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C4 weaknesses

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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 09:02 AM
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Default C4 weaknesses

I have been reading a lot about C4 Corvettes being prone to squeeks and rattles in various articles and books. Most contribute it to the stiff suspension on the C4 design.I can attest mine has plenty, but I thought it was just my high milage Corvette. I rarely however read about C1 and C2s having that problem, the complant there is usally water leaks.Is the C4 the most squeekie Corvette ever built? Some owners on this forum claim their C4s are quiet as a mouse???, I dont get that because even when these cars were new from what I read complaints were flooding into Chevrolet from new Corvette owners that the cars were to noisey and rode horrible.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 10:23 AM
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Several years ago I was riding with my bro,Micky Davis, in his 96 LT4 CE. He turned to me and said:"Hear the squeeks and rattles? I love every f%#king one of em." Mick had the right idea. If you are looking for a super quiet car buy a Buick,or Caddie, or one of them *** thinges.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by ps374
I have been reading a lot about C4 Corvettes being prone to squeeks and rattles in various articles and books. Most contribute it to the stiff suspension on the C4 design.I can attest mine has plenty, but I thought it was just my high milage Corvette. I rarely however read about C1 and C2s having that problem, the complant there is usally water leaks.Is the C4 the most squeekie Corvette ever built? Some owners on this forum claim their C4s are quiet as a mouse???, I dont get that because even when these cars were new from what I read complaints were flooding into Chevrolet from new Corvette owners that the cars were to noisey and rode horrible.
I agree with Muffin, sports cars are not supposed to have a comfy ride...they're sports cars. The stiff suspension adds to the handling, and thus the ride will suffer and the creaks and squeaks will work their way in. By the way , the 64 coupe that I owned didn't leak, maybe it was one of a very few though.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Muffin
Several years ago I was riding with my bro,Micky Davis, in his 96 LT4 CE. He turned to me and said:"Hear the squeeks and rattles? I love every f%#king one of em." Mick had the right idea. If you are looking for a super quiet car buy a Buick,or Caddie, or one of them *** thinges.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 10:38 AM
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We Corvette owners sure have a way of making things o.k. It's like if you don't like it..don't drive it
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 10:49 AM
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All 4 C4's I have owned squeeked and rattled. They also all leaked water in different spots. I have to say my 95 is probably the quietest. Nature of the beast.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 11:31 AM
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I've got to be on a fairly bad piece of road for my 96 to squeak or rattle. For the most part it is pretty buttoned down.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 11:43 AM
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Starting in 1993 when the C5 was supposed to be originally released, GM had some of the C4 engineers start a program to make the Corvette the best it could be. By 1995 most of the common squeaks and rattles were gone. Velcro was one of the things used to help cut down on the noises.

My 95 still has a few squeaks here and there.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 12:25 PM
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Vettes have always squeeked and rattled. Stiff suspension--that's part of the game. My 59 was exactly the same way.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 12:33 PM
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Originally Posted by rich653
We Corvette owners sure have a way of making things o.k. It's like if you don't like it..don't drive it
That's very true.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 12:35 PM
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My 1990 has a few sounds in the dash area, in the center around the radio and air vent. BUT the car is tight and handles like a whip! I feel everything on the road, in a good way. And thats at 77,000 miles. Not bad for a 17 year old car. Beat that Japan.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 01:02 PM
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Of course they ride stiff and rattle, If it wasn't a hairy animal would they be any fun?
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 01:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Larry64
My 1990 has a few sounds in the dash area, in the center around the radio and air vent. BUT the car is tight and handles like a whip! I feel everything on the road, in a good way. And thats at 77,000 miles. Not bad for a 17 year old car. Beat that Japan.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 01:18 PM
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Originally Posted by ps374
I have been reading a lot about C4 Corvettes being prone to squeeks and rattles in various articles and books. Most contribute it to the stiff suspension on the C4 design.I can attest mine has plenty, but I thought it was just my high milage Corvette. I rarely however read about C1 and C2s having that problem, the complant there is usally water leaks.Is the C4 the most squeekie Corvette ever built? Some owners on this forum claim their C4s are quiet as a mouse???, I dont get that because even when these cars were new from what I read complaints were flooding into Chevrolet from new Corvette owners that the cars were to noisey and rode horrible.
The targa top is a lot to blame. C1's and C2's don't have the targa top.
The C4 was designed as a T-Top but a idiot changed the design at the last minute.

Leaks, like a sponge, it does again the targa top.

Non of the body panels can carry any of the cars weight, so its all up the frame and the mono-coupe shell to cancel out any twists and vibrations, with a big hole in the middle of the mono-coupe its problematic.

Targa tops work on Porsches they have a steel body. Some how they got it right on the C5?

The C4 is the cheapest of all the Corvettes, doesn't make any sence but it is.
Overall its an excellent car from a mechanical point. Everything is 100% on that end of it.
The body design is the only real weak link.

They all leak and they all squeek, some more than others.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 01:23 PM
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Take 20 minutes or so every spring and tighten every fastener you can find in the interior.

Amazing how it cuts down on the interior squeaks and rattles.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Muffin
Several years ago I was riding with my bro,Micky Davis, in his 96 LT4 CE. He turned to me and said:"Hear the squeeks and rattles? I love every f%#king one of em." Mick had the right idea. If you are looking for a super quiet car buy a Buick,or Caddie, or one of them *** thinges.

Couldn't have said it better! I love the C4.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 01:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Larry64
My 1990 has a few sounds in the dash area, in the center around the radio and air vent. BUT the car is tight and handles like a whip! I feel everything on the road, in a good way. And thats at 77,000 miles. Not bad for a 17 year old car. Beat that Japan.
same here @ 78,000 miles As for Japan, they can't......because by now mnay of theirs are rusted out or the engine blew up.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 02:40 PM
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Originally Posted by ps374
.Is the C4 the most squeekie Corvette ever built? .
wanna take a ride in my '71 vert with solid body mounts? thats right the body is mounted directly to the frame with only aluminum hockey puck type spacers. talk about a stiff ride, makes the '93 ride like a luxry car
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by rich653
We Corvette owners sure have a way of making things o.k. It's like if you don't like it..don't drive it
Damn right!
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 02:56 PM
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My C3 and C4 both exhbit sqeaks and rattles on some rough surfaces but so did my '69 Z28 and my '85 Trans Am. My wifes Cadillac doesnt squeak or rattle but I'll take my Vettes sport car noise anytime.
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