Foolproof squeaky top fix
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: New Berlin WI
Foolproof squeaky top fix
There has been a lot of discussion about how to do the squeaky top fix on C6 (and earlier) coupes. Most have to do with using some sort of lubricant. I've found that none of those fixes really work for long. I figured that if the top could not move with respect to the seals, it would not squeak, and that adding slippery stuff was making the problem worse. I've done just the opposite. I wiped all the slippery stuff off of the seals and the inside edge of the top with denatured alcohol. Then I took a small piece of 220 grit sandpaper on my finger tip and CAREFULLY took the shine off of the seals, where they touch the top. I did NOT sand them rough, only removed the shine. The squeaks are gone and it has been two months of summer and fall temps and 2000 miles of driving. If you need to shine up the seals for the occasional car show, the usual shiny stuff will still look just fine when you apply it. Just repeat the alcohol and sandpaper trick when you get tired of the squeaking.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
Grease works for me also. That's what GM recommends and I would certainly not want to sand the weatherstripping any more than it already gets. Any flexing that causes squeaking has a lot more force behind it than will be held back by simply roughing up the surface. If the squeak stops (which it will) by sanding, it is because the force has been transmitted to the internal structure of the seal which will eventually cause more deterioration. Grease allows the force to be absorbed by the grease and not the seal.
BTW, the recommended grease is SILICONE grease. If you don't want to pay a dealer's price it is also called dielectric grease for electronics. Oils such as vasoline or, horror of horrors, wheel grease, will cause the seal to deteriorate.
BTW, the recommended grease is SILICONE grease. If you don't want to pay a dealer's price it is also called dielectric grease for electronics. Oils such as vasoline or, horror of horrors, wheel grease, will cause the seal to deteriorate.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 8,434
Likes: 411
From: Texas
So Dielectric grease on the rearward pins combined with an o-ring at the base of the pin to make it a tighter fit works?
I see all of these 'fixes' listed but no explanation of what it includes.
Thanks
I see all of these 'fixes' listed but no explanation of what it includes.
Thanks
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
If your roof handles have the roller type clips, then C slips are used to wedge then tight to the side. When installing the C clips, remove the handles, and make sure to grease the handle bearing surfaces to the center post before you install them back on.
The roof post are checked to make sure that they are all still tight, and a O ring's is added to the the posts, and you can add in heat shrink tubing as well (so no metal to metal contact inside the sockets on the car from the roof posts,
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-noise-21.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 5,463
Likes: 1,138
From: Chino CA
C clips, O rings and shrink wrap for me. Cost was around $10 total and it took around 20 minutes to do both tops. Silent for 18 months now. I almost forgot that it was ever a problem.
Also replaced end links and axle nuts and my car is noise free.
Thanks again Dano!
Also replaced end links and axle nuts and my car is noise free.
Thanks again Dano!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 7,044
Likes: 942
From: Colorado
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C8 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2022 C7 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C7 of the Year Finalist -- Modified
Good info. Thanks to everybody.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 14
From: omaha nebraska
Racer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 440
Likes: 6
From: Hillsboro Oregon
Yeah, I did the whole weather strip lubing thing, to no avail. It was just those darn little rollers doing a stick/slip deal as the body flexes. Sometimes we over-complicate the situation and the simple solutions elude us.
YMMV
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 785
From: Las Vegas NV
I put the little O-rings on 4 years ago and have had no noise since. It keeps the pins tighter in the socket. Didn't need to do any of the other stuff.
Last edited by EVRose; Oct 2, 2015 at 05:19 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25,105
Likes: 3,156
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
If you have the the rollers that turn, then you do not have the updated latches that was put on my 08 in July of 08.The rollers on the new latches have a flat spot on them and they do not turn. In post #9 shows the old style latches.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 440
Likes: 6
From: Hillsboro Oregon
That is correct. But did that solve the problem? From what I've been hearing it did not. I see the OP has a 2010 GS. I could easily see the engineers not getting this right. The updated latches probably still have a stick/slip action going on in the same area and still making the popping/creaking noise. IDK. What I do know is mine was very annoying and I found an extremely simple and effective fix.
Last edited by Al Gumby; Oct 2, 2015 at 06:52 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
That is correct. But did that solve the problem? From what I've been hearing it did not. I see the OP has a 2010 GS. I could easily see the engineers not getting this right. The updated latches probably still have a stick/slip action going on in the same area and still making the popping/creaking noise. IDK. What I do know is mine was very annoying and I found an extremely simple and effective fix.
