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C3 bouncing vibration

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Old Sep 23, 2025 | 07:30 AM
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Default C3 bouncing vibration

Hi everyone,

I have a 1979 Corvette and the other week I drove it for like two hours. About an hour and a half in, I noticed the car seemed to be bouncing and some vibration almost shaking. I’m not sure what could be causing this or what needs to be replaced. It drove fine for the first hour or so.
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Old Sep 23, 2025 | 11:19 AM
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engine related? sounds like if suspension then it would do it all the time? assuming same type driving.. does it seem like engine issue? check transmission fluid ?
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Old Sep 23, 2025 | 11:36 AM
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How old are your tires? Coming out of nowhere I'd check them first...
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Old Sep 23, 2025 | 12:15 PM
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It could be the tires, worn out shocks, driveshaft imbalance, or driveshaft angles. Another thing to consider, it could have been the road conditions as well. Several times I’ve noticed something weird and once on smoother road the condition disappears….
Check the condition of the transmission mount at the crossmember, and the bushings under the rearend.
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Old Sep 23, 2025 | 06:10 PM
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first check oyur tires for bulging or seperation of the treads. Push up and down on the rear of the car about 3-5 times then let go, If it bounces more than once after you let go you might have blown a shock, same with the front.

Start there, its the easiest things to check and most likely for your symptoms. if it isnt one of those then start looking for a loose drive shaft or half shaft, would be a bad u joint but those usually clunk when they go bad. The drive shaft would be a faster vibration than the wheels are turning.
IF its a slow wobble then it would be related to the half shafts or tires/ shocks.
If it was a higher vibration than the tires are spinning, then it could be a driveshaft. If its the motor then the vibration would change with the engine rpm and could be checked in different gears as the vibration would change
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Old Sep 24, 2025 | 01:17 AM
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As others have indicated; TIRES, belts delamination, tread separation. If they're more than 5 or 6 years old, they're suspect. You can damage a tire by pothole etc, and it may take weeks for it to separate. Suggest interpret each tire's date code (on sidewall). Jack car up and And closely inspect each tire all over and while tire rotates (Lumps/Bulge). If-when a tire comes apart on a fiberglass car, that'll leave a mark.
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