Cure for bad ride when roof is out?

[LT4_UK]

Hi, guess what we're getting some sun in the UK (actually not as rare as people think...) and the other day I decided to take the roof out.

Having owned C4 Corvettes previously I was prepared for a slightly shaky ride. I also thought that, as my car is a 96 maybe it'll ride better than my previous vettes (84, 90, 93).

Well I don't remember anything this bad. Admittedly our roads are getting bad over here but I actually thought a wheel had fallen off or my tyre pressures had gone low or something.

After about 2 miles I could take it no longer and put the roof back and then the car drove real nice again...

I have seen various gizmos for smoothing out the vibrations and counteracting the flex when driving with the roof out (forget the one that bolts into the roof holes please).

Am I right in thinking the factory brace/ frame / whetever-it's-called fiited to the factory convertible is the best option if I can find one?

I have never been in a C4 convertible but as far as I have read the ride is OK. I can't live with mine withe the roof out. It is truly terrible. Even on smooth roads I can feel the flex.

Is the factory convertible cross-brace the way to go and is it hard to fit?

Thanks, Malc

 

[Tuna]

Check out R-D Racing and their x-frame brace and targa brace.

Welcome to R-D Racing Corvette Parts and Accessories

Their "Cross-Frame" is similar to the x-brace installed under convertibles.
The "Targa-Truss" replaces the roof panel with basically a "T-top" brace. You get the wind and sun and none of the shake.

My wife said she didn't find the feel of her '93 base coupe objectionable with the roof out but I hated the feel of my '92 FX3 car with the roof out.
Our '96 Z51 car never had the roof out except for parades just for this reason.
Some C4s seem to flex more than others. With my '92, if felt like the front and rear of the cars were two different cars.

 

[strokin383-c4]

Hi, guess what we're getting some sun in the UK (actually not as rare as people think...) and the other day I decided to take the roof out.

Having owned C4 Corvettes previously I was prepared for a slightly shaky ride. I also thought that, as my car is a 96 maybe it'll ride better than my previous vettes (84, 90, 93).

Well I don't remember anything this bad. Admittedly our roads are getting bad over here but I actually thought a wheel had fallen off or my tyre pressures had gone low or something.

After about 2 miles I could take it no longer and put the roof back and then the car drove real nice again...

I have seen various gizmos for smoothing out the vibrations and counteracting the flex when driving with the roof out (forget the one that bolts into the roof holes please).

Am I right in thinking the factory brace/ frame / whetever-it's-called fiited to the factory convertible is the best option if I can find one?

I have never been in a C4 convertible but as far as I have read the ride is OK. I can't live with mine withe the roof out. It is truly terrible. Even on smooth roads I can feel the flex.

Is the factory convertible cross-brace the way to go and is it hard to fit?

Thanks, Malc

Ive got an 86 Targa and I never have any flex. only when going diagonally over a speed bump. maybe your carriage is cracked underneath.

 

[6 Shooter]

I sold my 96 LT4 to get rid of it's frame shudder, I hope you all the best.

Gone but not forgotten. ​

​

​

 

[boomdriver]

Hi, guess what we're getting some sun in the UK (actually not as rare as people think...) and the other day I decided to take the roof out.

Having owned C4 Corvettes previously I was prepared for a slightly shaky ride. I also thought that, as my car is a 96 maybe it'll ride better than my previous vettes (84, 90, 93).

Well I don't remember anything this bad. Admittedly our roads are getting bad over here but I actually thought a wheel had fallen off or my tyre pressures had gone low or something.

After about 2 miles I could take it no longer and put the roof back and then the car drove real nice again...

I have seen various gizmos for smoothing out the vibrations and counteracting the flex when driving with the roof out (forget the one that bolts into the roof holes please).

Am I right in thinking the factory brace/ frame / whetever-it's-called fiited to the factory convertible is the best option if I can find one?

I have never been in a C4 convertible but as far as I have read the ride is OK. I can't live with mine withe the roof out. It is truly terrible. Even on smooth roads I can feel the flex.

Is the factory convertible cross-brace the way to go and is it hard to fit?

Thanks, Malc

Normal.
the removable roof is as useless as lips on a wood pecker. They ALL have frame flex. Its the nature of the C4 design. The roof is a structural frame member.

What to do about it?:confused

Get the under frame cross brace, a brace that fits across the engine bay (but severly limits access for maint) or the targa type brace that fits in the roof mounts. If the C4 had a decent frame the C5 might not have come out for a couple more yrs...