Hardtop Windnoise

[tomtaylz]

I was wondering how much wind noise specifically you guys get from your hardtop while driving on the highway? So I’ve owned my Jeep for a few months now, and I know Jeeps aren’t the quietist things. But more than road noise I at speeds especially above say 45 or if it’s windy out I get a lot of wind noise. I’m not 100% sure it’s coming from the hardtop, could be the windscreen, windscreen fold, or door seals.

I haven’t really thought much about it because I thought Jeeps are just loud but I was looking at some forum posts where people were mentioning not getting much wind noise at all.

I’m wondering if it’s worth investigating if one of my seals has gone. When driving on the highway for instance the wind noise is a lot louder than any noise I get from the tires. It would be hard to have a phone call and it can be hard talking at regular volume. I know the headliners exist and I’ll probably get one eventually just trying to get a base line.

Sound is subjective but I was wondering what is everyone else’s experience?

 

[Mr. Bills]

I was wondering how much wind noise specifically you guys get from your hardtop while driving on the highway. . . ? When driving on the highway for instance the wind noise is a lot louder than any noise I get from the tires. It would be hard to have a phone call and it can be hard talking at regular volume. I know the headliners exist and I’ll probably get one eventually just trying to get a base line. . . .

The qualitative answer is, "Less than a soft top." I don't think anyone could give you a specific or quantitative answer that isn't pure conjecture. Also, the noise level from a set of tires differs depending upon tread pattern, the surface of the highway, and multiple other factors. Similarly, it is not unusual to hear wind noise more than tire noise and it is also not unusual to be forced to speak up to use the phone at highway speeds.

A word on aftermarket headliners for jeep hardtops: A friend had a headliner installed in the hardtop of his CJ-7 many years ago and was quite proud of it. But a year or two later he wasn't. He told me that he rued the day he had it installed. I cannot recall his exact criticisms, but moisture absorption, mildew smell, adhesive failure, fading fabric and difficulty keeping it clean all come to mind. It was enough for me to know that I would never want one.

 

[Kiwi TJ]

I was going to be very childish and say that to cut down 'wind noise' I would suggest not eating a curry before driving your Jeep..:lol:

Where is the noise coming from ?...the front, around the windows, the sides or even the back window....I'd be checking the rubber seals and making sure the latches are secure.

 

[tomtaylz]

I was going to be very childish and say that to cut down 'wind noise' I would suggest not eating a curry before driving your Jeep..:lol:

Where is the noise coming from ?...the front, around the windows, the sides or even the back window....I'd be checking the rubber seals and making sure the latches are secure.

Yep I double checked the latches recently. It sounds like the front but can’t give a more specific direction than that. It could be the windscreen but at the same time it could be where the hardtop meets the frame.

 

[glwood]

I drove my hard top TJ for a while after I bought it, wondering to myself "why is the wind noise over the windshield louder than I remember it being?" but didn't investigate. Then one day realized the driver side latch was not latched all the way...oops. End of wind noise.

You might need a new windshield header seal. They do get old and dry out.

 

[tomtaylz]

My planned steps were to try and use painters tape or something around different seals and see if I can notice improvement. Just trying to get an answer to the hard to define what is “normal” before I go through all the work and figure out that’s the base level of noise, which it may well be

 

[Kiwi TJ]

Yep I double checked the latches recently. It sounds like the front but can’t give a more specific direction than that. It could be the windscreen but at the same time it could be where the hardtop meets the frame.

Get somebody to hold a bit of paper ( or a feather) around the edges and watch for it flapping while you drive...just an idea.

 

[tomtaylz]

Get somebody to hold a bit of paper ( or a feather) around the edges and watch for it flapping while you drive...just an idea.

Yeah that’s not a bad idea, I wonder how much is actually coming through to the cab, I have tried feeling around with just my hand and haven’t felt anything but the paper should be more sensitive.