Wheel hop

[Rallyranger01]

Hey guys. My truck gets really bad wheel hop. I use the truck for rally cross racing so it's always spinning the tires. It has new procomp es9000 shocks all the way around. I installed a new set of james duff traction bars also. I have had 5 other rangers and this is the only one that has had wheelhop issues. I'm still running the 7.5 with a welded diff. I have an 8.8 I need to rebuild. I was thinking about using some explorer leafs and running it spring under. I don't know if that would help or not. Only thing I can think of is that it may need bushings in the springs and shackles. Any advice would be appreciated

 

[Curious Hound]

Hey guys. My truck gets really bad wheel hop. I use the truck for rally cross racing so it's always spinning the tires. It has new procomp es9000 shocks all the way around. I installed a new set of james duff traction bars also. I have had 5 other rangers and this is the only one that has had wheelhop issues. I'm still running the 7.5 with a welded diff. I have an 8.8 I need to rebuild. I was thinking about using some explorer leafs and running it spring under. I don't know if that would help or not. Only thing I can think of is that it may need bushings in the springs and shackles. Any advice would be appreciated

Sounds like you're on the right path. I would start with making sure all your bushings are good. Then, maybe stiffer springs in addition to the traction bars. I don't think having spring over or under axle makes a difference. The welded diff might have an affect when cornering, since the wheels are locked together. Something has to slip. Whether a wheel slips or hops may also have to do with how "sticky" the tires are.

 

[superj]

wheel hop during acceleration? i had to put traction bars on my old 65 mustang when it started doing that

 

[Blmpkn]

Race truck needs 4 link.

No hop with 4 link

 

[Rallyranger01]

It will wheel hop while the tires are spinning in a straight line and while being sideways. On dirt and gravel it's not as bad as pavement. The tires are a pretty soft compound. I haven't tried any different tires out. I'm thinking it might be bushings in the leaf springs. The truck has 280k miles.

 

[don4331]

Race truck needs 4 link.

No hop with 4 link

You didn't know the wife's '82 Mustang; it would certainly hop with its 4 link.

 

[Blmpkn]

You didn't know the wife's '82 Mustang; it would certainly hop with its 4 link.

That's annoying, especially if you couldn't get it to stop with pressure changes.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Make sure the traction bar snubber is hitting the spring eye, not the spring. I had to lengthen mine to accomplish that back in the day.

 

[don4331]

That's annoying, especially if you couldn't get it to stop with pressure changes.

Installing the "quad shocks" from back in the day helped a lot. Soft bushings to ensure a "compliant" ride certainly didn't help.

 

[Rallyranger01]

This is the type of traction bars. I haven't messed with the preload on them at all. Maybe I will give it some more preload this weekend. I also did a shackle reversal to get the back end down a little bit.

 

[dvdswan]

Before adding pieces...parts... whatever...

Wheel Hop - Causes, Effects and Cures - NASA Speed News Magazine

 

[Blmpkn]

I remember reading a build thread on some guys rally-x ranger years back, he had some bad wheel hop issues... relatively sure he installed those same bars and everything was wavy gravy after that.


Edit*

Or they might have broke on him?

Apparently I don't remember.

 

[Lefty]

Hey guys. My truck gets really bad wheel hop. I use the truck for rally cross racing so it's always spinning the tires. It has new procomp es9000 shocks all the way around. I installed a new set of james duff traction bars also. I have had 5 other rangers and this is the only one that has had wheelhop issues. I'm still running the 7.5 with a welded diff. I have an 8.8 I need to rebuild. I was thinking about using some explorer leafs and running it spring under. I don't know if that would help or not. Only thing I can think of is that it may need bushings in the springs and shackles. Any advice would be appreciated

Leaf spring clamps will help to some degree. They will stiffen up the spring pack, but will not resolve the entire problem. They will also help minimize sway on corners and twisty bits. Attach the clamp to the spring pack 5" or 6" in front of the axel. You can get a pair at Jegs, Summit Racing, or Auto Zone, for about $17.00. For what it costs, it certainly is worth the while.

 

[Rallyranger01]

Lol. They don't look super durable. I just wanted something that mounted above the springs to keep them from hitting the rocks that are on the course sometimes.

 

[Rallyranger01]

Leaf spring clamps will help a little, but do not resolve the entire problem. They also help to minimize sway when going around corners. For what it costs, it certainly is worth the while. Attach the clamp to the spring pack 5" or 6" in front of the axel. You can get a pair at Jegs, Summit Auto, or Auto Zone for about $17.00.

I will see if they have some at my local parts store and give them a try. Thanks for the advice. My plan is to run explorer springs spring under when I put the 8.8 in and also an explorer sway bar. Then I will have to make some weld on mounts for the axle side for the traction bars. I have alot to do to the truck. I need to rebuild the hole front-end and make some upper shock mounts to accept some 2.0 FOA shocks. I'm using the truck as a daily right now cause of diesel prices. So it might be a while till I get to it