Rear Quarter Window Question

[ekimgnuj]

Folks with the unlimited soft top, when you install the quarter windows is there supposed to be any type of "click" or firm connection with you push the rear pillar tab into the clip at the bottom? Did that even make sense? Mine slides in, but doesn't "engage" anything and pops out unless the rear window in place to hold it there. I can't tell if it is normal, if I have a problem with my brackets, or if it is just plain old operator error......

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[schmidtski]

Folks with the unlimited soft top, when you install the quarter windows is there supposed to be any type of "click" or firm connection with you push the rear pillar tab into the clip at the bottom? Did that even make sense? Mine slides in, but doesn't "engage" anything and pops out unless the rear window in place to hold it there. I can't tell if it is normal, if I have a problem with my brackets, or if it is just plain old operator error......

Mine is similar. No click or definite seating. But when the rear window panel goes in, that's when it all seems to connect firmly. Given that, it doesn't seem like there is a way to take out the rear panel only in the JL. Anyone have thoughts on that?

 

[RDT300]

I have same issue with driver side. The passenger side is good but driver side won’t stay seated unless rear window is attached.

 

[Taxman]

That’s partially because your not supposed to remove just the rear window for safety reasons (exhaust fumes). Jeep designed the three rear windows to function as a single unit. They are all attached to each other and don’t really work well on their own. There is no “click” or affirmation that the two side quarter windows are in place. There’s a small groove on the bottom corner plate, but it doesn’t offer any clip or secure fastening if the window.

Just keep all three windows on or off and enjoy the breeze.

 

[schmidtski]

That’s partially because your not supposed to remove just the rear window for safety reasons (exhaust fumes). Jeep designed the three rear windows to function as a single unit. They are all attached to each other and don’t really work well on their own. There is no “click” or affirmation that the two side quarter windows are in place. There’s a small groove on the bottom corner plate, but it doesn’t offer any clip or secure fastening if the window.

Just keep all three windows on or off and enjoy the breeze.

Cool. Thanks. I appreciate the response.

 

[AwCrimety]

I used to take out just the back window of JK all the time...

 

[ekimgnuj]

Mine is similar. No click or definite seating. But when the rear window panel goes in, that's when it all seems to connect firmly. Given that, it doesn't seem like there is a way to take out the rear panel only in the JL. Anyone have thoughts on that?

At least I know its not just me (or mine). If it is designed so that you need to remove the side curtains when you remove the rear window, that is a MAJOR design flaw. I regularly removed the rear window on my JK without removing the curtains, well rolled it up actually. It is annoying enough not being able to roll up the window (and not having a storage bag to protect it when you remove it, but that is another issue!) but being required to remove all three? That's just nonsense!

 

[Taxman]

^ I partially agree with this. I used to roll up my windows on my YJs, TJ and JKs all the time, and sure I miss that a little. But I think the major reason I used to roll up only the rear window was because the side curtains were a pain in the ass to remove and reinstall. Attaching the zippers and getting the fabric to stretch over the rear corners was a pain in the ass. These side curtains are a breeze to remove and reinstall. My daughter timed me and I was able to remove all three windows in under 15 seconds at a normal pace (not rushing). Reinstall took me 20 seconds, but I’m working on it.

I’ve never been concerned about scratches so I typically just toss the windows in the back however they land.

 

[DanW]

^ I partially agree with this. I used to roll up my windows on my YJs, TJ and JKs all the time, and sure I miss that a little. But I think the major reason I used to roll up only the rear window was because the side curtains were a pain in the ass to remove and reinstall. Attaching the zippers and getting the fabric to stretch over the rear corners was a pain in the ass. These side curtains are a breeze to remove and reinstall. My daughter timed me and I was able to remove all three windows in under 15 seconds at a normal pace (not rushing). Reinstall took me 20 seconds, but I’m working on it.

I’ve never been concerned about scratches so I typically just toss the windows in the back however they land.

100% agree! I won't worry about scratches either. It isn't worth the stress. I'll just budget to replace the quarter and rear windows every 5 years, or so.

 

[Grindhouseknives]

I installed my soft top last week and last night was the first time I needed to put the windows on. I ran into the same issue where I didn’t feel the positive capture of the side curtains which bothered me a bit because in all the YouTube videos I’ve seen the side curtain appears to take some force to dislodge it from the bracket. I struggled with it for a while then figured the rear window would hold everything together which it did.
I don’t worry about scratches too much either. When it’s time to replace, I will send the curtains out to Hot Heads to have the Polycarbonate windows installed.

 

[Taxman]

If you look at the design closely, there’s a slight indentation on the plastic brackets that provides a positive click at the bottom corners, but not enough to “hold” a window under tension. I think the positive click is intended to give the user the sense that the window is in the proper position rather than hold the window in place indefinitely.

The design clearly intends for the three windows to be used together as one unit. The click is there to give you assurance that it’s in the right place so you can attach the back window.

I’m not the engineer who designed this, but this is my intuitive take on the design as a long-time user of Jeep soft tops.

 

[ekimgnuj]

^ I partially agree with this. I used to roll up my windows on my YJs, TJ and JKs all the time, and sure I miss that a little. But I think the major reason I used to roll up only the rear window was because the side curtains were a pain in the ass to remove and reinstall. Attaching the zippers and getting the fabric to stretch over the rear corners was a pain in the ass. These side curtains are a breeze to remove and reinstall. My daughter timed me and I was able to remove all three windows in under 15 seconds at a normal pace (not rushing). Reinstall took me 20 seconds, but I’m working on it.

I’ve never been concerned about scratches so I typically just toss the windows in the back however they land.

That's impressive! I'm probably in the 15 second range taking them off, but it takes me a lot longer to "thread the needle" putting them on. All in all, I agree much more simple to remove and put on, I just hate that you can't roll up the rear anymore.

 

[DanW]

That's impressive! I'm probably in the 15 second range taking them off, but it takes me a lot longer to "thread the needle" putting them on. All in all, I agree much more simple to remove and put on, I just hate that you can't roll up the rear anymore.

I'm not sure you can't. It has the snaps and straps. Just undo the sides, keep the top part on, and roll it up. I might try it tonight or this weekend. It looks to me to be possible. Maybe.

 

[Taxman]

The rigid plastic sides of the JL soft rear window are much stiffer than the zippered sides of previous soft top designs. The zippers would roll very easily, but these stiffer plastic sides aren’t as flexible and don’t cooperate as easily. I’m sure you can muscle your way through it with some perseverance, but I find it much easier to just slide it out and throw it in the back.

 

[ekimgnuj]

I'm not sure you can't. It has the snaps and straps. Just undo the sides, keep the top part on, and roll it up. I might try it tonight or this weekend. It looks to me to be possible. Maybe.

I will have to go check, I never noticed the straps and snaps somehow, maybe only on certain soft tops? I got the dual top group so I think I have the premium top, silly I should know that!

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