Wind noise/door seals

[LPChristensen]

I just got back from a trip across West Texas, which is always fun, even when things are working great. I had a pretty good wind from the side, maybe 30 to 50 MPH and it was so noisy and loud in the cab of the truck that I could barley hear my passenger and the radio/CD, forget about it! I took it down to the dealer and told them that I had a horrific wind noise around the door seals. I pick it up two days later and they tell me the windows seat and seal perfectly! Of course I tell them that I brought it in because of the door seals, not the window seals. and they tell me that there is not much they can do about that, the seals "look" OK! Does anyone else have load wind produced cab noise? Did you get it fixed? Thanks for any help or information that you might have.

 

[JRMora]

If you look, you'll find lots of posts about wind noise. Many have tried a variety of things - be sure your hinges are tight, check door alignment, etc. However, I will share with you something that happened to me today, too.



On my way to work this morning we were having constant winds of 30-40 mph (with higher gusts) blowing across the highway (from passenger side over the cab). My door seals were roaring! I could stick my finger up in the space between the seal and the cab! If I cracked the driver's window open, the door seal closed up.



I have had this problem on many trucks. I can drive this truck at 85-90 mph without any noise from the seal, (in no wind or with wind directly to the front or rear). With wind as I had today, I have noise. What is happening with such strong gusts is that there is a vacuum being created just outside the driver's door that is literally pulling the door away from the seal at the top. If you grab up there you CAN pull it back.



If anyone can dispute this, I will listen, but this is a common problem on a lot of vehicles when there is a strong crosswind over the door. The frames just aren't strong enough to hold the top seal closed.



Others have had similar experiences and have some solutions you may try, but I think you'll always have this problem with a strong crosswind (going passenger side to drivers side).



It was quieter with the window down 1/2 inch. A little cooler, though!



My 2¢ worth.



Juan

 

[barbwire]

door adjustment

I took my 04 in with the wind noise complaint. The tech. adjusted the front doors. It is much better, but not 100%. But, it is covered under warranty, so I say let them do it. JMO

 

[Crunch]

Originally posted by JRMora

My door seals were roaring! I could stick my finger up in the space between the seal and the cab! If I cracked the driver's window open, the door seal closed up.

I've noticed that, as well. My door seals are leaking in the upper rear corner (next to your left ear when you are driving). If I pull the door in at the corner the noise goes away, sometimes for several seconds and then it's back. Like you, I can stick my finger between the frame and door seal.

 

[JPM]

They "adjust' the door by tweaking it, the door is open and they just jerk the crap out of the window frame to tighten that area. However,It's too flimsy to stay that way,forever. All late model stuff .

 

[lschultz]

I had it on my 04 drivers door. They adjusted the door and it made a big improvement. Very little if any noise now and to get that it has to be a strong crosswind.

 

[barbwire]

door adjustment

Originally posted by JPM

They "adjust' the door by tweaking it, the door is open and they just jerk the crap out of the window frame to tighten that area. However,It's too flimsy to stay that way,forever. All late model stuff .

That is not the way they adjusted mine. They loosened the hinges and moved them in or out as needed, and there was no gorilla tactics used. I watched him, so I know. And my dealer so much likes my business, that they usually will try to take me in even on short notice. I was in and out the door with my rig in 45 minutes.

 

[jman]

I had the problem on my drivers door and I took it to the dealer. They said the seal was "weak" and ordered a new one. When it came in I took it back and had the seal replaced and the PS hose TSB done. It was like a different vehicle when I took it home.



Then I went and put a Magnaflow exhaust system on it and made it noisy again!!

 

[rbattelle]

I too have noise on crosswind situations, but only on very strong crosswinds. It doesn't bother me (for now). I do keep my weatherstripping well-lubricated with Armorall or equivalent.

 

[Vatsa]

I have had the wind noise issue since about a month after I bought my truck. Drivers side only. Noise was so bad above 60 you could not hear the radio or even think straight. Water would drip in, while raining as well. You could literally watch the top of the door flapping in and out from the wind.



Someone posted about bending the top of the doors in to get a better seal. I tried that but had no luck.



I took it into the dealership and they "adjusted the door" but it did not help. I took it in again, to a different dealership, and they "adjusted the door" and it completely went away. I asked them what exactly they adjusted and they told me they bent the top of the door in to obtain a better seal. So it does work.



I have to say, it feels like a new truck. I was working a deal on a new Ford because I could no longer stand the wind noise while driving. Thankfully I will not have to go that route now.



I highly recommend taking your truck in and telling them to bend the doors, if you have this issue. It truly makes all the difference in the world.

 

[JFrazier]

I have no question that "adjusting" the top half of the door may make the noise/problem go away, just not sure exactly what causes it though.



I experimented with changing the heater mode while driving down the Interstate and listening to the wind noise comming from the drivers door at the top. When the heater is ON and in the "normal" mode, i. e. , fresh air being broght into the cab the wind noise was very noticable. However, when I switched the heater to the "recirculate" mode the wind noise all but went away.



Can't help but wonder if the problem isn't at least partially caused by the cab becomming pressurize when the outside air is being brought in by the fan, let alone being rammed into the cab as the vehicle travels through the air at 70+ mph. As far as I know there is no exit for the incomming air in the cab. Perhaps the problem is caused as much by this phenomanon as it is by any negative pressure being developed by the cross winds traveling over the cab. Maybe it's a combination of the two!

 

[ab7fh]

I had what I would describe as an extreme wind noise condition when my slide in camper is in the bed. The overhang screws with the aerodynamics of the truck and the noise is super loud.



I found a way to reduce the noise by what I would estimate to be 50%. I just took 3/4" wide foam insulation tape with an adhesive back and affixed it to the foor frames. With the new insulation installed you can see by the pattern left on the foam that there is no way the door frame could have made contact with large portions of the factory seal.

 

[PHeadings]

Yes, I also have had wind leak in from the bottom of the front doors. Its was a strong side wind that was causing it. If you look at the bottom of the door seals the rubber gasket is right at the bottom of the door (not protected by the door frame at all). I set my air compressor at 60 pounds and climbed under the truck. When I blew air across the bottom it lifted the gasket away from the door. The frame causes a rolling effect to make it worse. Keep your bottom door seal clean. It gets dirty quick and will start to wear the paint away. A grease and wax remover works the best.

 

[Shooter]

Same ole s%$@#. 50-70 mph cross winds will do it to mine but the same cross winds ( seems like the norm out here ) did it to my 83 F#$d, 92 F#%d, 97 F^&d,my 00 RAM and our C&*$y and F%$d service trucks.

It will suck the doors off any brand out here.

Just one of the things like high EGT's that go with the territory.