Just finished my '78 280Z and I'm loving driving it except for the terrible creaking coming from almost all the interior plastic panels! Is there some sort of trick to improve this other than cranking up the radio?

Just finished my '78 280Z and I'm loving driving it except for the terrible creaking coming from almost all the interior plastic panels! Is there some sort of trick to improve this other than cranking up the radio?

The old girl has arthritis and likes saddle soap or wax everywhere plastic panels overlap each other.

The old girl has arthritis and likes saddle soap or wax everywhere plastic panels overlap each other.

Thanks Hr369. Does that mean I have to take all the panels apart again or can I spray something like WD40 where the panels join one another?

I use silicone spray on squeaky panels...

I know that the OP's panels were already installed, but if they weren't installed yet, what about applying a coating of Plasti Dip to the mating surfaces prior to installation?  Has anybody tried it?

Silicon spray does the trick. And where you have screws, instead of push pins, loosen them slightly. 

Silicon spray does the trick. And where you have screws, instead of push pins, loosen them slightly. 

Yea but doesn't that stuff smell bad and dry out eventually?  I've heard of people sanding the mating surfaces with fine sandpaper and or

painting mating surface. But personally I used wax many years ago and its still quiet.

Edited December 26, 20159 yr by hr369

 I've used Sil-Glyde on mine in the past. I believe it is silicone grease. I got between the overlap of the covers with a cotton swab covered in Sil-Glyde. That is where my creaking was coming from. 

Thanks Hr369. Does that mean I have to take all the panels apart again or can I spray something like WD40 where the panels join one another?

Yea, if you can handle the smell for a while.  If you don't want to take it all apart yea spray it. There must be some silicone sprays out there that

have no oil smell.

 

It may stain your plastic panel or even remove color if the plastic panel is painted because wd40 has solvents in it.

Edited December 26, 20159 yr by hr369

I used Q-tips and no, I didn't smell a thing. But then again, I have been working around solvent based materials for 30 years. Surprised I can smell anything.

unfortunately, the creaking sound is just part of driving a Z, sort of like the unique aroma of a British car. Many have tried to eliminate it, but it never goes completely away.

On 12/26/2015 at 2:53 PM, Mark Maras said:

 I've used Sil-Glyde on mine in the past. I believe it is silicone grease. I got between the overlap of the covers with a cotton swab covered in Sil-Glyde. That is where my creaking was coming from. 

x2 for the Sil-Glyde. The grease doesn't seem to dry out like the spray. Sil-Glyde is also good on the hatch seal w/strip. That squeaking can drive you nuts.