For the squeaking noise you gotta do something different. Lots of people will put little bits of rubber or something along those lines on the places where it seems like it is making noises from. I can't really remember how it is done, but if you search around on here it should bring up how to stop those noises. I can live with those squeaky noises, but I could not live with all the wind noise anymore. That combined with my exhaust made it a nightmare inside the cabin, especially when trying to listen to the music.

 

Is there a particular type or thickness of washer to install to remedy this instead of using the new strikers?

 

Here's P-CarDriver's DIY

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=578316

 

I didn't realize there was a DIY either, but the hardtop strikers make a world of difference, and it took me all of ten minutes to take out the old ones and put in the new ones. Definitely worth the money I spent on them.

 

yup i did this last week when my wind noise started becoming unbearable. I tried using the plastic tube method to make it tighter, and that worked for a while. Then i tried the longer bolt method, that worked for a while as well. Then it was just time... didn't feel like messing with it. Now I have hardtop strikers, and i have the plastic tubing to give some cushion to the hook and striker contact points to hopefully prevent premature gulling on the metal again.

 

How much did you spend on them? From where? Is there a difference in the way they look from the softtop strikers? Do you have pics?

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but this is only for 00-01 cars. 02-up car already have the so-called "hardtop strikers"

 

They are like $45 I think from possibly hardtopguy?? I can't remember. I bought them from a member on here for like $40 shipped or something brand new. Worth every penny.

 

That is what I thought as well, anyone know for sure?

 

When i got my hardtop i didn't install the hardtop strikers, the original
strikers worked ok for about a month. After that lots of wind noise.
Installed the strikers that came with the hardtop, problem solved.