C4 General Discussion General C4 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech

C4 Squeaks like heck

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 20, 2018 | 07:56 PM
  #1  
jkeithnb's Avatar
jkeithnb
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
Default C4 Squeaks like heck

I have a 1986 C4 auto coupe 15000 miles never seen snow or rain 15000 miles.
3,000 since 1992 - 100% original pretty well showroom.

Just replaced rubber - flat spots.

The body sqeeks like heck all the time - would drive you crazy - quiets down on highway quite a bit.

Is this normal? Is there anything you can do to quiet it down?
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2018 | 10:00 PM
  #2  
CVG323's Avatar
CVG323
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,865
Likes: 67
From: 1000 Vin Scully Ave, L.A California
Default

Originally Posted by jkeithnb
I have a 1986 C4 auto coupe 15000 miles never seen snow or rain 15000 miles.
3,000 since 1992 - 100% original pretty well showroom.

Just replaced rubber - flat spots.

The body sqeeks like heck all the time - would drive you crazy - quiets down on highway quite a bit.

Is this normal? Is there anything you can do to quiet it down?
My 94 squeaked like hell. Removed the dash pad and tried searching for the squeaks and rattles had some loose bolts under the dash pad .then the rattles stopped .still had a squeak. Removed lower passenger side knee cover and the foam inside was the culprit . Took a weekend to fix but worth it .car was pretty quiet after that.
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2018 | 10:03 PM
  #3  
jkeithnb's Avatar
jkeithnb
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
Default

Originally Posted by CVG323
My 94 squeaked like hell. Removed the dash pad and tried searching for the squeaks and rattles had some loose bolts under the dash pad .then the rattles stopped .still had a squeak. Removed lower passenger side knee cover and the foam inside was the culprit . Took a weekend to fix but worth it .car was pretty quiet after that.
Good start thanks
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2018 | 10:53 PM
  #4  
billschroeder5842's Avatar
billschroeder5842
Zen Vet Master Level VII
Supporting Gold
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5,218
Likes: 1,174
From: Southlake, TX
Default

Yes, these cars do makes noises.

Unfortunately you will have to tackle these noises one at a time. Tapping, pushing jostling until you can locate the noise. Foam rubber will be your friend along with tape and zip ties,

On my 89 dash, I quieted the car LOTS by taking the dash pad off and putting some black, double sided foam take on all the connection "touch" points where the dash could touch. Essentially my dash sat on a layer of foam. While the dash was off, I wiggled anything I could get my hands on using foam, zip ties...etc on anything that could make noise.

It is a bit tedious, but you will get it.
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 12:16 AM
  #5  
CVG323's Avatar
CVG323
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,865
Likes: 67
From: 1000 Vin Scully Ave, L.A California
Default

Originally Posted by billschroeder5842
Yes, these cars do makes noises.

Unfortunately you will have to tackle these noises one at a time. Tapping, pushing jostling until you can locate the noise. Foam rubber will be your friend along with tape and zip ties,

On my 89 dash, I quieted the car LOTS by taking the dash pad off and putting some black, double sided foam take on all the connection "touch" points where the dash could touch. Essentially my dash sat on a layer of foam. While the dash was off, I wiggled anything I could get my hands on using foam, zip ties...etc on anything that could make noise.

It is a bit tedious, but you will get it.
I went for a drive with the dash pad off. Fixed things as I heard them . Try it out .You'd be surprised all the **** that rattles .
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 08:10 AM
  #6  
81c3's Avatar
81c3
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,574
Likes: 961
From: Communist Colorado
Default

Also, how are the shocks? Inoperable ones will give a terrible ride and make everything squeak and make noises.. In addition take the time to tighten every interior trim screw you can find. That will also help.
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 09:47 AM
  #7  
Paul Workman's Avatar
Paul Workman
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
Default

Riding with the top off too allows considerably more flexing of the frame, and consequently more squeaking.

I believe I read somewhere that as part of the manufacturing process evolution, foam was added at contact points to address the squeaks so prevalent in the early C4s. In any case, my 90 Z is pretty quiet - no squeaks. However, I seldom ride with the top OFF. That said, I've noticed extensive use of foam tape on all the various panels I've removed (so far).
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 03:26 PM
  #8  
TheBlaster9001's Avatar
TheBlaster9001
Racer
 
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 349
Likes: 55
Default

Originally Posted by jkeithnb
I have a 1986 C4 auto coupe 15000 miles never seen snow or rain 15000 miles.
3,000 since 1992 - 100% original pretty well showroom.

Just replaced rubber - flat spots.

The body sqeeks like heck all the time - would drive you crazy - quiets down on highway quite a bit.

Is this normal? Is there anything you can do to quiet it down?
This may not help at all, but I was chasing a god-awful chatter-y squeak for a long time. Turned out to be the the plates under the hood spring - the parts that latch the hood shut, up close to the windsheild. Get a little bit of grease, and grease the spring, the latch, and the plate under the spring the contacts the frame.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 08:37 PM
  #9  
Dt86's Avatar
Dt86
Safety Car
 
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,017
Likes: 492
From: Poughkeepsie New York
Default

30+ years of plastic fantastic lol.
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 09:43 PM
  #10  
CVG323's Avatar
CVG323
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,865
Likes: 67
From: 1000 Vin Scully Ave, L.A California
Default

Originally Posted by Dt86
30+ years of plastic fantastic lol.
Pretty much . Doesn't mean we can't seek and destroy them. I did. I was happy and felt accomplished lol .
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To C4 Squeaks like heck





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:02 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 11:09:53


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE