Roof bars too low for wind fairing?

[WaistDeepGroomers]

See that cavity on the inside of where the crossbars mount to your roof bars? It's viewable in the pic on the far side of your car. My guess is this is the source of the noise. Find some heavy duty black colored gorilla tape and NEATLY cover the concavity so the air has a smooth flow. Or come up with some other creative, minimally ghetto way to clean up areas for creating disturbed air. You might also slap a piece over the round holes on the ends of the bars.

If that doesn't solve it, I'd second the wrapping the bar a few times with paracord. This disrupts the airflow and may help on the noise.

Is this what you're talking about?



If so I'll slap some on today. Thanks!

[stuckathuntermtn]

How about that. That looks like some wond noise.

[muted]

Did you check the back for a hobo whistling while you are driving? I had one sleep in my car one night, that's probably it.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Did you check the back for a hobo whistling while you are driving? I had one sleep in my car one night, that's probably it.

Was that discovered after driving away with him in the back of the car? That would be...startling.

[axebiker]

Don't use para-chord. Use shock-chord, 1/4" preferably. Make about 4-5 wraps, loops at both ends. Super quiet and nowhere near as expensive and gay looking as a fairing. I think it looks pretty decent personally.

[iceclimb]

Shock chord-
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...97e6884983.jpg

Shock cord -
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...rOFTjEfq3uR3Kg

[axebiker]

Shock chord-
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...97e6884983.jpg

Shock cord -
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...rOFTjEfq3uR3Kg

Lol

[stuckathuntermtn]

Can you guys post what you're talking about re cords?
Also, I like the way my fairing comes down in front of my sunroof.

[WaistDeepGroomers]

Tried taping up the cavities. Definitely made a big difference, Especially at lower speeds. Thanks Breomonkey! This thread delivers..

[axebiker]

Can you guys post what you're talking about re cords?
Also, I like the way my fairing comes down in front of my sunroof.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Interesting. What's the sciency stuff behind that working?

[Skidog]

Interesting. What's the sciency stuff behind that working?

I'd assume it just makes the wind more dispersed avoiding the hum. I'd imagine shock cord would be better as I think the Paracord would eventually stretch and become loose.

[Jethro]

Fairing might make the wind noise worse! It's not designed to make your rack quieter or to make your car more aerodynamic.
Rack manufacturers originally made fairing for logo placement space on their sponsored vehicles. Then the public liked the looks of the fairing, so they started making it as an add-on feature. It's purely for cosmetics, no matter what the catalog says...

I wouldn't take tech advice from this guy. He doesn't even use epoxy on his binding screws, for Christ's sake😀!

[SB]

It's 3.2 air.

same as the beer

So that is whats going on out there.

[axebiker]

Interesting. What's the sciency stuff behind that working?

Yep - like skidog said, it basically disrupts the airflow (harmonic?) over the bar so that it keeps humming/whistling/whumping to a minimum.

I've had this stuff on my bars for a long time. I bought 10' from a local outdoor outfitter store, cut it into a couple 5' lengths, looped the ends, and stretched/wrapped it over the bars. Easy and CHEAP. It's been probably a decade now, but I think it was less than $10? Maybe less than $5? I used it on the old Yak round bars, but even the new aero bars are quieter with it.

[DropCliffsNotBombs]

I wouldn't take tech advice from this guy. He doesn't even use epoxy on his binding screws, for Christ's sake��!

Epoxy is for making skis, not mounting skis. Wind fairing on your rack is only for style.
I stand behind both statements.

[reckless toboggan]

Epoxy is for making skis, not mounting skis. Wind fairing on your rack is only for style.
I stand behind both statements.

True on all accounts.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Wow, so the wind is causing more of a harmonic resonance along the bars instead of just whooshing turbulence noise? (I know they're kinda the same thing, don't get all technical on me).
Epoxy in your screw holes? Instant death

[Skidog]

Wow, so the wind is causing more of a harmonic resonance along the bars instead of just whooshing turbulence noise? (I know they're kinda the same thing, don't get all technical on me).
Epoxy in your screw holes? Instant death

i bet they'd hum a lot less if they were constructed as on piece. Horrible from a manufacturing standpoint and not worth it likely, but would help the issue I think. I believe the hum comes from the bar itself resonating from the wind. Its hallow aluminum, and flat faced (maybe a rolled leading edge). Wrapping them breaks up that huge flat space. I think you get much less wind noise from the older style solid round yakima bars.

[BCMtnHound]

I think you get much less wind noise from the older style solid round yakima bars.

Nope. Absolutely unbearable whistling without a faring when installed on the grocery-getter wagon above 75kph, and noticeable at speeds above 110kph when on the cap on the truck

[axebiker]

I think you get much less wind noise from the older style solid round yakima bars.

The round bars were awful! One time so loud I thought an airplane had literally just flown over my car. Horrible woofing/howling.

[Skidog]

Nope. Absolutely unbearable whistling without a faring when installed on the grocery-getter wagon above 75kph, and noticeable at speeds above 110kph when on the cap on the truck

Huh I don't even notice them on my truck cap. Interesting. Maybe my radio is just louder.