Freedom panel misaligned?

[ejl12]

Hi y’all! First time removing/installing freedom panel (I know…) and noticed there is a rubber flap on driver side and that the panels are ever so slightly misaligned. Pics below. Is this normal or did I screw up? Do y’all have that extra rubber bit too or should that be tucked in or something? Thanks for helping out a newbie!

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[Sean L]

Hi y’all! First time removing/installing freedom panel (I know…) and noticed there is a rubber flap on driver side and that the panels are ever so slightly misaligned. Pics below. Is this normal or did I screw up? Do y’all have that extra rubber bit too or should that be tucked in or something? Thanks for helping out a newbie!

It doesn't look out of the ordinary for me. Just to be sure, unlatch the panels and lift up the outer edge an inch and see if the rubber settles in more. Then do the same for the inner edge, that was a problem spot for me when I first got my Jeep.

 

[vasdimpop]

I had to adjust my freedom panel when I got the Jeep and now it's great! Just unlatch, lift and resettle.

 

[ejl12]

Thanks y’all, very helpful. When unlatching and lifting, should I start from passenger side to driver, or driver to passenger? The right order confuses me a ton…

Also, so do you guys both have that rubber “L” shape at front (facing windshield)? It doesn’t seem like mine can be folded in or covered by the top when properly aligned, so my thought was this was normal, though it does look odd from aerial POV.

 

[Killed by Death]

Yep, my old Rubicon arrived misaligned right from the factory. Service aligned the panels while I was signing the paperwork. Just another thing to add to the delivery check list.

 

[Notorious]

If you’re taking the freedom panels off, the driver’s side has to go out first, the passenger side second.

If you’re replacing the freedom panels, the passenger side goes in first, the driver’s side second.

Following this order will ensure the seals set properly.

 

[mwilk012]

Stop looking at it so closely, if it doesn’t leak, it’s good.

 

[Windshieldfarmer]

Mine is like that also…doesn’t leak so I’m not messing with it. Unless your 7’ tall it’s impossible to see.

 

[LittleDog]

Hi y’all! First time removing/installing freedom panel (I know…) and noticed there is a rubber flap on driver side and that the panels are ever so slightly misaligned. Pics below. Is this normal or did I screw up? Do y’all have that extra rubber bit too or should that be tucked in or something? Thanks for helping out a newbie!

My passenger-side is slightly more forward as well. There's a how-to on the forums somewhere on adjusting tbat front mount, and perfectly squaring the panels if needs be. But I'd agree that if they don't leak, don't bother.

With regards to Passenger or Driver-side first on/first off, I'm pretty sure they will only latch down properly if the Passenger side is on the 'bottom', as it has a small lip towards the middle of the cabin. You'll remember after mixing it up a few times.

Don't forget that you can also remove the Driver-side panel only, if you so please; I probably do one panel off the most. Just tie the one panel down in the rear footwell of my four-door, takes less than a minute, on or off.

 

[JL_Confidential]

Stop looking at it so closely, if it doesn’t leak, it’s good.

Agree to a point. Mine looked like the OP and didn’t leak, but I did have some excess wind noise. Aligning then properly helped with the wind noise.

 

[ejl12]

Thanks y’all for your help. I’m mostly fixated on this because I’ve been hearing tons of sounds lately coming from the top (popping and creaking, like the clicking of plastic/rubber) that I suspect is from the freedom panels. Hopefully these tips will help get rid of the noises!

 

[LittleDog]

Thanks y’all for your help. I’m mostly fixated on this because I’ve been hearing tons of sounds lately coming from the top (popping and creaking, like the clicking of plastic/rubber) that I suspect is from the freedom panels. Hopefully these tips will help get rid of the noises!

If you've funny noises coming from above, I'd give the alignment a shot.

Mine's a bit wonky, but no weird sounds. Lots of people here recommend headliners for sound deadening as well.

 

[omnitonic]

If you’re taking the freedom panels off, the driver’s side has to go out first, the passenger side second.

If you’re replacing the freedom panels, the passenger side goes in first, the driver’s side second.

Following this order will ensure the seals set properly.

I'd like to add that if you (any random reader, not you specifically) looked at the little diagram in your freedom panel bag, and proceeded to get this backwards, then you ain't the only one. It works much better when you do the panels in the correct order! D'oh!

 

[ejl12]

So I reseated the panels as y'all recommended and the plastic popping/clicking sounds stopped... but the noise returned a few days later. I reseated once again and the sounds went away. Y'all have any thoughts on a more permanent fix? I've seen tips about lubing the rubber seals or using velcro but curious if anyone has some advice.

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