wheel hop versus wheel,,,,BANG ?

Ken04 · 10-22-2009, 10:30 PM

so I pulled on the street today, dry pavement, in 1st gear. I roll on the throttle til about 3 grand then nail it. As I powershifted into second I got no chirp, no hop, nothing but 2 real loud BANG-BANG's right in a row. Looked behind me to see if I had rolled over a steel plate or something, but there was nothing there. So,, it was odd. Sounded like it came from the rear end area, heard it more than felt it. Car drove fine on the way home. 05 GT, 5 spd manual, 3:31 gears, all stock. (I thought ALL the 05 GT manuals came w/3:55's?)

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Argonaut · 10-23-2009, 08:34 AM

In 2007 when I bought my GT the 3.55s were an option. I think they became standard the following year.

If everything seems fine now then maybe you rolled over something or kicked something up into the wheel well.

pascal · 10-23-2009, 09:31 AM

Could simply be your exhaust if you have tight tolerances.
Power shifting occasionally rattle everything around, so it moves more than you think...

rdsx18 · 10-23-2009, 10:48 AM

05 5 speed GT's had 3.55's IIRC. Then after that I think it was an option. Check your axle code (found inside the door jamb) and try to find a list of the explanations on here. As far as the noise, I have had wheel hop and it was never like that, but like pascal said it could've been the exhaust hitting when you powershifted.

Ken04 · 10-23-2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdsx18

05 5 speed GT's had 3.55's IIRC. Then after that I think it was an option. Check your axle code (found inside the door jamb) and try to find a list of the explanations on here. As far as the noise, I have had wheel hop and it was never like that, but like pascal said it could've been the exhaust hitting when you powershifted.

I saw the 3.31:1 tag when I was under it swapping out the axlebacks. I was pretty surprised as I thought all the 2005-06 GT manuals had the 3.55's. So I'll have to go w/the 3.73's now whereas I would have left the 3.55's in there.

Yea must be either something I hit, or something flopping around. I thought maybe it was the UCA or the stock LCA's flexing or bending. It sounded exactly like when an axle lets go. To hear it once would be one thing, but these were two loud bangs right in a row, like a left axle then right axle, almost simultaneously. Or something flexing the rebounding. The last time I grabbed second like that the car was a little sideways in a turn, so it kicked out about 3 feet. Scared the pee outta momma, haha.

Well if it's not a common thing I'll get up in there and see if there's anything loose. I bought this as a real low mile, well cared for car that some lady owned. Didn't have a single mod on it. But it definitely has some serious wheel hop so I guess it's time to shop for an UCA and a couple LCA's.

rdsx18 · 10-23-2009, 03:38 PM

I just got BMR LCA's and haven't had wheel hop since. That's my only suspension mod. Also, I'd still go with 4.10's, unless you do a ton of highway driving. I try to avoid the highway so 4.10's was an easy choice for me.

Sam Strano · 10-23-2009, 03:41 PM

That's wheelhop.... Common with these cars @ stock height. LCA's generally fix it right up. I carry UMI, Steeda, and Maximum Motorsports arms. Shocks can help with that issue from a roll because the axle doesn't always move forward and back, but up and down which can cause hop too. The fact it felt like you hit something is more indicative of a damping issue than the LCA's.

Could have been a bump, could have been small. The shock to axle when you slammed 2nd and the subsequent wheel spin can cause the axle to shudder and jump around with the slightest provocation.

Bottom line, shocks could well help and would help ride and stability in general. The quick way to really fix wheelhop (which is different than the hop that skips the car around when you hit bumps) is an set of LCA's that don't have soft squishy bushings and flex built in. It's worth noting that in general, a lowered car with stock LCA's doesn't hop. Mine completely quit wheelhopping when I lowered it with no other changes. The Koni's helped tame some of it themselves but never stopped it.

Here my page that has all the S197 LCA's I carry listed. UMI parts are available in either black or red (and it very good stuff).

Ken04 · 10-23-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Strano

That's wheelhop.... Common with these cars @ stock height. LCA's generally fix it right up. I carry UMI, Steeda, and Maximum Motorsports arms. Shocks can help with that issue from a roll because the axle doesn't always move forward and back, but up and down which can cause hop too. The fact it felt like you hit something is more indicative of a damping issue than the LCA's.

Could have been a bump, could have been small. The shock to axle when you slammed 2nd and the subsequent wheel spin can cause the axle to shudder and jump around with the slightest provocation.

Bottom line, shocks could well help and would help ride and stability in general. The quick way to really fix wheelhop (which is different than the hop that skips the car around when you hit bumps) is an set of LCA's that don't have soft squishy bushings and flex built in. It's worth noting that in general, a lowered car with stock LCA's doesn't hop. Mine completely quit wheelhopping when I lowered it with no other changes. The Koni's helped tame some of it themselves but never stopped it.

Here my page that has all the S197 LCA's I carry listed. UMI parts are available in either black or red (and it very good stuff).

thank you Sam, great info. With 6 kids I have to be pretty careful around Christmas. But tax time, yea baby. I'll be sure and look you up.

Sam Strano · 10-23-2009, 05:38 PM

Glad I could shed some light...

Ken04 · 10-24-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Strano

Glad I could shed some light...

you were helpful, thank you. But, inquiring minds want to know; so, after you lowered your car, you had no more wheel hop correct ? I have our 06 lowered and although I never noticed because my wife didn't drag race it until after I lowered her car, that she had no wheel hop either. I assumed the 3 link was responsible for that. Maybe not ? So by raising the mounting point of the forward end of the LCA, that eliminates wheel hop ? So why do people install LCA relocation brackets ? I understand the theory of the bar being straight for better launches, but this seems to go against that ?