OK, I don't want to sound like an irresponsible hoon, but I've got an 86 VL Commodore Exec (Auto) and the rear tyres need replacing soon. However, before I replace them, I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to chop them up a bit... The problem is, I'm worried about my car, being 16 Years old and all, and after hearing countless problems with LSDs, I'm worried that I will do more harm than simply needing to replace 2 Tyres. I'm sure a lot of you go cuttin' it up all the time, is it safe enough to do it in a plain, stock as they come, not to mention old, VL? Or is the poor thing not cut out for that kind of action? :? Anyway, I'd like to hear your views on the subject, as I'm sure many people are unaware of what burnouts actually do to your car... 8O Thanx for the help 8) Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Burnouts and donuts are probably the worst way to drive your car. and if you have a stock exec VL, you don't have an LSD, so therefore you will only be able to smoke up one wheel. That is the right rear. It depends on what condition your car is in. I've done a couple of burnouts in my NA, one a 30 metre, the cars fine, but i'm not the kind of person who does them, i've done maybe two burnouts in 4 years i like to have grip on my tyres, and only buy tyres once a year.

Basically there are several things that could go majorly wrong in a burnout (apart from the obvious - losing control) if theres anything that's very worn, the load of a burnout can make it break/snap and this could be disasterious... be prepared that it could be a costly exercise - g/box could give, tailshaft, diff, even your motor if it's old and worn..

Hmmmm... Maybe I'll just stick them on my Dad's VS Ute while he's not around... 8) But then the wheels are smaller... Oh well. Also, I thought the stock VLs did have LSDs? Isn't that WHY it transfers power to one wheel? Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

not all VL's have LSD's - my VL V8 Calais doesn't... so I'll have to get one - hee heee )

burnouts will absolutely kill the gbox. especially if you dont upshift. inside the box spins 3 times faster than the axles/wheels 2nd band is always first to fry , and it frys very easy. just be weary of doing them

All that said - there's nothing like the fun of a burnout- yeahhhh... just know the possible consequences of your actions )

This is a burnout in my relatively stock n/a calais. mods done were basically an exhaust, minispool, and 3.9 diff gears. IT CAN BE DONE there are lots of things to watch out for - particularly, watch the temp... mine always stayed cool, but one of my mates with a VL used to come off the burnout pad with it almost overheating... dont go for too long at a time... warm the car up properly before hand, and make sure you have plenty of gearbox oil, engine oil, and coolant!... if you do it often, EXPECT things to break!, but 1 or 2 every now and again shouldnt be a problem (unless something was pretty much on its way out anyway)... if its lsd / minispooled, and it starts axle tramping, back off... if you really dont want to turn your brakes into a molten mess, clamp them off... and if you love your paint work, stop at the first sign of the steel belts coming out, and wash your car IMMEDIATELY afterwards, otherwise you may get chips or burnt-in rubber over your rear guards and bumper... i take NO responsibility where you do your burnout, or if anything breaks while you do it! [edit to fix link] Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

I did it for the first couple weeks after I got my car back, but **** tyres are to expensive to change every month.

I say go for it, the only advice you need in my opinion, is dont over rev it, like go into the red, could cause major damage. its hard to stay outta the red when doing burnouts especially in low gears, need to work the throttle Mick Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Actually, the only time when the car is under stress when doing a burn out, is WHEN its just got traction..... or more simply, the buildup to loose traction. For that 1 second or so, the car wrenches to break traction, after that, its just like its driving really..... if you keep the wheels spinning by tappnig the break and throttle control, its not harmful at all. thats why doing wheelies in the dry dosent load anything really... as you loose traction since the frictional force is only 50% in wet conditions. Therefore if you want to fry all day, and your weary about breaking something, a little bit of oil should do the trick, or some tyre polish If you do use oil, besure to either clean it up or put sand on it, as someone could have a serious accident due to your mischef. Burnouts are done better in a manual car anyway, as you can control the gears and revs. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Quote: if you have a stock exec VL, you don't have an LSD, so therefore you will only be able to smoke up one wheel. That is the right rear. haha yep.. thats right.. once u do the right rear.. just wack the tyre off the left side on the right and get back into the action again.. hehe my bro boiled the radiator coolant once.. haaha !! prolly cause we didnt have the fan on for that set of skids. :P have done heaps of hardcore skids in his car and its showing no bad signs at all.. in fact.. i think its good.. gives everything a good workout !! hahah ! hey Andy !! of course if u have the strength of the components on PSI03l, u can do skids like the one he dropped on that summernats mpeg with peace of mind. if ur scared of breaking things.. dont do skids ! simple !

Loosing traction on a silpperly surface (grass, dirt road) then continuing to lose traction to a hard surface (road) will **** your diff.

the effects will be your tyres getting bald and leaving large ammounts of rubber/wire all up the inside of the gaurds, put some card board there if you have the urge. I don't think it does much, i've never really done anything seriose in mine yet (just small things, like in the uni car park ) But i think it annoys people too, so don't do it in public if you're going to do it. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

just do it. its the only way to test if your car can do a skid and if you can control the skid, if ur going to be doing circles take it to an open area so u dont hit anything. but apart from that... rip it up. VL's love a good skid every now and then.

Well i've tried it out before in the wet, Standing still and getting it sideways a bit, but nothing too major, no risk of crashing that is... Getting the VL to spin in the wet with bald Tyres is a piece of piss... 8) Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

haha gettin the vl to spin on any surface with full tread is a piece of piss. doin a big static cant really be any worse than hittin the dyno.. only that the friction of the road rather than the rolers might be a little more.. but i mean no where near enough to put the motor under so much load that it'll blow up. if u keep the temp and revs at a reasonable level and dont do a skid for longer than about 3 minutes u should be right.. nothin to worry bout. go get us some movies and a few photos kylie Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

i would say your diff or box/tail shaft would go from doing burnouts more than your engine unless its really on its last legs. the box and diff setup really cop it all when doing burnouts, but the main stress in when its breaking traction. If your smoking it up and its freespinning, then all the stress is relived. thats why people are weary of running slicks on non-dragrace preped cars "ie street meets like calder 29th." because they might think they run a risk of breaking something. BTW, doing a big skid on street tyres doesnt help for traction Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Talking about LSD's, how do you tell an LSD from the outside?? Is there anyway to tell if someone has put an LSD in before you bought it etc...

jack the rear of the car up and turn the back wheels if they cant move in opposite directions at the same time then its LSD ie. they only move in the same direction together