Date:         Thu, 24 Jan 2002 14:17:57 -0500
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject:      Re: wind/seal noise
In-Reply-To:  <e5.12aa9f64.29819654@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

> I encountered this problem after replacing the rubber seal
> with an after-market seal.  I determined that the hollow
> rubber bead was "strumming" against the roof of the bus at high speeds.
> I carefully removed only the hollow rubber bead from the seal
> section over the windshield using an X-acto knife, which
> solved the problem.

> I replaced the luggage seal with the bulbed version first offered (I
> think) by Go Westy and now also purveyed by the Bus Depot. No further
> problems up to 98 mph


So, one person got a luggage rack vibration when using a "bulbed" luggage
rack seal and replaced it with a non-bulbed one, and the problem went away.
Another had precisely the opposite experience - he had noise with a
non-bulbed seal and it went away with the use of a bulbed seal.  Odd, huh?

The original luggage rack seal did not use a bulb.  Some vendors ship an
aftermarket seal with a bulb (like the poptop seal), mainly because this is
easier for them; they simply order the same seal for both poptop and luggage
rack, and cut to size accordingly.  I am reluctant to do this, because the
bulb tends to obstruct the proper drainage of rainwater from the luggage
rack.  (The rack has holes; the water goes through the holes and into the
rain gutter, unless there is an insulation bulb in the way.)   So the
default seal that I ship has no bulb, like the original.

Every once in a while I get a customer who says that they get a wind noise
when using the seal.  For those people I also offer a bulbed version.  I
don't particularly recommend it unless you have a noise problem, for two
reasons.  First, the one I mentioned above.  Secondly, it is easy to replace
the luggage rack seal without loosening the luggage rack if you use a
non-bulbed seal. but much more difficult with a bulbed one.  If you loosen
the luggage rack, you are much more likely to have wind noise once you
retighten it, as careful as you are to tighten it snugly. Best to leave well
enough alone whenever possible.  Just leave the luggage rack intact and put
on a non-bulbed seal, without loosening the rack at all. Use a small piece
of plastic (or something else that won't scratch the paint) to coax the seal
into place; a flathead screwdriver also works well, but one slip and you
scratch your paint.

If you get wind noise with a non-bulbed seal, you need to somehow alter the
gap between luggage rack and roof.  The gap should be small enough to
prevent wind noise but not so tight that it traps water.  Over time the rack
may loosen slightly, causing the noise.  A difference of a fraction of an
inch can make the difference between no noise, and loud noise. Tightening
the rack may solve the problem.  But before you do that, try slightly
re-adjusting the seal (moving it just a bit higher or lower on the luggage
rack).  If worst comes to worst, order whichever version of the luggage rack
seal is opposite the one you have now (bulbed if you have non-bulbed, or
visa-versa).  But as I said, I'd definately recommend using a non-bulbed
seal when possible.  99% of my customers use it without any problems.

Incidentally, the composition of the seal that I ship and the other vendors
ship is the same.  My seal does differ in two ways.  First, the cosmetic
finish is a bit smoother, closer to the look of the stock seal.  Also, on my
poptop seal. the bulb is placed just slightly differently, more closely
replicating the placement on the stock VW seal.  So the overall fit and
finish is closer to stock on my seal than on anyone else's, but the actual
construction is the same.  (Incidentally, the impregnated clip is no-rust
aluminum, so it won't fall apart like the stock seal.)

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  (215) 234-VWVW
  www.busdepot.com

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