5th Bow Pictures - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

ToddB · 07-20-2013, 12:08 PM

I am in the process of replacing my 5th Bow. My dealer is letting me do all my own work. My dealer only sold two convertible and has never worked on one. Name: ImageUploadedByTapatalk1374339916.320747.jpg
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Here is the new 5th bow. Name: ImageUploadedByTapatalk1374339959.287658.jpg
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The end of the new one is wider and thicker than the old one. Name: ImageUploadedByTapatalk1374340020.640319.jpg
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This is the end of the old one.
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You have to take a lot of the car apart.

pannhead51 · 07-20-2013, 12:32 PM

Wow, you must be talented ...not in a million years would I attempt this !!!

ToddB · 07-20-2013, 01:04 PM

Ya I do most of my own work. I don't trust my dealer.

RolltideSS · 07-20-2013, 02:40 PM

That bar looks pretty solid, how do they break so easily?

ToddB · 07-20-2013, 06:30 PM

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This is the end of the old one. This end is bent down.
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Finished pic. Now it's tight again. Took me 6 hrs. Wife helped me lift it out of car.

Baba · 07-21-2013, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToddB

Attachment 535293

This is the end of the old one. This end is bent down.
Attachment 535294

Finished pic. Now it's tight again. Took me 6 hrs. Wife helped me lift it out of car.

That's EXACTLY how it should look. Congrats on a job well done! Hopefully this issue won't crop up again.

vanlieremead · 07-21-2013, 08:56 PM

I agree, it looks great. I can see how the connection piece could bend down. I should have asked for my old one. It's been 2 years now.

Bodih · 07-22-2013, 10:31 AM

While you were in there, any insight as to what is causing the bow ends to bend? Mine broke twice, and I still believe it was caused by the old style WMB being too small and stiff during cooler temps. Do you have the new style WMB, or change it out while you were in there?

Great job by the way!

ToddB · 07-22-2013, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanlieremead

I agree, it looks great. I can see how the connection piece could bend down. I should have asked for my old one. It's been 2 years now.

They cant give you the old one. It has to be returned to GM. I am taking mine back to the dealer today.

IncrediblyX · 07-22-2013, 09:36 PM

In your opinion, with the new improved bow, do you think it will ever happen again? You're very brave. On a difficulty scale of 1-10, with 10 being extremely difficult, how hard was it? Good job!

ToddB · 07-23-2013, 09:16 AM

I still have the old bag. I did not see any sign of rubbing or contact. They are very complicated and something must not be right in yours for it to be breaking. Mine just bent and I could see how this could happen it even with nothing hitting on it. The spot that bends has a lot of torque on it when putting the top up

ToddB · 07-23-2013, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IncrediblyX

In your opinion, with the new improved bow, do you think it will ever happen again? You're very brave. On a difficulty scale of 1-10, with 10 being extremely difficult, how hard was it? Good job!

About a 9.75.

ToddB · 07-23-2013, 09:23 AM

Also people getting leaks. I can see how it happens. The front drains pop into a hole and is very difficult to get in place just right. If they are snapped in wrong they will for sure leak. I have the service manual for my car and it does not give dealers a lot to work off. So if someone working on your car is first doing this they have their work cut out for them.

Jfoster · 07-23-2013, 12:36 PM

I'm still waiting on a dealer to fix mine and the other problem I have is the right cable tension is loose. While you had yours apart could you tell how its attached on the rear? Also thanks so much for your photos and insight on the 5th bow.

07-20-2013, 12:08 PM	#1
ToddB Drives: 2011 2SS Convertible Supercharged Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: WI Cert Welder Navy NSSN Posts: 1,157	5th Bow Pictures I am in the process of replacing my 5th Bow. My dealer is letting me do all my own work. My dealer only sold two convertible and has never worked on one. Here is the new 5th bow. The end of the new one is wider and thicker than the old one. This is the end of the old one. You have to take a lot of the car apart.

07-20-2013, 06:30 PM	#5
ToddB Drives: 2011 2SS Convertible Supercharged Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: WI Cert Welder Navy NSSN Posts: 1,157	This is the end of the old one. This end is bent down. Finished pic. Now it's tight again. Took me 6 hrs. Wife helped me lift it out of car. Last edited by ToddB; 07-20-2013 at 08:25 PM.

07-22-2013, 10:31 AM	#8
Bodih I Got My Orange Crush Drives: it like I stoles it... Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,079	While you were in there, any insight as to what is causing the bow ends to bend? Mine broke twice, and I still believe it was caused by the old style WMB being too small and stiff during cooler temps. Do you have the new style WMB, or change it out while you were in there? Great job by the way! __________________ My love is in league with the freeway. Its passion will ride, as the cities fly by, and the tail-lights dissolve in the coming of night. And the questions in thousands take flight ~Robert Plant - Big Log~

07-20-2013, 12:32 PM	#2
pannhead51 Drives: 2SS convertible Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Sacramento Posts: 366	Wow, you must be talented ...not in a million years would I attempt this !!!

07-20-2013, 01:04 PM	#3
ToddB Drives: 2011 2SS Convertible Supercharged Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: WI Cert Welder Navy NSSN Posts: 1,157	Ya I do most of my own work. I don't trust my dealer.

07-20-2013, 02:40 PM	#4
RolltideSS Drives: 2018 SS 1LE Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Houston Posts: 1,069 View My Garage	That bar looks pretty solid, how do they break so easily?

07-21-2013, 08:56 PM	#7
vanlieremead Chris Drives: 2011 2SS RS Jewel Red 6.2L Vert Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Cave Creek, AZ Posts: 178 View My Garage	I agree, it looks great. I can see how the connection piece could bend down. I should have asked for my old one. It's been 2 years now.

07-22-2013, 09:36 PM	#10
IncrediblyX Drives: Red Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Temecula Posts: 296	In your opinion, with the new improved bow, do you think it will ever happen again? You're very brave. On a difficulty scale of 1-10, with 10 being extremely difficult, how hard was it? Good job!

07-23-2013, 09:16 AM	#11
ToddB Drives: 2011 2SS Convertible Supercharged Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: WI Cert Welder Navy NSSN Posts: 1,157	I still have the old bag. I did not see any sign of rubbing or contact. They are very complicated and something must not be right in yours for it to be breaking. Mine just bent and I could see how this could happen it even with nothing hitting on it. The spot that bends has a lot of torque on it when putting the top up

07-23-2013, 09:23 AM	#13
ToddB Drives: 2011 2SS Convertible Supercharged Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: WI Cert Welder Navy NSSN Posts: 1,157	Also people getting leaks. I can see how it happens. The front drains pop into a hole and is very difficult to get in place just right. If they are snapped in wrong they will for sure leak. I have the service manual for my car and it does not give dealers a lot to work off. So if someone working on your car is first doing this they have their work cut out for them.

07-23-2013, 12:36 PM	#14
Jfoster Drives: 2016 GT vert. Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: La Posts: 198	I'm still waiting on a dealer to fix mine and the other problem I have is the right cable tension is loose. While you had yours apart could you tell how its attached on the rear? Also thanks so much for your photos and insight on the 5th bow.