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OEM ARB Toyota Roof Rack noise issue fixed. The Real Final Solution!
I know there are plenty of posts out there that claim they’ve solved the noise issue with these roof racks. But this is the real fix. Usually the fix claimed is by performing the TSB issues to install longer pegs, and while that may solve the horrid vibrations noise, it doesn’t really quite down the rack. This rack is without a doubt one of the loudest, nastiest wind noise makers ever produced en mass. Even with the new pegs installed it generated a horrible wind noise. It sounded like you were doing 120mph when you are only doing 70. Awful.
Well here is a proven solution to that noise and at a convenient cost of less than 20 dollars (assuming you had Toyota fix the TSB warranty for free). All you need is an automotive front splitter trim piece, yep those cheap little rubber lip ad ons that every body kitted on a budged Honda has. You also need some paint protection clear film. Just a strip of it. And some paracord.
Attached are the pictures of the process, not quite in chronological order but there really isn’t a right or wrong way to start this. That being said, you do need to pull your front fairing off before you start. It’s easy, 6 Torx bolts and you’re done.
Start by cleaning your surfaces. Pictures provided do not show clean surfaces but it’s important. Measure and apply trim piece to the lower edge of the fairing. Trim the edges to round out for a nicer look. Leave about an inch or so of trim poking out. The trim has an elevated section where the tape is that fits nearly perfectly with fairing indent so it’s pretty easy to line up. Put ppf strip over paint where the edge meets the body. Reinstall. (I did this step backwards and it was a bit annoying to put the strip on once the fairing was on.
Add second trim to the rear fairng edge. Cut and trim as needed. Pretty straightforward.
Wrap cross bars with paracord to reduce turbulence of air passaging over them.
And that’s basically it. With some trial and error testing it took me a little over an hour. The job itself is only about 15 minutes.
The difference is astonishing. I already had the TSB completed and was still getting decibels around 80 when driving into a head wind. With the modification the decibels were low 70s and that improvement cannot be overstated. Without the roof rack cab noise would be around 68-70 in similar conditions. So the mod brings the noise level close to not having the rack at all. Mpg tests were not performed because in the great white north we have really heavily blended winter fuel so no matter what the MPGs are trash. Maybe I’ll do an update this summer.
Anyways, thanks for the read!
I know there are plenty of posts out there that claim they’ve solved the noise issue with these roof racks. But this is the real fix. Usually the fix claimed is by performing the TSB issues to install longer pegs, and while that may solve the horrid vibrations noise, it doesn’t really quite down the rack. This rack is without a doubt one of the loudest, nastiest wind noise makers ever produced en mass. Even with the new pegs installed it generated a horrible wind noise. It sounded like you were doing 120mph when you are only doing 70. Awful.
Well here is a proven solution to that noise and at a convenient cost of less than 20 dollars (assuming you had Toyota fix the TSB warranty for free). All you need is an automotive front splitter trim piece, yep those cheap little rubber lip ad ons that every body kitted on a budged Honda has. You also need some paint protection clear film. Just a strip of it. And some paracord.
Attached are the pictures of the process, not quite in chronological order but there really isn’t a right or wrong way to start this. That being said, you do need to pull your front fairing off before you start. It’s easy, 6 Torx bolts and you’re done.
Start by cleaning your surfaces. Pictures provided do not show clean surfaces but it’s important. Measure and apply trim piece to the lower edge of the fairing. Trim the edges to round out for a nicer look. Leave about an inch or so of trim poking out. The trim has an elevated section where the tape is that fits nearly perfectly with fairing indent so it’s pretty easy to line up. Put ppf strip over paint where the edge meets the body. Reinstall. (I did this step backwards and it was a bit annoying to put the strip on once the fairing was on.
Add second trim to the rear fairng edge. Cut and trim as needed. Pretty straightforward.
Wrap cross bars with paracord to reduce turbulence of air passaging over them.
And that’s basically it. With some trial and error testing it took me a little over an hour. The job itself is only about 15 minutes.
The difference is astonishing. I already had the TSB completed and was still getting decibels around 80 when driving into a head wind. With the modification the decibels were low 70s and that improvement cannot be overstated. Without the roof rack cab noise would be around 68-70 in similar conditions. So the mod brings the noise level close to not having the rack at all. Mpg tests were not performed because in the great white north we have really heavily blended winter fuel so no matter what the MPGs are trash. Maybe I’ll do an update this summer.
Anyways, thanks for the read!
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