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[Z06] My only gripe with this car is WHEELHOP!

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Old 08-20-2009, 12:28 PM
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hpfiend
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Default My only gripe with this car is WHEELHOP!

I got my 03 z06 about a year ago and have enjoyed almost every minute of it... the only thing I miss about the blown, h/c/i coupe 5.0 mustang I sold to buy it is that I could mash the @#%#@% out of that car and hold on and enjoy it. On really hard acceleration, this car either hops and I instantly get out of it (maybe 2-3 hops), or I am afraid of hopping so am too timid with it... this will probably be more evident as I plan to drag race this car the first time sept 11.

I have read 04 shocks, fresh tires (mine are old), maybe a pfadt transmission brace, or stiffer bushings sometimes fix it?

Does any autox expert or road race expert have a definitive fix?

This is the only thing I will ever change about this car as I love it to death. And love the twisties way too much to go to a solid axle- anyone?
Old 08-20-2009, 12:38 PM
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blazer427X3
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I'm curious about the hop too. Subscribed to this thread, hoping to hear what advice is offered. Do you have a diff. brace on yours ?

Old 08-20-2009, 12:43 PM
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In for updates. I'm curious too.
Old 08-20-2009, 12:48 PM
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SlowZo6
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Try a set of QA1s . Had same problem with my 03 Z , and they cured it . Well worth the money , they work great ! Very easy to install , very simple to adjust , from street to drag to autocross is just a turn of a **** away . With out a doubt , the most cost effective route for a multi-purpose street car.
Old 08-20-2009, 01:21 PM
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Mark W
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Buy some tires and enjoy your car
Old 08-20-2009, 01:28 PM
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AU N EGL
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Originally Posted by Mark W
Buy some tires and enjoy your car
Buy some NEW sticky tires. Nittos, would be a good choice.

Old tires ( over 2years ) have no performance grip and for launches ? no wonder your hopping.

Fresh sticky rubber.
Old 08-20-2009, 01:57 PM
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V2lude
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I have Toyo Proxes T1R's and I have no wheel hop. They aren't very sticky, but at autocross I have no problem with wheel hop at the start.
Old 08-20-2009, 02:07 PM
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I have NT555R drag radials.....no wheel hop here....just little skreetch and a really hard pull!!!! love those tires!
Old 08-20-2009, 02:11 PM
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hpfiend
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Originally Posted by blazer427X3
I'm curious about the hop too. Subscribed to this thread, hoping to hear what advice is offered. Do you have a diff. brace on yours ?

no, I do not have a brace yet- I have looked at both pfadt and dte and I know they adress different forces but I would rather stop the problem than brace against it but I may have to.
Old 08-20-2009, 02:47 PM
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GettinMyKicksNaZO6
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Traction..traction is key. Mine used to too until I got better tires for it. Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3's are what Im running. They're really expensive and probably still wont hook up if you're pushing a TON of power but thats just about every street tire. There's always drag radials if you're going to be dragging a lot.
Old 08-20-2009, 05:13 PM
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Stevo92z28
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I have never had any wheel hop on on my C5Z. Dragged it plenty of times...

Fresh rubber is the ONLY mod that should be on your list for fixing your wheel hop issue.
Old 08-20-2009, 06:15 PM
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Gray Ghost GS
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Do you think the difference in wheel hop has something to do with the fixed rear axle of the Mustang vs. the independent rear suspension of the Corvette and the amount of weight placed over the rear tires (less weight by the Mustang)?

Last edited by Gray Ghost GS; 08-20-2009 at 06:17 PM.
Old 08-20-2009, 06:19 PM
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SCM_Crash
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My Trans Am had a live axle and had wheel hop until I put on Nitto 555Rs. Although, they're known for having wheel hop. To fix that in the Trans Am, stiffer control arms were a must. In the Corvette, the suspension is way better.
Old 08-20-2009, 06:35 PM
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Quickshift_C5
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I had this problem on my 99 FRC and also now with my 01 z06. I put new Firestone WideOvals on the 99 FRC and it didn't cure a thing. Wheelhop BIGTIME at the dragstrip. Had to constantly get off the gas.

I'd like to see a definitive fix for this also. Instead of everyone saying what they "think" is a miracle cure for this issue, I would like to hear the real REASON that it happens. Let's hear the technical side of it instead of what people think are cures. I'm curious to know WHY it happens, and HOW it's actually fixed by certain tires/shocks/braces, etc...
Old 08-20-2009, 07:44 PM
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I agree with the others about better tires.I like tires that have a treadwear rating of 200-260.Softer = better grip.

Adjusting the air pressure down a few lbs may also help the wheelhop some.

\db2
Carolina
Old 08-20-2009, 07:51 PM
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Adjusting the air pressure down a few lbs may also help the wheelhop some.
Has no effect. At least not on stock tires or Firestone Wide Ovals.


Softer = better grip.
If the tires were slipping from bad traction, they would be spinning...not hopping. Better gripping tires I think would hop even more.

Still waiting on the technical side of this instead of people guessing or tossing money into the car blindly.
Old 08-20-2009, 08:13 PM
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ctusser
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What a lot of guys misread as wheelhop is actually caused by a shuddering in the rear-mounted tranny; avoid it at all costs if you don't want breakage. Different tires, shocks spring rates etc. will all change the behavior of this phenominon. Changing to a Poly tranny mount will help dramatically, but you will notice a little more drivetrain vibration while driving around.

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Old 08-20-2009, 08:38 PM
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I did not read whole thread, but thats what i have same problem, rear tires are good F1's but no way i can $##$ out of this car, because of wheel hop, i made 4 runs last year and all 4 of em abandoned literally in the middle of 1/4 mile track.

To be honest, C5 guys dont take me wron i love this car but thinking of going back to C4 LT4, install LT4 Hotcam, headers, CAI and 4.10 gears on that car and beat the crap out of it.

I had over 150 runs on my previous C4 never had a wheel hop chit i even dont know whats wheel hop till took my C5 on track.

Sometimes i feel like sue the damn GM, for making our C5 drivetrain a complete POS and junk, tehy need to make drivetrain a recall and install a complete different design drivetrain in our C5's.

Drive train is the only rip off from GM, otherwise this car is fun to drive though.



BTW i have replace Sway bar bushings, koni FSD shocks, balanced the wheels and lastly an alignment still dod dam wheel hop, is reduced though but still there.

My MT 275/40/17" radials installed on Z06 wheels are for sale no more racing onley one track day (all 4 runs abandoned), i dont have 5k grand spare money to buy a built drivetrain from Rpm or DTE.

Last edited by sami85L98; 08-20-2009 at 08:41 PM.
Old 08-20-2009, 10:06 PM
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HT1663WB
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Originally Posted by sami85L98
I did not read whole thread, but thats what i have same problem, rear tires are good F1's but no way i can $##$ out of this car, because of wheel hop, i made 4 runs last year and all 4 of em abandoned literally in the middle of 1/4 mile track.

To be honest, C5 guys dont take me wron i love this car but thinking of going back to C4 LT4, install LT4 Hotcam, headers, CAI and 4.10 gears on that car and beat the crap out of it.

I had over 150 runs on my previous C4 never had a wheel hop chit i even dont know whats wheel hop till took my C5 on track.

Sometimes i feel like sue the damn GM, for making our C5 drivetrain a complete POS and junk, tehy need to make drivetrain a recall and install a complete different design drivetrain in our C5's.

Drive train is the only rip off from GM, otherwise this car is fun to drive though.



BTW i have replace Sway bar bushings, koni FSD shocks, balanced the wheels and lastly an alignment still dod dam wheel hop, is reduced though but still there.

My MT 275/40/17" radials installed on Z06 wheels are for sale no more racing onley one track day (all 4 runs abandoned), i dont have 5k grand spare money to buy a built drivetrain from Rpm or DTE.


Keep in mind the C5 was NOT intended nor is it set up for 1/4 mile drag racing. You can drag race...just don't dump the clutch.

Last edited by HT1663WB; 08-20-2009 at 10:10 PM.
Old 08-20-2009, 10:25 PM
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BillY2KFRC
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I had tons of wheel hop. Coilovers, T1 sway bars and Michelin PS2 tires didn't cure it. It didn't go away until I did the Pfadt engine mounts. Now, even with 465 N/A rwhp, no wheel hop ever. There is a little more vibe, especially at idle, but you get used to it... and it's WAY better that blowing up the driveline thanks to violent wheel hop. :yesnod


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