For those of you with Bel or Escort radar detectors, a known annoyance is the "windshield rattle", caused by the upper rear tabs of the detector vibrating against the windshield. Here's a simple, relatively free solution with an added benefit (see bottom). This write-up is also on my CarDomain pages as well: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/485534/3

So, here are all the components we'll be working with: radar detector, windshield bracket, suction cups, and a piece of felt. Feel free to substitute the material with rubber from an old bike tube, or any other thin material you can think of to absorb small vibrations.



First, measure, mark and punch holes on the felt where the suction cups would match with the windshield bracket. Also, make sure you allow enough (but not too much) material to extend over the rear edge of the radar detector. This is where the detector would normally contact the windshield. Remember, measure twice and cut once!



Next, push the suction cups through each of the holes:



Then, slide the suction cups into the windshield bracket:



That's it! Here's the finished product:



And, finally: Here's the picture of it mounted on the windshield. NO MORE RATTLING or CLICKETY-CLACK! AND, as a fringe benefit, this felt material also provides a little protection from direct sunlight. Overall, when driving, my detector has stayed a little cooler despite the hot summer sun beating through the windshield. Make sure the rear of the radar detector is unobscured and still has a direct view of the road. Happy motoring and good luck!

 

I used a piece of rubber from an old mousepad. Works great :D

 

i just used the velcro stuff that came with mine... i bought a cobra a few weeks ago. it came with the windshield suction cup mount thing or 2 pieces of velcro-esque material that used 3M adhesive on both sides. i put it on the dash up front ahead of the steering wheel, and it does not rattle at all. its not on the actual windshield, and it isnt obstructed by the wipers or windshield as you may think, as i still pick up signals.

 

zdawg,

You probably already know this - make sure your detector is 100% level with the road. The detector's ability to sniff out radar is diminished tremendously if it's not level. I see a lot of RD's on people's windshields that are pointing up to the sky! LOL. The reason I'm bringing this up is because our dashboards are slanted upwards, and mounting the RD on the dash could make your Cobra point up. Just an FYI.

A great resource about detectors is www.radardetector.net. You'll find some of the sharpest scientific (and geeky) minds on there who have some fantastic information about every detector out there and how they work/compare to one another.

- Al

 

hmm... yeah i knew that and i thought it was fairly level. its pretty level and i still pick up all the signals like normal. im going to put it a little higher and see a difference. thanks for the heads up!

 

It makes a huge difference, primarily when you're picking up signals from behind. . . as well as laser. . . the detector is probably useless for laser at that point. Odds are that you won't even pick it up.

 

Nice Bel! I have a 995, and I love the fact that I can turn off K and X bands (leaving Ka on for CHP). I've never ecountered a ligit K threat in CA, only Ka. . .


IMPORTANT NOTE: Does the felt block the view of your laser eye?

 

djct,

The picture is a bit misleading. The felt does go over the edge but only enough to prevent the rattling. It's hanging about 3/16" past the edge, but it's at an angle, so it's only covering the solid plastic bezel surrounding the laser eye and radar horn pickup.

My 955 can turn off X by selecting the City NoX mode. K and Ka are still unaffected. Some K falsing, but Colorado uses K extensively, so even if I could turn it off, I wouldn't.

 

Sweet! I also had a 955 before my 995. The only reason I switched was because I don't really need K in CA, just kA. I got persuaded after riding in my friend's car with his Passport with the same functions. But since you do get K out there, you are good to go with the 955.

BTW, we did test the Passport side by side with the 995, and the sensitivity was sooooo close that it pretty much made no difference. Dunno about laser or x bands though. . . but then again who ever cares about x?

 

heres what i was trying to say before - this is how mine is set up:




i recently drove 300 miles to toronto (600 miles total) and i picked up all signals, including laser, so i dont have any problems. it doesnt rattle or anything, it stays in place and it looks pretty nice since it seems like its just sitting there on nothing