I had the JL stealth box in my trunk before, and when it was installed the panel where the soft top folds would rattle. I fixed it by removing that plastic panel, but after a few months hated the way it looked (when looking in the rear window). So i took out and sold the sub/box

So my question to all of you, is how do you stop the rattles without removing any plastic panels.

Maybe I should just get some components and be done with it.

Any suggestions?

 

Well there are a few ways. Darkknight will tell you put squares of dynamat on the bottom of the tray. Others will tell you Matchsticks. Some Will even tell you to cut out the middle and put mesh on the side of the cut with window stripping around it. It's all your choice but there are many way to get rid of it.

 

I used pieces of surgical tubing slit down the middle to serve as a gasket between the tray and the car - worked very well.

Also noted that when I put my hardtop on most all rattles go away. Not the most cost effective way to do it mind you.

 

A hardtop does sound like an expensive way to fix the problem.


Does anyone have any pics of the rear panel cut out with mesh in it? That seems like it would sound the best.

 

Update on the matchstick thread. I made an even better solution. Take a piece of dynamat and cut a piece that is a long as possible (probably about 12-14 inches) by 1/2" wide. Roll a really really tight dyna-doobie with it. (if you heat the dynamat a bit, makes it easier, more pliable)

Then with your left hand (get into your contortionist mode) push DOWN on the top well. With your right, start at the center and work your way out....shoving the dyna-doobie into the crack. Get it as FAR as you can into the crack. This will make the top well SO tight, that it simply has no room to budge, nor rattle.

Did it on my car, and works like a charm.