Community Forums

powerwoofs · 02-21-2023, 06:13 PM

So our VTDP has developed a really annoying and loud squeak in the upper pillar column when driving. Didn't do this when it was new to us and has slowly developed. It's much worse when the sun is out and hitting the outside of the pillar, which tells me something inside that pillar column is rubbing and the heat is causing it to expand and rub worse. It's getting really annoying and I'd like to locate it.

Anyone know the process to remove that pillar cover that the shade runs down? I don't want to break anything, so not sure if it's clips or just some two side tape.

Winemaker2 · 02-21-2023, 06:49 PM

I had a similar problem in our 2013 VTDP 3433.
I read a thread here about an owner fix and basically followed their lead.

Plastic trim is removable by removing screws.
I ran the 2 shades partway down... enough to lift one end to get them out of the track.
Removed trim piece.... filled the backside hollow part with expanding foam and trimmed it flush after it set. I trimmed some off the bottom as it seemed to rub on dash and though a gap would help.
Used spray adhesive to adhere felt fabric to backside. Trimmed excess and sprayed edge of felt w flat black spray paint.
Reattached and added plastic anchors to get a better hold of the screws. Had to add trim washers under oval head screws where they had pulled through plastic and holes were enlarged. PO had obviously tried to se use it better but doubtbit removed and modified.
Reassembled securely and reversed the trick w shades to get them back into the tracks.
Above improved / silenced the squeek significantly but still get a little at certain conditions.

powerwoofs · 02-22-2023, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winemaker2

I had a similar problem in our 2013 VTDP 3433.
I read a thread here about an owner fix and basically followed their lead.

Plastic trim is removable by removing screws.
I ran the 2 shades partway down... enough to lift one end to get them out of the track.
Removed trim piece.... filled the backside hollow part with expanding foam and trimmed it flush after it set. I trimmed some off the bottom as it seemed to rub on dash and though a gap would help.
Used spray adhesive to adhere felt fabric to backside. Trimmed excess and sprayed edge of felt w flat black spray paint.
Reattached and added plastic anchors to get a better hold of the screws. Had to add trim washers under oval head screws where they had pulled through plastic and holes were enlarged. PO had obviously tried to se use it better but doubtbit removed and modified.
Reassembled securely and reversed the trick w shades to get them back into the tracks.
Above improved / silenced the squeek significantly but still get a little at certain conditions.

I'll see if I can find that thread, thanks. I did look closely this morning and saw all the screws, both on the outside, and the inside of the shade channel.

What did you fill in exactly? Is there a void in the cover, or on the pillar side?

UMXHAULER · 02-22-2023, 09:42 AM

On my 21 DS, both A Pillar covers were squeaking and creaking. They are both removable by just removing the screws. I just needed my shades in the full up position and I could slide the covers off. Reinstalling them, you need to be careful not to mess up the wires for the shades. I found two issues with those covers. First, they were rubbing against the dash surface. To fix this, I just trimmed about 3/16" off the bottom of both covers using a chop saw. Now they have plenty of clearance from the dash surface. The second issue is that when they are screwed down, the front edge of the covers touch the hard surface of the front cap adjacent to the windshield. There is enough flexing of the front end for this surface to make lots of noise going down the road. I bought some 1/2" wide felt roll that has adhesive on one side off of amazon and ran a strip of that along both the front edge and rear edge the entire length of the covers so that the covers no longer contact any hard surface. I would not use expanding foam inside that cover and I did not feel that the wires under there were causing any of the noise issues at all and they were not.

Winemaker2 · 02-22-2023, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerwoofs

I'll see if I can find that thread, thanks. I did look closely this morning and saw all the screws, both on the outside, and the inside of the shade channel.

What did you fill in exactly? Is there a void in the cover, or on the pillar side?

I looked but didn't find the thread I mentioned.
The plastic trim has recessed grooves or troughs on the backside due to the tracks for the shades and the shape of the corner trim. Those are what I filled w expanding foam and trimmed flush on the backside. It may not be necessary, but the though was it provided an easier surface to adhere the felt to and stiffened the plastic trim piece. The real key is secure attachment and the soft felt layer. Trimming the bottom to prevent rubbing on dash also important.

Hpozzuoli · 02-22-2023, 11:33 AM

I get those squeaks from time to time. I use that clear lithium grease in the aerosol can. I spray the area and she’s quite for the season. Usually every other year I need to respray.

powerwoofs · 02-22-2023, 01:40 PM

Thanks everyone for the replies. I've got a few ways to attack this, but I do want to remove the cover so I can get familiar with it and what's behind it.

I will ask this, how are you getting on the driver side? It's tight with the dash and steering wheel. Getting into that corner has also been a concern.

UMXHAULER · 02-22-2023, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerwoofs

Thanks everyone for the replies. I've got a few ways to attack this, but I do want to remove the cover so I can get familiar with it and what's behind it.

I will ask this, how are you getting on the driver side? It's tight with the dash and steering wheel. Getting into that corner has also been a concern.

Well that all depends on your agility. I am able to do it with the seat all the way back and the steering column tilted all the way forward but it can be tiring reaching in there.

powerwoofs · 02-25-2023, 09:40 AM

Were you guys able to remove the pillar without taking down the shade? I started working on this last night and the windshield shades appear to be mounted through the pillar cover. I don't see a way of removing it without taking the shades down.

I might see if I can get some felt pads behind there...

Steele · 02-25-2023, 09:59 AM

I’ve been through this myself and found an additional area of concern. The shades are mounted to a board that is attached to the supports in the ceiling. I found that almost all of the screws going up had come loose and tightening them made a huge difference.

As full timers it got added as another item for the monthly walk around last.

Winemaker2 · 02-25-2023, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerwoofs

Were you guys able to remove the pillar without taking down the shade? I started working on this last night and the windshield shades appear to be mounted through the pillar cover. I don't see a way of removing it without taking the shades down.

I might see if I can get some felt pads behind there...

Your second pic looks like my 2013 VTDP but don't recognize the 1st pic location. I definitely didn't remove my shades other than removing the lower part of the shades from the driver side track. I just looked at the top of my plastic trim and I'd does look like it goes up behind the screen ends but I don't see any screws up that high and know my trim came out w/o messing with the shades. Guessing it just slides behind but don't remember exactly.
Lower part of my pillar trim has 4 gauges mounted in it but they simply unplugged from wiring harness once the trim was lose.

PanJH · 02-26-2023, 09:02 AM

I just did mine a few weeks ago.... the squeek was driving me crazy. On the from edge of the plastic cover ( there is meets the windshield) , I took a piece of 1/4" vinyl tubing and slit it with a razor blade. I slid this on the edge of the plastic cover on the other edge, I placed a few felt pads near the screw holes. It took care of my problem.

powerwoofs · 03-05-2023, 08:32 PM

Will at least try the vinyl tubing, might not be too hard to do that. I had to give up on this as we ran out of time and hit the road for a few months. I did put larger screws into the holes up top, but they don't seem to be grabbing anything up there either. Still squeaking.

I did check the shades and the area, and all the other screws are tight, it's just that upper part of the cover.