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Wheel hop on launch - cause?

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Old Feb 24, 2019 | 05:29 PM
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Default Wheel hop on launch - cause?

I have a factory stock 2016 Stingray Z51 A8, including Michelin Super Sport runflats. Current odometer reading is 8,500 miles. In street driving, including wheel spinning full throttle runs from a stop, everything seems to be okay even.

I had my C7 to the drags about a year ago. Launch technique: Rear tires 25 PSI / Traction Control off / 5 second burnout / Launch Control not engaged / launch off idle. On several passes I experienced severe wheel hop. (Ran 11.77 @ 118 MPH with 1.72 60 foot ET on run without wheel hop.) Other C7 Corvettes including Z06's running experienced no wheel hop.

Afterwards I had my C7 put on a lift at a Chevrolet dealership to check out the rear suspension to make sure everything was okay, and I was told that everything appeared to be okay.

A week ago I had my C7 to the same track again. Launch technique: Same as before. Again on several passes I experienced severe wheel hop. (Ran 11.76 @ 118 MPH with 1.71 60 foot ET on run without wheel hop.)

My C7 has the standard Z51 Bilstein shocks, not the Magnetic Ride shocks. Is it possible a bad shock is causing the wheel hop? (Note: There is no sign of fluid leaking from either rear shock.)

Comments appreciated. Thanks.

Last edited by RPOC7R; Feb 24, 2019 at 05:34 PM.
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Old Feb 24, 2019 | 06:28 PM
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Can be a variety of things. Tire pressure, the more air, the better chance of wheel hop. Also could be the track, if the tires lose grip, that can cause hop. More power then the tire can handle. Suspension issues.
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Old Feb 24, 2019 | 09:27 PM
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Did you try any runs loading up the suspension.... not launching off idle ?

Track prep, burnout, tire pressure like mentioned above ....

The only time I had a bit of wheel hop was launching off idle at the track. That was only one time.
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Old Mar 5, 2019 | 12:45 PM
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I had that all the time on C5Z06. It ended when I put on Johnny O'Connell suspension. Better shocks larger sway bars.
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Old Mar 5, 2019 | 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by 123sugey
Did you try any runs loading up the suspension.... not launching off idle ?

Track prep, burnout, tire pressure like mentioned above ....

The only time I had a bit of wheel hop was launching off idle at the track. That was only one time.
I agree OP load up the suspension will help you a lot but this one and the above you would need to look at for sure... It is not good at all for the car.. Robert
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Old Mar 5, 2019 | 01:00 PM
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Not enough traction. You can either engage traction control which will hurt your ET's or the cheapest band-aid is a gallon of Trak-Bite. Swab your tires with that once you get to the track and you should be golden. Messy as hell, tho - be prepared for that.
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Old Mar 7, 2019 | 12:35 AM
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Things that I have found to contribute to wheel hop:
1) runflats
2) soft upper control arm bushings
3) soft lower control arm bushings
4) shocks set too stiff/aggressive

Last edited by JHEBERT; Mar 7, 2019 at 12:36 AM.
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Old Mar 9, 2019 | 03:19 PM
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Try less of a burn out. My experience with wheel hop on my C5 was as the tires got hotter wheel hop went from none to a lot. Of course your tires are no where near as stiff as the old C5 EMTs but it might be worth trying a shorter burn out.

Bill
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Old Mar 9, 2019 | 04:11 PM
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You might not want to hear this...but I don't think GM intended to optimize the rear suspension for drag racing....
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Old Mar 10, 2019 | 09:51 AM
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Originally Posted by ersatz928
You might not want to hear this...but I don't think GM intended to optimize the rear suspension for drag racing....
Yet here we are cutting 1.29-1.32 60’s with wheels up. With the correct components and alignment the corvette IRS will get the job done
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Old Feb 16, 2020 | 02:25 PM
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Originally Posted by JHEBERT
Yet here we are cutting 1.29-1.32 60’s with wheels up. With the correct components and alignment the corvette IRS will get the job done
Way to go kudos that’s how is done making adjustments to get what’s needed is it, non of these cars other than the Zs will have a decent enough suspension to storm the drag strip though in my GS I never ones experienced wheel hop yet before I visit the track I got double adjustable coil overs changed all the rear control arms bushing then pinned them to reduce crush on first pass at the 1/4 track got rewarded with a 1.543 short time.


ain’t up that high but that was then heads cam & headers .

Last edited by xBoostx; Feb 16, 2020 at 02:31 PM.
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Old Feb 17, 2020 | 09:00 AM
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Originally Posted by RPOC7R
I have a factory stock 2016 Stingray Z51 A8, including Michelin Super Sport runflats. Current odometer reading is 8,500 miles. In street driving, including wheel spinning full throttle runs from a stop, everything seems to be okay even.

I had my C7 to the drags about a year ago. Launch technique: Rear tires 25 PSI / Traction Control off / 5 second burnout / Launch Control not engaged / launch off idle. On several passes I experienced severe wheel hop. (Ran 11.77 @ 118 MPH with 1.72 60 foot ET on run without wheel hop.) Other C7 Corvettes including Z06's running experienced no wheel hop.

Afterwards I had my C7 put on a lift at a Chevrolet dealership to check out the rear suspension to make sure everything was okay, and I was told that everything appeared to be okay.

A week ago I had my C7 to the same track again. Launch technique: Same as before. Again on several passes I experienced severe wheel hop. (Ran 11.76 @ 118 MPH with 1.71 60 foot ET on run without wheel hop.)

My C7 has the standard Z51 Bilstein shocks, not the Magnetic Ride shocks. Is it possible a bad shock is causing the wheel hop? (Note: There is no sign of fluid leaking from either rear shock.)

Comments appreciated. Thanks.
I have the same Z51 setup except with a manual. I get wheel hop on the street when tires are cold. Seems to improve after warming up. Seems like there is not enough dampening in the shock, and too much play in the rear end components. The MRC on my 2013 seemed to prevent any hop.
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Old Feb 17, 2020 | 12:57 PM
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I get hop in my 2016 M7 Z51 with mag ride. Tried various temps, mag ride, and TC settings including everything off... nothing seems to change the behavior. There is nothing amiss under there but the car will not do a proper burnout. Not that I need to go around wasting my PSSs doing burnouts but it is so unsatisfying when you get the hop.

Originally Posted by 427C62013A
I have the same Z51 setup except with a manual. I get wheel hop on the street when tires are cold. Seems to improve after warming up. Seems like there is not enough dampening in the shock, and too much play in the rear end components. The MRC on my 2013 seemed to prevent any hop.

Last edited by raylo; Feb 17, 2020 at 01:00 PM.
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Old Feb 20, 2020 | 10:04 PM
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Wheel hopped in my M7 Z51. Broke the trans and input shaft. So be careful.
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Old Feb 24, 2020 | 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Bruce_K
Wheel hopped in my M7 Z51. Broke the trans and input shaft. So be careful.
It will happen with wheel hopping for sure, plus running a runflat tire & not a drag tire will not help. Robert
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Old Feb 24, 2020 | 08:34 PM
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Originally Posted by robert miller
It will happen with wheel hopping for sure, plus running a runflat tire & not a drag tire will not help. Robert
True. I spun big on a 55mph roll race on my stock tires last month. Tires were warm and the road was cold. On the hit... my car spun and had quite a bit of wheel hop. Should have taken my foot out of it.... but I wanted the win. In the end.... I left and the other driver didn’t so I’m happy for at least not destroying my rear end.

35 seconds into the video


BTW... both cars are Procharged 😃
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