Eliminating Wheel-hop — 1st Gen Cadillac CTS-V

The 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V is an excellent performance luxury sedan.  With a 400 hp LS Series V8, Brembo brakes, sport suspension, and Cadillac appointments, the first Generation CTS-V is an intriguing automobile, and a terrific used Sports Sedan value.

One weakness frequently discussed for the 1st Generation CTS-V is wheel hop.  Wheel hop happens when instead of a tire/wheel transmitting power smooth to the car, or spinning, instead literally ‘hops’ in an up and down vertical motion.  This can lead to parts destruction in rapid fashion.

For the 2nd generation CTS-V Cadillac found a solution — by making the left and right rear axles different diameters, wheel-hop was solved.  Under load, both axles have torsional spring rates; this asymmetry decouples any resonance between them, reducing axle hop.

GForce and Hendrix Engineering have come out with retro-fit kits for the 1st Generation CTS-V’s that take a similar approach:

GForce CTS-V Kit

Here is how GForce describes their kit:

04-07 CTS-V ANTI-WHEEL HOP DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AXLE KIT

The GForce $549 kit includes:

Driver side 300m Axle
Passenger side big diameter 300m axle
CV Boots
CV Clamps
CV Grease

The best solution to eliminating wheel hop is to replace both the drivers side and passenger side axles with our big and little axle kit. We designed our axle kit to provide a properly sized set of axles that will eliminate most all wheel hop in most all conditions. The trick is to have a staggered axle diameter from side to side that will break up the harmonics associated with wheel hop. Several things come into play with our design such as material, heat treating procedures, weight and twisting properties

We make our axles from billet 300m steel, the strongest material available for making drivetrain products, much stronger then chromoly. We only use certified aircraft grade 300m material for our axles.

These axles will work on all 04-07 CTS-V’s.

The best thing about our 300m axles is the fact they are compatible with either the OEM inner and outer stubs or our line of inner and outer billet stubs for the CTS-V. If you ever want to up-grade to billet stubs down the road, you just buy the stubs, swap them in and your good to go for 1000 hp. A totally modular design! This kit is for the auto enthusiast that doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty. Once the half shafts are removed from the car, it is about a one hour job per side to swap the axles out with the OEM axles.

Alternate approach: For 04-05 gets the big passenger side axle; For 06-07 gets the smaller drivers side axle. I recommend you get both as above.

The Hendrix Engineering offer includes the bar and parts for the swap and one can have it swapped locally, or one can send an axle and Hendrix Engineering will  swap it out and shoot it back.  The kit costs $329 plus S&H.  If you have them install the axle it is $379. All of the Hendrix Econo Axles are driver side and they work on all years.  Unfortunately I could not find any information about their system on their website, but they appear to be responsive if contacted directly.

For more information see:

1 thought on “Eliminating Wheel-hop — 1st Gen Cadillac CTS-V

  1. Too bad they don’t make this for the STS-V. It too will hop if you are on it hard in 1st gear and, like the CTS-V or Corvettes, it too will blow out the differential.

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