Question to those with BBS. (Broken Bow Syndrome) - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Angrybird 12 · 11-30-2012, 01:32 PM

I noticed today while driving with the windows down the rear window really is disturbed by the air entering the car to a point where the vibrations are pretty serious. When I noticed this I rolled the windows up.
Those of you with broken bows, did you drive much at speeds over 40mph with just the windows down?
I was just wondering if this buffeting could contribute to metal fatigue causing the bow to break.

Justification · 11-30-2012, 09:23 PM

Mine was broken when I got it home from picking it up.
Ran the top down and up when it was in the prep area the day it arrived at the dealership, picked it up a week later after painted stripes were done and drove home in the rain, windows up :(
I then noticed the rubber gasket wasn't sitting right and had them check it when I took it back for clear coating the stripes. Adjusted the top, but when checking out the dealership owners car we determined that something was wrong, and that something turned out to be the fifth bow.

zandron263 · 11-30-2012, 09:36 PM

I never drive with the top up and rear windows down and mine still broke so I don't think that causes the problem.

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Tapatalk 2

Angrybird 12 · 11-30-2012, 09:51 PM

Thanks guys, I was wondering but obviously it must have been a alignment problem or something putting stress on the frame.
So far mine looks good.

SnowVert · 12-01-2012, 03:44 AM

My understanding is that the original water management bag was smaller and would cause stress on Bow #5 as it was lowering into the bag (it would also often tear the bag reasulting in back seat flooding). If you have the newer (post April 2012 I believe) water management bag, this shouldn't be an issue... At least I've had 0 problems on my 13 with 7k miles.

Angrybird 12 · 12-01-2012, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnowVert

My understanding is that the original water management bag was smaller and would cause stress on Bow #5 as it was lowering into the bag (it would also often tear the bag reasulting in back seat flooding). If you have the newer (post April 2012 I believe) water management bag, this shouldn't be an issue... At least I've had 0 problems on my 13 with 7k miles.

Mine has the original water bag, mine was built in September 2011. No problems so far with several hundred top cycles.

Nutbutt · 12-02-2012, 08:21 AM

Mine was an early build 2/11. Replaced the water management bag twice before they finally gave me the larger design in 4/12. I was a test for the new design and it has work great since then. The bow break can be traced to the water management bag.
Since the Top & water management replacement with one off the production line in april 2012, the top has functioned great and the permagrin is alive and well. If I didn't feel the top was finally fixed I would never have invested in the IPF supercharger installed this fall.

Angrybird 12 · 12-02-2012, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nutbutt

Mine was an early build 2/11. Replaced the water management bag twice before they finally gave me the larger design in 4/12. I was a test for the new design and it has work great since then. The bow break can be traced to the water management bag.
Since the Top & water management replacement with one off the production line in april 2012, the top has functioned great and the permagrin is alive and well. If I didn't feel the top was finally fixed I would never have invested in the IPF supercharger installed this fall.

Did you get the complete top assembly (frame and cloth) or just the cloth portion. Glad to hear you got your problem solved.
When your top was down before you got your water bag replaced was the water bag tight like it was being stretched by the top or still baggy?

SSTOKED · 12-02-2012, 09:01 AM

I don't see how you can have the top up and windows down without causing the top to pump slightly with all the air movement in and out of the car. However, I don't like seeing it either, so I usually don't do it at higher speeds. It's causing stress most likely on the seams, or something somewhere, so why aggravate it.

Angrybird 12 · 12-02-2012, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSTOKED

I don't see how you can have the top up and windows down without causing the top to pump slightly with all the air movement in and out of the car. However, I don't like seeing it either, so I usually don't do it at higher speeds. It's causing stress most likely on the seams, or something somewhere, so why aggravate it.

That's how I felt when I saw it vibrating like that. My other three convertibles I have owned either didn't do it at all or just slightly. But they had much smaller tops on them.

SSTOKED · 12-02-2012, 09:11 AM

All I know, is that I would not enjoy being an engineer responsible for designing a convertible top. Can't be easy. Especially when they are long like the one's on the Camaro. A lot of people on here keep comparing the Corvette top to this one and they are two totally different beasts. Maybe that comment deserves it's own thread...lol!

basecar · 12-02-2012, 09:45 AM

I agree with SSTOKED two totally different tops. The only thing I think is after the first year GM should have gotten the top problems corrected, which I guess they are still working on. So far on my 13, no problems or leaks. I think the top looks of the camaro conv is what makes it so desired by many.

hawk02 · 12-02-2012, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angrybird 12

Mine has the original water bag, mine was built in September 2011. No problems so far with several hundred top cycles.

My vert was also built in Sept '11. So far, knock on wood, no problems.

Like you, the vibration of the back window with the top up and the windows all the way down causes some degree of concern about the long term affects this has on the top. I typically don't drive with the top up and the windows all the way down. I'll lower the driver or passenger window maybe an inch or two. If the inside temp is still uncomfortable, the windows go all the way up and the AC comes on. I look at it as one of the many quirks to owning a ragtop.

Nutbutt · 12-02-2012, 12:17 PM

My top was a complete replacement, frame and cloth along with the updated water bag. My top was taken off the assembly line.
The original water bag was hard to see if it was tight with the top down but where you can see it it looked ok.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angrybird 12

Did you get the complete top assembly (frame and cloth) or just the cloth portion. Glad to hear you got your problem solved.
When your top was down before you got your water bag replaced was the water bag tight like it was being stretched by the top or still baggy?

11-30-2012, 01:32 PM	#1
Angrybird 12 7 year Cancer Survivor! Drives: 17 Cruze RS, 07 G6 GT, 99 Astro Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 21,547	Question to those with BBS. (Broken Bow Syndrome) I noticed today while driving with the windows down the rear window really is disturbed by the air entering the car to a point where the vibrations are pretty serious. When I noticed this I rolled the windows up. Those of you with broken bows, did you drive much at speeds over 40mph with just the windows down? I was just wondering if this buffeting could contribute to metal fatigue causing the bow to break. __________________ Cancer's a bitch! Enjoy life while you can! LIVE, LOVE, DRIVE... The Bird is the word!

11-30-2012, 09:36 PM	#3
zandron263 Drives: 2011 2LT RS IOM Convertible Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 2,020 View My Garage	I never drive with the top up and rear windows down and mine still broke so I don't think that causes the problem. Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Tapatalk 2 __________________ My Build Thread http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=324276

11-30-2012, 09:51 PM	#4
Angrybird 12 7 year Cancer Survivor! Drives: 17 Cruze RS, 07 G6 GT, 99 Astro Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 21,547	Thanks guys, I was wondering but obviously it must have been a alignment problem or something putting stress on the frame. So far mine looks good. __________________ Cancer's a bitch! Enjoy life while you can! LIVE, LOVE, DRIVE... The Bird is the word!

12-02-2012, 08:21 AM	#7
Nutbutt Drives: 2011 RJT 2LT/RS Convertible Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 3,381 View My Garage	Mine was an early build 2/11. Replaced the water management bag twice before they finally gave me the larger design in 4/12. I was a test for the new design and it has work great since then. The bow break can be traced to the water management bag. Since the Top & water management replacement with one off the production line in april 2012, the top has functioned great and the permagrin is alive and well. If I didn't feel the top was finally fixed I would never have invested in the IPF supercharger installed this fall. __________________ 1st IPF Supercharged 2011 2LT/RS RJT Convertible

12-02-2012, 09:01 AM	#9
SSTOKED Drives: 2011 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: May 2012 Location: Webster, NY Posts: 283	I don't see how you can have the top up and windows down without causing the top to pump slightly with all the air movement in and out of the car. However, I don't like seeing it either, so I usually don't do it at higher speeds. It's causing stress most likely on the seams, or something somewhere, so why aggravate it. __________________ HISTORY: Born on 4/26/2011 Partially reborn on 7/3/2012 (water bag upgrade) Complete rebirth 8/27/2012 (new 6/27/2012 revision top installed, new carpet, new tonneau cover and new third brake light) MODS: Solo Performance Exhaust: Axle Back with J-Pipes

11-30-2012, 09:23 PM	#2
Justification Drives: Red 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Utah Posts: 254 View My Garage	Mine was broken when I got it home from picking it up. Ran the top down and up when it was in the prep area the day it arrived at the dealership, picked it up a week later after painted stripes were done and drove home in the rain, windows up :( I then noticed the rubber gasket wasn't sitting right and had them check it when I took it back for clear coating the stripes. Adjusted the top, but when checking out the dealership owners car we determined that something was wrong, and that something turned out to be the fifth bow.

12-01-2012, 03:44 AM	#5
SnowVert Drives: Inferno Orange 2013 SS/RS LS3 6M Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 684 View My Garage	My understanding is that the original water management bag was smaller and would cause stress on Bow #5 as it was lowering into the bag (it would also often tear the bag reasulting in back seat flooding). If you have the newer (post April 2012 I believe) water management bag, this shouldn't be an issue... At least I've had 0 problems on my 13 with 7k miles. __________________ With this in the garage, I smile every day 6/29/2012 New 2013 ordered... 8/21/2012 New 2013 picked up!!!

12-02-2012, 09:11 AM	#11
SSTOKED Drives: 2011 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: May 2012 Location: Webster, NY Posts: 283	All I know, is that I would not enjoy being an engineer responsible for designing a convertible top. Can't be easy. Especially when they are long like the one's on the Camaro. A lot of people on here keep comparing the Corvette top to this one and they are two totally different beasts. Maybe that comment deserves it's own thread...lol! __________________ HISTORY: Born on 4/26/2011 Partially reborn on 7/3/2012 (water bag upgrade) Complete rebirth 8/27/2012 (new 6/27/2012 revision top installed, new carpet, new tonneau cover and new third brake light) MODS: Solo Performance Exhaust: Axle Back with J-Pipes

12-02-2012, 09:45 AM	#12
basecar Drives: 2013 Crystal Red RS Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Southern IL, Fla Posts: 59	I agree with SSTOKED two totally different tops. The only thing I think is after the first year GM should have gotten the top problems corrected, which I guess they are still working on. So far on my 13, no problems or leaks. I think the top looks of the camaro conv is what makes it so desired by many.