Freedom top seals or leak fix
- Thread starter WSS
- Start date
Sometimes replacing seals, sometimes just cleaning things really well. I searched the resources area and didn't find it, but I've attached the "Jeep Wrangler Diagnosis & Repair Manual - Water Leaks" pdf that I got some years ago off the web. I've battled leaks on some of my JK's and others have been fine. My current one will have some seals replaced this spring. It's probably the biggest pain I have with JK's, only because the interior is so much nicer than my old CJ's 
Sometimes replacing seals, sometimes just cleaning things really well. I searched the resources area and didn't find it, but I've attached the "Jeep Wrangler Diagnosis & Repair Manual - Water Leaks" pdf that I got some years ago off the web. I've battled leaks on some of my JK's and others have been fine. My current one will have some seals replaced this spring. It's probably the biggest pain I have with JK's, only because the interior is so much nicer than my old CJ's
Great resource! Thx @JerryD
I found my leak to have been caused by 2 things. 1, I tightened my top too tight and 2, the seals were stupid dirty. Loosening the top a little bit and cleaning the seals real good stopped my leak.
Can we use the same cleaner/conditioner that is used on RV rubber seals, like around the pop outs?
Yes! I used to detail RV's and campers and used Dawn dish soap to clean everything and then used 303 rubber conditioner for the slide-outs. I did the same for my top seals.
I have learned that my 2007 JKU came with a soft top and half doors. The hard top was added after 2010, or at least it has a 2010+ hard top and full doors on it now. The "freedom" tops are definitely 2010+ as the front latch has the later latch on the front middle section. I found that most of the latches on my freedom tops were loose, even the two under the visors. I bent them a little to have more pull, the middle latch has a mod were the footmans loop is moved over a few inches so the top latch can grab it and pull down against the seal.
I also cleaned the seals real good with soap and water then put on some rubber seal conditioner, they seemed supple and not real dirty. I think it just needed some tension.
Fingers crossed. We have some rain coming in the next hour or so for me to test the tweaks. blue arrow shows footman loop modified location.
I also cleaned the seals real good with soap and water then put on some rubber seal conditioner, they seemed supple and not real dirty. I think it just needed some tension.
Fingers crossed. We have some rain coming in the next hour or so for me to test the tweaks. blue arrow shows footman loop modified location.
Well the rain is here and so is the leak. 
The leak is possibly a little slower. It is dripping right at the pictured footmans loop, on the right post/leg. Now, it is possible the leak is traveling but that seems to be where the two tops meet as well. Frustrating. everything looks like it is supposed to.
The leak is possibly a little slower. It is dripping right at the pictured footmans loop, on the right post/leg. Now, it is possible the leak is traveling but that seems to be where the two tops meet as well. Frustrating. everything looks like it is supposed to.
Well the rain is here and so is the leak.
The leak is possibly a little slower. It is dripping right at the pictured footmans loop, on the right post/leg. Now, it is possible the leak is traveling but that seems to be where the two tops meet as well. Frustrating. everything looks like it is supposed to.
It is frustrating. How'd the seals look on the panels?
The seals on the panels look fine, I did clean and condition the panel seal as well. There seems to be a seal "convergence" issue, meaning the leak is coming in at a junction. If you look at the pic with the blue arrow, right above the right arm of the footmans loop is a little indentation on the upper/header seal. It seems like the culprit is right there.
So, here's what I learned a couple years ago....
1. I don't tighten the rear sport bar screws much beyond snug. The tighter you make those, the more it pulls the freedom panel down at the sport bar and up across the front of the windshield. The freedom panel isn't going to bend much. I've gotten into the habit of latching the panels at the footman loop first, then snugging the sport bar screws.
2. I wrapped a couple turns of the black electrical friction tape around the windshield frame footman loop that holds the latch. Tightens up the front edge of the freedom panels.
There's this, but, to be honest, it's a Jeep, and a big box DIY home store weatherstripping will work as well.
https://www.extremeterrain.com/crown-automotive-windshield-frame-weatherstrip-0718-jk.html?utm_content=XTExterior-Other|StoreBrand&T5_Var4=J121681&intl=0&utm_campaign=XTW+Wrangler+Vehicle+Medium+LTVMiddle+PriorityTiers&dialogtech=ppc&utm_source=google-pla&utm_medium=shopping&T5_Var2=shopping&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA8q--BhDiARIsAP9tKI0dd4wn-cPrl9ECPnYjDu6wmT05a4OEBTyLyzskRR5KW_0JER2QSeoaAlyrEALw_wcB
1. I don't tighten the rear sport bar screws much beyond snug. The tighter you make those, the more it pulls the freedom panel down at the sport bar and up across the front of the windshield. The freedom panel isn't going to bend much. I've gotten into the habit of latching the panels at the footman loop first, then snugging the sport bar screws.
2. I wrapped a couple turns of the black electrical friction tape around the windshield frame footman loop that holds the latch. Tightens up the front edge of the freedom panels.
There's this, but, to be honest, it's a Jeep, and a big box DIY home store weatherstripping will work as well.
https://www.extremeterrain.com/crown-automotive-windshield-frame-weatherstrip-0718-jk.html?utm_content=XTExterior-Other|StoreBrand&T5_Var4=J121681&intl=0&utm_campaign=XTW+Wrangler+Vehicle+Medium+LTVMiddle+PriorityTiers&dialogtech=ppc&utm_source=google-pla&utm_medium=shopping&T5_Var2=shopping&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA8q--BhDiARIsAP9tKI0dd4wn-cPrl9ECPnYjDu6wmT05a4OEBTyLyzskRR5KW_0JER2QSeoaAlyrEALw_wcB
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Thanks Anybodyhome! The tip about the tightening is probably what is happening. I more than "snugged" the rear bar bolts for sure and in the wrong order. I tightened them first (of course) LOL.
I did order the extreme terrain front seal after watching the video. The guy did it in ten minutes, what could go wrong? My seal looks better than the one in the video, but I have noticed a lot of weather related issues on my new rig. The PO lived in Oceanside way too close to the beach.
Funny how each new project Jeep has it's own things we have to learn. I am now an expert on IH Scout II's, CJ5's, TJ's and SOON JKU's.
I did order the extreme terrain front seal after watching the video. The guy did it in ten minutes, what could go wrong? My seal looks better than the one in the video, but I have noticed a lot of weather related issues on my new rig. The PO lived in Oceanside way too close to the beach.
Funny how each new project Jeep has it's own things we have to learn. I am now an expert on IH Scout II's, CJ5's, TJ's and SOON JKU's.
Thanks Anybodyhome! The tip about the tightening is probably what is happening. I more than "snugged" the rear bar bolts for sure and in the wrong order. I tightened them first (of course) LOL.
I did order the extreme terrain front seal after watching the video. The guy did it in ten minutes, what could go wrong? My seal looks better than the one in the video, but I have noticed a lot of weather related issues on my new rig. The PO lived in Oceanside way too close to the beach.
Funny how each new project Jeep has it's own things we have to learn. I am now an expert on IH Scout II's, CJ5's, TJ's and SOON JKU's.
Hey, I was born and raised in and around San Diego. Lived in Encinitas the last 4 years before retiring and moving to NC. Very familiar with Oceanside.
So you are aware of the salt spray in the air at night. It is an accumulative damage. I also believe the PO did not wheel it at all. I have heard the tops make snap crackle and pop sounds while using it. Probably upset the delicate balance of the seals.
After being a Kali resident, how are you liking NC? What are the best things about it? What are the marginal things?
My wife and i bought two homes in Greensboro 20 years ago with big migration/exodus plans. We just sold one home in Reedy Fork last August, but still have one ready if we finally do it. The "plan" was to live in one, sell the other then build the "dream home". Still might happen. Our business is still strong here in Kali, so it may be a few years.
I moved to Guilford County, just south of Greensboro in 1992, met my wife, who lived in Greensboro in 1993. Sold my house and moved in with her. I had already retired for the 1st time and was working on career #2, which allowed me to go just about anywhere. That was important for her job. So we moved from GSO to Asheville in 1998 and stayed there for about 3 years before her job took us to southern VA, just north of the border straight up the highway from GSO. We live in eastern NC now, so we've officially been residents in all 3 "countries" of NC- central, west and east. And trust me, they are all very different. I was in Cali for the first 38 years of my life and have been in NC for the last 32 years.
We live in a quiet neighborhood of 2 cul-de-sacs and 19 houses all built in 2007-2008. We all know each other, there's no property turnover and it's really just a very easy lifestyle. I've since retired twice more, so I stay busy with volunteer work with the VA/DAV and my wife, who is 11 years younger than I, keeps me in a lifestyle I'm accustomed to.... lol.
Seriously, though, as long as I've been here, I still shake my head once in a while when I see some dumb-ass redneck stuff and wonder how I ever got here. But, I couldn't own a beach house and my house in California unless I hit the lottery, but it's a different story here.
Best about NC: 4 seasons; cost of living, a great state retirement system if you work for municipality, county or state- they're all together and you can transfer your time.
Marginal: I've driven in every state in the country except Minnesota and ND, and there's no question in my mind NC drivers are the worst. Just today I was behind someone on the interstate and the left turn signal comes and he promptly cuts across 2 lanes.... to the right. But, it's progress, because most NC drivers have no idea what a turn signal is. Western NC BBQ is okay, central is the best and eastern is downright disgusting. But the seafood is great in the east.
Oh, and I filled up the Jeep this afternoon at $2.53/gallon.
Cool story! Thanks for taking the time to respond. I have heard of the differing regions in NC, each with it's own BBQ (kind of important to me). I remember having "sweet tea" for the first time while having "Lexington BBQ" in roughly 2005. My wife and I really fell for the charm. I have heard two things about transplants vs locals, we tend to bring our Ideology with us and the locals seem sooo slow to us Kaliforians. LOL. I am OK with redneck, as long as it is not involving me in the results. I ahave reflected on the ideology issue and am determined to leave it behind. While I am far right of center, there is still a "left coast" bend stuck to transplants apparently.
Any good trails close by? One thing I do like about So. Kali is the trails. I can do Anza Borrego, Hammers, Big Bear, Calico, etc as day trips. A buddy just did Red Rock state park yesterday, out early and back late but doable.
Most of the best trails are in the western part of the state in the Appalachian range around the Blue Ridge Parkway. But that's a 6 hour drive from me.
There are a couple nice ones if you want to earn a badge just 90 minutes from me down in the Uwharrie area. And then there's the outer banks, where you just air down to 10PSI and drive on the beach.
14-JKUDad
New Member
My son's 2014 JKU had water leaking right over the radio every time it rained. We tried adding weather-stripping, etc., but that only made things worse. We ended up buying Omix-Ada 13510.70 Hard Top Sealk Kit for 2011-2014 JKs for around $20 on Amazon. I was very skeptical when the kit arrived...just a small plastic envelope with some flat rubber stickers...with NO Instructions. I had to search around on youtube to find some decent installation instructions. The manufacturer has a video, but it isnt great. I found another video that was much better. The trick is to pay very close attention to how the existing seals are installed and take photos before you peal them off. After you take the existing seals off, clean everything with simple green and rubbing alcohol to get off as much grit and grime as you can. It's okay if a little sticky residue is left...that might actually help you line up the new stickers to exactly match the old. Carefully install the new seals to match the old locations. When you are done installing the seals, you will be left with 3 pieces of spongy tubes. One of the videos didnt know what to do with them and gave up, but in another video I found, the guy identified that the largest tube is to be installed in a channel of the front windshield frame right over the radio. I think that was the key item to prevent the leak over the radio. The other two smaller tubes he installed in each of the two freedom panels at the location where they meet together over the radio. These were a little tricky to install. I think I had to spray them down with silicone lubricant and then slide them into the rubber freedom panel seals. The purpose of these two foam tubes appears to be to fill out the existing rubber seals built into each freedom panel so they fit snuggly when everything is in place.