I drive a soft top but test drove a hardtop this week for my daughter. I noticed a buffeting (helicopter type) sound like you will experience when just one of the windows is open. All windows were up so not sure if something wasn't latched down or what. I assume this isn't normal for hardtops.
The Jeep was lifted with new tires and drove very smooth. I was just surprised about the noise.
I get a bit of that with my hard top, though it's not nearly as bad as the actual single window open thing. I never notice it if the radio is on, which is most of the time.
I've had two Jeep JK Unlimiteds- both came with the Mopar headliner pads installed, and I haven't had this issue.
The headliner adds mass, and may be just enough to eliminate any reverberations and resonance from the hard top when driving with one or more windows down. Adding a Mopar or aftermarket headliner may help, should you be so inclined. They have other benefits as well- reduced interior noise, improved insulation against heat, and elimination of condensation on the inside of the roof should you have some moisture...no water torture constant drip on the driver .
There are several threads on this topic. Seems to be luck of the draw. My 18 JKU did this from day one, with stock tires and with the take off I put on. I also installed a Mopar headliner and it made no difference. Mine does it from zero up to abou 35 or so. Once I get above that speed it goes away. Some people have never heard it or experienced it.
I got rid of my hard top for this reason and it kept leaking despite several dealer fix attempts. Went to a bestop in twill fabric and honestly it’s more quiet than the hard top.
We have it at times...not all the time on both our Jk's I place a small dark towel above the sound bar and it's no longer there.
Places on Both sides to add a little pressure.
Eads
I haven't noticed pure wind buffeting, but I definitely have a bit of a rattle between the hardtop and the sound bar. Like Eads and Eyerish9299 suggested, putting a little tension in that area can help.
Something that can affect buffeting is the vent in the tailgate. If you have something in the back blocking it off -- cargo, a Tuffy security trunk, a fold-down tailgate table, or whatever -- the air pressure in the cabin has a harder time equalizing with the outside.
My 2dr '16 JK, is fine with the windows down in the city or on the highway.
But the buffeting is horrible on the highway with the freedom panels removed. The top shakes so bad, that it vibrates the whole Jeep body. It's so severe that I can feel the vibrations on the brake and gas pedal.
Because of this, I have to go fully topless when on the highway. Can't run with just the freedom panels removed.
But the buffeting is horrible on the highway with the freedom panels removed. The top shakes so bad, that it vibrates the whole Jeep body. It's so severe that I can feel the vibrations on the brake and gas pedal.
Yikes! When you say highway, is that 50 or 65mph or what? I've had mine up to 60 with the panels out, and haven't seen anything like that. Now, a 4-dr is going to behave differently because the hardtop is a lot longer -- but what you describe sounds crazy bad for a 2-dr.
no freedom top noise on my 2016 JKUS (which was stolen) or my 2017 JKUS, which i’ve now had for three years. no leaks, no wind noise, no insulation either. always only hand tightened, on most of the year.
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