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My '93 Japanese import delSol
had the very common roof rattle when I got it.
Lubing the seals will help to stop creaks but will not stop the
rattles. I devised a mod to the roof panel which has worked very
well for 18 months now. The whole job was easily done in an hour.
First I removed the inner trim from the roof panel & at the 4
corners where the pins extend, I drilled a 4.8mm hole & tapped
an m6 thread in the thickest part of the aluminium casting. I
then fitted a 6mm dia * 8mm long grub screw with an allen key
fixing. The idea is that you can tighten the screw onto the plastic
sleeve which the pin slides in, slightly deforming it, this has
the effect of removing any loose play. If it should ever need
adjusting, & mine hasn't in 3 years, it only needs the end
pieces taking off the roof & the screws slightly tightening with
an allen key.
Below are some pics which I hope are self explanatory. The grub
screws I bought had a knurled end which I presume is to grip the
surface being tightened. Because these are being tightened up
to a plastic surface, I ground the end of the grub screws flat
before fitting them so as to give a larger bearing surface on
the plastic bush & not to chew it up.
Every 2 or 3 weeks I lubricate
& condition the rubber seals around the edge of the roof panel
& the ones on the car using a silicone spray. The particular
one I use is called "back to black" & can be bought
at any car accessory shop. Spray on to a cloth first & rub
into the rubber seals. Make sure to buy one with a high silicone
content.
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