

Great video. What are your thoughts on a torque arm setup?

[@Driftbox29]

Can you please do a video like this , but about the e36/46 chassis. I know you talked a little bit about it. But I’d love to hear in details what each adjustment and changes does to the car just like this video! 🙏🙏🙏

[@layneberry833]

You know what’s crazy is I have been wondering how solid axle works and how they set it up!

[@mikespeedyfpv321]

Cool video

[@patocallaghan3648]

You should use a five link or six link.both work very well and are easy to set up

[@drfresh1566]

Thanks for the video. What are the long lasting tires are you useing?

[@silversixxx]

have you tried using roto-joints vs poly or straight heim joints? they help make the car more predicable over bad bumps, road changes. along with a watts link its the closest thing you can get to that feeling of an IRS car

[@nunya2814]

I know this is an older video, but if you havent gotten the torque boxes reinforced yet, i would think that would be a must with a car with so much rear end travel.

[@keenankircher7492]

PLEASE do a video showing how you have the front sway bar setup, everyone says to just get rid of it with angle on these cars and I can’t find how to have lots of angle and keep the bar

[@ToreDL87]

From what a muscle car guy told me, triangular 4-link = No Panhard needed (If set up right). AE86's and cars like that have triangular but really mild angle = Why they need a Panhard.

[@AndyHall-gl3ih]

Chelsea, so far do you prefer this set up over a BMW trailing arm rear end? Thank you for the informative video!

[@sirhoonsalot6672]

Nice, I imagine all the spherical bushings take the bind out of the triangulated 4 link. I see a lot of road race guys going to torque arm; have you ever played around with that setup?

[@MrMonkeyworld9]

to get around the bent panhard with the winters use a watts link setup, if you look at Mk2 Escort rally suspension that would probably be the best setup, with 4 parallel bars and a watts link it allows you to have lots of travel with no deflection, its what all solid axle rally cars run in europe.

[@chelseadenofa]

Watts link isn’t ideal for drift cars as you over center it and lose drive

[@volcom514]

Traction brackets!! You should do a side by side comparison with the corolla and the Fox body they both have very similar set ups. Solid rear end geometry. Have you thought of going equal length on the upper arms or even a Watts linkage. Both set ups are used on solid rear ends they may have different names. I like the tie rod set up it’s genius!

[@chelseadenofa]

Ooo that’s a great name, better than mine haha.

[@growlith6969]

Not directly related to the content of this video, but I'm deciding on a car to build and a SN95 is top of the list just for making something super reliable, easy to work on, aftermarket, and cost. But something I can't really pin down is whether the Ford small blocks need oiling help. I know Vaughn used to run one in the Fun Haver Fox, do you know if they (302, 351) work okay or starve for oil in drift application? Thanks for this vid by the way, never really thought about the front end hammering weight down on the rear when angle is applied.

[@angeloah]

Everywhere you turn there’s opinions, yours come from an honest place. Respect to you, I value your insights, because you earn them on track trying. I always tell my kids, they only see you(not you, my kids lol) because you’re trying something new. No one fails or succeeds when they sit and theorize about what they might do. You’re missed out west dude, thanks again for your honest approach.

[@joshpittman2939]

Hey Chelsea just wanted to say I love your style just big angle lots of throttle running doors sort of attitude

[@crfrider2005]

Ever look at maximum motorsports toque arm? Ik your not a fan of the panhard but ik some are having good luck with their setup and we ran one in a autocross car years ago.

[@20dashysta]

What sway bar are you using and how are you mounting it is what I would like to know. Most angle kits you have to delete the stock sway bar in order get more angle and not make contact from the wheel to the sway bar.

[@noelagarcia86]

I was going to talk to you at Fuel Fest yesterday about this, but you seemed busy. lol. I find it interesting that you run heim joints on the upper control arms. Maybe you have more insight on this, but because of the angle of those arms, wouldn’t the binding of those arms cause a loss of grip with heim joints? I would expect a better result with rubber bushings. Also, the potential damage of the torque boxes with heim joints. Anyway, just wondering about what you think about that.

[@caseysnt5]

Can you explain wht you got going on for the front setup at some point? Thanks 🙏

[@shwagondawheels]

Have you seen the maximum motorsports torque arm? My friend that has a fox let me run his with this at a wet auto x and man was it neutral when sliding. Not sure if that may benefit your setup. I may have gotten the stank eye a bunch that day haha... I know with that rear torque arm you can ditch the upper arms but I'm not sure if he did.

[@stevewyz6330]

How does a torque arm factor in SRA dynamics?

[@goneriggin]

New drinking game: Drink when Chelsea says “side bite”

[@andrew_s612]

Will you and BC be working on a true rear coilover setup for this chassis?

[@bobbarker3781]

Is the C clip better ? I thought it was the other way around. You give great Info. Thanks

[@chelseadenofa]

C clip eliminators are great for drag cars, less than ideal for Motorsports use. Best to keep the c clips for street and side loading stuff

[@nzuncovered1845]

So are those rear 4 link arms fixed bushing like standard bonded ones? Or do they allow full slip? So do they have no restriction on movement? Doesn't that effect anti squat?

[@darraghspencer5054]

If you could do the same kind of video going through e46 suspension it would be greatly appreciated 😅

[@chelseadenofa]

I have done it on e36. It’s on my channel

[@matthewbillman8927]

Could do a parallel 4 link with a wishbone.

[@hocinetahar4264]

🔥🔥

[@beartodrift5345]

Are you planning to make and sell those upper control arm brackets?

[@full_sending_daily]

What size wheels are these and specs? Trying to get my fronts to clear the angle kit with same size tires.

[@CarbonLexus]

Are you running a lot of preload on the shocks in the rear? I put a set on my 03 and it’s stiff as hell. Hardly any bounce at all? Is that good for drifting? Do I need to to adjust so it will move more?

[@1Jestr1]

I've noticed you have no rear sway bar in this car, how how you found this effects the chassis?

[@matthewa2055]

What rear anti squat brackets are those ?

[@jtbuilds9176]

So my question is that if you say do not use c-clip eliminaters but have a spool, how do you keep the axles in place being you cannot c-clip in a spool. The only other options are a mini spool which those will ruin your day very fas as soon as you start sliding with it and the other option would be a locker but the only reliable way to lock is with air because I have also seen the e-lockers go down very fast when drifting. Currently I am running the carbon fiber ford gt500 clutches in a lsd setup but want true lock and I know the only viable options are air locked or full spool which requires the eliminaters.

[@dikkodikko6262]

Are you going to make a video on setting up E30s/E36ti for drift?

[@chelseadenofa]

Check out my 318ti subframe videos

[@IanTrd]

Could you do one on the Corolla to explain that style comparison to the fox chassis.

[@chelseadenofa]

It’s very similar to everything I explained

[@salsavillo9146]

I know it's not something you would use on that car because you want a quick change. But I wonder how a Watts Link setup handle

[@tommyjay4770]

You should go torque arm!

[@Wojtgaw]

I would love to drive a car that you setup before

[@rosshettel]

So with independent rear suspension, I've read that stiffer springs/sways in the rear and a softer, looser setup in the front is a good setup for drifting, funny that it seems the opposite is true for a solid axle car

[@chelseadenofa]

That is false for any drift car. If anyone tells you to do that. They aren’t helping you.

[@Lego7Man]

Is there a reason you don't run a sway bar in the rear?