Wheel hop?

About 3 weeks ago, I had a flat tire. I stopped at a shop and had it plugged. While they were fixing it, I mentioned that I had intermittent wheel hop and ended up getting the tires rebalanced. A few days ago, I again got some wheel hop for a few brief periods. What causes this?

I asked for tire recommendations and a taco enthusiast recommended Michelin LTX M/S tires. I've been pricing these and looking for rims. What's the consensus on these tires? Is there something better? Are these rims compatible with an '03 Taco 4x4? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320646270759&viewitem=#ht_2066wt_941

 

When are you getting the hop? What are the conditions? Coming to a stop? Taking off from a stop? It may not be your tires.

 

Its more than likely worn out suspension, it happens to alot of 1st gens.

 

One time was steady state at about 40 MPH.

Another time was taking off from a stop. This second time was plain out strange. I had the sensation that the truck was bobbing diagonally from lower left to upper right, relative to the drivers seat. Only occurred for a few seconds.

 

I've dropped a lot of cash on suspension repairs so far: New rack and pinion + bushings, new sway-bar bushings, new struts and shocks. It's been looked at by 3 mechanics.

Any particular thing I should be looking at?

 

Most of what you replaced is in the front. The rear is where the wheel hop would be, its cause of axle wrap, its cause the rear leafs are worn.

So look at your rear leafs, its caused from the constant loading and unloading of the leafs from your driveshaft.

 

^^^ This

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/99165-lurch-forward-when-auto-trans-shifts.html

 

Yes (Like mentioned above ~ acceleration induced wheel hop is directly related to axle wrap.
But I question his understanding of the definition of wheel hop.

From the Corvette forum
Wheel hop: Car alternates between obtaining and losing traction.
The sensation the driver feels is similar to driving over a series of railroad ties spaced about 6 inches to a foot apart. A bumpy, sometimes violently bumpy sensation. Can happen during burnouts, hard launches, or on 1-2, 2-3 shifts.


It sounds like he is experiencing somthing more in line with a bump shimmy
or a bad tire issue. Heck it might could even be the early stages of a bad u-joint giving off a vibe under certain conditions.

 

I was indeed using the wrong terminology. "Shimmy" sounds like a good fit.

I am experiencing a shimmy like a mal-balanced tire. But I have not been the dirt lately so my treads are clean and that is not causing the shimmy. Maybe it is a bad tire(s)?

 

Generally a bad tire is not intermittant...

Sounds like you have the basics for safety well covered and have had professionals on the problem with no success.

You are not gonna like this but you might be best served to hold tight right now until the problem becomes more predictable. Once you can make the truck do it then you can fix the problem. Throwing more $$$ at what might be wrong hoping to hit the target is futile.

I would double check the rear drive shaft u-joints and also look for a broken rear leaf spring ~ I know 2003's are not known for bad springs but always good to check.

I've seen some videos with guys diagnosing problems with an under car video camera. Strap on the carmera and drive.


@ 26mpg ~ I'll assume it is all stock.

 

Good info. Thanks.

The truck is stock as far as I can tell. Well, almost stock. I did put a K&N air filter on it some time back. And I keep my eyes open looking for a 1.21 jigawatt flux capacitor but so far no joy......