Missing Bolts for my Hardtop?

[Aonarch]

So on Saturday I had the front panels off of my two door. That metal piece, especially on the passenger side was banging around like crazy driving 50-80 mph. There is almost like paint or plastic that I poked through to reveal what looks like threads. It is hard to tell.

Now in the hardtop removal instructions, you do not remove any bolts there, so I feel like the answer is no, there are not supposed to be bolts there. But ok... what about the bracket banging around like crazy?

Does anyone else have this issue with that bracket/ the top buffeting like crazy in the wind?

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[MidnightSpecial]

Do you have a 2dr? I have a 4dr and I have one bolt on top of each side. I find the noise from my top comes from the strip in the middle of the two front panels. The rear piece of the middle rubber strip will pop up sometimes and will whistle like high hell. If I shove it back down it goes away.

 

[Aonarch]

Do you have a 2dr? I have a 4dr and I have one bolt on top of each side. I find the noise from my top comes from the strip in the middle of the two front panels. The rear piece of the middle rubber strip will pop up sometimes and will whistle like high hell. If I shove it back down it goes away.

Yes two door.

 

[indio22]

So on Saturday I had the front panels off of my two door. That metal piece, especially on the passenger side was banging around like crazy driving 50-80 mph. There is almost like paint or plastic that I poked through to reveal what looks like threads. It is hard to tell.

Now in the hardtop removal instructions, you do not remove any bolts there, so I feel like the answer is no, there are not supposed to be bolts there. But ok... what about the bracket banging around like crazy?

Does anyone else have this issue with that bracket/ the top buffeting like crazy in the wind?

My 2023 2-door has a bolt there, securing the metal bracket down. It does have some black plastic or whatever as you saw, but the bolt was poked through it and threaded down. The bolt is same as the bolts holding down the lower hardtop flange to the body, but maybe 1/4 inch or so longer.

 

[Aonarch]

My 2023 2-door has a bolt there, securing the metal bracket down. It does have some black plastic or whatever as you saw, but the bolt was poked through it and threaded down.

Is it on both sides or just the passenger?

 

[indio22]

Is it on both sides or just the passenger?

Both sides - driver and passenger side each have one bolt. It helps hold down the rear clamshell, by securing that metal bracket to the roll cage. Without those bolts, yeah I could see that metal bracket banging. I feel like the factory made a mistake and did not include those for you.

 

[indio22]

Here's a video showing a 2-door hardtop removal, at the point where the guy is removing that bolt:

 

[Aonarch]

Here's a video showing a 2-door hardtop removal, at the point where the guy is removing that bolt:

Weird. I watched a video on Bronco Nation that did not have the bolt.

I wonder if this was a production change, or a more common issue.

Mine is a June 2023 build though….

 

[STX Bronco]

Order some rockworkx and be done with it. It’s a total of 10 bolts. I can have my top on or off in 20 mins or less and not have to break out a tool.

 

[MidnightSpecial]

Been looking at Rockwerx. The Ford supplied ratchet broke after taking the top off 3 times lol

 

[Aonarch]

Order some rockworkx and be done with it. It’s a total of 10 bolts. I can have my top on or off in 20 mins or less and not have to break out a tool.

Ordered.

 

[BlueBronco]

My 21 and 23 moar door MIC both had/has bolts there as well. However, I never re-installed them after removal and there was no noticeable difference in road/wind noise without them. Ran my JKU without those bolts as well.

 

[STX Bronco]

Been looking at Rockwerx. The Ford supplied ratchet broke after taking the top off 3 times lol

Do it! You won’t regret. Good folks to work with. @Rockworkx

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