Pardon me sirs,
I have a short question.

What the heck is the "wheel Hop"?
C&D magazine mentioned few times that boxter and Cierra(?) are tricky to launch due to the wheel hop near maximum grip point.
(also I heard mustangs have the same problem..)

 

Since the tranny has a fluid pump built in, I'm far more concerned about the temps of the diff when the car is being driven to near abusive limits. I installed a very simple surface temp probe a couple of years ago just to see what the "normal" range of temps are with various types of driving. I believe a couple other owners did the same.
I put the display inside the cup holder:

I've modified it somewhat so that now, the door can be shut.

I also made some makeshift cooling fins:

Since doing these fins, I've discovered that Spoon introduced a new diff cover with oversized fins like what I tried to do. I guess Spoon things cooling the diff more might be a useful thing as well.

 

"Wheel hop" is also known as "axle tramp". This is when the drive tires bounces up and down as you try to launch a car. This is from not enough force on the tire onto the ground due to suspension configuration, tire pressures, road surface condition and temperatures.
This is like when you push (as opposed to dragging it) a long piece of chalk across a chalkboard. If you apply sufficient pressure on the chalk, it makes a solid line. If you begin to lighten up on the pressure, you will come to a point when the chalk starts to "skip" across the chalkboard and you make a dotted line. It's the same when you have wheel hop. The tire tries to grab the road but there isn't enough downward pressure to keep it on the road surface. So, the tire throws itself (and that part of the car) off the pavement in a rhythmic fashion, as if you were driving over a corrugated road surface.

 

what effects wheel hop??? Would it be too much/little air pressure or too stiff/soft suspension?

 

No one thing will cause it. It can be a combination of things and depends on the car we're talking about. Some cars will do it with high tire pressures, while others will do it with low tire pressures. A too soft a suspension can tend to aggravate wheel hop. That's when "traction bars" came into existence back in the 50's and 60's. These restricted suspension compression.
The type and temperature of the road surface can also play heavily on this phenomenon. "Launching" technique can also promote wheel hop.

 

good info.... thanks

 

[QUOTE=xviper,Jan 18 2006, 11:51 AM]I installed a very simple surface temp probe a couple of years ago just to see what the "normal" range of temps are with various types of driving.

 

[QUOTE=xviper,Jan 18 2006, 02:16 PM]No one thing will cause it.

 

Was a very common thing,on the late 60's Mustangs.!!!

 

Very cool thing you did with the cooling fins xviper!!!

Since I've already dug the hole, I'll start building the ladder..........I've heard to alleviate some stress on the differential during a launch (like one you'd do at an Auto X ) having the car at a slight angle, like not pointing exactly straight ahead will load one side of the car momentarily at the launch, causing the car to induce wheel spin while the LSD builds up to engage the other wheel. Have I been totally mislead or confused, or is there any truth to this?