Help with soft top gaps -- cause and fix?

[Bridgewood]

Hello everyone,

Before I go spending a lot of money on a new soft top, does anyone know what's causing these gaps and how I can fix it? I'm located in sunny south Florida and the top is a premium top I bought used.

Thanks.

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[Stuckinthesand]

You don’t have the rubber rail in the channel correct. That rail should be even throughout the entire channel. The white tip should be touching the end of the channel.

 

[TheNewGuy]

What's up with the window rod in the last pic? Looks pretty chewed up. Is this from driving It with the rod not fully in the channel?

 

[Bridgewood]

You don’t have the rubber rail in the channel correct. That rail should be even throughout the entire channel. The white tip should be touching the end of the channel.

The top part of the rear window goes in correct initially. However, when I rotate the tailgate bar to lock into the retainer the sides at the top comes out. It's as of the rear window is too short or the back section of the top is too high up.

 

[Bridgewood]

What's up with the window rod in the last pic? Looks pretty chewed up. Is this from driving It with the rod not fully in the channel?

Yes. That's because it's forcefully coming out the channel.

 

[Stuckinthesand]

If you are feeding the window rail into the channel the entire way so that the white tip is touching the channel then it sounds as if the previous owner may have messed up the channels. The only way they should come out if put in correctly is if you pull them out. If they are coming out while driving or when putting the retainer bar in this is telling me the channel was somehow stretched and not holding anymore.

 

[Bridgewood]

If you are feeding the window rail into the channel the entire way so that the white tip is touching the channel then it sounds as if the previous owner may have messed up the channels. The only way they should come out if put in correctly is if you pull them out. If they are coming out while driving or when putting the retainer bar in this is telling me the channel was somehow stretched and not holding anymore.

What about at the corner of the windows? Notice in the first and second pics you can see the molding.

This makes me think the back is too high which causes the stress on the rear window.

In the video you posted, the window molding isn't shown when the windows are in place.

I've also noticed that there is a lot of play in the top. It's definitely not fully stretched out.

 

[Stuckinthesand]

I think your side windows are not all the way in. On the 2nd pic there is a lot of slack on the bottom. That should be tight with no material overlapping the body.

 

[Dyolfknip74]

Did you get a really good deal on it? It seems like it's bent.

 

[YJdude]

Looks like you don't have your side windows in correctly, causing them to be too low to match up with the rear window. Make sure they are properly in their channels. Also make sure the upper tab of the hard corner is properly tucked into it's home before snapping the bottom tab in. That should make everything line up better.

 

[Rubi-Zero]

Slide the back window back out towards your left. Then undo both side windows and reinstall them.
You first want to start at the top of one of the sides and slide it into its track. Once it’s in, then you want to push the end corner up into its position and clip the bottom rear corner into its clip. You will have to look around to the other side to see it. Then just use your palm to push the front and bottom of the side windows into their track.

Now it’s time to put back the rear window. You don’t have to do this every time but just for this fitment issue try removing the bottom bar of the window and set aside.
starting on the left side place the white end of the tube into the track and then grab the window with your right hand and pull it towards your right while holding the left side up level. Once you pull it all the way across the frame. Now grab the rear bottom bar and reinstall it to the window. everything should be nice and snug without any gaps.

your corner pieces are definitely installed wrong at the top corner. If the rear window still pulls out of the track after this, I would slide the rear window back into the track and then flip it over the rear top with it still in the track. Then find away to squeeze the track back into shape to keep from being pulled out from the bottom of the track once you try and secure the bottom of the rear window.

 

[Bridgewood]

I'll go through the process again in the morning and take some pics.

 

[Bridgewood]

Did you get a really good deal on it? It seems like it's bent.

Well I thought I got a good deal. It was the cheapest used one available and the seller didn't mention any damages. I needed it since my hardtop broke by the rear window - bought the jeep with a roof rack and noticed stress at the rear window hinge where it was mounted.

 

[zrickety]

Well I thought I got a good deal. It was the cheapest used one available and the seller didn't mention any damages. I needed it since my hardtop broke by the rear window - bought the jeep with a roof rack and noticed stress at the rear window hinge where it was mounted.

I would try again on the windows, but it does look the rear of your top is bent somehow.
Hope I'm wrong.

 

[YJdude]

Well I thought I got a good deal. It was the cheapest used one available and the seller didn't mention any damages. I needed it since my hardtop broke by the rear window - bought the jeep with a roof rack and noticed stress at the rear window hinge where it was mounted.

I don't think there is anything wrong at all with your soft top. I might add a couple thoughts for assembly:
1. I find it much easier to put together with the front part flipped back in the sunrider position. Makes it easier to properly hook the side windows into the channels of the frame around the door.
2. Like any other soft top, this is way easier to do in a nice, warm environment where the pieces are more pliable.

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