Sunrider owners - MY mess-up, or theirs?

[WILDHOBO]

I think you are on to something here. Having had the Bestop sunrider on a JKU, it was a very different experience. Without that frame of reference, I would have probably thought the whistling and fitment is normal.

The first Bestop sunrider on the JT I tried actually had the whistle at about 25mph!! I had to loosen all the bolts and force the passenger side drip rail down while tightening it, which then resulted in only hearing the whistle at 40mph. That one went back and now the replacement is now whistling, thankfully only at highway speeds. But the crazy thing is, the install process was identical both times, with quite different results.

What I'm not understanding is that if the freedom panels haven't changed over the years, and fit fine, how could it be the seals?

Since you have spent a lot of time on this, and don't believe it is the change in the seals, what do you think the issue is related to? Misalignment in the parts right from the factory?

I have a 2021. Mine are the original seal designs. My sunrider had been on and off a half dozen times or more since July of 2021. It fits very well in fact. I genuinely wish I was closer to some or any of you. I’d happily drive over to compare them, remove and reinstall, to help figure this out.

Edit: If anyone having this issue is in Colorado, please let me know. Maybe we’re closer than I realize.

Sponsored

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I think you are on to something here. Having had the Bestop sunrider on a JKU, it was a very different experience. Without that frame of reference, I would have probably thought the whistling and fitment is normal.

The first Bestop sunrider on the JT I tried actually had the whistle at about 25mph!! I had to loosen all the bolts and force the passenger side drip rail down while tightening it, which then resulted in only hearing the whistle at 40mph. That one went back and now the replacement is now whistling, thankfully only at highway speeds. But the crazy thing is, the install process was identical both times, with quite different results.

What I'm not understanding is that if the freedom panels haven't changed over the years, and fit fine, how could it be the seals?

Since you have spent a lot of time on this, and don't believe it is the change in the seals, what do you think the issue is related to? Misalignment in the parts right from the factory?

If you look at the pictures of how mine fits - it isn't anything to do with seals or the changes in seals for 2021 and later (and if it was, Bestop has had YEARS to fix it) - the sunrider simply, absolutely, sits TOO LOW at the front.
The seals are the side effect of a bad fit, not the cause.
The sunrider all but hits on the tops of the doors. It should run parallel to the door tops just like the panels do. Instead, it slants downward a lot going forward. If it sat like it should, it would work on any year JT

How it should fit - (picture from Bestop themselves)

Sunrider should fit exactly as shown above - and as the panels do below - look how high the front of the sunrider sits on the windshield seal in the pic above.

Gap between sunrider rail and top of door should be the same front of the door as it is at the rear of the door. That's how the panels fit - gap between drip rail stays the same rear to front.

 

[WILDHOBO]

If you look at the pictures of how mine fits - it isn't anything to do with seals or the changes in seals for 2021 and later (and if it was, Bestop has had YEARS to fix it) - the sunrider simply, absolutely, sits TOO LOW at the front.
The seals are the side effect of a bad fit, not the cause.
The sunrider all but hits on the tops of the doors. It should run parallel to the door tops just like the panels do. Instead, it slants downward a lot going forward. If it sat like it should, it would work on any year JT

How it should fit - (picture from Bestop themselves)

Sunrider should fit exactly as shown above - and as the panels do below - look how high the front of the sunrider sits on the windshield seal in the pic above.

Gap between sunrider rail and top of door should be the same front of the door as it is at the rear of the door. That's how the panels fit - gap between drip rail stays the same rear to front.

I know this might piss you off, but that’s not the intention. I still think there’s a good chance it’s the seal change. Does your 4xe have the older style seals, have you installed the sunrider on it to see if it’s better,

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I know this might piss you off, but that’s not the intention. I still think there’s a good chance it’s the seal change. Does your 4xe have the older style seals, have you installed the sunrider on it to see if it’s better,

How can it be a seal change if the sunrider all but rubs on the doors?
The JLU is a 23 - the change was made in 21.
However, the seal has nothing to do with it when the sunrider comes down to the door. The seals didn't change that.
Look at pictures of one that fits properly - like I posted above - that is a post 21 Jeep. The yellow jeep picture above? That has the SAME seals as mine. Same thing. All Jeeps from 2021 on have the same seals.

You can tell it's a 21 or later because it has the plastic water channel.
This Jeep has the exact same seals as mine. Exactly the same. Look how high the front is on the windshield seal.
Mine sinks way down, crushing the windshield seal - which didn't change at the top, it only changed at the ends.

Absolutely no way it's a seal issue. It can't possible be when the sunrider rubs the door tops

If you took those seals out - it would still fit wrong. The seals don't determine the position or height of the sunrider - the sunrider does that.

Compare where the end of the sunrider drip rail in the pic above lands next to the raised rib on the windshield seal -

then on mine, it lands way below that part of the seal -

The end of the sunrider drip rail should end up lined up with that small rib - not way below it.

All anyone has to do is look at the sunrider and the body parts of a Jeep - IGNORE THE DAMNED SEALS - and you'll see how very low it sits - all but rubbing the door, and crushing the windshield seal, which has not changed at all at the top.

This gap is to be parallel rear to front - this side is bad, the right is even worse.
We had to remove the sunrider as it was literally starting to rub the door itself - tell me that's a seal issue!

If Bestop was about customer service - they'd be contacting me and telling me that they are working with Jeep and they'll have a solution before summer is over.

Otherwise, this fall, I'm demanding full money back and they come get it.

But instead, all they have done is blame seals and make excuses.
TWO of them fit shitty. In fact, I suspect the one my son and I took off was the second one the dealership tried and not the original because it was actually WORSE (although they said it was a bit better LOL)
In any case, we had to take it off or risk losing paint on the door.

Does yours rub on the door? Is it over 0.20" away from the top of the door at the front?

Sorry, been through all of this- zip to do with seals. Look at that shitty fit.

Sits way high in the back - even higher at the back than the left side!
Then it drops to no clearance at the front and crushes the windshield seal - which has not changed at the top because the freedom panels haven't changed.
The thing even looks cockeyed, crooked, screwed up, back sitting so high, but crushing things at the front. A freedom panel has the same gap above the door front to rear, rear to front, no difference. The gap is very parallel.

I know you like Bestop and can't believe they have an issue - but more people are coming out of the woodwork now saying "yeah, mine, too".

They have a successful product and are pretty much ignoring those where it doesn't fit.
They even had the balls to tell me "no, don't tuck those seals" while I was telling them - I have no choice - your product is destroying them otherwise.
"We don't have a problem - but don't tuck the seals"
LOL So, how is it supposed to be run NOT tucking those seals? Eh?
Right.

You have two choices -
Do as Bestop says - don't tuck the seals and see them totally destroyed in two months
or
tuck the seals even though Bestop says not to.

Crickets from them - and their only support contact has been a basic helpdesk type - is it plugged in, is it turned on, type. No one who actually can do anything,

 

[WILDHOBO]

I’ve looked at all the pictures. I have a 2021 and have the older style seals. I’m all but positive it happened much more recently. The seal I think is different is the one on the windshield edge. Can you take a picture of the windshield seal on your 23?

 

[Trollboogie]

That is definitely not a seal problem. The side rail should sit on the jeep just like the freedom panels do. That has nothing to do with the front seal and everything to do with the way the side rails mount to the roll cage.

I did notice that the Mopar branded top has a different front mount than the Bestop branded one.

 

[WILDHOBO]

How can it be a seal change if the sunrider all but rubs on the doors?
The JLU is a 23 - the change was made in 21.
However, the seal has nothing to do with it when the sunrider comes down to the door. The seals didn't change that.
Look at pictures of one that fits properly - like I posted above - that is a post 21 Jeep. The yellow jeep picture above? That has the SAME seals as mine. Same thing. All Jeeps from 2021 on have the same seals.

You can tell it's a 21 or later because it has the plastic water channel.
This Jeep has the exact same seals as mine. Exactly the same. Look how high the front is on the windshield seal.
Mine sinks way down, crushing the windshield seal - which didn't change at the top, it only changed at the ends.

Absolutely no way it's a seal issue. It can't possible be when the sunrider rubs the door tops

If you took those seals out - it would still fit wrong. The seals don't determine the position or height of the sunrider - the sunrider does that.

Compare where the end of the sunrider drip rail in the pic above lands next to the raised rib on the windshield seal -

then on mine, it lands way below that part of the seal -

The end of the sunrider drip rail should end up lined up with that small rib - not way below it.

All anyone has to do is look at the sunrider and the body parts of a Jeep - IGNORE THE DAMNED SEALS - and you'll see how very low it sits - all but rubbing the door, and crushing the windshield seal, which has not changed at all at the top.

This gap is to be parallel rear to front - this side is bad, the right is even worse.
We had to remove the sunrider as it was literally starting to rub the door itself - tell me that's a seal issue!

If Bestop was about customer service - they'd be contacting me and telling me that they are working with Jeep and they'll have a solution before summer is over.

Otherwise, this fall, I'm demanding full money back and they come get it.

But instead, all they have done is blame seals and make excuses.
TWO of them fit shitty. In fact, I suspect the one my son and I took off was the second one the dealership tried and not the original because it was actually WORSE (although they said it was a bit better LOL)
In any case, we had to take it off or risk losing paint on the door.

Does yours rub on the door? Is it over 0.20" away from the top of the door at the front?

Sorry, been through all of this- zip to do with seals. Look at that shitty fit.

Sits way high in the back - even higher at the back than the left side!
Then it drops to no clearance at the front and crushes the windshield seal - which has not changed at the top because the freedom panels haven't changed.
The thing even looks cockeyed, crooked, screwed up, back sitting so high, but crushing things at the front. A freedom panel has the same gap above the door front to rear, rear to front, no difference. The gap is very parallel.

I know you like Bestop and can't believe they have an issue - but more people are coming out of the woodwork now saying "yeah, mine, too".

They have a successful product and are pretty much ignoring those where it doesn't fit.
They even had the balls to tell me "no, don't tuck those seals" while I was telling them - I have no choice - your product is destroying them otherwise.
"We don't have a problem - but don't tuck the seals"
LOL So, how is it supposed to be run NOT tucking those seals? Eh?
Right.

You have two choices -
Do as Bestop says - don't tuck the seals and see them totally destroyed in two months
or
tuck the seals even though Bestop says not to.

Crickets from them - and their only support contact has been a basic helpdesk type - is it plugged in, is it turned on, type. No one who actually can do anything,

I’d really like to see you install it on your 23 to see if it’s different.

 

[WILDHOBO]

How can it be a seal change if the sunrider all but rubs on the doors?
The JLU is a 23 - the change was made in 21.
However, the seal has nothing to do with it when the sunrider comes down to the door. The seals didn't change that.
Look at pictures of one that fits properly - like I posted above - that is a post 21 Jeep. The yellow jeep picture above? That has the SAME seals as mine. Same thing. All Jeeps from 2021 on have the same seals.

You can tell it's a 21 or later because it has the plastic water channel.
This Jeep has the exact same seals as mine. Exactly the same. Look how high the front is on the windshield seal.
Mine sinks way down, crushing the windshield seal - which didn't change at the top, it only changed at the ends.

Absolutely no way it's a seal issue. It can't possible be when the sunrider rubs the door tops

If you took those seals out - it would still fit wrong. The seals don't determine the position or height of the sunrider - the sunrider does that.

Compare where the end of the sunrider drip rail in the pic above lands next to the raised rib on the windshield seal -

then on mine, it lands way below that part of the seal -

The end of the sunrider drip rail should end up lined up with that small rib - not way below it.

All anyone has to do is look at the sunrider and the body parts of a Jeep - IGNORE THE DAMNED SEALS - and you'll see how very low it sits - all but rubbing the door, and crushing the windshield seal, which has not changed at all at the top.

This gap is to be parallel rear to front - this side is bad, the right is even worse.
We had to remove the sunrider as it was literally starting to rub the door itself - tell me that's a seal issue!

If Bestop was about customer service - they'd be contacting me and telling me that they are working with Jeep and they'll have a solution before summer is over.

Otherwise, this fall, I'm demanding full money back and they come get it.

But instead, all they have done is blame seals and make excuses.
TWO of them fit shitty. In fact, I suspect the one my son and I took off was the second one the dealership tried and not the original because it was actually WORSE (although they said it was a bit better LOL)
In any case, we had to take it off or risk losing paint on the door.

Does yours rub on the door? Is it over 0.20" away from the top of the door at the front?

Sorry, been through all of this- zip to do with seals. Look at that shitty fit.

Sits way high in the back - even higher at the back than the left side!
Then it drops to no clearance at the front and crushes the windshield seal - which has not changed at the top because the freedom panels haven't changed.
The thing even looks cockeyed, crooked, screwed up, back sitting so high, but crushing things at the front. A freedom panel has the same gap above the door front to rear, rear to front, no difference. The gap is very parallel.

I know you like Bestop and can't believe they have an issue - but more people are coming out of the woodwork now saying "yeah, mine, too".

They have a successful product and are pretty much ignoring those where it doesn't fit.
They even had the balls to tell me "no, don't tuck those seals" while I was telling them - I have no choice - your product is destroying them otherwise.
"We don't have a problem - but don't tuck the seals"
LOL So, how is it supposed to be run NOT tucking those seals? Eh?
Right.

You have two choices -
Do as Bestop says - don't tuck the seals and see them totally destroyed in two months
or
tuck the seals even though Bestop says not to.

Crickets from them - and their only support contact has been a basic helpdesk type - is it plugged in, is it turned on, type. No one who actually can do anything,

But you’re lashing out at them so angrily on a public forum. I wouldn’t exactly want to go out of my way either. All companies discover product fitment problems at some point, especially with multiple collaborating companies. Calling them names and calling their products shitty isn’t going to get anyone to want to help. They’ll fix the problem, but they’re unlikely to thank you for alerting them after how you’ve gone off on them.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That is definitely not a seal problem. The side rail should sit on the jeep just like the freedom panels do. That has nothing to do with the front seal and everything to do with the way the side rails mount to the roll cage.

I did notice that the Mopar branded top has a different front mount than the Bestop branded one.

Yes, I've noticed that as well - and wonder - why?
I've seen two cases of different mounting "pads" - different shapes and sizes. I wonder why that is?

But you’re lashing out at them so angrily on a public forum. I wouldn’t exactly want to go out of my way either. All companies discover product fitment problems at some point, especially with multiple collaborating companies. Calling them names and calling their products shitty isn’t going to get anyone to want to help. They’ll fix the problem, but they’re unlikely to thank you for alerting them after how you’ve gone off on them.

LOL - only after them pretty much shrugging it off.
Their presence here is pretty much one person who simply says "call support". It's akin to jeepcares.
Probably a front desk person, not a technical person. (could be wrong, but all messages pretty much indicated no in-depth product knowledge - no real connection to the back room folks)

I said the fitment was shitty.
The product if it actually fit correctly, would be great.
Go back and read and please show where I said the product itself was shitty............I don't believe I said that - just that the fit is, and as such this one is literally useless.
The dealership has agreed the fit is bad, it's a problem. (two brand new out of the box didn't fit correctly although the dealer said the 2nd one fit differently)
A number of other Jeep owners have found it to be a problem.

Bestop hasn't been any help, nor communicated well at all - not that they can help over the phone. What can they do over the phone? Or even email? So there is that. You can't fix something like this with a phone call to support.
"we're working on it" would be really nice to hear, though.

It's hotter than heck here lately, high humidity with heat indices above 100 - you get dripping wet in minutes , and messing with that myself while not having the advantage of standing in a truck bed and working the top up onto the roof and sliding it into place.
It's a two person job with a JLU. It's not a small item for me to mess with on another Jeep by myself. Sorry, not a job to take on myself in the heat on her Jeep (after the crazy fight with Safelite - we FINALLY, weeks later, got reimbursed for their screwup!)


Through this thread, I'm looking for others with the same or similar fitment issues - where the rail drops down a lot going forward, where the front sits too low on the sides AND the front edge of the sunrider sits way too low on the windshield seal (which it would since the sides are what controls that in a way)



Just in general -

People need to stop thinking about "it's a seal change" - that doesn't matter.
Those seals have nothing to do with the sunrider fit.
Just pretend those door seals and the mucket isn't there.
Things are so "the same" that you can put the newer seals and mucket on a 2020 or earlier JT or JLU.
So that's enough to say - the Jeep is the same, only the part number of the seal changed.

If you had to "tuck that seal", then your sunrider isn't fitting correctly.
Why didn't Bestop know about this? Maybe they did - or - maybe people are using work-arounds for improper fit - so it's not been reported to Bestop in any numbers?
Hard to imagine that no one else has contacted Bestop about this - just can't believe that.
It's been a problem for years. I've seen several videos where it fit bad and people just shrugged and tucked the seal (Bestop says don't do that)

There's an official case on it now - going to be harder to ignore.

My real frustration is with people blaming the seal change! Really? And that's why it is all but against the top of the door and fits too low at the windshield?
It's not the seals!

 

[WILDHOBO]

Yes, I've noticed that as well - and wonder - why?
I've seen two cases of different mounting "pads" - different shapes and sizes. I wonder why that is?


LOL - only after them pretty much shrugging it off.
Their presence here is pretty much one person who simply says "call support". It's akin to jeepcares.
Probably a front desk person, not a technical person. (could be wrong, but all messages pretty much indicated no in-depth product knowledge - no real connection to the back room folks)

I said the fitment was shitty.
The product if it actually fit correctly, would be great.
Go back and read and please show where I said the product itself was shitty............I don't believe I said that - just that the fit is, and as such this one is literally useless.
The dealership has agreed the fit is bad, it's a problem. (two brand new out of the box didn't fit correctly although the dealer said the 2nd one fit differently)
A number of other Jeep owners have found it to be a problem.

Bestop hasn't been any help, nor communicated well at all - not that they can help over the phone. What can they do over the phone? Or even email? So there is that. You can't fix something like this with a phone call to support.
"we're working on it" would be really nice to hear, though.

It's hotter than heck here lately, high humidity with heat indices above 100 - you get dripping wet in minutes , and messing with that myself while not having the advantage of standing in a truck bed and working the top up onto the roof and sliding it into place.
It's a two person job with a JLU. It's not a small item for me to mess with on another Jeep by myself. Sorry, not a job to take on myself in the heat on her Jeep (after the crazy fight with Safelite - we FINALLY, weeks later, got reimbursed for their screwup!)


Through this thread, I'm looking for others with the same or similar fitment issues - where the rail drops down a lot going forward, where the front sits too low on the sides AND the front edge of the sunrider sits way too low on the windshield seal (which it would since the sides are what controls that in a way)



Just in general -

People need to stop thinking about "it's a seal change" - that doesn't matter.
Those seals have nothing to do with the sunrider fit.
Just pretend those door seals and the mucket isn't there.
Things are so "the same" that you can put the newer seals and mucket on a 2020 or earlier JT or JLU.
So that's enough to say - the Jeep is the same, only the part number of the seal changed.

If you had to "tuck that seal", then your sunrider isn't fitting correctly.
Why didn't Bestop know about this? Maybe they did - or - maybe people are using work-arounds for improper fit - so it's not been reported to Bestop in any numbers?
Hard to imagine that no one else has contacted Bestop about this - just can't believe that.
It's been a problem for years. I've seen several videos where it fit bad and people just shrugged and tucked the seal (Bestop says don't do that)

There's an official case on it now - going to be harder to ignore.

My real frustration is with people blaming the seal change! Really? And that's why it is all but against the top of the door and fits too low at the windshield?
It's not the seals!

So do the troubleshooting. You tried a different sunrider on your Jeep. No change. The problem followed the Jeep. The next logical action is to try the sunrider on a different Jeep, which you have the luxury of doing. But you don’t want to. It’s not a two person job. And I’ve never once done it from the bed. I’ve always done it from the side. It takes about 5 minutes to set it in place, and maybe 5 to 10 to secure the 6 bolts with the basic Jeep toolkit. But you have way nicer tools.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So do the troubleshooting. You tried a different sunrider on your Jeep. No change. The problem followed the Jeep. The next logical action is to try the sunrider on a different Jeep, which you have the luxury of doing. But you don’t want to. It’s not a two person job. And I’ve never once done it from the bed. I’ve always done it from the side. It takes about 5 minutes to set it in place, and maybe 5 to 10 to secure the 6 bolts with the basic Jeep toolkit. But you have way nicer tools.

The dealership had my truck 3 days (well, not 3 full days, but close).
Each day, STAR asked the techs for more pictures and more measurements.
Three days in a row - more photos, more measurements.
I have to assume that some of those were the sunriders (plural) and some were for the JT itself.

It's a two person job when you are 68, have a bad back and essential tremor bad enough to go with electrode implants. Yeah, it's a 2 person job in my case for a JLU. I can't lift it up to the roof.
I had to set it in the bed of the truck, climb in, cover the roof, then get it up onto the roof, and slide it in place across blankets and cardboard.
People forget that others get old and have some health issues that prevent lifting even a 40 pound thing up high.

As far as "the problem followed the Jeep" - please explain the many dozens, perhaps hundreds if they'd be honest, of other owners who have the same fit problems but have been told "it's normal, tuck that seal because it's the right thing to do" and they blindly follow it because some other Jeep owner said so on a video.
Me messing around trying to get that onto my wife's Jeep when the dealer has done 3 days worth of back and forth with STAR, STAR has kicked it to engineering - it seems it would be a bit of a waste even if it was so simple I could just lift it up there. (I could cover the side and top with blankets and slide it up there up and over the top, I suppose - but to what end? We KNOW many others have the same type of issue, STAR already kicked it up)

Check the threads out there, the videos - I'm not the only one. In fact even in just this thread, others have spoken up.
We have also found two different mount designs - so there's that.

If it was "just my Jeep" then why do others have the same problem?

You seem to believe Bestop has a perfect fit on all JTs and JL models from beginning to end and can't believe others have a problem - check out this guys "solution" - and there are many other reports of fit issues - if you look. It's not just me, my Jeep, not by a longshot. Anyone who has "tucked the seal" is ignoring a bad fit and following bad advice on youtube.

This is from a forum member - (I note the front of the sunrider also sits really low in the seal on his)

Proof it's not just my situation. His was so bad he GROUND the sunrider to make it fit!

 

[Stan H]

The dealership had my truck 3 days (well, not 3 full days, but close).
Each day, STAR asked the techs for more pictures and more measurements.
Three days in a row - more photos, more measurements.
I have to assume that some of those were the sunriders (plural) and some were for the JT itself.

It's a two person job when you are 68, have a bad back and essential tremor bad enough to go with electrode implants. Yeah, it's a 2 person job in my case for a JLU. I can't lift it up to the roof.
I had to set it in the bed of the truck, climb in, cover the roof, then get it up onto the roof, and slide it in place across blankets and cardboard.
People forget that others get old and have some health issues that prevent lifting even a 40 pound thing up high.

As far as "the problem followed the Jeep" - please explain the many dozens, perhaps hundreds if they'd be honest, of other owners who have the same fit problems but have been told "it's normal, tuck that seal because it's the right thing to do" and they blindly follow it because some other Jeep owner said so on a video.
Me messing around trying to get that onto my wife's Jeep when the dealer has done 3 days worth of back and forth with STAR, STAR has kicked it to engineering - it seems it would be a bit of a waste even if it was so simple I could just lift it up there. (I could cover the side and top with blankets and slide it up there up and over the top, I suppose - but to what end? We KNOW many others have the same type of issue, STAR already kicked it up)

Check the threads out there, the videos - I'm not the only one. In fact even in just this thread, others have spoken up.
We have also found two different mount designs - so there's that.

If it was "just my Jeep" then why do others have the same problem?

You seem to believe Bestop has a perfect fit on all JTs and JL models from beginning to end and can't believe others have a problem - check out this guys "solution" - and there are many other reports of fit issues - if you look. It's not just me, my Jeep, not by a longshot. Anyone who has "tucked the seal" is ignoring a bad fit and following bad advice on youtube.

This is from a forum member - (I note the front of the sunrider also sits really low in the seal on his)

Proof it's not just my situation. His was so bad he GROUND the sunrider to make it fit!

Why on God's green earth would ya continue with that. I would go with something else

 

[Main Line Willys]

I have been trying to follow this.
are the gaskets the same from 21 through 25?

I am now thinking they may have had a production run that is out of spec.

When the top is installed, how taunt is the fabric? Could the fabric be too tight, causing the front to pull back and drop down?

Has anyone noticed a date code or some other identifier on the top itself? My box is long gone.

I wish @ShadowsPapa was closer to me or any member on here.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have been trying to follow this.
are the gaskets the same from 21 through 25?

I am now thinking they may have had a production run that is out of spec.

When the top is installed, how taunt is the fabric? Could the fabric be too tight, causing the front to pull back and drop down?

Has anyone noticed a date code or some other identifier on the top itself? My box is long gone.

I wish @ShadowsPapa was closer to me or any member on here.

The problem isn't the seals - the seals prove a problem exists.
They are the same 2021 forward.
Even if you removed the new seal style and went back to 2020 type door seals and lack of water diversion - the fit would be bad as it simply bolts on way too low at the front.
I had wondered about making the upper mounting pad thicker, but then their clamp thing that comes around the bottom wouldn't reach as it appears to be made to just go around the thickness of that top bar.

The freedom panels never changed when the new seals were introduced in 21.
Everything indexes off that roll cage - doors have to close and seal against it, windshield bolts to it, sun visor fit, even the camera/radar unit for the FCW and ACC attach to it.. Any change to the structure of the Jeep, especially that roll cage, would mean a lot of other changes in design and part numbers.
So, the Jeep didn't change. Seals were added to prevent rain from dripping inside when the doors were opened. And that change is ONLY at the door's front upper corner area.
The rails mount too low at the front.
The problem exists with the top forward or open and back. There's no tension on the side rails either open or closed.

I've not found a code of any sort but maybe I missed seeing it IF it exists. Hard to imagine there's not some sort of lot or date coding going on. We've seen there are two different designs for the mounting pads with the threaded inserts.
Why the change there - is it a date thing?

I saved the box to store it in - but it's stuck way back behind a bunch of my heavy antique engines and power hack saws, so hard to get to but might look for some numbers on the box later.

It's really hard for some to believe that perhaps, just MAYBE, there's an issue with some of the sunriders out there. (even though there are a number of videos and photos showing there is)

 

[Main Line Willys]

dup post - sorry

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