Question for those with 5th bow problems? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

hworth18 · 02-12-2014, 07:38 PM

I was wondering if folks with bent 5th bows often drive with their windows down? The reason I ask is that I have noticed my top buffeting in the wind when I drive with the windows down (w/top up) and my thought is that the movement of the top could cause the 5th bow to bend given it's at a tension point?

I've had my top replaced but I don't want to experience a 5th bow failure given that my car is now out of warranty. I was just trying to figure out a possible cause for the bow failure.

ToddB · 02-12-2014, 08:00 PM

[QUOTE=hworth18;7417117]I was wondering if folks with bent 5th bows often drive with their windows down? The reason I ask is that I have noticed my top buffeting in the wind when I drive with the windows down (w/top up) and my thought is that the movement of the top could cause the 5th bow to bend given it's at a tension point?

I've had my top replaced but I don't want to experience a 5th bow failure given that my car is now out of warranty. I was just trying to figure out a possible cause fo
r the bow failure.[/QUOTE

No it was a poor design by GM. I replaced mine and the new one is reinforced and a lot stronger.

2011*Camaro*SS · 02-12-2014, 09:42 PM

I know the reason mine bent the second time is because my little brother put the top down one night when it was like 8 degrees outside. The bow gets stiff in the cold and bends easily. I thought there were systems in place that didn't let the top go down if its colder than like 40 degrees, but I guess not...

If I remember correctly I received a letter a couple years ago saying that my top had a longer warranty than the car because of all the problems.

02-12-2014, 07:38 PM	#1
hworth18 Jus' Cruzin Drives: 2017 Camaro 1SS Krypton Green Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Northeast Oklahoma Posts: 1,108 View My Garage	Question for those with 5th bow problems? I was wondering if folks with bent 5th bows often drive with their windows down? The reason I ask is that I have noticed my top buffeting in the wind when I drive with the windows down (w/top up) and my thought is that the movement of the top could cause the 5th bow to bend given it's at a tension point? I've had my top replaced but I don't want to experience a 5th bow failure given that my car is now out of warranty. I was just trying to figure out a possible cause for the bow failure. __________________ “The moment you think you know what’s going on in a women’s head, is the moment your goose is well and truly cooked” -Howard Stark

02-12-2014, 09:42 PM	#3
2011CamaroSS Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS Vert Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Lubbock Texas Posts: 421 View My Garage	I know the reason mine bent the second time is because my little brother put the top down one night when it was like 8 degrees outside. The bow gets stiff in the cold and bends easily. I thought there were systems in place that didn't let the top go down if its colder than like 40 degrees, but I guess not... If I remember correctly I received a letter a couple years ago saying that my top had a longer warranty than the car because of all the problems. __________________

02-12-2014, 08:00 PM	#2
ToddB Drives: 2011 2SS Convertible Supercharged Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: WI Cert Welder Navy NSSN Posts: 1,157	[QUOTE=hworth18;7417117]I was wondering if folks with bent 5th bows often drive with their windows down? The reason I ask is that I have noticed my top buffeting in the wind when I drive with the windows down (w/top up) and my thought is that the movement of the top could cause the 5th bow to bend given it's at a tension point? I've had my top replaced but I don't want to experience a 5th bow failure given that my car is now out of warranty. I was just trying to figure out a possible cause fo r the bow failure.[/QUOTE No it was a poor design by GM. I replaced mine and the new one is reinforced and a lot stronger.