There are so many Bronco forum threads that talk about wind noise and a lot of Bronco drivers who have complained about the problem multiple times. Is the Ford Bronco hardtop wind noise really that big of an issue amongst Bronco drivers?
In the different Bronco threads that talk about wind noise, as well as water leaks (with the MIC removable tops), Bronco drivers have stated how they used weather seals and foams to try to fix the issues. Many tend to mistake road noise for wind noise which are two different things and problems.
Wind noise is caused by different things like glass panels, misaligned panels, and the gaps in the weather seals. Sometimes, the gaps in the weather seals that cause wind noise can also cause water leaks in the hardtop. Road noise, on the other hand, is caused by how easily removable the roofs are. Since the roofs are really thin, they can be removed easily and this leads to road noise.
Let us take a look into the different problems Bronco drivers have faced when it comes to wind noise and every other important thing you need to know about the issue.
Bronco Drivers’ Issues with Wind Noise.
According to a Bronco driver, who also claimed to be an auto technician for 29 years, he started hearing wind noise the minute he drove over 45 mph. He stated that the wind noise was unacceptable for any vehicle in general and that made it worse because his Bronco was a 50k+ vehicle. While he hit the driveway heading to his home, he was still faced with the wind noise issue which was a lot worse than what he dealt with in the beginning.
So, he took his Bronco back to the dealer and according to him, his Bronco spent many days and was taken on multiple visits to the dealer so they could solve the problem. At the dealership, they checked out the removable panel gasket (changed it) and changed the front gasket for the windshield in which the roof panels rest on. Lastly, they did a windshield recall to reseal the hardtop but unfortunately, the hardtop wind noise problem remained the same.
The dealer had to speak with Ford tech to see if there were any other solutions to try but he got absolutely nothing. So the Bronco driver in question had to contact Ford directly, and since he was an auto technician for 29 years, he also decided to check out the problem himself. He used a light to look at the side of his Bronco and found the first problem which was a gap between the roof panel gasket and rear roof gasket.
His dealer changed the roof panels gaskets and made the gap better but it was still leaking. The Bronco driver in question used a smoke machine to check for all the leaks in Bronco in about thirty minutes so as to figure out the problem and he explained how to do so.
Using a Smoke Machine
If you have a smoke machine, follow these steps to check for leaks in your Bronco. Start your Bronco and put your fan on high speed while making sure that your climate setting is not set for recirculate but for fresh air. Then, close all your windows and doors to create some sort of pressure inside your Bronco.
Then with the smoke machine, put smoke over the window seals, gaskets and door seals. This way, a turbulence will be created in the smoke when there is a leak or there are leaks.
Without a Smoke Machine
If you do not have a smoke machine, you can still check for leaks in your Ford Bronco. All you need to do is follow the same steps above but also turn the AC on and make sure it is cold. You should also ensure that it is not on recirculate. Then, get a wet paper towel or a rag and wet the back of your hand.
Then, place your hand about half an inch away from the window seals, door seals and gaskets – basically, you are placing your hand in places you suspect a leak. In places where there are no leaks, your hand will be warm, but the minute you feel cool air on your hand, that is where the air is leaking from.
The Bronco driver stated that the rear roof is about ¼ inches lower than the removable front panels and he could not find any leaks there. He also stated that he did not find much adjustment to align the front panels but he believes they should be tightened down to align properly.
Hardtop Wind Noise Reduction (Best Results So Far)
According to another Bronco forum thread, a Bronco driver used a certain method to reduce wind noise which he claimed worked very well for him. He made use of rubber gasket strips – he bought D-shaped rubber gasket strips – and applied them to the inside of his Bronco’s hardtop where it connects with the door side pillar.
He stated on the forum that the addition of the rubber gasket strips really improved the noticeable wind noise he was dealing with on the interior.
According to Bronco Nation, another way to fix the hardtop wind noise is by adjusting the front door windows to make sure you get a tighter seal. You should not be like the dealers who jam the adjustment guides and do not ensure a proper seal all round as this can create gaps which will lead to wind noise.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that many Bronco drivers face hardtop wind noise problems. According to different Bronco forum threads, most have not been able to fix the problem while others tried a different solution other than taking their Bronco back to their dealer. So, if you ever find yourself dealing with this problem, you can check out the solutions written above and see what works for you.
