Took my top off & .........

[Idaho Slim]

Have been updating our 96 LT1 top & seals, replaced the windshield & pillar seal and decided to drive it home with the top off in the back. I noticed the car felt very LOOSE and rattled to beat the band on every pothole & bump, but that morning when the top was in on the drive in to town, the car felt fine.

Has anyone noticed this when their top is off? Is this normal? I can see wherre the top ties in the whole car structurally, but WOW! what difference, may not want to ever take it off again.

 

[warren s]

That's normal with C4s. The roof panel adds much needed structural integrity. Thats why it bolts in on C4s and simply latches in on C5s.

 

[boomdriver]

Have been updating our 96 LT1 top & seals, replaced the windshield & pillar seal and decided to drive it home with the top off in the back. I noticed the car felt very LOOSE and rattled to beat the band on every pothole & bump, but that morning when the top was in on the drive in to town, the car felt fine.

Has anyone noticed this when their top is off? Is this normal? I can see wherre the top ties in the whole car structurally, but WOW! what difference, may not want to ever take it off again.

Yes, as normal as the sunrise. ...lol...there was someone that swore that he autocrossed his c-4 without the top on and had no problems...

the only response was..."guess you never really won, huh?"

The c4 frame & cabin is a box sitting on top of 2 rails....when you take the "lid" off the box, the sides try to fold and that allows the rails to roll around.
Mine is so bad that I cannot step on the gas in a 90 degree turn onto another street until I am nearly straightened out, or it will break loose and skate all over the place. Makes it appear to have more power than it does...but I know its just a complete and total loss of traction & stability. Wet roads are just plain dangerous.

 

[XLR8]

I've read before that the C5 was actually designed as a convertible first - or something to that effect. The bumps and rattles on the C4 is probably the motivation for that idea.

Jane Ann

 

[warren s]

There used to be a brace sold that bolted in place of the top. It worked pretty well as I remember.

 

[Dukeallen]

As the others have said, it's very normal, but some cars seem to be worse than others. I live near some railroad tracks, and the car shakes a little over those, but otherwise gives a fairly smooth ride even topless.
They sell braces that fit between the windshield and the halo to stiffen it, they look like the bar on a t-top car, but they aren't exactly the nicest looking things :L I guess it's up to you, how bad it feels and if it's worth it.

 

[GRAND SPORT #12]

Mine dose the same thing annoying to watch the windshild shimmy and shutter so i rarely take off my top off . sometimes makes me wish i had t-tops

 

[Idaho Slim]

Thanx everyone, sitting in the car you can tell the roof really ties everything in structurally, but WOW!:eek I had no idea it would be this pronounced .......... doubt I will take them off again, it kinda takes all confidence out of my driving pleasure.:confused

 

[SnakeOiler]

IIRC, the C4 convertibles had an 'X' brace bolted to the chassis. I believe you might look into some type of retrofit.