I plan to purchase new springs/bolts and shackles tomorrow, hopefully this will cure my wheel hop/axle wrap issue. I also plan to take some pictures, advice and lessons learned during the install in my garage.

Does anyone happen to remember if there was an alignment pin or bolt on the axle/spring in order to keep the axle centered properly on the leaf springs?

 

Then you are not getting wheel hop

 

Forgive my ignorance on the subject as all of my knowledge has been provided by the free advice on the internet. I was using the verbiage noted below because it sounded credible.

"Wheel hop refers to the rapid up and down motion of the tires caused by Axle wrap. Axle hop is the term that refers to both axle wrap and wheel hop."

What I am feeling when towing my trailer or accelerating up hill in high traction situations can be described as bucking, hoping or axle wrap based on what I have read. If I am wrong, feel free to provide a bit more explanation and stop me from spending $500 on springs tomorrow.

I am willing to learn from the mistakes of other, my own mistakes and words of advice from those who have been in the same or similar situations.

 

I can see why he commented that. I would say your symptoms sound more like axle wrap than wheel hop. Most people consider wheel hop when the tires are actually bouncing like when spinning in the sand with bad shocks.

Anyways,

I wouldn't be buying springs yet if I were you. There's a lot of vehicles with a lot older leaf springs than yours and I've never heard your symptoms being caused by springs.

My F350 dually does the same thing on hard launches or taking off when towing. I replaced all my U-joints and carrier bearing and it went away. Since the Ujoints seemed to be in great shape I blame the carrier bearing since it did have some movement when pulling/pushing on it laying under the truck and now the new one is tighter.

 

It would be a bummer to go through replacing rear springs and not have the problem solved. It's not the worst job I've ever done but it is a tedious job.

 

There is no vibration from the drive shaft, so this is why I suspect the springs are causing my problems and not something like the carrier bearing. I don't want to just throw parts at the truck, but need to get this fixed.

You mention that you have never heard of my symptoms being caused by springs. I was under the impression that worn springs could cause axle wrap which would cause a bucking/bouncing from the rear end when the springs are being torqued and twisted.

What about friction modifier and having too much or too little in the rear differential? I changed the fluid just after getting the truck and put some XL-3 friction modifier in with the Amsoil fluid because it called for it.

EDIT: I just went out and inspected the drive shaft U-joints and they appear OK. There is no slop/play in any of them in any direction really. Looking into excessive drive line angle situations now.

EDIT 2: I believe what I am experiencing in my truck is a shudder (not wheel hop) in the drive line due to it being at excessive angles. This would explain why the shudder is much worse when towing my travel trailer. This also explains why when unloaded the problem is much less, but still apparent during high torque situations like taking off on a hill or on tar covered roads that are very sticky. I am going to order springs today and hopefully that will fix my issue. The PO had a 5th wheel of some sort so I am sure the OEM springs have had their day come and go. If that doesn't fix my issue, I will look into something like Timbren or RAS for the rear springs. If that doesn't fix it, I will look further into the drive line.

Thanks for the help. Update coming soon.