How-to stop a whistling light bar

S.McArthur

TJ Addict
Supporting Member
Joined
May 31, 2018
Messages
1,422
Location
Greenbrier, TN
This should stir the anti-light bar pot; anyway, quick and simple fix. As with most projects, start with clean surface. There is no reason to spend more than $15/15min fixing this issue.

Time: 15min

Tools:
  • 1 Can of Beer (User preference)
  • Scissors
Materials:
  • Door/Edge Trim: ~$15

Prior to starting, look at your light bar and move it up/down while seeing where the closest gaps between the fins and windshield are. You can probably start in the center and work down 2-3 fins and be fine.
Set your light-bar angle how you want it; not pointing in to the trees like you have most likely had it to stop the whistle. I did not see any reason to go any higher than the center fin, the wind comes from the bottom side, that is your issue area.

Step 1:
Purchase Door/Edge Trim

92293


Step 2:
Open Beer, take a chug

92294


Step 3:
Either cut to length your strips or snip off the end when you reach the other side of the light bar. Insert door/edge trim onto preferred heat sink/fin.

*I found through that it appears to be the heat sink/fin with the smallest gap to the windshield that cause the issue. *
**I started from the bottom heat sink/fin and worked up since I had 18ft of material. **

92295


Step 4: Another sip of beer.

Step 5: Repeat step 3 until you have run out of material or satisfied.

92297


Step 6: Finish beer...bro down with the boys
 
I'm sure this will help a lot of people out, especially since I see this question being asked very frequently :)

Job well done!
 
A little tid-bit I learned, it was only one fin making all that damn noise! My buddy reached up and put his fingers on the fins in hopes of stopping that freaking noise! It stopped! I had just installed the light bar before I took the jeep on a week long Elk hunt and OMG to my surprise,,, the noise coming off that bar! I did the door edging on the one fin and poof, tah-dah, viola what ever,,, SANITY!
 
  • Like
Reactions: S.McArthur
This should stir the anti-light bar pot; anyway, quick and simple fix. As with most projects, start with clean surface. There is no reason to spend more than $15/15min fixing this issue.
Time: 15min
Tools:
- 1 Can of Beer (User preference)
- Scissors
Materials:
-Door/Edge Trim: ~$15

Prior to starting, look at your light bar and move it up/down while seeing where the closest gaps between the fins and windshield are. You can probably start in the center and work down 2-3 fins and be fine.
Set your light-bar angle how you want it; not pointing in to the trees like you have most likely had it to stop the whistle. I did not see any reason to go any higher than the center fin, the wind comes from the bottom side, that is your issue area.

Step 1:
Purchase Door/Edge Trim
View attachment 92293

Step 2:
Open Beer, take a chug
View attachment 92294

Step 3: Either cut to length your strips or snip off the end when you reach the other side of the light bar. Insert door/edge trim onto preferred heat sink/fin.
*I found through that it appears to be the heat sink/fin with the smallest gap to the windshield that cause the issue. *
**I started from the bottom heat sink/fin and worked up since I had 18ft of material. **
View attachment 92295

Step 4: Another sip of beer.
Step 5: Repeat step 3 until you have run out of material or satisfied.
View attachment 92297

Step 6: Finish beer...bro down with the boys
The amount of edge trim needed on the fins is very little. The reason they "whistle" is they are vibrating at a very high speed. Cut pieces about 3" long and add them about 1/4 of the way in from each end and that adds enough mass to dampen the vibration.
 
The amount of edge trim needed on the fins is very little. The reason they "whistle" is they are vibrating at a very high speed. Cut pieces about 3" long and add them about 1/4 of the way in from each end and that adds enough mass to dampen the vibration.
Agreed, I had 18' of material, a full can of beer, and time to kill. That is the only reason I did the other fins.
 
I tried the little 3 inch pieces but they kept coming off, so I just went all the way across the dang thing and its still on there today. A beer would have helped! Sheesh I was stuffing ear plugs in between the fins, carved sticks, Styrofoam! Yeah! All helped but would come out eventually, (and looked stupid!) when I got home I fixed it right. What I was hoping to point out was that it can be determined which fin or fins are making the noise, if that was already done and I missed it, just ignore me. Food for thought, I wonder if the fins were crimped like on a condenser or??? it would add rigidity and stop the bad harmonics without adding edging.
 
Thanks for this, I've avoided adding a light bar because I didn't want to deal with the noise. Much thanks!
 
Didn't somebody post this how to last month? I remember this exact same thing...

It was a thread that turned into light bar bashing and lost in the sea. There were tales of $125 fixes and big bang theories of how to fix the unfixable lightbar whistle.

I was doing mine and drinking beer, figured I'd take 4 pictures to show how cheap an easy the solution is.
 
It was a thread that turned into light bar bashing and lost in the sea. There were tales of $125 fixes and big bang theories of how to fix the unfixable lightbar whistle.

I was doing mine and drinking beer, figured I'd take 4 pictures to show how cheap an easy the solution is.

I may have been one of those bashers... Sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I also ended up with a light bar for the benefits on the trail.
 
I may have been one of those bashers... Sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I also ended up with a light bar for the benefits on the trail.
Doesn't bother me at all, if I got butthurt over internet comments, I'd still be wrapped up in my snuggie. I use mine quite a bit for hunting, home utility work, and some night rides. I put mine to use, not just to look like a spaceship in a parking lot. I am not a huge fan of light bars, I think they look pretty stupid; I've taken it off several times but it is a useful piece of equipment.
 
This should stir the anti-light bar pot; anyway, quick and simple fix. As with most projects, start with clean surface. There is no reason to spend more than $15/15min fixing this issue.
Time: 15min
Tools:
- 1 Can of Beer (User preference)
- Scissors
Materials:
-Door/Edge Trim: ~$15

Prior to starting, look at your light bar and move it up/down while seeing where the closest gaps between the fins and windshield are. You can probably start in the center and work down 2-3 fins and be fine.
Set your light-bar angle how you want it; not pointing in to the trees like you have most likely had it to stop the whistle. I did not see any reason to go any higher than the center fin, the wind comes from the bottom side, that is your issue area.

Step 1:
Purchase Door/Edge Trim
View attachment 92293

Step 2:
Open Beer, take a chug
View attachment 92294

Step 3: Either cut to length your strips or snip off the end when you reach the other side of the light bar. Insert door/edge trim onto preferred heat sink/fin.
*I found through that it appears to be the heat sink/fin with the smallest gap to the windshield that cause the issue. *
**I started from the bottom heat sink/fin and worked up since I had 18ft of material. **
View attachment 92295

Step 4: Another sip of beer.
Step 5: Repeat step 3 until you have run out of material or satisfied.
View attachment 92297

Step 6: Finish beer...bro down with the boys
I do not have a light bar, yet. Can you post a wider picture so I can see what bar and lights you are using? The close-ups are great.
 
Now, how to apply this technology to my mix and match aftermarket mirrors...... hmmm..... (smoke coming out of ears while ponderin' on it.....)