$5 Hard Top wind noise abatement for those wearing hearing aids

[Quatermain]

For those of us with some degree of hearing impairment, and possibly for those without, I submit the following. At speeds at or above above 55 the wind noise was killing my hearing aids. Programming to reduce back ground noise in my aids also dampened the music I was playing. Those of us with some impairment struggle with background chatter and wind noise. I noticed, in this case, it seemed to come from above the windows. Then i noticed a gap between the roll bar and the hard top above the driver's door. Feeling around in this gap I could tell that there is about a 2" cavity behind the roll bar, right above the window where the vehicle slip stream was buffeting the hardest.

It occurred to me some sound deadening in that gap could alleviate some of the wind noise, which was affecting the gap like some sort of echo chamber. What I arrived at was foam pipe wrap, as pictured below. I also considered "Pool Noodles" . The pipe wrap was the better option. It must be cut to fit between the roof section latches, but goes into the gap easily. Two pieces per side, front and rear, will fit just fine. Larger diameter wrap might be better but would be more difficult to push into the gap. As installed, the wrap is NOT visible above the roll bar from either the drivers side or the passengers side.

A couple of test drives At 55 MPH proved to me that the wind noise was noticeably reduced after installing the pipe wrap. I would be curious if anyone else has done anything like this and how it works for people with normal hearing.

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[Rydfree]

WHAT ?

 

[Beach_Bum]

For those of us with some degree of hearing impairment, and possibly for those without, I submit the following. At speeds at or above above 55 the wind noise was killing my hearing aids. Programming to reduce back ground noise in my aids also dampened the music I was playing. Those of us with some impairment struggle with background chatter and wind noise. I noticed, in this case, it seemed to come from above the windows. Then i noticed a gap between the roll bar and the hard top above the driver's door. Feeling around in this gap I could tell that there is about a 2" cavity behind the roll bar, right above the window where the vehicle slip stream was buffeting the hardest.

It occurred to me some sound deadening in that gap could alleviate some of the wind noise, which was affecting the gap like some sort of echo chamber. What I arrived at was foam pipe wrap, as pictured below. I also considered "Pool Noodles" . The pipe wrap was the better option. It must be cut to fit between the roof section latches, but goes into the gap easily. Two pieces per side, front and rear, will fit just fine. Larger diameter wrap might be better but would be more difficult to push into the gap. As installed, the wrap is NOT visible above the roll bar from either the drivers side or the passengers side.

A couple of test drives At 55 MPH proved to me that the wind noise was noticeably reduced after installing the pipe wrap. I would be curious if anyone else has done anything like this and how it works for people with normal hearing.

Yes, the pipe insulation tip has been recommended over the years. If you search for "pipe insulation", there are 14 pages of results - though not all the results pertain to addressing the wind noise from the hard top.

 

[T800]

Do you have pics of the area you're talking about? Also a link to the correct size insulation?

I don't wear hearing aids (yet), but my hearing is pretty poor. I don't notice much wind noise, a bit more at higher speeds.

 

[Beach_Bum]

Do you have pics of the area you're talking about? Also a link to the correct size insulation?

OP used:

Others have used 3/4". Pop your front panels and you'll see a void between the roll bar and where the HT panels mount. Fill the void with the pipe insulation. You can't see it from inside the cabin.

 

[Quatermain]

Do you have pics of the area you're talking about? Also a link to the correct size insulation?

I don't wear hearing aids (yet), but my hearing is pretty poor. I don't notice much wind noise, a bit more at higher speeds.

It is really hard to photograph. I tried but it came out too dark. Just sit in the drivers seat and feel up over the roll cage, above the window, with your fingers. It is the area between the two roof latches, a little over 24" long. Same in the passenger seats.

 

[Quatermain]

Yes, the pipe insulation tip has been recommended over the years. If you search for "pipe insulation", there are 14 pages of results - though not all the results pertain to addressing the wind noise from the hard top.

Thanks, i was searching wind noise and got almost nothing.

 

[Mean Green]

It’s a bitch when the hearing aids go in “mute” mode… I agree that no settings will compensate. I end up riding with the radio at 15 just to get a sense of what is playing once I’m up to Highway speed…

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