Help - Hard top issues

[Jeep24MA]

Thanks for any tips! Any time I hit a bump or anything I hear a clank or rattle on the passenger side up near the roof. Took the hard top off and didn’t hear it anymore. I tried lubricant on the rubber seals on the freedom panels, but didn’t work. Should I try a specific type of lubricant? Does anyone have any ideas on what it could be? I tried to tighten everything too and it’s still there. Older threads say it could be the weather stripping on the freedom panels. Any ideas I can try to stop the noise would be so appreciated. Thanks!

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[Artsifrtsi]

Thanks for any tips! Any time I hit a bump or anything I hear a clank or rattle on the passenger side up near the roof. Took the hard top off and didn’t hear it anymore. I tried lubricant on the rubber seals on the freedom panels, but didn’t work. Should I try a specific type of lubricant? Does anyone have any ideas on what it could be? I tried to tighten everything too and it’s still there. Older threads say it could be the weather stripping on the freedom panels. Any ideas I can try to stop the noise would be so appreciated. Thanks!

Maybe you have a loose windshield bolt?

 

[BrightWhiteGladiator]

have you tried to replicate the sound in the freedom panel while holding it? Perhaps you can isolate it to something in the panel itself

 

[Shackleton]

Thanks for any tips! Any time I hit a bump or anything I hear a clank or rattle on the passenger side up near the roof. Took the hard top off and didn’t hear it anymore. I tried lubricant on the rubber seals on the freedom panels, but didn’t work. Should I try a specific type of lubricant? Does anyone have any ideas on what it could be? I tried to tighten everything too and it’s still there. Older threads say it could be the weather stripping on the freedom panels. Any ideas I can try to stop the noise would be so appreciated. Thanks!

I did not have this problem when I drove home from the dealer but the next day I took the roof off and when I put it back on I have this problem. I tightened the bolts in the back seat but have yet to take the freedom panels back off to tighten the top bolts which is what I thought would fix the problem. Keep me posted and if I figure out what is causing it I’ll let you know. What are you using for a lubricant and where did you spray it?
Thanks

Jeff

 

[thecalebclark]

Semi regularly I will have to re-tighten the windshield screws and the and the hard top screws below the freedom panels. There is a noticeable rattle before I tighten them. I’ve never had to tighten the back hard top screws.

Sometimes is happens with normal driving but most of the times it’s when I’m off-roading or on bumpy back roads.

 

[Jeep24MA]

Semi regularly I will have to re-tighten the windshield screws and the and the hard top screws below the freedom panels. There is a noticeable rattle before I tighten them. I’ve never had to tighten the back hard top screws.

Sometimes is happens with normal driving but most of the times it’s when I’m off-roading or on bumpy back roads.

Thanks! Where are the windshield screws? And which hardtops screws are you referring to?

 

[thecalebclark]

Thanks! Where are the windshield screws? And which hardtops screws are you referring to?

The windshield screws are up along the top of the windshield. There are 4 total and you might have to move the visor to access them. Usually if they are loose I can move them with my finger so that tells me I need to tighten them.

Here is a video for how to take down the windshield on a JL but should be a good reference if you are having trouble with locating them.

The two hard top screws that I am referring to are the ones that go into the top of the roll bar that you have to remove the freedom panels to access.

 

[DiscoSlug]

Post #2 seconded. Mine came from the factory with loose hard top bolts for the latches. Check all your bolts are snug.

 

[Jeep24MA]

Post #2 seconded. Mine came from the factory with loose hard top bolts for the latches. Check all your bolts are snug.

Thanks! By “loose hard top bolts for the latches” I assume you just mean all the bolts along the top? Post #2 mentioned the bolts for the windshield. Thanks!

 

[jwalt]

I’ll also throw this out, in a thread years past, probably a TJ or JK forum some guys advocated the use of this specific silicone to lubricate and condition the seals fresh for the hard top. I think I ordered it from Honda or something but it has kept my harddrop from leaking and I don’t have any squeaks. I put a light coat on all of the door and top seals on my jeep Tj, Jlu, and JT.

 

[Len]

Thanks for any tips! Any time I hit a bump or anything I hear a clank or rattle on the passenger side up near the roof. Took the hard top off and didn’t hear it anymore. I tried lubricant on the rubber seals on the freedom panels, but didn’t work. Should I try a specific type of lubricant? Does anyone have any ideas on what it could be? I tried to tighten everything too and it’s still there. Older threads say it could be the weather stripping on the freedom panels. Any ideas I can try to stop the noise would be so appreciated. Thanks!

Check all your bolts on the back half of your hard top. You have 8 in total, make sure none of them are loose. It could be rattling against the frame due to loose bolts.

 

[Jeep24MA]

Thanks for all the replies so far. The update - the noise is gone when the freedom panels are OFF. So I’m halfway there I guess! Just gotta figure out what it is now. Could it be the latches in front?? Hmmmmmm

 

[Bubba]

I will have a rattle every once in a while from the main metal latch of the freedom panel. The metal handle that you pull down to release. Not sure there is a way to tighten it up, but if I move it around a bit the rattle is gone.

 

[Jeep24MA]

I will have a rattle every once in a while from the main metal latch of the freedom panel. The metal handle that you pull down to release. Not sure there is a way to tighten it up, but if I move it around a bit the rattle is gone.

Thanks! I was wondering the same thing if there’s a way to tighten it up or dampen the movement somehow

 

[DKerrins]

Thanks for any tips! Any time I hit a bump or anything I hear a clank or rattle on the passenger side up near the roof. Took the hard top off and didn’t hear it anymore. I tried lubricant on the rubber seals on the freedom panels, but didn’t work. Should I try a specific type of lubricant? Does anyone have any ideas on what it could be? I tried to tighten everything too and it’s still there. Older threads say it could be the weather stripping on the freedom panels. Any ideas I can try to stop the noise would be so appreciated. Thanks!

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