I have recently seen quite a bit of discussion regarding drag bags, and have been thinking a little about the underlying science. The drag bags have been touted as significantly reducing wheel hop. Why does this work? With a stock suspension, during a hard launch, the wheel camber changes as the result of rear end squat as the load is transfered. This is evidenced by more wear on the inside of the rear tires. The drag bags provide additional support and reduce the degree to which the rear end will squat. This causes more of the tire tread to remain in contact with the road surface and subsequently the wheel hop is reduced.

The above is only a theory and may not be entirely valid. Is there anything that I inadevertently overlooked? Am I understanding the physical phenomenon of wheel hop correctly? Thoughts? Comments?

-K

well wheelhop is when the tires travel vertically in the wheel well because there insufficiant preassure keeping them down...I believe that is the story.

Digging back in my memory of drag racing back in the 70's the drag bags were installed to stiffen things up and give a little more clearance. You have to experiment with the tires air pressure too if you want it to work. Wheelhop comes from a harmonic vibration setting up in the rear suspension and if the tire pressure isnt' right on then you have four balls bouncing instead of just two so wheelhop can actually get worse. Better to get new springs and heavier shocks along with some other mods IMHO

The stock springs are too soft for straight line performance. More spring and a better swaybar does wonders for the launch, just did it on a friend's car a few weeks ago and the performance is night and day.