Wind noise after installing cross bars

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CRXguy
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Wind noise after installing cross bars

Postby CRXguy » Fri May 06, 2011 9:50 pm

Hi,

I recently installed OEM cross bars on my 2009 Pathfinder SE. Is this normal, or did I somehow install it wrong?

It gets pretty noisy above 40km/h(25mph) and even worse when it's windy outside.


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volvite
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Postby volvite » Fri May 06, 2011 10:30 pm

I don't have anything to compare with as mine came with the roof bars, however you have changed the aerodynamics of the vehicle by adding two pieces of plastic/steel to the top. It will then cause some kind of air disturbance. Again, mine came with them when I bought it but it does not make any noise that is too annoying.

soccerdad
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Postby soccerdad » Fri May 06, 2011 11:33 pm

I know when I added Thule cross bars to my Jeep it added a tremendous amount of wind noise, but they are square and not very aerodynamic.

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volvite
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Postby volvite » Sat May 07, 2011 9:15 pm

soccerdad wrote:I know when I added Thule cross bars to my Jeep it added a tremendous amount of wind noise, but they are square and not very aerodynamic.
I think that would be with any car as most aftermarket cross bars are universal and don't have very good aerodynamics.

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08Datsun
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Postby 08Datsun » Sat May 07, 2011 10:01 pm

I installed factory crossbars and didn't notice any difference.

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volvite
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Postby volvite » Sun May 08, 2011 10:59 am

08Datsun wrote:I installed factory crossbars and didn't notice any difference.
Now with this in mind, any chance you installed them backwards or incorrectly? Possible wrong crossbars?

CRXguy
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Postby CRXguy » Tue May 10, 2011 6:22 pm

volvite wrote:
08Datsun wrote:I installed factory crossbars and didn't notice any difference.
Now with this in mind, any chance you installed them backwards or incorrectly? Possible wrong crossbars?
I'm 100% certain I did it right. I looked at a neighbours Pathfinder and used it as reference. The part #'s all matched up.

I'll probably swing by the dealer and ask to test drive one and compare.

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volvite
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Postby volvite » Tue May 10, 2011 7:04 pm

That's probably a good idea.

pgleduc
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Pathfinder crossbars & wind noise

Postby pgleduc » Sat May 14, 2011 10:32 am

Ok, I'll admit it... I also installed crossbars on my '09 Pathy and noticed a huge difference in wind noise. Turns out I had installed mine the wrong way.

I switched them around and while there is a bit more wind noise than w/o the crossbars, installing them the right way was a huge improvement. Any chance your neighbour also had them installed the wrong way?

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volvite
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Postby volvite » Sat May 14, 2011 11:48 am

^ That's a hard pill to swallow to admit you installed something the wrong way but at least you did and you were able to correct it. Hopefully the OP will figure out his wind noise issue.

CRXguy
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Postby CRXguy » Sat May 14, 2011 4:22 pm

I've been too busy with work to drop by the dealership.

I'll take pictures tomorrow and hopefully someone here can tell me if they were installed the right way. The end pieces only attaches one way, and the cross bars are suppose to arch upwards, no? Also, the cross bars are the same part #, so it's not like each is specific to front and back.

skinny2
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Postby skinny2 » Sun May 15, 2011 7:31 pm

Just took mine off. Can't say I noticed much of a difference in normal driving (windows/moonroof closed). I pulled mine because my moonroof is so noisy I couldn't stand to use it. Removing the bars helped a little but not as much as I hoped. I can hear the stereo (bose at that....) now with the moonroof open but there's still a ton of noise. My wife's van has two HUGE moonroofs and you can barely hear any noise with them open. I may try one of those ugly shields next...or just keep the thing closed.

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volvite
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Postby volvite » Sun May 15, 2011 7:35 pm

I have one of those vent visors for my sunroof and it works well.


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