Lazy question about coupe top creak/pop
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Rich Mickol (11-16-2018)
11-15-2018, 12:17 AM
#42
Le Mans Master
Mine started creaking again after getting front tires. I suppose jacking the car was the culprit.
I took the roof off and both posts on the right side (?) (front and back) were slightly loose. I tightened them both about 1/4 turn with 12mm long socket. I lubed the contact points with Vaseline (some folks refer to it as "dielectric" grease). The "O" rings were still on. I think the "E" clips were as well (best I could see). I checked it all since I had the top off (and it is possible the tire store took the top off when they put on the tires).
This fixed most of the creaking (90%) but still not perfect as it was before the tire change. I suspect that the other two posts might need to be torqued a little more.
I took the roof off and both posts on the right side (?) (front and back) were slightly loose. I tightened them both about 1/4 turn with 12mm long socket. I lubed the contact points with Vaseline (some folks refer to it as "dielectric" grease). The "O" rings were still on. I think the "E" clips were as well (best I could see). I checked it all since I had the top off (and it is possible the tire store took the top off when they put on the tires).
This fixed most of the creaking (90%) but still not perfect as it was before the tire change. I suspect that the other two posts might need to be torqued a little more.
11-15-2018, 12:21 AM
#43
Team Owner
Thread Starter
11-15-2018, 12:45 AM
#47
Team Owner
Thread Starter
11-15-2018, 01:37 PM
#49
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Cherokee Nation (11-16-2018)
11-15-2018, 02:34 PM
#50
Race Director
Lots of different things to use have been tossed around. I went with the GM lube and 303 rubber seal protectant (w/built in foam applicator). Stopped the racket.
11-16-2018, 04:07 AM
#52
Race Director
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Cherokee Nation (11-16-2018)
11-16-2018, 08:28 AM
#53
Race Director
The 07 coupe I owned creaked like crazy when I bought it with 20k miles on it. I used a little dielectric grease on the seals, front metal pin receptacles, rollers, latches, and tightened the rear down a little. I had the top on and off several times over the next 2 years and it never made a peep again.
11-17-2018, 12:03 AM
#54
Le Mans Master
The 07 coupe I owned creaked like crazy when I bought it with 20k miles on it. I used a little dielectric grease on the seals, front metal pin receptacles, rollers, latches, and tightened the rear down a little. I had the top on and off several times over the next 2 years and it never made a peep again.
11-17-2018, 12:18 AM
#55
Team Owner
Thread Starter
The take away (that I'm seeing) from this is that those who regularly remove and replace the top have more of an issue than those who never take the top off, which is why I suspect the POs never took the top off. I certainly never saw them with the top off, and they never talked about that in all our discussions over the years.
One would think that top off (for them) and top down (for us) would have come up if they did.
Maybe, I should make a poll? Not quite sure how to word it so as to get the answer to whether removing the top regularly makes it more prone to creaks and pops than lubing it up (or not) and never removing it.
11-17-2018, 12:40 AM
#56
Le Mans Master
Do you take it off often?
The take away (that I'm seeing) from this is that those who regularly remove and replace the top have more of an issue than those who never take the top off, which is why I suspect the POs never took the top off. I certainly never saw them with the top off, and they never talked about that in all our discussions over the years.
One would think that top off (for them) and top down (for us) would have come up if they did.
Maybe, I should make a poll? Not quite sure how to word it so as to get the answer to whether removing the top regularly makes it more prone to creaks and pops than lubing it up (or not) and never removing it.
The take away (that I'm seeing) from this is that those who regularly remove and replace the top have more of an issue than those who never take the top off, which is why I suspect the POs never took the top off. I certainly never saw them with the top off, and they never talked about that in all our discussions over the years.
One would think that top off (for them) and top down (for us) would have come up if they did.
Maybe, I should make a poll? Not quite sure how to word it so as to get the answer to whether removing the top regularly makes it more prone to creaks and pops than lubing it up (or not) and never removing it.
11-17-2018, 12:37 PM
#57
Race Director
Member Since: Sep 2007
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Do you take it off often?
The take away (that I'm seeing) from this is that those who regularly remove and replace the top have more of an issue than those who never take the top off, which is why I suspect the POs never took the top off. I certainly never saw them with the top off, and they never talked about that in all our discussions over the years.
One would think that top off (for them) and top down (for us) would have come up if they did.
Maybe, I should make a poll? Not quite sure how to word it so as to get the answer to whether removing the top regularly makes it more prone to creaks and pops than lubing it up (or not) and never removing it.
The take away (that I'm seeing) from this is that those who regularly remove and replace the top have more of an issue than those who never take the top off, which is why I suspect the POs never took the top off. I certainly never saw them with the top off, and they never talked about that in all our discussions over the years.
One would think that top off (for them) and top down (for us) would have come up if they did.
Maybe, I should make a poll? Not quite sure how to word it so as to get the answer to whether removing the top regularly makes it more prone to creaks and pops than lubing it up (or not) and never removing it.
Just for reference, I took off the top about a half dozen times in the first year. It was only off once since then except to lube. Yesterday the temps were 78 to 57 while the humidity ranged from 15 to 61% and the top popped once. Compare that to temps of 110 to 88 and a humidity range of 10 to 18% 6 mos ago, where the top hadn't popped for several months before or after. We had 129 days of 100 degrees or more this year, so the humidity was low for a long time and you know I drive my car daily all year long. Without this type of detailed info, a poll won't provide a clear picture.
I don't bother doing a lube for 1 or 2 pops a month during the cool (below 75 degree) weather, but will if it pops 2-3 times weekly and I'm reaching that point for the first time in a few years.
My suggestion is that you follow one or more of the suggestions that were offered here and just enjoy driving the car. If the pops still occur and it bothers you, try a different suggestion.
11-19-2018, 10:00 PM
#60
Melting Slicks
In my experience, tightening the pins and installing "e" clips are the two most important steps. But there's no harm to use the "o"rings and a little silicone spray, grease or Vaseline.
Last edited by LowRyter; 11-19-2018 at 10:16 PM.