Premium Soft Top Misalignment / Bent?

[gkrash]

Hey All,

So I'm a new Wrangler owner, so I'm not entirely sure what I should be going to the dealer with and what not to..

The issue I've got is this, I've got a tan premium soft top, and the rear window on the drivers side is *loose* in the back. It still stays in fine when I have the rear window in, but with it out, it doesn't take much effort at all to pop it out of position, especially compared to the passenger side, which takes a solid whack to get it out.

I took about 30 measurements just to be sure, but it appears to me in a variety of ways that the roof is actually about 1/4 to 1/2" higher on the drivers side than the passenger side. I am 99% positive this is what is causing my issue - what I don't know is how to fix it, or if I even should. I found some adjustment screws and attempted to adjust the length of the top thinking it would bring it down, but that didn't seem to do it. The rear support arm is actually contacting the hub the way it should be too, which is confusing the life out of me. The only thing I can think of is that it's very slightly bent, but I have absolutely no idea how that would have happened, nor what I should do about it.

I suppose the question is, do we think the dealer will do anything for me with this? or am I own my own.. I suppose it's possible something happened during the installation, (I got the dual top, so I had to do the initial install) but I honestly can't remember anything that would have caused something to bend unless it's made of lead...

@JeepCares thoughts?

(I originally posted this in the wrong spot, going to delete the old one immediately..)

-- G

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[Rahneld]

Hey All,

So I'm a new Wrangler owner, so I'm not entirely sure what I should be going to the dealer with and what not to..

The issue I've got is this, I've got a tan premium soft top, and the rear window on the drivers side is *loose* in the back. It still stays in fine when I have the rear window in, but with it out, it doesn't take much effort at all to pop it out of position, especially compared to the passenger side, which takes a solid whack to get it out.

I took about 30 measurements just to be sure, but it appears to me in a variety of ways that the roof is actually about 1/4 to 1/2" higher on the drivers side than the passenger side. I am 99% positive this is what is causing my issue - what I don't know is how to fix it, or if I even should. I found some adjustment screws and attempted to adjust the length of the top thinking it would bring it down, but that didn't seem to do it. The rear support arm is actually contacting the hub the way it should be too, which is confusing the life out of me. The only thing I can think of is that it's very slightly bent, but I have absolutely no idea how that would have happened, nor what I should do about it.

I suppose the question is, do we think the dealer will do anything for me with this? or am I own my own.. I suppose it's possible something happened during the installation, (I got the dual top, so I had to do the initial install) but I honestly can't remember anything that would have caused something to bend unless it's made of lead...

@JeepCares thoughts?

(I originally posted this in the wrong spot, going to delete the old one immediately..)

-- G

Hi Gary.

Let's talk from a common frame of reference:

https://store.mopar.com/2018-jeep-w...tic_8-body_hardware-cover_components-WJ18575/

Focus on parts 13, actually 13b, the driver's side hinge, and 11, the rear bow.

Provided that side hinge is properly screwed into the metal bracket on the Sports bar, your (premium) top, in the rear, on the driver's side could be riding high because the arm on the hinge is bent up to high and/or the bow #11 in connects to is not symmetrical on each side when its straight part is horizontal.

There is some play in the both these parts but be careful not to break them.

A tree limb fell on my rear bow and broke it last summer. I patched it with steel plate, and ordered another #11 and replaced it about a week ago when I put the soft top back on this summer: major pain, but the dealer said all they'd do (when I brought it in last summer) was replace the top at my expense: remember they're not mechanics so much as diagnosticians and parts yankers/replacers.

If the top looks good with all three windows in and no windows in I also might be inclined to do nothing.

Please explain to me the adjustment screws you refer to.

 

[gkrash]

Thanks for the detailed reply!

So what you're pointing out here is exactly what I suspect is going on. When I look at #13b (and a for that matter) the bars that come out of the hinge and connect to 11 are both in contact with the stops on the hinge, and the hinges themselves are definitely screwed in right (Pulled the whole thing off and put it back on twice, with little to no change in the measurements). I don't think it's anything with the hinge or the hinge positioning at this point.

The top *does* look OK with all of the windows in, but this car having <4k miles on it, and being 3 months old is what is making me want to look into how to fix it "right" if I can.

The screws I'm referring to are up in the middle of the rail assembly #14, and with the top closed, they're over the rear door area. There are 2 star-drive screws with locking heads / washers. They look as if they're intended to slightly change the overall length of the rail if needed.. (they might just be assembly screws and not adjustment, but being that they sit in an oblong hole, they appear to be adjustment-oriented to me.

If you don't mind me asking, how hard was it to pull that #11 bow out and replace it? - I'm tempted to take a pipe bender to the pipe coming out of the rear of the hinge and see if I can't coax it back into position, and I'm comfortable with the idea that if I screw it up it's a 150 dollar part versus a whole new soft top..

-- G

Hi Gary.

Let's talk from a common frame of reference:

https://store.mopar.com/2018-jeep-w...tic_8-body_hardware-cover_components-WJ18575/

Focus on parts 13, actually 13b, the driver's side hinge, and 11, the rear bow.

Provided that side hinge is properly screwed into the metal bracket on the Sports bar, your (premium) top, in the rear, on the driver's side could be riding high because the arm on the hinge is bent up to high and/or the bow #11 in connects to is not symmetrical on each side when its straight part is horizontal.

There is some play in the both these parts but be careful not to break them.

A tree limb fell on my rear bow and broke it last summer. I patched it with steel plate, and ordered another #11 and replaced it about a week ago when I put the soft top back on this summer: major pain, but the dealer said all they'd do (when I brought it in last summer) was replace the top at my expense: remember they're not mechanics so much as diagnosticians and parts yankers/replacers.

If the top looks good with all three windows in and no windows in I also might be inclined to do nothing.

Please explain to me the adjustment screws you refer to.

 

[gkrash]

Thanks for the detailed reply!

So what you're pointing out here is exactly what I suspect is going on. When I look at #13b (and a for that matter) the bars that come out of the hinge and connect to 11 are both in contact with the stops on the hinge, and the hinges themselves are definitely screwed in right (Pulled the whole thing off and put it back on twice, with little to no change in the measurements). I don't think it's anything with the hinge or the hinge positioning at this point.

The top *does* look OK with all of the windows in, but this car having <4k miles on it, and being 3 months old is what is making me want to look into how to fix it "right" if I can.

The screws I'm referring to are up in the middle of the rail assembly #14, and with the top closed, they're over the rear door area. There are 2 star-drive screws with locking heads / washers. They look as if they're intended to slightly change the overall length of the rail if needed.. (they might just be assembly screws and not adjustment, but being that they sit in an oblong hole, they appear to be adjustment-oriented to me.

If you don't mind me asking, how hard was it to pull that #11 bow out and replace it? - I'm tempted to take a pipe bender to the pipe coming out of the rear of the hinge and see if I can't coax it back into position, and I'm comfortable with the idea that if I screw it up it's a 150 dollar part versus a whole new soft top..

-- G

So...

From the parts diagram I figured out that the rear part of the hinge comes out with the hinge pin and 2 bolts.. so I went out and pulled it - lo and behold it did have a slight curve to it back toward the hinge. I applied some persuasion with my array of persuading devices, and while it's not 100% fixed, that rear window now satisfyingly pops into place! (I was nervous about going at it too hard without a proper vice..)

I might pull it again at some point to finish bending it back into shape, but for now it's good, I feel like I can ride without the back window and not be in fear of that rear side window popping out.


Thank you again for the info / parts diagram, made all the difference in the world that I could take that member out and check to see if it's straight.

-- G

 

[Rahneld]

Thanks for the detailed reply!
How hard was it to pull that #11 bow out and replace it?

​

It took some work. Two screws on either side that connect the hinge to the bow have to be removed, and they can be hard to get back in because your sort of wrestling with the fabric strung tightly over the bow.

That bow by the way is less expensive that $150, but I forget how much.

Additionally, there are two screws near the middle of the bow that keep the top release in the extreme back near the top connected to the (inside side of the) bow....the release that allows you to drop the final leg of the top.

Then there's a couple of plastic pins that keep the wire of this release strung along the inside side of the bow.

Then you have to drill out rivets that connect the top to the bow on the side of the bow closest to the back of the rig. You'll need a riveter to get new rivets in.

If you pop your head inside and face towards the back to both hinge rods look symmetrical? Does the rear most bow? What if you just put a little downward pressure from above on the driver's side in the back?

I've never ridden with just the side soft windows in. It's been all or nothing for me.





​

 

[JeepCares]

Hey All,

So I'm a new Wrangler owner, so I'm not entirely sure what I should be going to the dealer with and what not to..

The issue I've got is this, I've got a tan premium soft top, and the rear window on the drivers side is *loose* in the back. It still stays in fine when I have the rear window in, but with it out, it doesn't take much effort at all to pop it out of position, especially compared to the passenger side, which takes a solid whack to get it out.

I took about 30 measurements just to be sure, but it appears to me in a variety of ways that the roof is actually about 1/4 to 1/2" higher on the drivers side than the passenger side. I am 99% positive this is what is causing my issue - what I don't know is how to fix it, or if I even should. I found some adjustment screws and attempted to adjust the length of the top thinking it would bring it down, but that didn't seem to do it. The rear support arm is actually contacting the hub the way it should be too, which is confusing the life out of me. The only thing I can think of is that it's very slightly bent, but I have absolutely no idea how that would have happened, nor what I should do about it.

I suppose the question is, do we think the dealer will do anything for me with this? or am I own my own.. I suppose it's possible something happened during the installation, (I got the dual top, so I had to do the initial install) but I honestly can't remember anything that would have caused something to bend unless it's made of lead...

@JeepCares thoughts?

(I originally posted this in the wrong spot, going to delete the old one immediately..)

-- G

Hi gkrash,
Congrats on your new Jeep! We understand your concern about this. We do recommend contacting your dealer about this so it can be documented and inspected. If you decide to go this route, please send us a private message and we'll provide you with assistance during that process.
Lydia
Jeep Social Care Specialist

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