Creaky Hardtop

[Hornettwinh]

Hello, I recently purchased a 2003 Thunderbird and love the car! The hardtop at low speeds creaks. Has anyone solved this problem?
Thank you,
Mike

[Vintage Merlot]

Re: Creaky Hardtop

Welcome to TBN. This site is full of information. It is hard to find a subject of any substance that has not been covered over the years.

Take advantage of the search function of the site. Click on "search" in the top blue line above and type in "Hard Top Rattle " the search engine will take you to three days of reading. It is all very interesting stuff. If you have a creak.

[Sealy]

Re: Creaky Hardtop

Welcome to the Nest. Creaks are somewhat normal and annoying. Ford thoughtfully provided mylar strips that adhere to the body of the car where the top sits. This is the OEM solution. Second solution is Thunderbird Concepts - they sell a stainless steel version of the mylar that looks real spiffy and solves most of the problems. Third solution is to look at your registration card - see where it says "convertible"? Put the hard top in the garage and put the cover on it.

Now, tell us all about your Bird. And we want pics.

[tbird6t4]

Re: Creaky Hardtop

Hello, I recently purchased a 2003 Thunderbird and love the car! The hardtop at low speeds creaks. Has anyone solved this problem?
Thank you,
Mike

I'm willing to bet the squeek is coming from the header at the front and not the rear? Might require adjusting the header plates so that the tie down screws at the front are engaged into the plates properly. That too is in the digest.

[Gobird]

Re: Creaky Hardtop

Gene, This is a hard top/convertable. If you have had one before this is pretty normal,the early Birds or Vetts, you learn to live with it. The strips help a bit but aren't a cure. The body flex, and there is some in the Bird, you can't get away from it. The price you pay for owning a car like this.

[EllisonCal]

Re: Creaky Hardtop

You're right Spence. Even with the soft top up there are more little noises than when the top is lowered.

Cal

[Leroy]

Re: Creaky Hardtop

I bought a used 03 top for my 04. It rattled on rough roads or driving over RR tracks. I cut off all the old Ford rubber weather striping, that in my opinion is junk. It's only about 3/8" in diameter and is hollow, very wimpy. I replaced it with 1/2" O.D. solid styro-foam stripping. I could tell the difference right away the first time I locked the two rear handles down. No more rattles or anything. Leroy

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[SixPac]

Re: Creaky Hardtop

I left the OEM junk stripping on my Bird. So far that junk has controlled the creaks pretty good.

[timothy]

Re: Creaky Hardtop

I went with the Thunderbird Concepts metal trim. Huge difference in noise..Problem solved..Hopefully permanently..Looks great too!

[boss21078]

Re: Creaky Hardtop

If it seems that the hardtop is not being pulled down tight when the levers are pulled, the problem could be as described below.

The latch down levers have a plastic piece on top of the spring which if it comes off (very easily) will cause the latch to not pull down the roof tight.
Check the link below for details of this problem. Hopefully you will find that the piece has popped off and find it. If not you can get a replacement from the info in the link. Hope this helps.
Bob B.




http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...rd+top+plastic

[FEsTbird]

Re: Creaky Hardtop

I use a heavy silicone grease coating the gasket material when I put the hard-top on every year. When I was in graduate school we used this type grease on the gasket of our bell jar--hence I call it gasket grease. However, it is a grease that can be used to coat any of the rubber seals of cars to minimize vibration noise. Mine came from the Ford parts counter.

[FEsTbird]

Re: Creaky Hardtop

If it seems that the hardtop is not being pulled down tight when the levers are pulled, the problem could be as described below.

The latch down levers have a plastic piece on top of the spring which if it comes off (very easily) will cause the latch to not pull down the roof tight.
Check the link below for details of this problem. Hopefully you will find that the piece has popped off and find it. If not you can get a replacement from the info in the link. Hope this helps.
Bob B.




http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...rd+top+plastic

Noticed that the my driver's side plastic piece is missing this year (I may find it by looking into the soft top well some more) but I tried the link without success. Here is a link I found by searching for "hard top plastic." Even though it looks the same, it works for me.
http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...rd+top+plastic

[Vintage Merlot]

Re: Creaky Hardtop

I had the same problem of my hardtop not pulling down tight on the drivers side. When we went to Pappasitos in January the Tbn crew pulled my top off and found the plastic piece in the well and put it place. Now the hardtop pulls down tight and no rattles.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Creaky Hardtop

I had the same problem of my hardtop not pulling down tight on the drivers side. When we went to Pappasitos in January the Tbn crew pulled my top off and found the plastic piece in the well and put it place. Now the hardtop pulls down tight and no rattles.

WE CURED MY MVG AT THE SAME TIME WITH A PART THAT RICK HAD. MY RIGHT SIDE WAS OFF ALSO AND THAT CURED MY HEATED BACKLITE THAT WAS NOT WORKING. THANKS TO THE PAPPASITOS GROUP.