My hard top has this absurd bow in the middle. Is there any way to fix it? Does anyone know what would cause it? The edges where the latches are sit flush but the middle bows up.
What could be causing my hard top to bow?
- Thread starter LittleTankTJ
- Start date
That picture isn't really good enough to tell what we're actually looking at. I might see the front edge of the top curving down towards the driver's side. Maybe it's curving up somewhere before that. I think I see alot more gasket visible on the passenger side or in the middle I can't tell where but that may not be an accurate description either and all that may just be because the camera was too far above the attachment point of the top and windshield frame and was aimed down to take the picture.
Maybe a straight on picture from the front would help but I'd suggest two pictures, one from each side. Kinda like your picture but with the camera backed up a foot or so away from the Jeep and at the same height as the top of the windshield and also from both sides because a picture from one side probably won't focus well all the way across.
Maybe a straight on picture from the front would help but I'd suggest two pictures, one from each side. Kinda like your picture but with the camera backed up a foot or so away from the Jeep and at the same height as the top of the windshield and also from both sides because a picture from one side probably won't focus well all the way across.
OP
Here are some more photos. You can see the far edges are flush and the middle bows significantly. It did not used to be this bad
You can see the white of the top in between gasket and top
Sides are flush
You can hopefully see the bow here
You can see the white of the top in between gasket and top
Sides are flush
You can hopefully see the bow here
WestCoastDan
TJ Addict
Just a thought... put a straight edge against the windsheild frame above the glass... almost looks like the frame is bent back a little just off center towards the right (pass) side...
OP
It was over the summer. This has gotten worse since then.
I will when I get it back from the shop.
Nope. Cleaned it all off in the hopes that was the case. Replaced the after market seal with a Mopar one.
The latches aren't tight like they were with my old soft top. The stop sat flush and was fairly difficult to latch. The latches on this top are loose enough you can press the top down and pull the latch free
WestCoastDan
TJ Addict
OP
They have no adjustment. I have shimmed one side and am working on a gr8top latch replacement
WestCoastDan
TJ Addict
That surprises me greatly.
Post a pic of them and let's see what we can come up with.
Even adding washers/spacers might be a reasonable solution.
My 06 has adjustable latches although I do not know if is a factory top. Can’t you bend the brackets.
OP
Not that I know of. But I'm starting to suspect the PO got t-boned and fixed it outside of insurance. It is as far back as it'll go, but I'll give it another try.
Factory latch
What I've rigged up(for now) to get a gr8tops latch to work(it's adjustable)
OP
Definitely not stock.
I may bend the bracket. But I would prefer to adapt an adjustable one eventually. Just gotta figure out the geometry
OP
@Chris did you ever get this solved? Sounds similar to what I started out trying to solve. Was it just the seal for you? https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/adjustable-hardtop-hinges-latches.111/
OP
It appears to, to me- there is some adjustment I believe- @Jamison C knows the trick I believe, the @ signal will notify him-being an aftermarket top plays in, but at the end of the day it appears more like body alignment.
