Rally-x or Auto-x which is harder on the car? DISCUSS HERE!

[Drew84]

What do you think is harder on the car? DISCUSS here

[Ty Ty]

Autocross is harder on the driveline because of the increased grip and shock.

I would say rallycross is harder in the suspension, body panels, and everything underside, waiting to be thwacked with a rock. It also makes the interior very dirty, heh.

[Drew84]

What is this drivetrain shock everybody is talking about? Its no different than driving on an onramp. I could understand that it would be easier on the car to rally-x if I had welded differentials. But I don't, so everything slips, the front axles can move at a different speed than the rears. Its engineered to work like that. Thats why AWD cars have viscuous couplers. I wore out a wheel bearing on my Honda, and the axles always clicked on acceleration, but my rears do that now on the Suby. I've only seen one car actually break a ball joint auto-xing, engine faluire is a different thing that happens in any kind of motorsport. But auto-x is deffinatly more car friendly. Its not even hard on brakes. Your tires take the most abuse. The clutch doesn't even get it that bad. You shift once and only if you launch the car wrong does it do any damage. I mean there is no chance that auto-xing I'm going to smash a rock and destory the engine sump. I've also never hit my head on the headliner because I hit a bump. Regardless I would do auto-x with my DD without hesitation and I do alot. I've done 10 events this summer and no problems at all.

example rally-x notice that car is jumping in the air
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v498/autokid90tsi/ner%20rochester%20rally-x%20april%202007/rsz_DSC00727.jpg

Auto-x notice car is conering smoothly
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v498/autokid90tsi/img_1306.jpg

[Ty Ty]

When you launch your car on gravel, the power goes to the wheels, the wheels slip, not too much resistance/feedback up through the driveline.

You launch your car on tarmac *snap!* The power goes to the wheels, the wheels grip, that sudden shock goes back up the driveline.

[Drew84]

Well with the DCCD in the STi the rear tires spin on hard launches. But you can launch an AWD car with little drama and not have the car bog putting min stress on the moving parts. But axle hop on loose surfaces is the worst for CV axles. That puts the most stress on everything.

[bergdh]

Rally X for sure, I have never been to a Auto x event yet where every car didnt drive home. Yet 8 runs in a gravel lot blew out all 3 Motor mounts and the Left drive line on my 2005 Mazda 3.

The launch is only a small part, the twisting the jaring the washboard bumps, gravel in spots you never new your car had. Rally X for sure!

[JacksonRally]

100% Rally-x is harder on the car. Not only does the dirt/dust get into places they don't belong (anything with a bearing/bushing...wheels, alternator, suspension bushings, shift linkage, air filter then motor.....etc.),the endless bottoming out and the list goes on. Also as far as driveline goes in a "no traction" situation (like rally-x when the wheels are spinning) to a traction situation (wheels actually propelling the car forward) there are constant driveline shock loads going on. Traction 2 no traction, traction 2 no traction and it goes on and on. I too have gone through tranny and motor mounts while playing in the dirt. Also many auto manufactures give trucks/suvs to shops to have them raced in the Baja 500/1000. One of these races, (say the Baja 1000) is equivelant of putting 100,000 miles on the vehicle. So Rally-x gets my vote.

[409industries]

I would have to agree. Yes in autox components are subject to more stress and my wear out... in rallyx they are often jolted or impacted causing instant damage. I think the theory is interesting about autox, but in real life it doesn't seem to make sense.

[BlackParis]

@ Auto-X I believe the modifications to car affect what breaks... I have SEEN a car break a wheel due to lateral G force @ an Auto-X ... Keep modifying till something breaks, then modify that :-D

HOWEVER I dont think I have EVER seen a stock class car break ANYTHING other than a foglight....

I have no Rally-X Experience other than my track, which has just TOTALLY worn out any maintence Items that were begining to go out on me.. (BallJoints, Air Filters, TieRods, etc...) and has put MANY dents in the side of my car and on the under body...

[fattie92]

I think it all depends on the track that you are running on. I run on extremely smooth rallyx courses so there are no ruts, bumps or drops. Its not exactly easy on the car, but I think its easier on the car then most of your autox races.

[martinus]

I'm gonna go with :

Autocross is worse short term. ( just to throw another variable in there. ) You should be able to see the wear on the tires, brakes, smell the clutch. Not much "harm" more than that. Unless ( since there seems to be am exeption to everything. ) you try and do some awseome "drag strip" launch @ the start, and break some drivle line component ( cv joints, half-shafts mtr. mounts, etc. ) right there. That still goes with my theory ...

Rallycross will prolly just wear parts out faster ( " in the long run " )than "normal street driving". ( OK. Let me re-phrase that. Since AX wears parts faster than normal street driving. )
Someone has already mentioned the dust getting in filters, no big deal if it stops at the filter. No new engine needed. Donno about the alternator but would make sence. The dust would def. be bad for strut piston seals. ( Durr, thats why they have boots on them. ) The upper rubber strut mounts would def. wear faster, from all the bumps. Might as well ad the struts them selfes in there too. So any moving sus. parts that are moving more than "normal" or get effected buy bumps ... Pudry sure WB dont like dust either but should be sealed to a point ...

The tires and brakes should be OK. ( Not no where neer AX wear, but more than street driving. ) I havent seem anyone break something trying to "launch" in the dirt/nud/dust, but have smelled someones clutch burning. :)

Donno does that make sence, I'm no engineer or anything ...

[noisycricket]

Autocross is much harder on the car, because autocrossing is thoroughly boring, and there are the twin effects of the car basically trying to kill itself because it isn't having any fun, and the driver getting dumber and doing stupid things because he was subjected to autocross.

Rallycross wears things out faster and sometimes you bend things but it's much better for the soul.

[Blix666]

Autocross is much harder on the car, because autocrossing is thoroughly boring, and there are the twin effects of the car basically trying to kill itself because it isn't having any fun, and the driver getting dumber and doing stupid things because he was subjected to autocross.

Rallycross wears things out faster and sometimes you bend things but it's much better for the soul.

LOL!!!

[Drew84]

I've been auto-xing for 4 years now, never ever broken anything. I've only had to replace a wheel bearing on my Civic but the car also had 91,000 miles. Way, way more car friendly. Tires are the only thing that wears. Brakes are nill, cause the fastest your ever going is 60mph and never coming to a complete stop. Unless your running with the SCCNH where you have to stop competly after the finish, but again its only a panic stop from 40mph. Still not very rought on you brakes. Rally-x has a lot of pounding and banging its not only hard on the suspension but think about what is doing to the unibody of the car. I think there are some people that have never auto-xed and are just talking from hersay.

[martinus]

Nice Pete ...

[martinus]

I've been auto-xing for 4 years now,... Brakes are nill, cause the fastest your ever going is 60mph and never coming to a complete stop.... only a panic stop from 40mph. Still not very rought on you brakes...

Its prolly time to start "left foot breaking" ...

[noisycricket]

Yeah no kidding. I can get smoke roiling from my wheelwells without going over 60mph or slowing below 35. There's a VERY fun road in Ohio, just off of I-75 south of Findlay, that basically loops back on itself but is very tight and twisty, as if it cut diagonally around square parcels of land without actually crossing them. 30 yards left 30 yards right 50 yards left 50 yards right 40 yards right 100 yards left etc.