wind/air coming into cab

[mark19]

Looking for some help. Spent a lot of time and money restoring hardtop, adding new weatherstripping, headliner, wiper motor cover and bracket, luggage rack, new liftgate parts, etc.. Had the hardtop installed and there is an unbearable amount of wind/air entering the cab from the front area. We have added dum-dum and have used painter-tape around possible openings to find source of problem but have not had any luck yet. I am wondering if anyone has had this problem and can suggest some solutions that have worked or might work. Appreciate any help. Thanks. Mark

 

[Steve83]

If you can't nail it down, cut a cardboard panel to fit in the door window opening, then put a strong blower forcing air thru it with all the others closed. Use smoke or a stethoscope (probe removed) to find where the air is leaking out.

 

[roundhouse]

Have someone else drive on a cold day. While you move your hands around under the dash looking for it

You may be geting a lot around the door weatherstripping and thru the door panels

You got the saran wrap sticky stuff behind the door panels?

 

[roundhouse]

I'd say around the heater vent ductwork would be first place to look

 

[mark19]

We just borrowed a huge 6 foot fan and are going to blow into the cab head on. We don't have the sticky stuff behind the door panel, but the main issue is the noise, not the air. Unlikely that it may be coming from heater ductwork or doors because the noise and air seems to be coming up from high up around windshield glass or door frame/from window frame/hardtop frame. We will try these suggestions. Thanks much. I will let you guys know. Mark

 

[Quick & Dirty]

the main issue is the noise, not the air.

Wind noise? In a Bronco?

It has the aerodynamics of a barn door. It's going to howl like a banshee at highway speed.

Drive with the windows down, and get the top flapping for an extra bass note.

 

[pcf_mark]

They do wind whistle like crazy around the door vent window to windshield.

If you have a roof rack you just added more wind noise. You need one of those Thule deflector things!

 

[Crush]

Put that fan In the back. Close it up and then spray soapy water solution around all the cracks, crevasses, and seams. The soap will bubble at a leak

 

[mark19]

We are going to try the fan/soap method. I know that they are not tight as a ship. Want to get it as quiet as I can. Appreciate help. Thanks.

 

[zonian]

If the truck has been run a long time without the hard top it is sometimes challenging to get it tight again as the body can sag a bit. I've seen guys spend a bunch of time replacing the body bushings and trying different shims to get the body stay are. Just turn the radio up!

 

[Hubba]

My Bronco has wind noise when its parked. 2 ways to cure it, 1 earplugs 2 better stereo.

 

[DirtDonk]

Did the installers put in a new main seal between the top of the windshield frame and the top? It would be easy to see, as it's pretty thick and sticks out (almost like it was squeezed out) the front between the two panels.

And along the leading edge of the top, under the overhang, you may see two semi-triangle shaped seams where the panels are folded. If those are not covered by the gasket, fill them with sealer of some kind.

Also look down the side of the window frame where the hinge is. There should be a thin rubber gasket between the body/cowl area and the frame.

With that much of a breeze, can you at least see any daylight through gaps in corners? Like at the top of the door corner where it meets up with the bottom of the windshield frame and other places like that.

Good luck.

Paul

 

[pcf_mark]

Using your big fan you can puff baby powder along the seems. It will leave trails you can see through the seem and into the interior. The truck must be dry for it to work.

 

[mark19]

Thanks to all. We have made a lot of progress so far. Aggressively filling in all cracks, holes, etc. in windshield frame with foam and silicone. Lots of silicone added inside under the hardtop overhang. Did a lot of work on passenger vent window helped a lot as well. Also added new weatherstripping at bottom of rear of hood. See what tomorrow brings. Should be done this week. Appreciate all the suggestions and the humor. Mark

 

[roundhouse]

Try having someone put masking tape over all the seams between the doors and fenders Doors and top etc

Then take it for a test drive

The seam between the door and windshield is where a lot of noise comes from
I had to put extra foam strips in that area to cut down on the noise