Bestop Sunrider Wind Noise

[TheShark]

Installed my Sunrider on Sunday, thanks Gloff for the advice about adjusting the strikers, ended up adjusting both sides. It's hard now to tell if the wind noise is any better or worse than the HT panels which I guess is a good sign. Sunday was a beautiful day here in NC and I was driving around with the top open. Love the convenience of just being able to unhook and flip the top back and not futzing with the panels.

Sponsored

 

[Roger123]

Installed my Sunrider on Sunday, thanks Gloff for the advice about adjusting the strikers, ended up adjusting both sides. It's hard now to tell if the wind noise is any better or worse than the HT panels which I guess is a good sign. Sunday was a beautiful day here in NC and I was driving around with the top open. Love the convenience of just being able to unhook and flip the top back and not futzing with the panels.

Did you put in the plastic washers on the rear bolts? I did at first and it caused a rather large gap between the top and the Sunrider which I believe also created some extra wind noise.

I removed them and it closed up the gap.
Before:

After:

 

[TheShark]

Did you put in the plastic washers on the rear bolts? I did at first and it caused a rather large gap between the top and the Sunrider which I believe also created some extra wind noise.

I removed them and it closed up the gap.
Before:

After:

I did use the plastic washers but the gap I have in the back is more like your after picture. I might try it without the plastic washers and see what kind of difference it makes.

 

[mlsjr14]

Did you put in the plastic washers on the rear bolts? I did at first and it caused a rather large gap between the top and the Sunrider which I believe also created some extra wind noise.

I removed them and it closed up the gap.
Before:

After:

Very interesting. I installed with the washers per the instructions and have a similar gap to your original pic. I wonder if there is any other downside to skipping the washers?

 

[Roger123]

Very interesting. I installed with the washers per the instructions and have a similar gap to your original pic. I wonder if there is any other downside to skipping the washers?

Not that I can see.

 

[Nym1178]

Also going to contact Bestop; the wind noise is... loud.
Ford is going to replace the front seal above the windshield next week since I had a leak with the original hardtop and now the sunrider. -- Going to try and make adjustments thereafter.
Encouraging to see the full top has a similar panel and is quiet(er) as expected.

Did your leak get fix? I’ve got the Sunrider and I’ve got a bad water leak going down my A pillars. Ford has reinstalled the gasket according to the new TSB but it’s still leaking and is also a lot louder than the hard top.

 

[bodean]

Update:

I adjusted the assembly rearward using the mounting bolts, and it made it tolerable, this got me thinking. The latch rotates down and rearward to secure. I adjusted the striker forward using the two bolts and that made it feel more solid upon latching. Striker mount bolts in red, the trim doesn't have to be removed, but it does make it easier, the clips to squeeze are circled in green. I loosened it enough that I could tap it with the ratchet to get it to move. Bolts are IP50 which comes in the Bronco tool kit.

I'm going to mess with the seal some to see if I can make it quieter, but it's much better.

Thanks for this! Solved my issue perfectly.

 

[Roger123]

Did your leak get fix? I’ve got the Sunrider and I’ve got a bad water leak going down my A pillars. Ford has reinstalled the gasket according to the new TSB but it’s still leaking and is also a lot louder than the hard top.

I get a leak sometimes down my drivers side A-pillar with the Sunrider (didn't have one with the HT). What is the TSB?

 

[Nym1178]

I get a leak sometimes down my drivers side A-pillar with the Sunrider (didn't have one with the HT). What is the TSB?

The dealership did fix both the TSB and adjusted the Sunrider after contacting Bestop. No charge to me for either. The TSB is known and about to be released but I don’t specifically have the details. Dealership said Ford is aware and will release but that they had the parts and made the replacement. But when that didn’t resolved the leak, they contacted Bestop to see how they could make adjustments for a tighter seal. It seems to be working. Just have a couple of drops of water when going through a high power wash. Will try and wash myself with my pressure washer this weekend. And can give you an update after that.

 

[thesocalexplorer]

Thanks @Gloff for the two tips on reducing wind noise. Worked great!

Initially, I was kind of disappointed by the highway wind noise on my sunrider. After the adjustments + removing the 5.5 washer, I'm just a bit louder than my MIC top at 75mph (74db with the sunrider vs. 70db with the MIC 2.0 w/ headliner).

 

[Irideducs]

Ditto.

On my 4 door, I had a perfect fit across the back WITH the provided spacer in place.

However, I did have to adjust the driver’s side latch plate for a tighter fit on the front.

I also noticed (like others) that there was really no pressure from the Sunrider header on the secondary gasket at the windshield. So I added a 1” x 1/8”stiff foam weatherstrip across the header.

All good now - no leaks and about as quiet as my old Wrangler soft top.

As a side note - the Sunrider and Gearshade are fully compatible.

 

[Santos]

We got our Sunrider the day we headed out on vacation; I threw it on and hit the road. The air noise...WOW, I was disenchanted but too late hardtop panels at home. Found this on the forum and WOOO HOO! FIXED! Love this thing and my wife super SUPER happy, most of us know what that means . A little more tweeking and I am gonna hate taking this thing off for winter... if I have to.
If you are on the fence ordering and don't mind adjusting the top you probably will love it, but that's an opinion.

 

[Santos]

P.S. THANK YOU ALL for the suggestions on the fix!

 

[dakeldani]

Ditto.

On my 4 door, I had a perfect fit across the back WITH the provided spacer in place.

However, I did have to adjust the driver’s side latch plate for a tighter fit on the front.

I also noticed (like others) that there was really no pressure from the Sunrider header on the secondary gasket at the windshield. So I added a 1” x 1/8”stiff foam weatherstrip across the header.

All good now - no leaks and about as quiet as my old Wrangler soft top.

As a side note - the Sunrider and Gearshade are fully compatible.

Where did you put the weatherstrip in this pic?

 

[Irideducs]

Where did you put the weatherstrip in this pic?

Sponsored