If you have ever been in a vehicle experiencing wheel hop, axle tramp, axle wrap, or whatever else you want to call it, you’d remember it. One of the most violent and destructive things to your driveline is that dreaded feeling like the rear of your car is trying to tear itself free of the rest of the vehicle. From what it can do to axles to universal joints to transmissions and everything else, we don’t think that there is a more spontaneously non-chemical aided phenomenon (like a nitrous explosion for example) that can happen to a car or truck. Some cars are known for it, like the 1999 Mustang Cobra that I had. Dropping the clutch would result in a series of events that would leave you wondering if you had just blown up the car and blown a crater in the ground over the course of the last couple of seconds. It sucked. There were ways to fix it but I chose the ultimate way…by getting rid of the Mustang. Problem solved.
In this video you’ll see a ratty looking old Holden more door that appears to be on a burnout pad at an Aussie “power skid” competition. Rather than the driver winding the motor up, dumping the clutch and then making smoke, we get a couple of chirps and an axle that bounced like a basketball. In “real time” it doesn’t look like all that much and it is over pretty quick….the magic happens when the clip is slowed down and run in slow-mo. During the slow motion re-run you’ll see every panel on the car, the bumpers, the guys inside, etc are flopping around like fish. The car literally looks like it is held together with rubber bands and that axle bouncing (literally) up and down is the reason. Watching the tires jump in the air, come to a complete stop, jump back up, come to a complete stop, multiple times in what is actually a couple seconds in real life will pretty much explain why this will kill all different parts of your driveline.
We’re thinking that the shock absorbers on this thing are about as worn as the paint. We know some guys who can fix that.
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE ONE OF THE COOLEST EXAMPLES OF SLOW MOTION AXLE HOP THAT WE HAVE EVER SEEN!
Good to see the ‘official’ is wearing a hi vis shirt in the interests of safety!
For the benefit of those outside Australia,the Holden is a “HZ” model. 1977-79. The rear axle on these used a 4 link coil system- the same as the GM ‘A’ bodies. In fact the
bushes are interchangeable. I know- I’m running Holden bushes in my ’69 Skylark.
Good to know. It’s always hard hunting down parts for my Buick, `67 Lark
The rear tires are out of balance. Watch the slow motion closely. The left rear starts to hop immediately.
wheel hop has
nothing to do with tire balance.
pinion angle incorrect, need to adjust 4 link, set up correct shocks
Most rental cars are good at this too.