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Question about Convertable

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Old Dec 24, 2001 | 07:14 PM
  #1  
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St. Jude Donor '03, '17
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Default Question about Convertable

I just got this convertable and have a question. When I had my 97 coupe it seemed more stable on the road than the convert. I notice the convert seems to sway from side to side at times on the I-State. Is it because of the structure or what? Dealership says all is in spec and it has only 16k on it.....Thanks

Merry Christmas :blueangel: :blueangel: :blueangel:
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Old Dec 24, 2001 | 07:19 PM
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (LowFlight)

I just got this convertable and have a question. When I had my 97 coupe it seemed more stable on the road than the convert. I notice the convert seems to sway from side to side at times on the I-State. Is it because of the structure or what? Dealership says all is in spec and it has only 16k on it.....Thanks

Merry Christmas :blueangel: :blueangel: :blueangel:

Did the 97 have the Z51 suspension?

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Old Dec 24, 2001 | 07:27 PM
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (LowFlight)

I have never heard of that problem before from members who have made the same switch you did. I know this may be a stupid question... are your rear tires inflated properly? The car will sway at high speed if they are not...

vetterdstr :cheers:
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Old Dec 24, 2001 | 07:31 PM
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Default Re: Question about Convertible (LowFlight)

Never heard of this one before!
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Old Dec 24, 2001 | 09:04 PM
  #5  
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St. Jude Donor '03, '17
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (vetterdstr)

I am runnig about 35 in all tires. It just seems to be not as stable as the coupe. I know this was the case with the C4 because my 96 had a ton of cowl shake with the targa out...maybe it is just in my mind because I owned an Acura from July until now...got used to the nice ride....
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Old Dec 24, 2001 | 09:05 PM
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St. Jude Donor '03, '17
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (Richin Chicago)

Did the 97 have the Z51 suspension?


I don't think so or I would have felt it....
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Old Dec 24, 2001 | 09:27 PM
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (LowFlight)

If your coupe had Z51 and your Vert is FE1 you'll notice a BIG difference.. my 98 Vert (F45) seemed to be directionally challenged when I first bought it... in September I replaced the Goodyear EMT's with Firestone Firehawk RFT's.. hard to believe the difference... much better handling.. traction, and a little quieter too.
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Old Dec 24, 2001 | 09:57 PM
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (XmentalPilot)

I bought a 99 vert in June and thought it wandered a bit but attributed it to the wider tires. (my previous car was a GT with 225's) As it turns out the alignment was out on one of the front wheels. I didn't notice the tire wear until I did the first oil change but the damage was already significant. If I ever buy used again the first thing I will do is a 4 wheel alignment as it is a small price to pay to prevent possible tire wear. In any event the car was definately more stable afterwards. You may want to give it a try.
:cheers:
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Old Dec 25, 2001 | 05:25 AM
  #9  
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (XmentalPilot)

It may be the tires because I bought my 97 used and the guy had just put the Runflat Firehawks on it. I never had F1's on it. This vette only had 15k on it and has the F1's. I Think it may just be the way the tires are. I love the way the Goodyears look, but I may go with the firehawks again... :confused:
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Old Dec 25, 2001 | 10:01 AM
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (LowFlight)

Mine tracks perfectly down the road. No fighting the steering wheel.
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Old Dec 25, 2001 | 11:23 AM
  #11  
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (LowFlight)

If your vert has F45 you might feel some sway under some circumstances such as concrete road with heavy grooves cut in it.
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Old Dec 25, 2001 | 11:35 AM
  #12  
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (luvinc5)

3 THINGS TO CHECK
1..TIRE PRES. IT IS A NIGHT AND DAY RIDE DIF. EVEN IF A FEWLBS. 30LBS COLD SEEMS TO ME THE BEST FEEL FOR THE ROAD WITH EMTS.AT TEMP THEY GO TO 32LBS.
2..THERE WAS A TECH MEMO ON ALIGNMENTS SPECS FOR 97 TO 99 CARS I CANT FIND IT NOW ,BUT THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE TOE IN SPEC FOR IMATURE WEAR ON THE TIRES..ILL POST IT AS SOON AS I CAN.
3..MAYBE A COMBO OF Z51/DIF TIRES ETC..MY FRIEND HAS A Z51 COUPE..AND IM GOING THAT ROUTE OR POS. Z06 UPGRADES TO SUSPENSION..GOOD LUCK
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Old Dec 25, 2001 | 02:34 PM
  #13  
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (KABAL182)

Hi,
I agree with Kabal suggestions above.
Also, tires. Do you know if someone spun out in this car? I set of flat spotted tires would sure make the car drive bad.
Latly, a leaking shock absorbor. (I am pulling straws here) Any of the shocks have a trace of oil; on them?
I owned a coupe and vert and never felt such a difference as you are describing. Good luck to you tracing this bad handling trait.
Kenny
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Old Dec 25, 2001 | 03:41 PM
  #14  
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (LowFlight)

I have had an LT4 C4 with the targa off never had a shake or sway at all at any speed. I have a vert C5 now and definitely now shakes or sways here :confused: You should have it checked out by someone else...
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Old Dec 26, 2001 | 09:11 PM
  #15  
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (VERTVETTE)

I have an '01 Convertible and have never had any sway. I ran it up over 100 mph for the first time recently and it was steady as a rock.
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Old Dec 27, 2001 | 05:27 AM
  #16  
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (TheCoy)

It seems to do better with the Sport mode set on the F45..The tires are good with no flat spots. I just think it is the different suspension (97 did not have adjustable suspension) and the fact that it is a convertable and has Goodyears instead of the Firehawks that were on the 97 when I bought it... :jester
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Old Dec 27, 2001 | 10:00 AM
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St. Jude Donor '06-13,'16-'17, '19
Default Re: Question about Convertable (LowFlight)

I went from a C5 coupe to a C5 vert and could not tell any difference between the two as far as handling. Since the C5 was designed to be a vert from the get go, there should be no problems like you mentioned.

I agree with the others here. It must be a tire(s)/alignment problem.

Tom
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Old Dec 27, 2001 | 10:03 AM
  #18  
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (LowFlight)

If you travel on the I-state quite regularly and the road is worn with indentations in the track due to traffic, you will find some wandering in and out of the road tracks. IMHO, I just don't think that there would be anything wrong so long as you check your car to be in spec....

Nick
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Old Dec 27, 2001 | 12:43 PM
  #19  
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (LowFlight)

I get a little sway on deeply grooved concrete roads with my 02 vert. On normal concrete or asphalt roads it is rock stable. :)
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Old Dec 27, 2001 | 01:42 PM
  #20  
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Default Re: Question about Convertable (powderski13)

Our 1998 convertible is very stable at any speed. The only time we get some movement is when the alignment is in need of adjustment. A correctly aligned C5 is very stable. We have had both the Goodyear and Firestone run-flats.

Jim & Susan Hildebrand
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