Hi all, after searching and reading I could not find an answer...negotiating to buy a 2005 sc430 with 96,000 miles. After driving it I have two concerns. When the top is down I can feel vibrations from the steering wheel as start driving. No such vibrations when the top is up. This concerns me as it could involve safety issue. The car is with original rims and a year old run flat wheels. Second is wind noise coming from the rear...Will highly appreciate any advice. Thanks

 

With the top down, the chassis is a bit more flexible. Steering wheel vibrations can be the result of many different issues, including just flat spots in the tires from sitting too long (run flats and low tread tend to be worse about this). However, if it is flat spots, the vibration should subside after driving it for several minutes to warm the tires up and round them out.

Welcome to the forum. Let us know what you decide and find out.

 

Hi and thank you very much for your reply! I drove the car for a while with top up and top down. Steering wheel vibrations only with top dow, that is somewhat strange to me. As I don’t know anyone with sc430 (there are not so many in my country) I asked a friend with a convertible (Mazda MX5 2011) and he was very explicit that this should not happen specifically with top down. As his soft top is much lighter the the sc430 hard top maybe it has something to do with the top weight in the trunk? BTW, rear suspensions have been recently replaced (originals) and front ones working about 50% according to seller. Will very much appreciate any thought...

 

If they have replaced the rear shocks/struts make sure you have had a 4 wheel alignment done.

Dennis

 

If he already needed to replace the rear suspension and the front is only working to 50%, that could be the source. Having the top down will weaken the structural strength of the car and perhaps just enough to allow the wobble to occur. I don't really know. I'm not very knowledgeable about suspensions.