I just need to know… is it a Jeep thing?

[JeepLeap]

I can live with this and would never bring something so trivial in for service… but I just need to know…

A shifty, scrunchy, crunchy (it’s hard to describe) sound inside coming from I believe the hardtop settling often when I back into my driveway (over bumps/hills)…

Is it a Jeep thing?

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[MEHillwalker80]

I would check the mounting bolts for looseness. My hard top is noise and rattle free.

 

[JLTruman]

another thing to check is if the back glass has dust on the weather stripping, wipe the tailgate and glass weather strips, its dry and dusty here in the desert, maybe not where you live, but its what made my hardtop make noises

 

[Retrograde]

I can live with this and would never bring something so trivial in for service… but I just need to know…

A shifty, scrunchy, crunchy (it’s hard to describe) sound inside coming from I believe the hardtop settling often when I back into my driveway (over bumps/hills)…

Is it a Jeep thing?

Yup. That's the sound of the hard top flexing in response to the Jeep itself flexing. Mine does it all the time.

 

[cmcclintock]

another thing to check is if the back glass has dust on the weather stripping, wipe the tailgate and glass weather strips, its dry and dusty here in the desert, maybe not where you live, but its what made my hardtop make noises

Yes-could be it. I have had that before. I wipe down rubber weather strip all around the rear glass. No longer an issue.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/advice-on-creaking-and-gaps.78734/#post-1672689

And yes, every weird thing that happens s a Jeep thing. Enjoy and be glad you’re not driving some generic CUV.

 

[Fuel Fire Desire]

It’s the weather stripping slipping against the paint of the tub as the chassis/ body flexes. When the top bolts are tightened, it should go away after a week or so as the weather stripping sticks itself to the paint until you separate the top again.

 

[aldo98229]

Keeping the rubber seals around the doors and rear hatch clean and lubricated with silicone or Armor All helps reduce the squeaking noise.

 

[kermitjewel]

someone told me to use one application of the lubrication they use for slide outs on rvs for our seals on the top

 

[omnitonic]

If you haven't already done so, take your hard top off, and remove the packing plastic stuff. It was some kind of shipping film. It was crinkly. It kept making weird noises until I finally got rid of it. I wish I could be more detailed, but I don't quite remember exactly where or what it was, beyond the fact that you couldn't get at it just by removing the freedom panels. The whole top had to come off. Then I was like ah ha! and I pulled off some crinkly stuff that had been driving me nuts.

 

[JeepLeap]

Thank you to ALL who replied to this thread. You’re all Jeep geniuses. Simply cleaning the rubber seal that seals the back window got rid of all the creaks and sounds. Plan on spraying with RV slide-out cleaner/conditioner once I get it.

Thanks again!

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