Has anyone ever replaced just the fabric cover on a soft top

[Jeagle]

Wondering if it's even possible. Seems like it has its own part number but none of the metal rods are attached to it so I'm wondering if it's easy to detach and reattach them

MOPAR 6YQ85SX9AB

also there is some kind of wire that runs through the fabric into the mounting hardware that I'm not sure about reassembling

Sponsored

 

[cousinb]

Also interested in this. Just got a hole in my soft top and exploring options for repair, seems like this would be the cheapest option other than finding someone selling a soft top for not a lot

 

[SRFRAT67]

I have a new soft top cover for when mine eventually needs to be replaced. There are no videos out there of anyone doing this on a JT, did find a couple for a JL. Looking at the parts diagram on the quadratic website and then my own soft top it should not be a problem as all the fasteners are M6 bolts. The only item I haven't looked at yet are the fasteners for the rear corner supports (part 20), Also unsure about item 16 (bow 5 retainer kit) but will order a couple. I need to look at that last support bar but think it should be the same M6 faster as all the rest.

With that said this is how I think it would be done and I don't think it would be that hard.

Remove the top, open it up and turn it upside down. remove all the M6 bolts securing it to the support cross bars (parts 11-14) and folding rails (part 10), channel and panel header (parts 2&3 ), and the rear left and right support brackets (part 20). Once the top is separated from the crossbars connection to the side support bracket and header panels the cross bars will slide off the cover as there is a fabric tab that secures the panel to a channel in the cross support bar. installation is the reverse of the removal.

https://www.quadratec.com/jeep-replacement-parts/gladiator-jt/soft-top-parts

 

[nothingAZ]

I just did this. Overall, it is pretty straight-forward but there are a couple aspects that you need to be careful with since it is sort of expensive for the replacement fabric.

The best helpful video is here but it is not a gladiator

1) On the back there are rivets that you need to remove that attach a plastic end molding to a metal bar. I think they are steel rivets since they didn't come off quickly like aluminum. You have to remove the metal bar (to reuse) from the plastic edge of the old top. The easiest way is to drill them out and since you are tossing the old top it doesn't matter if the drill slips and damages the old top. I put the bar back on the new fabric upside down and riveted the ends so I had to very carefully remove the rivets and fix it. The plastic and bar kind of need to be rotated over kind of awkwardly and then screwed in after attached the new rivets.

2) There are 3 "ribs" and you just pop the plastic end piece off one side and slide out the top once the front molding and back metal bar are separated. When you slide the new top on you need to be careful not to tear the felt that is sliding in the rib - the felt is not heavy-duty and it teared on the old top when taking it off. I was worried about tearing and then not a tight fit of the top causing noise. I used 3 of us to slide it on and it is not totally smooth operation to slide in place because you have to slide all 3 ribs simultaneously.

3) the 2 cables are easy to detach and then slide through the new top. I ran a thicker cable through and then taped the cable to it and pull through.

4) The front just has a plastic piece of molding holding the front in place with like 12 screws that come out. Make sure the new fabric is centered as I had to redo mine to be more center.

It is not that hard but there are parts of the process where you need to be careful not to damage the new top and I haven't tested whether the top is going to be noisy because of some fit isn't perfect. If there was a very good condition used top on FB for like 1300 I probably would just buy that if I could go back in time than try this because I don't like worrying whether it will work. But it is very doable and not hard.

Also, I tried to buy on eBay first from a dealer and they sent the wrong part and I had to do a return (they never responded to fix it). I ordered on mopar e-store and a dealer near me canceled the order saying it is on back-order. Then I ordered on mopar e-store at Tasca and they emailed me info about the order and how they had to get it from another dealer and it showed up no problem. Mopar e-store got me 10% off the sale price.

Sponsored