Posted by TParker (IP: 4.33.1.93) on September 15, 1999 at 16:36:15:
In Reply to: Wait a minute!!!! posted by Mark on September 15, 1999 at 15:10:19:
You are right the spings coil and uncoil under a load but the shocks are suppose to dampen out the violent effects and slow down the process so there is no hop. the Hop comes from the springs unloading violently when the tire looses traction then regains traction the spring coils again the tire looses traction and the spring unloads violently then comes the hop or chatter this is repeated over and over again. The shocks help dampen this out and traction bars are designed to prevent the coil up or loading of the spring by displacing the energy to the frame and allowing the tire's traction to lift the car not twist the spring. The softer or more worn out the springs are the more likely this will happen and with stiff air shock this effect is exaggerated because they do not absorb the twisting effect. You can also get wheel hop from the wrong tire tread compound as well, too soft a compound will grip harder and release more quickly and regain traction more quickly causing hop, then a harder compound which will not grip as well but releases more slowly and regains traction more slowly allowing the suspension to adapt no hop.
: I just read an article in a 4 X 4 magazine. It talked about wheel hop being caused from weak springs. The leafs actually twist into an 'S' shape. This is what the trac bars are for. I wish I had copied that article, or at least knew which month it was. It was a good one. Talked about the multi-leaf setup, and pinion angle. This is not just for 4 X 4 users, but racers alike. I'll see what I can find.
: : I have not had a problem with wheel hop either. I thought the reason that Ford stagared the shocks is to help stop wheel hop. I think that the air shocks might be contributing to your wheel hop, they are much stiffer and have less dampening capabilities than gas shocks do. Wheel hop gets exagerated if you can not dampen it out.
: : : ...Get solid aluminum front "eye" bushings and polygraphite rear shackle bushings...Interesting though; I have NEVER had a problem with wheel-hop in my '73...
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: : : : ...they will only exacerbate the problem by eliminating the natural 'give' in the suspension making it TOO stiff. I would then have to ask if you have "slapper" traction bars, if so try some "Traction Master" type like the early Mustangs (incl Shelbys)and Falcons used. These mounted to the 'spring pad' and then to the subrame ahead fo the axle...haven't seen ANY wheel hop with those style in all my years.