 1997 Convertible Vibration & Cabin Noise Information
I was getting a shake & vibration in my front end from 60mph and up on my 97 convertible. I started out with fresh balance job thinking (easy fix), but no change. Then went into replacing the ball joints, tie rods, struts, rotors, and rack/pinion. Still no change, and the 10.5” wide front tires just amplified the problem. The only thing I didn’t replace was the OEM lower control arm bushings and upper strut caster bushing. It was either this or a cracked frame???? So, again I ripped the front end apart replacing the OEM lower control arm bushing with a set of HD poly pushing and also replacing the OEM upper caster with a complete bearing type caster assembly. Took it out for a test drive and 110% problem solved!!! I never knew that this could be the cause of my shake/vibration, and 75% of the cabin noise was gone.
I also replace my aftermarket light duty subframe connecters with a pair of custom six foot long HD (2x2x.25 wall) welded subframe connecters. This took care of eliminating the rest of the cabin noise. It’s now like riding in a hard top without the so called 5th spring, and this is the first convertible that I have road in that has been this quiet.
So, those of you with convertibles just an FYI. Hope it helps!! | 
, glad to see you were able to work out the shaking problem because a lot of convertible owners run into this kind of stuff at one point or another. I had the same issue with my 1990 convertible and welded subframe connectors were the solution as well.
