Sunrider for Hardtop Seal Problem

[Tangokilo]

As a owner of a 2018 JL and now a 2024 JL the 2024/25 JL's have improved seals for noise and rain at the intersection of the door, roof and windshield. The 2018 was a noisy thing for wind noise the 2024 is quiet. I kept my 2018 soft top and when installed on the 24 it does the same thing the HT sunrider is doing to the little flap shown in this thread. I now have a April 2025 dated HT sunrider doing the exact thing. To make both functional I put shims between the Sunrider/softtop rails and the roll bar. 1" OD x 1/16 thick nylon washers. It took 3 for a total of 3/16 inch on the passenger side and just one on the drivers side to keep the little flap from being folded over when the door is closed. I love the quick deployment of the sunrider! But now I have 2.5 tops... Summer soft, winter hard and spring/fall HT sunrider. I hope my pictures are clear. One shows a loose washer so you can see what it looks like next to the installed stack of three. Bestop and Jeep I'll take a tee shirt in exchange for helping your Engineering staff out Tom

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[Yawnie'sPapa]

One shows a loose washer so you can see what it looks like next to the installed stack of three. Bestop and Jeep I'll take a tee shirt in exchange for helping your Engineering staff out Tom

LOL - take a look at my thread on the Gladiator side. Bestop is very very aware and already working with me on design changes. One of the experiments is modified mounting points and gee, shims! The shims are cut to the shape of the mount and the hole goes over the shoulder on the mounting point.
Now - the problem is, at least with mine, it lifts the top to be parallel with the door tops (which is how it is SUPPOSED TO BE, according to Bestop) but then that makes the clamping force too great and it flexes the Jeep latch point when latching the sunrider.
I've been through 3 tops including a modified experimental top from them in an effort to resolve these issues. Jeep is involved, Bestop is involved (their engineering, etc.)

With the shims, I ran into excessive clamping force, and flexing, pulling up, of the clamping points.

I've been two months helping them gather data, pictures, measurements, trying different clamps, shims and more.

As a owner of a 2018 JL and now a 2024 JL the 2024/25 JL's have improved seals for noise and rain at the intersection of the door, roof and windshield. The 2018 was a noisy thing for wind noise the 2024 is quiet.

The seals changed somewhere in 21 model year, all 22 and later have them - it was for rain.
The sound improvements came in 2024 with added insulation in the windshield frame and other points. the 2022 or 2023 with the new seals are just as noisy as the earlier ones without the mucket seals and rain channels. (I have the TSB for those seals - it's rain control)
My 2022 and 2023 were loud, but had the new seals and rain channels. My 2025 is VERY quiet compared to any other Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator I've had.

 

[jc99]

LOL - take a look at my thread on the Gladiator side. Bestop is very very aware and already working with me on design changes. One of the experiments is modified mounting points and gee, shims! The shims are cut to the shape of the mount and the hole goes over the shoulder on the mounting point.
Now - the problem is, at least with mine, it lifts the top to be parallel with the door tops (which is how it is SUPPOSED TO BE, according to Bestop) but then that makes the clamping force too great and it flexes the Jeep latch point when latching the sunrider.
I've been through 3 tops including a modified experimental top from them in an effort to resolve these issues. Jeep is involved, Bestop is involved (their engineering, etc.)

With the shims, I ran into excessive clamping force, and flexing, pulling up, of the clamping points.

I've been two months helping them gather data, pictures, measurements, trying different clamps, shims and more.

The seals changed somewhere in 21 model year, all 22 and later have them - it was for rain.
The sound improvements came in 2024 with added insulation in the windshield frame and other points. the 2022 or 2023 with the new seals are just as noisy as the earlier ones without the mucket seals and rain channels. (I have the TSB for those seals - it's rain control)
My 2022 and 2023 were loud, but had the new seals and rain channels. My 2025 is VERY quiet compared to any other Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator I've had.

@Yawnie'sPapa Can you send me the TSB number you noted in your post about rain control? Any ideas what else was done in the 2025's to reduce the noise?

 

[Yawnie'sPapa]

@Yawnie'sPapa Can you send me the TSB number you noted in your post about rain control? Any ideas what else was done in the 2025's to reduce the noise?

The TSB goes back to 2021 models. There have been no documented changes to impact the sunrider fit.

If it doesn't fit - it's a problem with the sunrider or your Jeep is out of SPEC. And both companies deny any issues and REFUSE to help. SCREW THEM. I'll never buy another bestop product and my attorney says take them all to court and get my money back.

Anyway, the TSB and sound issues have nothing to do with the sunrider.
Yes, if you have a crappy fit, it messes with the seals, but the seals are a side effect, not a cause or related to the fit issue. If you have a 2020 or earlier, the fit can still be bad, it will just fit wrong and not impact the new seal design. It's cut the crap out of my seals and bestop and Jeep both deny a problem.
IF you are lucky enough to live next to their headquarters they'll work on fixing the shitty fit, but if not, forget it. You are on your own.

 

[jc99]

Thanks @Yawnie'sPapa for the TSB. I actually have a gladiator and am having the same issue with the Sunrider, I'll probably pop into the GladiatorForum. I just wrote to Bestop, we'll see if they come back with anything, however it doesn't sound like that will be the case. When I called they didn't seem to know anything about these types of issues.

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