# Do roof rack fairings really reduce noise **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [August 17, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338 "2013-08-17T00:16:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![e60oholic](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/e60oholic/32/6228_2.png) [@e60oholic](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/e60oholic)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/1 "2013-08-17T00:16:33Z")
Im looking for a little info before I end up buying a thule fairing for my BMW roof rack. At 70 Mph its so noisy that i can hear it over the radio, it whistles and just drives me insane. If anyone has had one on their roof rack and can provide some details (if it worked to reduce sound etc) please let me know. Just dont feel like wasting another 85 bucks on this rack for no reason. But then again i do thing the fairings make the car look better with the racks. ---
**Author:** ![focusinprogress](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/focusinprogress/32/7227_2.png) [@focusinprogress](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/focusinprogress)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/2 "2013-08-17T00:44:52Z")
YES. drastically reduces noise. I’ve got a yakima fairing on mine and you’d never know from inside the car I have a rack. doesn’t make a peep ---
**Author:** ![redrum](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/redrum/32/7398_2.png) [@redrum](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/redrum)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 5:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/3 "2013-08-17T05:38:21Z")
Yes, absolutely. I’ve seen racks that make such a thumping drone at highway speeds it sounds like your ears would rupture with the sunroof open go almost quiet with a fairing. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 8:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/4 "2013-08-17T08:36:38Z")
YES. I have had the same Thule setup over the years on multiple cars, and with the fairing it makes all the difference in the world. ---
**Author:** ![longuyen88](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/longuyen88/32/7611_2.png) [@longuyen88](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/longuyen88)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 11:41am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/5 "2013-08-17T11:41:17Z")
Yes, huge. ---
**Author:** ![llink78](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/llink78/32/8037_2.png) [@llink78](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/llink78)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 12:06pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/6 "2013-08-17T12:06:59Z")
Same as everyone else. Huge difference. ---
**Author:** ![2TurboZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/2turboz/32/7577_2.png) [@2TurboZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/2TurboZ)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 12:34pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/7 "2013-08-17T12:34:12Z")
No impact what so ever. Save your $ and buy ear plugs. Signed, The Contrarian ---
**Author:** ![e60oholic](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/e60oholic/32/6228_2.png) [@e60oholic](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/e60oholic)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2013, 8:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/8 "2013-08-18T08:46:23Z")
So it is final I guess I am buying a fairing! Thanks everyone! ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_B](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/paul_b/32/5452_2.png) [@Paul\_B](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Paul_B)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2013, 8:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/9 "2013-08-18T08:49:02Z")
Plus you can cover them in all kinds of stickers that say, “Your mom likes my ride” and “Puck Fotholes”. ---
**Author:** ![e60oholic](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/e60oholic/32/6228_2.png) [@e60oholic](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/e60oholic)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2013, 8:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/10 "2013-08-18T08:50:51Z")
> [@Paul B](#): > > Plus you can cover them in all kinds of stickers that say, “Your mom likes my ride” and “Puck Fotholes”. hahaha awesome ---
**Author:** ![1QIKZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/1qikz/32/6112_2.png) [@1QIKZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/1QIKZ)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2013, 9:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/11 "2013-08-18T09:16:27Z")
I hear you on this. Two 20’ extension ladders with hollow rungs sounds like a concert grade jug band orchestra playing on the roof. Finally shot some great stuff expanding foam into each one to regain my sanity. Good trick if anyone else wants to try it. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2013, 9:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/12 "2013-08-18T09:23:25Z")
^lol, great idea. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_B](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/paul_b/32/5452_2.png) [@Paul\_B](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Paul_B)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2013, 10:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/13 "2013-08-18T10:22:11Z")
> [@1QIKZ](#): > > I hear you on this. Two 20’ extension ladders with hollow rungs sounds like a concert grade jug band orchestra playing on the roof. Finally shot some great stuff expanding foam into each one to regain my sanity. Good trick if anyone else wants to try it. Should have drilled holes in them in different spots. Could have had some gnarly flute noises. ---
**Author:** ![1QIKZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/1qikz/32/6112_2.png) [@1QIKZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/1QIKZ)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2013, 11:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/14 "2013-08-18T11:14:56Z")
> [@Paul B](#): > > Should have drilled holes in them in different spots. Could have had some gnarly flute noises. Zamfir ftw ---
**Author:** ![slo\_ride](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@slo\_ride](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/slo_ride)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/15 "2013-08-18T17:27:05Z")
> [@1QIKZ](#): > > I hear you on this. Two 20’ extension ladders with hollow rungs sounds like a concert grade jug band orchestra playing on the roof. Finally shot some great stuff expanding foam into each one to regain my sanity. Good trick if anyone else wants to try it. it also keeps the wasps and spiders out ---
**Author:** ![e60oholic](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/e60oholic/32/6228_2.png) [@e60oholic](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/e60oholic)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/16 "2013-08-19T16:13:18Z")
Actually found one the size i needed on craigslist! Basically brand new in the box! Winning [![http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x307/e39krazy/IMG_3769_zpse6e85c67.jpg](http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x307/e39krazy/IMG_3769_zpse6e85c67.jpg)](http://s183.photobucket.com/user/e39krazy/media/IMG_3769_zpse6e85c67.jpg.html) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/17 "2013-08-19T16:22:34Z")
Do yourself a favor and put down some laminex clear vinyl or something on the roof of the car where the 4 points of the fairing touch the roof. It will wear the paint if you don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Kramer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kramer](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Kramer)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/18 "2013-08-19T16:25:11Z")
> [@1QIKZ](#): > > I hear you on this. Two 20’ extension ladders with hollow rungs sounds like a concert grade jug band orchestra playing on the roof. Finally shot some great stuff expanding foam into each one to regain my sanity. Good trick if anyone else wants to try it. Ha i think i saw that on the ladders on your truck and though to myself…wtf…now i know. ---
**Author:** ![e60oholic](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/e60oholic/32/6228_2.png) [@e60oholic](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/e60oholic)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/19 "2013-08-19T18:42:20Z")
> [@maxwell](#): > > Do yourself a favor and put down some laminex clear vinyl or something on the roof of the car where the 4 points of the fairing touch the roof. It will wear the paint if you don’t. It has foam pads on the feet of the fairing, is that not enough? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338/20 "2013-08-19T18:49:32Z")
I noticed on both my old A4 and on Subaru’s that even the foam feet broke down and wore away the clear coat. At this point though my fairing is very old, so the foam could be different. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-roof-rack-fairings-really-reduce-noise/232338.md?page=2)