More Wobble and shakey with tops off

[ReggieD]

More Wobble and shakey with tops off. "WHY"

Is it normal for the car to shake more with the half tops off. I noticed that my car has more vibrations in the steering wheel if I drive with my tops off. Is this normal or is something in need of repair?

It make me more afraid to speed up or take tight turns.:eek

 

[Ken]

It is a common irritation, and that is all it is. It won't affect handling significantly, but if you started road racing or heavy duty autocrossing, it would benefit you to add some support in the way of a harness or rollbar, or an item that was released not long ago - a structure to brace the halo to the windshield frame when the top is off, or you could also add the convertible's x-brace under the car which adds a little structural support.

Creaks and groans are commonplace in Corvettes, especially the C4s. The new ones are marvelously quiet. :cool

 

[Robertwav1]

I would just like to input something here if I may. C4's should be quiet with or without the top on. Body flex on the C4 is more prominate with the top off naturally. The car is suppose to flex. From what I understand it's the way it's built. I did notice though that when the original tires on the car (Goodyear Eagles) wore down and I changed to Firestones...the change in ride was definately noticeable. The Goodyears were very hard and shook everything more. The Firestones are much softer and it shows in the ride. I hate to bring the tires up in this discussion but I do believe they make a diff. Just my opinion.

 

[jmccloud]

Body flex

I had exactly the same experience as Robertwav1.
The country road on the way to my house was really harsh. With the new Firestone tires it's much improved. No rattles or loud squeeks with either set of tires, top on or off. But it sure fells better now.
The car is much more 'wiggly' with the top off. The old Goodyears did shake more with it off. No shake anytime now, just a lot of flex with the top off.
I have a '68 Camaro convertible that's a lot stiffer than the '95 Corvette with its top off. The Corvette is just as stiff as the Camaro with the targa top installed. Neither has any remarkable rattles.
Hope this helps

 

[Minnesota Fats]

Glad to hear all of this as I was thinking my tires or frontend had something wrong. Some roads it was like strange and then on others it was smooth.

 

[ReggieD]

Door ajar warning light with door fully close

My car flexed so bad that the passenger door keep tripping the door ajar warning light and door courtesy light. I slammed the door very hard but the light kept luminating on every shake of the car. If you push down on the door, just right, while it is closed shut the ajar light still come on.

This only happens when the top is off.

Do I need to adjust the switch or something?:duh

 

[Robertwav1]

The switch is probably not making a good connection. I don't think it would be out of adjustment if the door lines up okay. Take it out and try cleaning it if possible. I did this before on other cars successfully but never the vette. I would think it would be the same thing though.

 

[racersedge52]

Agree with above and....

If it's also jarring the door loose, then it sounds like it could be more serious.

The tires can make a difference.

But when it the last time you had you ball joints, shocks, brakes, tie rods, hubs, etc. gone through or replaced?

Especially tie rods and ball joints in a C4 will make a big difference if not in good shape.

If you're also noticing uneven or otherwise poor tire wear, then you want to start looking at suspension rebuild and not just necessarily tires.

If you've got over 50K miles and nothings ever been done, then definitely have it checked out.

Regarding everybody's comments about tires, yes, different tires can make a slight comfort difference, but it the problem is excessive vibration or jarring the door switch loose, then I would say it's more than just tires.

:cool

 

[93aquaConvert]

Since i got new tres and rims i notice i get a wobble on some roads...Never noticed it with the stock goodyears and rims...I think its the balancing or it could be the tires...I have bfgoodridge gforce tires..

 

[racersedge52]

Did you get balance and alignment?

It definitely sounds like you need to do a balance and re-alignment.

Especially when you change rims and tire brands/styles, it can make a big difference and if the suspension is not set up to the differences, you can experience the effects you are describing.

You 'need' to do it for the health of your cars (i.e. prevent excessive tire wear, bad braking, etc.) plus you will have a much more enjoyable driving/handling experience.

:dance

 

[kingman]

Flexing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi
l have been trying to get my 96 to flex, but so far nothing. That's with the top off.

I'm sure that it's there and do not feel it or passing it off as something else.

Alan

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

When Frankie built my current engine he told me, ¨Never drive hard with the top off¨. He is installing a convertible cross brace he found in a junk yard when he drops the 383 in.

All of that said I do not know why GM made the top removable to start with, if I wanted a rag-top I would buy one. When the weather is good enough to go top-less I am on one of the bikes anyway!!!

I did take the top off for my wife’s birthday. We drove 57 miles to check out a neat restaurant and YES it rained on us. That was the last day of May; we haven’t had a drop since. ¨The rain in Spain falls mainly on Corvettes without tops.¨

 

[Robertwav1]

I must speak up for the topless vette. I leave my top off almost always when the weather permits. I think it's rather nice to have the option. You don't get as much wind as you do in a ragtop cause of the rear window that blocks it. At night if it gets a little chilly...you roll the windows up and all you feel is a cool breeze on top of your head. I'm glad they made it a removable top...just my opinion of course...I'm sure many people feel like "SpanishVetts" does. So....Yes....I'm defending the removable piece of plastic.

 

[Minnesota Fats]

Love my coupe roof. Easy on easy off.

 

[RedVetteMan]

I'm with Minnesota Fats and Robertwave1...I like driving with the top off, though I have noticed a definite "flexibility" in the car without the top. The first time I took a hard corner without the top scared the "h" out of me...I thought I was going to bounce off the road. Checked all the suspension items, etc and found everything tight. Since then found some articles about early C4's in particular and convertibles in general, all noting a varying degree of flex, depending on the model. Guess I should just slow down and be cool with the top off, eh?

 

[vettered91]

Well, I gess the lesson here is: "Top off show off" Every time the rain here gives me a chance to "take it off" I enjoy it cruising at no more than 55 p/h because the two C4 I've owned flex a lot with the top off!

By the way, thanks for the tires report. Maybe my next set will be the Firestones.

See you

George

 

[Skant]

One person described the vette with the top off as feeling like a floppy fish at the wheel. It's not a big deal, though. At least, I found I got used to the way it felt after a few minutes.

The Targa Truss Bar is supposed to work really well for this. It's just a bar that installs in place of the top when you take the top off. Supposedly, it makes the car more rigid than with the normal top on.

I remember reading some comments at one point that the glass top had the same flexing as no top. Just not quite as bad. I haven't found that to be the case. I can't detect any difference in the car between my solid and glass tops.

And as for why the removable targa top? It's one of the neatest features of the car! It looks great with the top off, and it's just so much fun. And you don't have to put up with the car looking... well, I personally don't like the way convertibles look with their cloth tops up. Removable hard tops all the way.

Driving down 17 through the mountains and then highway 1 to Monterey with the vette's top off... aaahh... that was pure bliss!

I have to thank that GM exec that told them to do a targa instead of a T top at the last minute... just for that experience alone.

Btw... a note on tire comments... comparing old tires you replaced against new tires you just had mounted is not generally a fair comparison. Even if you replace with exactly the same brand and type, the new tires will immediately feel and perform better in every way. That is, after all, why you buy new tires. Pretty much any new tire will be smoother.

- Skant

 

[Robertwav1]

Skant has a point about the tires. I guess any new tire has to be compared to a "New Tire" not something that's been on the the car for 4 or 5 years. BTW, where would one find a cross bar for the top of a C4 when the plastic is off? I've seen them for the C5's.

 

[Skant]

The new Mid-America Vette catalogs have the truss bar for about $400 I believe.

- Skant