What can I expect when launching?

[BIGGSIE]

I have seen the thread with pics of launches at the drag strip. I can't help but think how much stress that puts on the drivetrain and suspention. When I start going to the strip what can I expect to break, what are some weak points and wat has broken on your cars?

 

[Sephroth57]

hmm well just yesterday after installed some more parts i went to go take my car out for a run to see how it felt. It felt and sounded awesome after the external o2 dump and some tuning. i was at a light and wanted to test my launching with the new shit, light turns i drop it at 5k rpms, all 4 tires spinning for like 2 seconds, then they gripped and i was gonnnne. it was badass... then later on i heard a clunk kind of noise when i turn.... so i think i broke a CV joint or something i dunno i dont deal with suspension crap i took it right to the shop. its there now... dunno what broke yet

moral of the story, youre gonna break shit. you can break cv joints, balljoint, axle. who knows.. one of the downfalls of AWD :thumbdown

 

[riceburner]

if you still have a stock clutch you might as well go buy one now because it will only last for a handful of hard launches before you get slippage and dsm's aren't known for the stongest trannys either but these are all things youll find out if you run your car hard alot ( i should know im one my third tranny and second clutch in a year)

 

[Sephroth57]

well goodyear says its not anything with the suspension they suspect the front differential.... godamnit. off to the transmission shop....

 

[paranoidTSi]

I had the unfortunate time of purchasing my DSM from a moron that didn't even bother to change the oil regularly...and he had it for enough time (1yr) to do some damage. He used to honda launch it (redline and dump it) not very pretty, on top of that he was on 18" rims.

He did this constantly after he got the 18s so that would be about 3 months....

The stock clutch held out quite well for another 8 or so months being under my care.

Here is the list of stuff that broke on the car which I believed to be from excessive launching:
- CV Axles..both in the front
- Ball Joint
- Alignment was screwed up enough to cause uneven wear in the tire...in fact a new tire would last maybe 3 months on this.
- CV Joints, both in front
- Had to buy 4 new tires


All in all if you were to take it to a shop it'd cost around 1 grand give or take.

So I believe launching takes the biggest hit on suspension components. I think the Transmission (at least in a 2G) and motor are the least of launch worries unless your car has high horsepower (400+)

 

[riceburner]

this is very rare but i know two people this happened to the clutch exploded and it caused the flywheel to fly apart ( one guy the flywheel ended up going through his hood but he has over 900hp from his) im not trying to scare you just saying stuff ive seen from hard awd launches