I'm guessing that the base Camaro suspension will be tuned to the same stiffness as the CTSv at the most, and therefore will be just as prone to hop without some re engineering done.

I'm not worried too much about the performance versions. Because of the price and insurence, the buyers of those will naturally tend to be older, more mature, and will tend to be less abusive than buyers of the V6 models. Plus I'm sure there will be different suspension tuning to take some wheelhop out.

But it still is desturbing that wheelhop was a major issue the car rags pointed out in early CTSv test on pre-production cars, and here we are on the 3rd year and it's still a major issue. GM fell asleep on this one or it's something that can't be cured.

What? A CTSv owner is going to buy a 400 horsepower, manual transmission car and never do a burnout??

 

They really wouldn't have helped anyway.

I could detect no difference in my car's tendency to wheel hop with the stock LCAs and 100K mile bushings or huge brand new poly / spherical bearing LCAs.

The shorter Spohn torque arm DID help though for reasons already stated (it moves the instant center). I had to remove it when I started autocrossing since it would bind something fierce over uneven surfaces. Yes, a rod end mount could and did help but it would still go into brake hop far sooner than my current stock length Random Tech arm (due to the relocated instant center).

I honestly have extremely little hop of either kind now using 150 lb rear springs, Koni SAs and stock LCAs with Moog (think 1LE) bushings. I certainly have FAR, FAR, FAR less wheel hop than I did when stock. This is all despite the fact that my antisquat is pretty much shot to hell since the car is lowered without relo brackets (not legal in Street Prepared). Not really a big deal for me since I gain roll understeer with the LCAs set at such an angle. I only launch once per run but I must turn 15 - 25 times.

As has been stated, proper geometery is the main problem here with either type of or suspension. Shocks, springs, and bushings can either exacerbate or help the situation.

 

You need to drive your cars harder.

Quit babying 'em.

 

I never experienced it either in my '97. Be it stock at 285hp or its current form of close to 450hp.

If you have a live axle car wheel hopping that bad replace the rear shocks. There is a real good chance one of them might be bad too.

 

Oops, I have to add that my rearview mirror removal hop was experienced using brand new (but still worthless crap) factory Decarbons.

 

That is very odd for sure! The new shocks shouldve controlled the spring just fine.

 

The initial buyers may be older and more mature, but when these cars go second hand, it is going to become a problem. It is going to be hard to build a reputation for strong performance at Chevy when anyone who owns one of these cars down the road experiences frequent and destructive wheelhop.

 

Well, to be honest.... as anyone who has gone to revalved Bilsteins, Konis, or even off the shelf Bilsteins can attest, the factory Decarbons are woefully inadequate for ANYTHING other than maybe running to the corner store for a loaf or bread and a gallon of milk.

Funny thing is, the truck guys with their Bilstein package complain about the same thing.... lack of wheel / body control. Sure they're Bilsteins but the valving is still specified by GM.

Most every GM car or truck, performance or otherwise, just doesn't seem to have enough damping speced into the shocks. Of course, the perfect shock won't be able to completely cover poor geometry but perfect geometry will still be a mess to drive with crappy shocks and springs.

Better damping does not have to equal a harsh ride. Look at the BMWs. They have excellent control of body motions but still ride quite nicely. There's no voodoo or black magic there. It's just shock / strut valving, plain and simple.

My car was more responsive and actually rode better with the revalved Bilsteins on stock springs. Much more pleasant to drive.

A drive in my car today would be a poor example of sheer ride quality as I have about doubled the front spring rate and increased the rear by 50%. However, it is not objectionable at all (when not trailering it I'll still drive it 2+ hours to an event) with the Konis properly set. It's firm, sure, but even my wife doesn't complain about the ride.

 

Exactly. However my point is that even live axles have wheelhop issues. Personally I'd rather see GM spend the time and money to engineer a solid IRS set-up. I want my next Camaro to handle like its on rails more than I want it to pull hard in a straight line.

 

Precisely what I'm thinking.

 

How much power did it have? I had a "little" on my 95 Z28 (basic bolt-ons) a couple of times at the track but not on the street. I haven't had it on my current "driver" bone stock 96 Z28.

My SS had more power than my 95 had and my 96 has. My SS is the only one I had with SFC's and had wider tires than the other two.

............who knows

 

Could there also be some issues with the limited slip, loading and unloading from tire to tire??
I'm betting tho, that the rear squatts pretty bad, instead of lifting slightly, indicating some rear geometry tweaking needed.
I haven't got test drive one yet, tho..

 

That's not really a factor. Open diff CTSs have bad wheel hop too.

 

While this is true, it is my opinion that most people who have owned both will tell you that it is far more prevelant, far more violent, and far more likely to break something in an IRS vice a live axle.

We all have our personal preferences...guess it doesn't make GMs job any easier.

 

In the ECM there is a "wheel hop" "feature" of sorts.

In the Solstice it was said that the Solstice did not feature this, however everything I've known suggests that it does.

My Solstice has "wheel hop" and others do as well. Many have reported after an ECM "retune" it eliminates the "hop" one poster on SolsticeForum.com does this for a living and discovered the "wheel hop" on his own ECM which was disputed by a few GM people on the board from what I remember.

Wheel hop is garbage and takes away from the true feeling of a RWD car.

**EDIT**

On second thought......I'm not sure if it was discussed as "wheel hop" or some sort of limited slip programming in the ECM when the vehicle noticed it was losing traction.

At anyrate, its along the same lines.

I have no problem doing a burn out in the Solstice (just ask Charlie and Guy) but it does not seem to hold for too long at all.