Also, you can use a thin rubber sheet to make a gasket that limits the metal on metal contact between the striker and a-pillar. This eliminated the squeak-age, I got on uneven surfaces

 

The folding part of the latch also vibrates up and down over the interior crossbar as they don't close 100% tight, I stuffed a square piece of foam inside the clamshell of the latch so when the folding section closes the foam puts outward pressure on it so it doesn't move up and down over the interior crossbar. A nice square over-sized chunk of foam works well. A tiny bit of silicone grease on the crossbar doesn't hurt. I also did the foam repair between the plastic and metal shell as per the ept fix, but the foam interior repair is different, I cut up some of those tire sidewall protectan foam applicators for both fixes.

 

I've had my hardtop and latches rattling since buying the car in 2009. Today I just replaced the strikers, spacers, and left/right latches with new parts...

I've only had the car out for a quick 20 minute test drive, but no longer have a single rattle from the hardtop or any components of it. I did not stuff any new materials into the components...just replaced with new OEM parts. Also, I should note that the latches are noticeably more difficult to open and close now. Before pushing the button to unlock the latches would basically have it drop open due to gravity. Now it takes effort just to push the button and release the latch. Tight as fizzack.

I think this is a much better permanent fix than stuffing the car with various foams and hose bits. Just about $300 in parts and my headaches are over...

The roads I drove on were proper crappy roads in Chicago. I made sure to hit every pothole and bump I normally avoid. Now the only rattle is from my suspension falling apart due to Chicago's shit roads.

 

Just acquired a 2004 GPW with a beautiful looking hardtop. Unfortunately, needed to drive it nearly 6 hrs straight to get it home and the damn rattling nearly made me pull over and rip the hardtop off. Previous owner had just stuffed a bit of tape in on each side - which might've been fine for driving a few miles, but in no way really addressed the problem adequately. I will study your post in-depth and if necessary, even work with a good friend who's a mechanical engineer to get even deeper into it. I suspect even though this post is years old, it will still be the best solution out there. Thanks in advance for a great post with clear pictures and directions!! Much appreciated.

 

Just bought my S2000 and the latches rattle over bumps. Particularly the driver's side. Thanks for the article. This is on my short list. It would be nice to replace the parts with new ones.

 

My temporary solution. First, tried fuel line hose over the keeper to silence the rattle.



Worked for a short time but the fuel line couldn't take the wear and tear and quickly tore through the soft rubber, starting the rattle again. Decided I needed something stronger so I went with reinforced vinyl tubing. The problem with the heavier tubing was that it was difficult to get over the keeper. I dealt with that by putting the tubing in a cup of boiling water to soften it up and it slipped right into place.


With the tubing tightly fitted over the keeper it fit perfectly and the rattle is completely gone.



Locked down. It looks like it belongs there. This way, I can open and close the top on a warm day. Still will need to take everything apart when I get the time, just to see what is going on with the latches, but for now, it's working great. A side benefit is how much tighter the leading edge of the roof fits, making it much more quiet at high speeds. Perfect temporary solution.

Lou