Help - adjusting new soft top rubbing/rattling?

[New4xeguy]

Please help before I lose my mind from the sound of constant rattling. The attached pics are of my 2024 factory soft top. You can see that one side of the bow shaped spine pieces (the thing that runs from drivers to passengers side and gives the canvas top its shape) touches another metal part of the soft top hardware when the top is closed, which rubs and rattles with every bump in the road. Is there a way to adjust the bow shaped spine piece?

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[New4xeguy]

Fwiw, on the opposite side of the car, that same bow shaped spine piece has an inch or so of clearance. So, I’m thinking it has too much clearance while the other side has none.

 

[Heimkehr]

I've used this adhesive fabric, cut to size, to manage the effects of similar concerns with the soft top on my JLU. In my case, a portion of the folding framework was rubbing against the fabric when the top was lowered. It was only a matter of time until a perforation occurred.

 

[cripton805]

When I had a soft top on my 2018. I think it will continue to rattle. It just flexes back and forth throughout the entire top.

 

[New4xeguy]

When I had a soft top on my 2018. I think it will continue to rattle. It just flexes back and forth throughout the entire top.

Yeah, it flexes back and forth. But its relaxed position is obviously off center. And that’s why it rattles so much when I’m driving. I’m at less than 3k miles, and you can already see a decent amount of wear on the spot where it’s rubbing. No way that’s supposed to happen.

 

[IanNubbit]

Just need to slide that bow over slightly (I'd recommend you do this as it's really easy compared to going to a tech that won't care about work quality)

The two bolts on the left of this picture just need to be slightly loosened, along with the same 2 on the other side, the holes are slightly oblong to allow just movement, slide the bow say 1/2" since you said you have 0 and 1" on either side, tighten them back down, and check. Torque spec is not listed, but ensure small amount of Loctite is visible on the bolts and make sure they are snug. should be roughly 6-8 ft-lbs would be a guess, but go by feel.

 

[New4xeguy]

Just need to slide that bow over slightly (I'd recommend you do this as it's really easy compared to going to a tech that won't care about work quality)

The two bolts on the left of this picture just need to be slightly loosened, along with the same 2 on the other side, the holes are slightly oblong to allow just movement, slide the bow say 1/2" since you said you have 0 and 1" on either side, tighten them back down, and check. Torque spec is not listed, but ensure small amount of Loctite is visible on the bolts and make sure they are snug. should be roughly 6-8 ft-lbs would be a guess, but go by feel.

Thanks! I’ll give that a try tomorrow. I had looked at those, but it didn’t look to me like the holes were oblong, as you say they are. Fingers crossed that you’re right and I just didn’t see it.

 

[IanNubbit]

Thanks! I’ll give that a try tomorrow. I had looked at those, but it didn’t look to me like the holes were oblong, as you say they are. Fingers crossed that you’re right and I just didn’t see it.

Well I will say they are supposed to be. Who knows these days, All I know is the assembly line work has been bottom barrel quality for over a year now, so this doesn't surprise me to see.

 

[New4xeguy]

Well I will say they are supposed to be. Who knows these days, All I know is the assembly line work has been bottom barrel quality for over a year now, so this doesn't surprise me to see.

No luck. Tried what you suggested, but the holes aren’t oblong, so there’s no room for adjustment there.

 

[IanNubbit]

That sucks. Mis cut for sure then. Or the whole bracketry bent

 

[JP29]

Is the top fabric basically centered over the frame? I have replaced my soft top fabric and had no wind noise on my original sailcloth, however after moving to twill I have some now on the passenger side. My guess is I could try scooting the fabric over slightly in the channels it sits in on the frame, but since it's not over my side of the vehicle I'm not too bothered.

 

[Dyolfknip74]

It's a 24, this is a dealer warranty issue all day long.

 

[aeonixx1001]

Fwiw, on the opposite side of the car, that same bow shaped spine piece has an inch or so of clearance. So, I’m thinking it has too much clearance while the other side has none.

Good Luck! That is exactly the reason I sold my soft top. Now I can spend my time fixing all the hard top rattles and squeaks.

 

[bobholthaus]

So my soft top was rattle free until I drove info my garage with the front flip back ($300 mistake). Now the one side rattles. This Velcro has stopped it (although I wish I didn’t have to use it). Any ideas why this would now be rattling? Don’t mean to hijack; I know this is different than your issue. Thanks.

 

[New4xeguy]

It's a 24, this is a dealer warranty issue all day long.

Yeah, I realize that I could take it in, but if there’s a quick fix I could do myself, that would be way better than having to deal with an inevitably swamped service department and all the hassles that come with that.

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