Crazy wheelhop

Joe 5.0 · Apr 5, 2005

My dad has an 03 Anniv Vert, and ever since he bought it it has had some serious wheelhop issues. It is definitely worse when its cold or wet out, but even recently when its ben 60* it does it pretty bad. Now, I'm not talking about it happening only at a full drag launch, I'm talking about 3/4 throttle off idle, even from a slow roll. Everything on the car is stock.

I told him there are bushing kits out there for his car, but he's hesistant beause he doesnt want to degrade the ride or make the interior noise any worse. He would however like to be able to go to the drag strip a couple times a year without worrying about blowing a halfshaft.

So, whats the best rememdy for the hop, keeping all that in mind.

Uncle Meat · Apr 5, 2005

jtkz13 said:
My dad has an 03 Anniv Vert, and ever since he bought it it has had some serious wheelhop issues. It is definitely worse when its cold or wet out, but even recently when its ben 60* it does it pretty bad. Now, I'm not talking about it happening only at a full drag launch, I'm talking about 3/4 throttle off idle, even from a slow roll. Everything on the car is stock.

I told him there are bushing kits out there for his car, but he's hesistant beause he doesnt want to degrade the ride or make the interior noise any worse. He would however like to be able to go to the drag strip a couple times a year without worrying about blowing a halfshaft.

So, whats the best rememdy for the hop, keeping all that in mind.

The best remedy is to replace the IRS with a straight axle! Unfortunately the IRS equipped Cobra's have a problem and that's wheel hop under hard acceleration. It's worse on the 'verts than the coupes too. There are a few things you can do to alleviate some of the hop, but you'll never get rid of it completely under all conditions. First off you can try some better rubber. Drag radials seem to help the car hook better on the street and reduce the hop some. Additionally you can install adjustable shocks from HBH or QA1 that can reduce the hop by increasing the rebound dampening. Of course as you mentioned there's always the poly bushings, but those are a MAJOR PITA to install for what I've heard is very little benefit by themselves. You may have to combine some or all of these mods to get the desired reduction in wheel hop.
Personally I have a coupe and the combination of bigger, stickier 315's and a set of anti-hop shocks reduced my hop by 80% or so.

U.M.

Joe 5.0 · Apr 5, 2005

So some Illumina's or something like that would help more than justa little? Also, could there be something incorrect from the factory? If there was a bad bushing, or a out of alignment control arm could that cause it to be that bad?

He plans on definitely getting some full lebgth weld-in SFC's, will that help at all?

Uncle Meat · Apr 5, 2005

jtkz13 said:
So some Illumina's or something like that would help more than justa little? Also, could there be something incorrect from the factory? If there was a bad bushing, or a out of alignment control arm could that cause it to be that bad?

He plans on definitely getting some full lebgth weld-in SFC's, will that help at all?

I'm not sure about the Illumina's... but QA1 and HBH (Horsepower by Herman) make 03/04 Cobra specific shocks to help control the wheel hop. As for something incorrect from the factory... ah yep, it's called IRS! LOL! It's just not designed for hard acceleration! A bad or bent component in the IRS could possible increase the amount of hop, but I suspect your dad’s Cobra is no worse than the rest of ours. It's just an inherent problem with this particular setup. The SFC's will not make much if any difference in the wheel hop, they will increase the rigidity and you'll be able to feel a ride difference over bumps and uneven surfaces, but as for hop, it'll still be there.

Sorry...

U.M.

COBRA90GT · Apr 5, 2005

jtkz13 said:
...He plans on definitely getting some full lebgth weld-in SFC's, will that help at all?...

Not likely, the hop will still be present (afterall we are talking about Ford "forcing" the design of the independent rear suspension into the Fox platform, something the Fox chassis was never designed around). Regardless, SFCs are still a great mod.

You could check/tighten the bolts under the IRS - there's a remote possibility that one of them has worked themselves loose from the factory.

CarrollShelby · Apr 5, 2005

jtkz13 said:
My dad has an 03 Anniv Vert, and ever since he bought it it has had some serious wheelhop issues. It is definitely worse when its cold or wet out, but even recently when its ben 60* it does it pretty bad. Now, I'm not talking about it happening only at a full drag launch, I'm talking about 3/4 throttle off idle, even from a slow roll. Everything on the car is stock.

I told him there are bushing kits out there for his car, but he's hesistant beause he doesnt want to degrade the ride or make the interior noise any worse. He would however like to be able to go to the drag strip a couple times a year without worrying about blowing a halfshaft.

So, whats the best rememdy for the hop, keeping all that in mind.

Try this... http://www.rpmoutlet.com/03cobrahard.htm

Simply the best of all...

Joe 5.0 · Apr 5, 2005

Wow that bar looks interesting, plus its a simple bolt-in so it shouldnt affect anything else. I'll have to show him that.

I'm sure hed rather try something like that as opposed to shocks since it wont affect ride quality or warranty.

CarrollShelby · Apr 5, 2005

My pleasure Sir...

Uncle Meat · Apr 6, 2005

jtkz13 said:
Wow that bar looks interesting, plus its a simple bolt-in so it shouldnt affect anything else. I'll have to show him that.

I'm sure hed rather try something like that as opposed to shocks since it wont affect ride quality or warranty.

If I were you I'd do some more reading before plopping down $160 on this part. Mr. CarrollShelby is the only person I've ever seen post positive comments about this product actually working, and it's suspect whether he has one on his car or not. Also keep in mind that CarrollShelby has a shaky history here on Stangnet. Just take a look at his car he confesses to own. A limited edition, Shelby Cobra 2004 40th Anniversary model. Ever heard of one? I didn't think so, nobody else has either! Try finding info on that car... there isn't any because it's a fake.

I'm on a half-dozen 03/04 specific Cobra forums and NOBODY endorses this item except him. If this was/is the end-all/be-all for wheel hop you'd see all of us sporting one!

U.M.

01CobraDude · Apr 6, 2005

Uncle Meat said:
Also keep in mind that CarrollShelby has a shaky history here on Stangnet.

My word, Uncle Meat! Server crashes and he seems to be everywhere now. How long will it take before he's banned again?!?! I chose to stay out of the whole '04 Shelby Cobra argument, but I can't stay away now - he's just plain annoying!

CarrollShelby · Apr 6, 2005

Uncle Meat said:
If I were you I'd do some more reading before plopping down $160 on this part. Mr. CarrollShelby is the only person I've ever seen post positive comments about this product actually working, and it's suspect whether he has one on his car or not. Also keep in mind that CarrollShelby has a shaky history here on Stangnet. Just take a look at his car he confesses to own. A limited edition, Shelby Cobra 2004 40th Anniversary model. Ever heard of one? I didn't think so, nobody else has either! Try finding info on that car... there isn't any because it's a fake.

I'm on a half-dozen 03/04 specific Cobra forums and NOBODY endorses this item except him. If this was/is the end-all/be-all for wheel hop you'd see all of us sporting one!

U.M.

Do you really think all the Mustang owner's in the world are here register in Stangnet??? That's make me laft! Maybe 1 or 2% of all the Mustang owner's are here no more than that... Do you have some stat's Mr. Moderator??? I guest NOT

Uncle Meat · Apr 6, 2005

CarrollShelby said:
Do you really think all the Mustang owner's in the world are here register in Stangnet??? That's make me laft! Maybe 1 or 2% of all the Mustang owner's are here no more than that... Do you have some stat's Mr. Moderator??? I guest NOT

Uncle Meat said:
I'm on a half-dozen 03/04 specific Cobra forums and NOBODY endorses this item except him. If this was/is the end-all/be-all for wheel hop you'd see all of us sporting one!

U.M.

I fourgive u becuz engrish is yer sekond langage and u hav trabull compraheding.

U.M.

CarrollShelby · Apr 6, 2005

I do my best to write in english... Don't P I S S me off!!! Mr. knownothing

gemex · Apr 6, 2005

I got the Kenny Brown Dif brace with bushings from RPM, I personally noticed a big difference, but I had a coupe. It wasn’t a total cure; I’d say I went from 100% wheel hop under w.o.t. to 30% when the brace was installed.

chuckstang95 · Apr 6, 2005

Is the KB brace any different then the one used on the 03/04 cobras?

PDubs · Apr 6, 2005

There is no silver bullet to this hop save for an axle swap. For every person that claims this or that works for them, another person will say that a similarly modded car will still have hop. W/o an axle swap, you'll have to add pieces here and there to minimize/cure it.

People have already mentioned tires, shocks, and bushings. Those areas should be your first points of attack in that order. Bushings are a PITA to install with questionable results (with respect to reducing wheel hop). One thing that did help with mine are Mathis brackets: linkie.

Shelby07 · Apr 6, 2005

I got the Kenny Brown too and no more wheelhop for me! It's amazing

Uncle Meat · Apr 7, 2005

Shelby07 said:
I got the Kenny Brown too and no more wheelhop for me! It's amazing

Go away CarrollShelby!

Feel that? it's the BAN STICK!

U.M.

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