Help With Installing New Hardtop Glass

[Mudflap]

Hi, I messed up and shattered my rear hardtop glass (2000 Wrangler Hardtop), I sourced glass from a friend who replaces glass in cars. I need to get a couple of things strait so I do it right this time.

The hinges are going bad on my hardtop so I want to replace those as well but the reviews from the ones I'm finding are bad. What hinges do you guys reccomend to get?

I need to replace my struts, but the reviews also say that they are too strong for the glass and someone ended up breaking the glass because they pushed too hard. Any struts you guys reccomend?

And finally how tight should I tighten the glass, is slightly over finger tight with loctite good or too much? Also please include any tips you may have.

Thank you.

 

[tworley]

53 in/lbs is what I did on both rear glasses that I have installed. Also used stock hinges with the rubber isolators that I found used on Ebay. You could sand your current ones and throw a coat of paint on them. The struts I've used have come from Amazon. Put these on two different hard tops and for the few months I used them, while certainly stiff, never broke or shattered a glass. A second set of hands certainly helps to stabilize the glass while you are putting the new hinges thru.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H6XJQE4/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[dbbd1]

The trick is not let the rear glass spring all of the up on it's own.

 

[Mudflap]

Thanks for the tips guys, I'm going to install the glass tonight after I get off of work. I'm still a bit worried though on the installation, I still don't want to break the glass somehow. This video essentially shows a guy that installed his glass and while he left it up it just exploded on him, he said he only finger tightened it. I also heard you have to line up the glass right with the seals, any tips on that?
Thanks again.

 

[JKP]

My factory hinges were shot and I used Kentrol hinges in 2017. Still working fine.

 

[mrblaine]

My factory hinges were shot and I used Kentrol hinges in 2017. Still working fine.

The Kentrol versions in black stainless steel are pretty nice.

 

[Mudflap]

I haven't actually installed it yet because they ended up coming in late, but I got these. Is it the end of the world if I use them lol?
Edit: Fixed the link