I have a 2001 Dakota sport, 3.9, Auto with O/D. I am experincing what feels like wheel hop, when ever I put my foot into the accelerator, or go around a corner, or when ever I down shift, no matter what gear or how how softly I downshift. I don't beleive it is "wheel hop". I bought this truck used so I don't know what kind of rearend it has. Any one have any thoughts, or answers?

 

check the glove box, should give you a general run down?.. is it 4wd and u happen to run her in 4hi ?

 

2wd, 3.55 I believe

 

theres 2 types of axle's.. 8.25 and 9.25.. comething like that, someone correct me if im worng, i work on enough stuff to forget what engine i have half the time

 

why are you downshifting with an automatic? That's completely retarded. If your truck's a v6 auto more than likely it has an 8 1/4 rear end, open differential. unless someone put a locker in it, you wont have wheel hop.

 

I really have no clue, but i'll throw a few ideas out there to see if I can spawn anything.

So, whenever you touch the gas it downshifts and jerks you forward?

First off, you should be driving it like you stole it anyway [sm=gears.gif]so this shouldnt be a problem haha.

Well, I know theres a certain point where you push the gas in and it senses that you want to speed up or pass someone or whatever, so it downshifts for you. Maybe your sensor for that got dirty or something, I don't know what sensor it is or where it is.. never had any reason to find out.
Maybe your transmission is slipping (again, just a shot in the dark here)
Maybe you just have a really heavy foot [sm=roll.gif]

Also, the V6 Dakotas have a 3.55 Open differential. So unless someone put a posi or a locker on it, you have a one wheel peeler on that bitch

 

What makes you think that the limited slip wasn't available from the factory in the v6 versions? It's option code DSA, and has been for years, and it's an option with any engine iirc. I know the V6 and V8 models had it as an option. The ONLY Dakotas that had the limited slip as standard equipment are the 5.9 R/T models. The rest of the 5.9, 5.2, 4.7, 3.9, 3.7, and perhaps even 2.5 had open differentials as standard and the limited slip optional.

Same thing goes for the 3.92 axle ratio - 3.55 was the standard (excepting the 4 banger, which held no interest for me so I never bothered to price one out) and the 3.92 was an option for everything but the 5.9 R/T.

 

thats why i said it more than likely has an open differential. Very rarely do you ever see a v6 dak with a limited slip. And besides, unless the limited slip is malfunctioning you shouldnt be getting wheel hop. I would check it out and see if someone put a locker in it, that would cause wheel hop since lockers are for racing and off road use mainly. Yes, a locker will let you do some kick *** burnouts, but it will cause the back end to hop when going around corners, and they usually make quite a bit of noise.