3rd shock over rear axle

[dcmdon]

The best way to stop the hopping is with more damping. stiffer shocks. Not necessarily stiffer springs. You may even be able to get away with stiffer rebound damping only and leave the compression less stiff for better compliance at speed.

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[81Mojave]

With the 5 link of the gladiator, wheel hop shouldn’t be a big deal. I’ve never experienced it that I’m aware, even with 400+tq

Have you driven in sand or deep snow much?
Do you have a lift, or after market control arm?
Not being sarcastic, just want to learn more.

 

[CerOf]

Have you driven in sand or deep snow much?
Do you have a lift, or after market control arm?
Not being sarcastic, just want to learn more.

No to sand. Yes to 12” of snow and all depths and types of snow up to 12”. Some within ice underneath, some with dirt, some with concrete beneath.

2” mopar lift.

 

[brianinca]

If the $$ shocks hadn't worked, this kit from James Duff was next on my list:

https://dufftuff.com/product/classic-traction-bars-1983-97-ranger/

Pretty much a must have for the 5.0L V8 swapped Rangers. It's so hard to get an engine swap through smog in California, I figured to do shocks first and that was enough for the anemic V6 to quit beating up the ring gear.

My YJ is not prone to axle wrap, fortunately, despite the antique Hotchkiss suspension. Anemic straight 6 in this case ?

HAHA - ready for the stage and stand-up I see! OK, Howie, LOL

Leaf springs are horrible for wheel hop and axle "wrap" or wind-up. They generally have shocks more staggered and in those cases, it's really important to have good shocks.
Not saying that they can't help - given the right type of configuration they can mean everything.
The pinion wants to climb the ring gear under heavy torque - so the differential housing noses up until the leaf springs (or bushings) have had all they can take for the given torque and something lets loose - the wheels slip and the spring (or bushings) unwind and the pinion noses down - reaches the end and the wheels grab and the pinion climbs again........
My performance cars have staggered shocks but I'm still putting more power to the rear than it's engineered to handle - so in the 70 I sold I rebuilt the torque links which prevented spring wrap and lifted the rear of the car upon heavy acceleration forcing the wheels down more.
On my 73 it took CalTracs to settle things down - when the axle tries to wind up, the transfer force forward. Geometry........

I can't recall how the shocks are canted on a Ranger......... but leaf springs are horrible for axle twisting and wheel hop.

 

[jmsreynolds]

Lift springs will be taller not necessarily stiffer. Normally such things as lifts make things worse because of longer and extended parts.
If the lift includes different bushings maybe but lift springs shouldnt be stiffer and shocks don't usually impact axle wind-up.

Thanks! Year I am switching to a progressive spring rate which is a bit stiffer. Also adding adjustable dampening shocks. But I agree it shouldn't affect it. But in theory with the 4/5 link suspension there really should be any to begin with. Its odd though, after this happened I tried just spinning the tires on dry pavement and there was no hop at all. Seems to be only gentle acceleration while on a lose surface that the issue occurs.

 

[jmsreynolds]

Power hop is exactly what that center diff shock is for. If your rear axle ends up hopping on a surface with enough traction then you will blow out your rear end gears.

Because it is located in center of the differential it should not affect the articulation much if at all for stock height.

I have notice hop while starting from a stop with my diesel on sand.

Can anyone confirm that it actually helps?

That is my concern as I am adding a 3 inch lift. I am sure I can make it work. I'm just still finding it odd that the factory rear suspension design is even allowing an hop/axle wrap to happen.

 

[ilovebikes99]

I checked my Willys Diesel and I have no 3rd shock. 2021 November build date

 

[Hootbro]

I checked my Willys Diesel and I have no 3rd shock. 2021 November build date

Only manuals will have if they have it at all. Since all Diesels are automatics, stands to reason you would not have it.

 

[ilovebikes99]

Only manuals will have if they have it at all. Since all Diesels are automatics, stands to reason you would not have it.

I understood diesels had it too

 

[CerOf]

I understood diesels had it too

My ‘21 Rubi diesel doesn’t have it. Build date should be 11/20 on mine.

 

[Hootbro]

I understood diesels had it too

Not a hill I am going to die on, but all instances I have seen were manual vehicles and not all manual vehicle have it.

Would love to see a provable instance of a diesel to have one from the factory and not end user installed as a mod.

 

[DAVECS1]

SOOOOOOO funny story...I did get the part but when going to install the bracket I snapped off a bolt in the top of my rear diff. So im pretty much never getting this thing put in haha. I can, and will, sell and ship the shock to anyone who wants to try their luck.

Whats the asking price?

 

[Firestarter]

It depends on the geometry, but you can have a shorter than links shock that will compress and extend depending on travel. Similar to short long arm suspension that changes camber through travel.

what’s cool about that is it would only actuate when both wheels move in the same direction together. Under articulation it wouldn’t change damping.

BTW I’ve driven deep sand with and without my locker aired down to 20psig and it pretty much sank. Zero hop. Same with snow, zero hop. Rubicon auto.

 

[Mash5]

I have a 21 Diesel sport S that did not come with one, but I was surprised to experience significant wheel hope in deep snow offroad. I wonder if this would help. These things have the upper and lower links so close together to fit under the bed (I guess) that it does not take much compression of the bushing to allow some torque-induced rotation of the axle.

 

[Miguel]

I have a 2021 mojave and I'm wondering if this would help me out. I get bad wheel hop in sand when taking off or going up a sand dune.

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