Roof Panels Rattling

Roof Panels Rattling

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Lewis's Friend

Original Poster:

1,026 posts

191 months

Tuesday 15th March 2016
quotequote all
Hi all.

Quick question for the collective S wisdom.

My roof panels rattle rather annoyingly with the roof up, particularly from the back. This is because the plug and socket are a less than tight fit.

The previous owner wrapped some black tape around the plugs to create a tighter fit. This actually works, but isn't really an elegant solution! Does anyone have a clever solution?

I don't particularly want to replace all the plugs and sockets as it would be rather expensive, and I'm not sure even that would help for long.

Thanks

Lewis's Friend

Original Poster:

1,026 posts

191 months

Tuesday 15th March 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies chaps.

I have my name down for some new struts, so this may well fix the issue. My current struts are quite worn, so while they take a fair shove to put up, they don't sit straight when locked. Instead they go passed the straight and sit with quite a large angle to them (which would allow the roof panels to move). I think they may have been designed to do so, but not to the extent mine now do. There is visible damage on them where they over travel.

Hopefully new struts will fix it.

If not, I'll have to revisit the topic. I don't really want to have to replace all the sockets etc as I have done one already (missing when I bought the car) and remember thinking they were quite expensive for what thy were; particularly as they didn't fit together very snuggly.

Lewis's Friend

Original Poster:

1,026 posts

191 months

Tuesday 15th March 2016
quotequote all
greymrj said:
Could you post a picture of the tangs, I have had to study this issue and replace the tangs on mine. I might be able to add more.

Do NOT rely on those puny little clips at the front to hold the panels down. They are screwed into grp which is less than 1mm thick!
I'll try and get a picture for you. I don't think they're in particularly bad condition, so hopefully they'll be ok!

Lewis's Friend

Original Poster:

1,026 posts

191 months

Thursday 31st March 2016
quotequote all
Just in case anyone else ever has this issue, and runs across this thread I thought I'd update.

I've fitted the new alloy roof stays and they have solved the irritating rattling (of course, all these things are relative - the whole car still rattles!).

The stays also look much better than the originals and are much better built, so all in all I will call that a good win!