excessive wheel hop

[malohnes]

I am not opposed to a firmer ride, but I do want some ride quality too! Further, when lifted, softer does help with traction. However, there are advantages to firmer springs like when towing.

Hmm, I wonder how used, but not abused F150 springs might work...

What year springs are we looking at?

I don't have easy access to a pick and pull, but that can be dealt with when I go on trips north.

 

[sportblack99]

I got mine from a early 90's. Some say they won't work but they do. Like I said I put a full 5 leaf pack in with overload spring. You can mix and match to your liking. With mine and 2" shackles it lifted the rear 4" inches. I need to make factory height ones to level it out.

 

[malohnes]

I got mine from a early 90's. Some say they won't work but they do. Like I said I put a full 5 leaf pack in with overload spring. You can mix and match to your liking. With mine and 2" shackles it lifted the rear 4" inches. I need to make factory height ones to level it out.

Thanks! I'll check into this idea!

 

[cloaked_chaos]

I can get my tires to hop easily. DISCLAIMER: I do not recommend doing this because it puts massive stress on your drivetrain, and WILL eventually result in a failure.

First off, it is my specific setup that allows this. I have:
33' tires
stock 3.73 gears
manual locking hubs
powertrax no-slip locker in the rear axle
rear axle is from a 2nd gen (disc brakes)
stock master cylinder
automatic transmission

When you combine all of these parts together you get the following:

I put my X in low range with the hubs unlocked (high range doesn't have enough torque to spin these 33's). I press the brake pedal to a specific point, which combined with the stock master cylinder and disc brakes in the rear causes the front brakes to engage with much more stopping power than the rear brakes. I then floor the gas pedal, which coupled with the locker in the rear axle, starts to spin both rear tires. The springs twist into an "S" shape as snoranger described. The springs twisting causes the rear of the vehicle to change in height, which compounds the torque application to each hop as they load and unload, resulting in bigger hops.
If I feather the brake pedal, I can do a fairly impressive stationary or rolling burnout for an explorer (as told to me by onlookers). People often ask me what I have under the hood that allows me to do this. They are very surprised when I tell them the engine is stock.

I repeat: DISCLAIMER: I do not recommend doing this because it puts massive stress on your drivetrain, and WILL eventually result in a failure.

Please keep any negative comments regarding my post to yourself. I am well aware of the safety issues and damage involved.

 

[malohnes]

Thanks to everyone for their input. Until I get my upgrades done, I am gonna be cautious when driving in conditions I know will encounter wheel-hop with my weak stock springs.

New related question: will soft lift springs be more susceptible to wheel-hop? I want more articulation than out right lift...enough to clear the tires cleanly is my goal. IF softer springs are more susceptible, then what are some options other than stiffer springs?

 

[snoranger]

Soft lift spring packs are usually made of more, but thinner leaves. That helps keep wheel hop to a minimum.

 

[malohnes]

Thanks snoranger!

I'm looking into helper springs or replacement springs both with shackle upgrade for lift or just bite down on a lift kit from Duff. What I want and can afford is the conflicting problem.

 

[QueenCitySleeper]

In my experience trac bars are the most effective for wheel hop if you have worn out springs. Before that:
3.27 open diff crappy tires= wheel hop
3.27 open diff, new motorcraft shocks, good tires=wheel hop
3.73 trac lok good tires=wheel hop
Ive tried different tired pressures with no noticeable reduction in rain, snow, or dry. I noticed a good decrease in wheel hop after I installed the trac bars. The wheel hop is very violent in first, throwing it out of gear sometimes and shaking the hell out of me. Hop in second is pretty bad too. I've found that the faster you spin em the less hop. The one time I dumped the clutch it didn't hop at all. It's all about the springs. My springs are soft and weak resulting in lots of axle wrap. I vote new springs. Id like to replace my single leaves. You'll get a way better ride and more control. Good luck

 

[malohnes]

Yes, Queencitysleeper, that explains it for me as well.

I have put in an order for Skyjacker rear springs to complete SOA, Skyjacker coil, Duff shocks to get started. I found a complete 97 rear axle to rebuild and am working on gears and locker. Next is front knuckles and brakes from a ranger and another front pumpkin to regear and install elect locker. I'll have a fun spring/summer doing this project!