I've noticed latley when accelerating hard from a stop the front tires of course chirp between 1st and 2nd., but now I get some wicked wheel hop, and the front end shakes. Has anyone else experienced this.

 

Mine has bad wheel hop too. No point in even going to the track anymore until that is fixed.

Polyurethane motor mounts are available that are suppose to eliminate this but create vibration. Looks like stiffer shocks would help if anybody makes heavy duty struts for our cars.

 

There's just too much power to those wheels.

If you let the clutch out a little slower or don't give it quite so much gas, the tires will have a chance to get traction, then floor it. You won't get the hop, and your accel will be smoother.

 

And you won't run a good 60' either. That's fine for street but for track you are leaving a lot of et on the table!

 

However, too much wheel spin and hop is bad for your car and your 60'. While you're dancing at the start line the other guy is walking away from you. Chirps are good, burns and hops are bad, even at the track.

 

I never peel out due to this stupid wheel hop, but last week promoting my friends new tuning club, I noticed no wheel hop when I rev the engine to over 5K rpms and then just drop the clutch. I was only spinning in short intervals, but I figured I'll share it with you guys.
Peace

 

Exactly. That's why wheel hop needs to be eliminated.

 

It is still possible to pull a good 60' time without wheel hop. Although not awesome and maybe not fully utilizing the capabilities of the max, it can be done. I pulled a 2.25 60' time with NO wheel hop. Nothing awesome by any means but I am still working on it. The bad thing is that to avoid wheel hop or spinning, I have to be pretty rough on the clutch (doing a 4000K slip).

I just installed some homemade front and rear mounts in my 2k2 Saturday. I used pretty soft urethane (between 55-60 on the Shore A scale) and I am pretty pleased. Most of the aftermarket urethane mounts are anywhere from 84 to 94 on the Shore A scale. I only noticed a slight increase in vibrations only in N. I also believe I have eliminated wheel hop going into second (which was my main goal). The urethane I used is called Windo-Weld and is made by 3M. I think this stuff is a happy middle ground for stiffening the mounts without adding a ton of vibration. While I am sure a stiffer mount would reduce hop even more – I do not want to transform my car into a vibrator. I am not sure how the vibration would be on an automatic, but for my manual it is definitely tolerable.

Oh ya, a side benefit of these mounts was that my car seems to shift smoother now.

Brian

 

Where did you buy the urethane? Did you have to take the mounts out of the car to install it?

Your car is capable of a lot better 60' than a 2.25. Mine pulled a 2.176 with a lot of wheel hop. I estimate a 2.0 is possible with wheel hop eliminated and with traction.

 

I bought it at Napa and it is about 13 bucks. It comes in a tube similar to calk. Yes you have to take out the mounts but it really is not a bad install. I did it in about an hour and it was my first time.

I am still learning how to launch a FWD car so I do imagine my 60' times will improve. I also realize that a faster 60' time can be obtained by not slipping the clutch so much - but I would rather burn my clutch than get wheel hop. I don’t know about you – but to me wheel hop is about as bad as it gets for a car. I have heard stories of half shafts breaking, suspension components breaking, etc...

You might want to give this route a try. While it does not eliminate wheel hop, it does help.

Brian

 

Thanks! I'll check into that. I have a Napa store not far.

Did you do both mounts?

 

Just the front and rear (left the side mounts stock). I bought a new set from DaveB for about 140 shipped 2 day air. You need to let the urethane cure for about 48hours. If you end up doing it, PM me and I can give you some tips.

Brian

 

Thanks Brian! I don't plan to do it right away as it is Camaro season at the track so I won't be taking the Maxima anytime soon. Sure do want to fix that wheel hop problem before I take it again though.

 

Can you guys post a how-to?

 

I am thinking I might...it may be helpful for some.

Brian

 

can you define wheel hop, and is it possible in an auto? in the rain today i stomped it uphill and i spun the tires for about 3 seconds and it felt like part of the tire wasnt ojn the ground, is that wheel hop?

 

Imagine your favorite basketball player dribbling your front wheels, while they scramble for traction. Your whole front end is vibrating and shaking around. I would think most autos would find this difficult to get because of the transminssion slippage.

 

You ask and you shall receive...

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Brian

 

I had wicked nasty wheel hop, but I've since put in PR mounts that I bought from Cattman. I hop no more!

But, beware; install requires a little work, and if you have an automatic, you will idle rougher.

 

When I was talking about the wheel hop it wasn't from a start. I get it when i shift between 1st and 2nd.

 

Whether from 1st or 2nd, you're still putting too much power to the front wheels. Unless you make some mods like explained earlier in this thread, you'll have to adjust your driving style. I reccomend you adjust because the mods may diminish the hop, but they are putting the stress somewhere else.