My shocks were actually bought off ebay, do they help I think they do to a degree because I can dial in the front and rear as far as how stiff I make 'em but my kids stock TL-01 drifts almost as well as mine and his is completely stock with the diff locked.

as far as the tires go ABS break loose alot better and are more predicatable while drifting, I have had no parts break yet and I run the crap out of the car.

Drifting is the hardest thing you can do to a car vs grip or street racing and that goes for real cars as well as RC cars .