JDM: Japanese Drift Master delivers a true simcade experience, allowing you to explore the scenic roads of Guntama at your own pace. Whether you prefer to cruise leisurely, dive into the story of Touma and his friends, or fine-tune your ride to dominate the drift and grip scenes, the game offers something for every driving enthusiast.
Tuning your car can feel overwhelming at first, given the wide range of customizable parts and performance stats you can tweak, but no worries - we got you! To make things more straightforward, we’ve created a video guide to help you navigate the tuning shops and build your perfect machine.
Check out the Drift Tuning Presentation video:
How to Tune a Drift Car
We are aware that each driver has their own unique playstyle and preferences, so we encourage you to experiment with different combinations and settings. Adapting a car for drifting involves many variables, but a few core rules always hold true - you can think of them as a base during your fine-tuning adventure. What are they?
- For optimal drifting performance, you’ll want to maximize horsepower and torque. In fact, you can never have too much power, especially when you lose some of your speed through heavy friction. And while the engine follows the rule of "the stronger, the better", the suspension setup is where the real magic happens.
- Lowering the suspension is the best way to increase stability when drifting. The same goes for stiffer suspension variants, which will provide a grounded, road-hugging sensation while keeping tilting and rocking to a minimum.
- Invest in a proper angle kit, being an essential element during long, deep drifts and maximize your turning range.
- The wheel alignment and tilt adjustments are so unique and varied as drivers of Guntama themselves. Do not hesitate to experiment, although if you'd like, you can back up your decisions with these suggestions: negative tilt for the front wheels and slight toe-out alignment near-zero degrees for the rear wheels.
Do you still feel like you need more specific information and examples? Be sure to take advantage of the sample drifting setup down below.
Sample drifting setup - ready for you to use and modify!
Handling:
- Use Fully Adjustable Coilover Suspension, stiffer sway bars and adjustable control arms to fine-tune your wheel angles.
- Choose a professional steering system (angle kit) to maximize turning range.
- A welded differential is recommended for maintaining a consistent drift.
- Nitrous has minimal impact on drift handling (such insights will mainly benefit the most experienced players and are tailored to their personal preferences), so focus on suspension and steering instead. On the other hand, you may want to mount larger, more powerful brakes.
Suspension Height:
- Lower the car, so the wheels sit just inside the wheel arches, but ensure they don’t rub when driving. This change will grant you more stability on the road.
- Stiffen the suspension to prevent excessive body roll, but don't overdo it. For drifting, a more balanced suspension setup that allows for controlled body roll and weight transfer is generally preferred, as it helps to maintain the balance between traction and slip, making the car more responsive to throttle inputs.
Wheels and Alignment:
- Front wheels: Tilt them to around -3 degrees for better turn-in response.
- Rear wheels: The rule here is simple - if you have tuned a car with much horsepower, keep them close to 0 degrees to maintain the best traction.
- Wheel alignment: Slightly toe-out (-0.2) the front wheels and toe-in (+0.1) the rear wheels.
Put your garage to good use
We hope you enjoyed this look at drift-oriented car tuning and picked up some valuable tips on modifying your car in JDM: Japanese Drift Master! Our goal is to provide a realistic yet accessible tuning system, ensuring that all players - whether newcomers or seasoned enthusiasts - can enjoy the thrill of customization and performance optimization. No matter what challenges you take on in the game, you’ll have the tools to build an incredible machine that suits your playstyle.
If you have any questions about tuning mechanics, feel free to ask in the comments or join our Discord server, where our team is always excited to welcome new members to the community. Don’t forget to ‘Follow’ the game on Steam for the latest updates and announcements! The launch is almost here - see you on the streets of Guntama on May 21st, 2025!
Let’s Drift,
Gaming Factory
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