Terrible vibration!

Here's a new one for you!!! On my '86 Ford CS wagon, I installed a factory air spoiler on the roof rack; replacing the two stock tips that are there in place of the spoiler, on cars so equipped. Now, check this out...

At highway speeds over 60 mph, AND with a strong crosswind (over 20 kts), I'll get a vibration that sounds like a tire getting ready to go away. Or, at least that is what I thought the first time. I checked the tires, and even rotated them. I also looked for anything that may have come loose, and all was right. The first time this happened, I was doing right at 70 mph, with a medium crosswind. Once I checked things, and headed into the wind a few miles later, the noise did NOT reoccur.

Today, the same thing happened. I was driving 65 with a strong (30 kts+) crosswind, when the sound/vibration recurred. I slowed to 55, then the noise/vibration went away. Once I was out of the crosswind situation, the noise/vibration did not return. This ONLY happens when at highway speed and when a strong crosswind exists!

The roof rack and air spoiler are tight and intact. What would cause a harmonic like I've described???:confused:

 

Is there a way to change the angle (pitch) of the spoiler?

 

That would be my guess too?

 

The short and long answer to that is "no".

 

Well, take it all back off and see if the vibration goes away? :confused:

 

It's a PITA, but that is the next step.

 

Assuming that it is properly secured, you might also experiment with damping it by lining the inside surface with differing amounts of duct seal to change (lower) the resonant frequency. This is completely reversible.

mike

 

strap something to the roof to make the air not get to the spoiler and see if it helps.

 

Either bin or ebay ,with or without what the hell just get rid of the spoiler

 

Naw - he just needs a bigger spoiler....

 

Try playing with adjusting the rear bar closest to the air deflector. I had a similar roof noise/vibration once after I hauled some luggage on the roof to the airport, I had adjusted the back bar to snug the luggage. On the way back at speed I had a vibration on the roof so I kinda figured that was my problem and it was.

 

I'll give that a shot first. Removing/reinstalling the air deflector is a real PITA with that limited amount of room between the roof and the fastener.

 

I think Patrick is spoiled!
That's my short and long answer!

 

Spoiled how?

 

I'm getting a terrible vibration from this thread. How can I make it go away? :banghead3::Blasting_anim: