Can better shocks reduce wheel hop?

[Mark42]

Made a few upgrades (3.73, posi, tune,) and after installing the Magnaflow exhaust I have noticed that the car just won't hook up anymore. WOT launches always result in wheel spin that quickly turns into wheel hop (depending on the road surface). Even if I roll on the throttle easy to prevent breaking the tires, then put the pedal down, around 3000 rpm, the rear will break loose and wheel hop starts, making the car slew to the side. When it bangs second (auto w/tune), if it hasn't recovered/hooked up from breaking free, at WOT the car can become uncontrollable.

Normally, when a car has wheel hop, I install ladder bars or traction bars depending on the suspension. But the Fbody with the torque arm is a bit different.

I recall reading on some forum about how a better grade of shock in the back of the fbody goes a long way to reducing wheel hop.

Anyone get wheel hop under control by a shock upgrade?

Another contributing factor can be the factory torque arm deflecting and acting like a big spring rather than a big anchor. It would be best to do shock upgrad and torque arm upgrade, but with the budget, I can't do both.

Will a torque arm upgrade solve wheel hop without a shock change?

Thanks!

Mark

[3.4grapeofwrath]

Re: Can better shocks reduce wheel hop?

I would start with a good set of after market lower control arms and relocation brackets for them set at the lowest setting.

[Mark42]

Re: Can better shocks reduce wheel hop?

I would start with a good set of after market lower control arms and relocation brackets for them set at the lowest setting.

How does a stronger lower control arm reduce wheel hop. I thought the hop was caused by the torque arm flex, no?

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Can better shocks reduce wheel hop?

Well, you have 3 mounting points, 2 lower control arms, and the torque arm. Look at the size of the torque arm, then look at the LCA's. Which do you think will deflect first? You can find LCA's dirt cheap, with UMI/BMR running the cheapest with a sale.

As far as your traction "problems" go, run a better tire. My 420rwhp WS6 would still run a 1.7x 60' on an 18 inch rubberband tire.

[Mark42]

Re: Can better shocks reduce wheel hop?

Well, you have 3 mounting points, 2 lower control arms, and the torque arm. Look at the size of the torque arm, then look at the LCA's. Which do you think will deflect first? You can find LCA's dirt cheap, with UMI/BMR running the cheapest with a sale.

As far as your traction "problems" go, run a better tire. My 420rwhp WS6 would still run a 1.7x 60' on an 18 inch rubberband tire.

What I don't understand is the LCA is a pivot point at both ends. Its supposed to pivot. The torque arm is not a pivot point at the pumpkin, only at the trans. Just like ladder bars. So why would installing a stronger LCA, that pivots at each end, help stop rotation of the axle housing?

The reason I question stronger LCA's is that I have read multiple times that the stock LCA's are more than strong enough, and changing them doesn't do much for wheel hop.

Is that advice wrong?

[97rs4life]

Re: Can better shocks reduce wheel hop?

lcas, lca relos, torque arm, shocks, etc all play a role in wheel hop

[pace2006]

Re: Can better shocks reduce wheel hop?

Quality shocks should take care of the wheel hop. I had the same problem with mine after having the 3.42 gears and limited slip installed and still had a bit of wheel hop after installing the Moog bushings into the stock LCAs. Couldn't get it to go away until I installed some aftermarket shocks in the rear.

So get some good shocks to replace those stockers first. And you might as well get some Moog LCA bushings to press in at the same time, in place of the stock stamped pieces. Then if you're still having problems, you can look into LCA relocation brackets, but I don't think you'll need them.

Your stock torque arm should be fine for now. That should be one of the last suspension components you worry about replacing.

[ssms5411]

Re: Can better shocks reduce wheel hop?

If you want no wheel hop, Relocation brackets, UMI adj. tunnel mounted torque arm and adj. LCA's, I run 3.73's and can foot brake to 2200-2400 RPMS and it will barely chirp the tires. This is with it rasied about 1"-2" above stock height. Although I do have alot of other suspension mods those 3 are the ones I noticed the biggest difference. Shocks should be replaced as maintance part when they go bad, same as springs, bushing, and endlinks.

[Mark42]

Re: Can better shocks reduce wheel hop?

Thanks for all the posts/advice. I'll start with shocks. Should be oodles of posts on the forum about them.

BTW, the tires are 235 BF Goodrich Traction TA, if I remember right. More of a high mileage tire than a sticky tire, if you ask me.