T-top Tapping/Knocking
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 213
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T-top Tapping/Knocking My passenger side t-top started making a knocking/tapping noise over bumps at low speeds. I have done the following things:
1. Tightened it using the adjustment of the front and back brackets
2. Lubricated the window seal with dielectric grease
3. Taken the handle and plastic cover off, silicon greased the contact points, and put felt tape on the plastic cover surfaces touching the mechanism
All this and it hasn't even gotten any better. If I put my hand on the plastic cover, I can feel it knocking when it makes the noise inside the cover where the mechanism is. Am I missing something here or is there really nothing I can do to fix it? It is driving me nuts, I can even hear it when the radio is on!!!
1. Tightened it using the adjustment of the front and back brackets
2. Lubricated the window seal with dielectric grease
3. Taken the handle and plastic cover off, silicon greased the contact points, and put felt tape on the plastic cover surfaces touching the mechanism
All this and it hasn't even gotten any better. If I put my hand on the plastic cover, I can feel it knocking when it makes the noise inside the cover where the mechanism is. Am I missing something here or is there really nothing I can do to fix it? It is driving me nuts, I can even hear it when the radio is on!!!
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 213
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Yup, ticking on the passenger side. I adjusted mine to no avail. The noise is coming from inside the plastic cover. Put your hand on it while driving and see if you can feel the tapping as you hear it. It's weird.
the problem is the body is twisting a little when going over bumps. i had it real bad. Easy solution is to get sub frames. Lots of rattles will go away cause the frame/car will be more soild.
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Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2004
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I agree...I tightened the t-top so it doesn't move with the car and it still makes the noise. It's internal to the t-top inside the plastic cover but after taking it apart I could not find or fix the problem.
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,241
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From: MD
Yep, I have weld in SFC's and over time I noticed that something inside the t-top is rattling. It's noticable because I've worked to make the rest of the car completely quiet. No sqeeks, no rattles, etc. I've done what's been mentioned along with putting some foam weather stripping inside the plastic. It went away a couple times but then came back. Drives me crazy. I just turn the music up now.
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 147
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From: San Antonio, Texas
My passenger T top is doing exactly as you gusy describe. I also developed a sqeak in my suspension some where. I think my bolt in SLP subframes have come a little loose. Time to get my car back up on ramps and check her out. I used locktite on the bolts but it has been 25000 miles. Hopefully they just need tightening..
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 213
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I did a little experiment last night. I took off the t-top plastic cover and put just the handle back on. Then I reinstalled the t-top on the car without the cover. The noise is gone. I am going to drive it a couple days and see if it stays gone since it has come back before. If it stays quiet, then I will investigate what is contacting the plastic and causing the noise. I did notice that one of the cover screws was not tight. After removing the cover a few times the plastic has stripped out, so I need to use larger wood screws or something the next time to get the cover tight.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2004
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I thought about that, but I was touching it while driving and the noise seems to be coming from the riveted joint in the mechanism. I can feel the joint tick when it makes the noise. Since it's a rivet, I don't think I can tighten it. I will try the rubber on the pin just to see.
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 58
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From: garden state
the t-top plastic cover IS the noisemaker. Mine rattles on the driver's side. When it starts, i just whack it with a fist, and do it as many times as necessary for the rattling to stop. worked so far for at least 3 years now 
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 213
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I finally tracked this down. It isn't the plastic piece because it'll make the noise without the plastic there. I put some silicon on the locking pin and then, the noise was gone. But after you take them on and off a few times, the silicon wears off and the noise returns. I have seen mentioned putting a rubber cover on the pins. where did you get them, and what type of cover is best?
It was just an idea that I had. I haven't done it myself. Don't have to put the rubber on the pin so to speak but you can also put some kind of material in the hole where the pin goes in so the taping would stop. Maybe coat the pins with hot rubber and then when the rubber dries, tadah rubber covered pins.
