| Wheel Hop Issues
[GY] "The wheel hop had been
eradicated!!!!!!!!!!!!
I lowered the front upper control arm mounting
points 2.5". This cured my wheel hop problem, I laid two fifty
foot long black marks with no problem.
I am running sticky Yokohama AO32R's and could not get them to hop.
I haven't got to check if the handling is affected because my test
run was cut short by a leaking water pump and fuel line.
Here is a pic of the brackets I welded on to lower the pickup point.

- Click to enlarge -
The new brackets weld under the original
brackets, so I could go back to the factory settings if I need to.
The U shaped bracket welds only to the the original bracket.
The triangle shaped bracket welds to the original bracket and the
2x4 vertical frame rail. I think the triangle bracket would be
taking all the load with the other bracket for just in case. Because
the frame rails angle inward the triangle bracket is very close to
the frame rail. I had use a half height nut and grind the frame rail
for clearance. Also I had to cut access panels behind the seats to
get to the bolts. Also I am running coilovers and no quad shocks.
We made my control arms. They are just like
the ones in the "Mustang Performance 2" book.

- Click to enlarge -
I don't see why you couldn't do the same thing with other types of
control arms.
Mine are stock length and I positioned the holes in the new brackets
so the control arms wouldn't need to be adjusted."
[MDR] "I just finished a set of brackets
that lowered my mount 2" it did stop all wheel hop. I am using
FFR uppers and lowers. The brackets are made from 3/16"x2"
flat stock from home depot two pieces follow curve of originals and
then two pieces sandwich it all together with a bolt through
original mount and then a bolt through new hole and control are this
was then welded into place. I had to remove the control arm, anti
bind cable and rubber brake hose to raise frame enough to keep from
having to cut access holes and remove seats I had to get 4 longer
bolts to accommodate extra 3/4".The rear does feel loose out of
corners if I did them over they would have a sleeve between upper
mount and a center brace to keep them from flexing. I plan to retro
fit these ideas next."
[TB} "$185.00 no weld kit from Auto Weld
that claims to stop wheel hop. On the other hand, Global West LOWER
CAs also claim to stop wheel hop AND recommend AGAINST using custom
or re-bushed uppers (like the FFRs and AutoWeld) with their lowers.
Global West also claims that lowers with both ends solid bushed (FFRs)
may bind. So... do we;
1. Use one or the other setup.
2. Use both
3. Do nothing
I'm starting to think just the uppers from
Autoweld and all else stock will do the trick."
[1630} "heims in uppers: i am not sure
that they are better than the four rubber bushings. i lost a lot of
traction with the two heims, but picked up some transitional speed.
probably a wash. since this car's weapon is torque, id be tempted to
go back to stock bushings that this point just to see what the
difference is.
the axle needs the softness of the bushing to
move not only in twist but front and back for maximum traction.
this is my direct experience and also correlated
with the opinion of the chief engineer at a leading mustang
aftermarket suspension supplier.
stiffen up the rear arms and lose traction but
gain predictability. lesser of two evils. i did change the lower
arms without losing too much traction."
[F5] "As in all things there is the trade
off as you exit turns but for you straight line guys with the big
hp, any of the brackets that remount the upper control arm leading
edge down or the rear side up will eliminate the hop. Try not to go
the 2.5 inches, Jim has it down to about a one inch increase at the
rear of the arm for 99% effectiveness without compromising handling
in the turns."
[DB] "The Global west lowers are good
ones Very expensive though. They will eliminate the twist bind, but
I doubt in a serious way they will do anything with wheel hop on a
FFR. My suspicion is they are saying it will on the mustang and that
will not apply to the FFR.
I had called Global West about a year ago and
asked if they were interested in testing or designing parts for the
FFR rear suspension. The Guy was Rude... and had no interest in even
talking about it.
I would recommend talking with the people at
Maximum Motorsports. They seem to have a similar product and at
least a willingness to check the FFR out.
You could also modify the FFR lowers to
eliminate the role bind by cutting off the front Bushing seat and
welding at Threaded Spud in the the end of the tube to accept a Heim
Joint. I did this on a set of BBK lowers a couple years ago. Seemed
to work well."
[RB] "Search around for my other post on
the autoweld install as YES!!! It does work VERY well!!! I put a few
more details there and also a number of others added their reactions
to installing the Autoweld parts too!"
Question: [1352] "When
accelerating straight at a rate causing the rear wheels to lose
traction the rear end begins to "hop" and a visual
inspection of the posi-traction marks on the street (race track of
course) indicates an intermittent tire contact with the ground which
oscillates between tires. The FFR set up is a 3.73 gear, FFR Upper
and lower, No sway bar, stock quad shocks, 275-50-15 Nitto Drag
radials @ 26 psi, 4.25 inches frame to ground...My 88 5.0 doesn't do
this and after measuring the Upper and Lower control arm mounting
points realized the FFR Cobra Kit car changed the mounting geometry,
which introduces a new thrust force on the axle which may be
responsible for the hop. A quick guesstimate would be to lower the
mounting point of the upper control arms on the kit car frame
towards the ground 2 inches. Has anyone tried this or have another
solution? FFR indicates lowering it 1.5" may be satisfactory?
Answers and Comments:
[AC] "You are in the right spot. When the
car is at the 4.5" ride height, the upper frame control arm
mounting hole should be 1" lower than the axle housing control
arm hole."
[yg] "I have lowered the upper frame
mount 2.5" and it fixed the wheelhop."
[RO] "Slicks. The altered control arm
location also eliminated the wheelies."
[yo] "I lowered the upper control arm
mounting point on the frame 2.5"
This completely eliminated the wheelhop on my car. I have 275
Yokohama A032R's and rear coilovers, and no quad shocks."
[1775] "All the time we have all spent
anguishing over wheel hop and your post did seem to somewhat drift
off ! But I am very excited about your 50' long results ! I have
removed and returned my Jegs brackets which never saw mileage. I
have measured my front upper control arm mounts. I am figuring I can
purchase 8 small pieces of 3/16" steel.
Two would measure 2 1/2" x 4".
Two would measure 3 3/4 X 4"
I should then grind or shape them these 4 pieces to conform to the
shape of the existing mount bottoms...as extensions.
I figured once they are welded on with a bead I could reinforce them
with the other 4 small plates which would be welded outside,
overlapping the original mounts and new extensions. Then drill new
mount holes 2.5" lower than original. Does that sound like the
plan ?"
[yo] "Sounds like you are on track.
I drilled the new so that they would not affect the pinion angle.
So they are not directly below the original holes.
I propped up the rear end and used the control arms to mark for the
new holes"
Question: [1b] "I have read a lot
about the wheel hop and just don't know if I want to make it a permanent
change. I was afraid what it might do to the pinion angle and what
it would wear out. Any help?"
Comment:
[1z] "Wheel hop it seems has no solution
that works for everyone. The easiest solution seems to be lowering
the upper control arm mounting hole location about 2 inches. This
can be done quite easily by adding a flat plate to each mount tab
with holes for the upper arm to attach through. Picture the same
shaped tab longer with the mounting hole 2 inches lower."
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