I've had AstraHammond aluminum rear window louvers for a couple of years. In the past year or so, they've gotten progressively noisy. They make a rattling sound. I can shake them with my hand, and they rattle. I'm assuming that the rivets are loose.

Has anyone else had this problem? Have you come up with a good solution?

 

are you sure the double side tape hasn't shrunk with the heat/cold of the seasons?

most likely that noise you are hearing is the louver itself rattling against the glass. I suggest you pull them off and put new double-sided tape on

 

if it actually is the rivets, pull the louvers off, and then apply a dab of outdoor silicone to the back of each rivet (underside where it won't show). the silicone will hold them in place and absorb any sound

 

No, it's not the double stick tape. These louvers have four brackets that are attached to the corners of the window with double stick tape. They have small threaded rods that stick up that go through the louvers and attach them with a knurled nut. That's tight, and doesn't move. I have replaced the weather stripping that's around the louvers that keep it from rattling on the window. That's why I said I thought it was the rivets.

I was just wondering if anyone else had had this problem and what they did. I thought about putting silicone, as you suggest. I also thought about something like epoxy or JBWeld (which is epoxy, of course), or maybe trying to use a hammer to tighten the rivets.

If no one else has solved this problem, I guess maybe I'll try the silicone.

Thanks for your help.

 

I have the Astra Hammond aluminum louvers also for about a year now and I also noticed a slight rattle happening. I don't think Tylus is talking about the double sided tape that holds the tabs to the back window. I think he's talking about the foam tape that's on the inside of edge of each louver. That was my first thought about the rattle and I'm going to replace that tape.

 

I've been fighting with my A-H louvers for the past 2 years and had thought I had my problems licked.

Problem one was a "ticking" or "clicking" that I was able to eliminate by placing a few silicone pads about 6" apart along the inside vertical edges and additional foam tape along the edges of the slats that come close to touching the window.

Problem two and the one that is driving me nutz is a howling at speeds over 90-100 MPH. I added some more foam tape on the upper slat which seemed to stop the howling, even up to 130 MPH. But recently the howling has returned. I've yet to pull the louvers off to inspect them but I suspect it's the upper louver which is getting buffeted.

I suspect that any "rattle" may be where the one or more of the angle braces that hold the slats apart are making contact with the window. I put a small piece of foam tape on the bend of each angled brace.

Good luck.