So what's a good way to prevent or at least cut down on wheel hop? I get it quite a bit on a couple of the roads around here if I hit the gas too hard now. So what works well with the fiero suspension?
------------------ 87 GT 3.4 V6 Fiero Automatic
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12:34 AM
PFF
System Bot
GTDude Member
Posts: 9056 From: Keysville, Virginia, USA Registered: Nov 2001
Assuming your struts are in good shape, try lowering the air pressure in the tires about 5 psi. Also, I'm sure you know that taking off at a lower rpm would also reduce wheel hop. Also, depending on the mileage, your rear springs could be getting weak. Good luck.
Phil
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GTDude OVER 25 years GM experience
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12:44 AM
Will Member
Posts: 14284 From: Where you least expect me Registered: Jun 2000
Put some concrete in the trunk. That'll keep the wheels from spinning in the first place.
The springs statement is basically the correct one. Poorly supporting springs allow the wheel to rotate itself off the ground during spin, which then gathers more spped spinning in free air. When it then hits the ground again, spinning at high speed, it essentially bounces from the excess energy and repeats the cycle until you back off the accelerator or you break something.
Letting air out of the tire increases traction (limiting wheel slip), but decreases gas mileage, softens the sidewall and creates uneven tire wear.
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10:22 AM
Matt Hawkins Member
Posts: 586 From: Waterford, MI Registered: Oct 2000
Letting air out the the tires doesn't increase traction unless you are running bias ply tires. I am assuming you are running radial tires, as all modern street tires are. The tire contact patch is reduced when you let pressure out. You should actually increase tire pressure until you have the widest contact patch the tire can support (this is throught trial and error). Too much air will cause the contact patch to decrease in size, so be wary. Increased spring and damper rates are where things can be changed. Don't forget about those worn out control arm bushing either. Adding a sway bar can help reduce trample from side to side as well. Hope this helps.
i had (brand-new) Koni and Eibach on my 4spd car that wheel hopped like hell .. the addition of the rear anti-sway bar tightened down as much as possible help a lot but never totally fixed the problem.
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I have 2 coins that add to 30 cents and one of them is not a nickle. what are the 2 coins I have?
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01:29 PM
Will Member
Posts: 14284 From: Where you least expect me Registered: Jun 2000
Originally posted by Patrick's Dad: Put some concrete in the trunk. That'll keep the wheels from spinning in the first place.
The springs statement is basically the correct one. Poorly supporting springs allow the wheel to rotate itself off the ground during spin, which then gathers more spped spinning in free air. When it then hits the ground again, spinning at high speed, it essentially bounces from the excess energy and repeats the cycle until you back off the accelerator or you break something.
Letting air out of the tire increases traction (limiting wheel slip), but decreases gas mileage, softens the sidewall and creates uneven tire wear.
What you describe is because the spring is underdamped and stores energy from the load of launching. Stiffer struts damp the suspension more firmly and reduce oscillations.
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06:36 PM
Will Member
Posts: 14284 From: Where you least expect me Registered: Jun 2000
Originally posted by 1FST2M6: i had (brand-new) Koni and Eibach on my 4spd car that wheel hopped like hell .. the addition of the rear anti-sway bar tightened down as much as possible help a lot but never totally fixed the problem.
Eibachs are stiffer than stock. Even the Konis may not have been stiff enough. It would be interesting to try koni struts with stock springs.
Controlling wheel hop takes a LOT more damping than good handling.
Describe "tightened down all the way" more thoroughly.
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06:38 PM
hugh Member
Posts: 5563 From: Clementon,NJ,USA Registered: Jun 2000
I don't know about having to add higher performance struts to eliminate wheel hop. (Although better struts definitely won't hurt).
Wheel hop has never been a big topic on this board.. (at least not in the couple of years I've been here). I would suspect worn struts.. I had the same thing with my Trans Am.. Bad wheel hop until I replaced the rear shocks.... Made all the difference in the world.
I had the rear struts replaced only 6 months ago. So I don't think I have a bad one. It doesnt' do it all the time, just at some intersections where I suspect the road is slicker than normal.
So, other then ideas like 'deflating tires' and 'driving slower' does anyone have any REAL ideas? I don't have a rear sway bar so I guess that is worth considering. Also I guess I should check the struts to see if maybe they went bad (got them at Les Schwab hope they're not bad ones). It's only the right rear wheel that does this btw.
------------------ 87 GT 3.4 V6 Fiero Automatic
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12:30 PM
avengador1 Member
Posts: 35468 From: Orlando, Florida Registered: Oct 2001
Originally posted by Banner: I had the rear struts replaced only 6 months ago. So I don't think I have a bad one. It doesnt' do it all the time, just at some intersections where I suspect the road is slicker than normal.
So, other then ideas like 'deflating tires' and 'driving slower' does anyone have any REAL ideas? I don't have a rear sway bar so I guess that is worth considering. Also I guess I should check the struts to see if maybe they went bad (got them at Les Schwab hope they're not bad ones). It's only the right rear wheel that does this btw.
Replaced the rear struts with what? There's a big difference between monroe and Koni.
More traction causes wheel hop, not less. If you only experience it at certain locations, then the pavement there is grippier than other places.
