Jeep Wrangler Hardtops 92+, Careful when removing the glass shocks Options

[*leeberbs *]

They are so tight from the factory it takes a lot of torque to get them started. To make matters worse the hole in the glass is cut in the shape of an 8. There are two washers, one on the inside and one outiside as well, that are made to fit inside the holes and prevent metal on glass contact as well as keep the screw from just spinning.

The heavy torque cracked one of them while taking it off. It was carefully glued back together and replaced after tinting. I pointed it out to the owner (a friend) and called the Jeep parts dep. at the local dealership. Turns out they can't find that part # listed or determine if it comes packaged with another component.

In the end they basically told me the only way to obtain that piece is to buy a new hard top or find one in a salvage yard...and I even checked with three other dealerships who were all stumped.

Just putting out the word.

-Lee

[TintDude]

why in the world are you taking the struts off that s**t box? Cut around the struts during installation. If you tint under the hardware on that pile of junk the film is going to twist under it. Your intention of doing a "good" job by removing the struts risks breakage and film failure.

[FastBackJack]

[*thetintshop *]

been there, done that. broke a back glass when i loosened it. f****r shattered all over the damn shop. customer was real nice, filed it on their insurance and i gave them the profit. they walked away happy and $350 cash in their pocket. i was happy cause i wasn't having to shell out $400 for a new one.

[*leeberbs *]

If I did that then there'd be a light gap. If you haven't seen the 03 wrangler...the struts are two inches in from the edge of the glass.

Besides, twisting wasn't a problem. I tightened them back down just short of snug and then a week later he torqued them down with no trouble.

-Lee

[*leeberbs *]

Sometimes the perfectionist in me takes over. I've done it before and never had a problem. It's only a washer...he'll live and I'm over it.

[Mdog]

check out this tintjob on a wrangler somebody in my town did.

Attached File(s)

 jeeptj.jpg ( 32.6K ) Number of downloads: 56

 

[Braud Spectrum]

MDog ? Do you ride around in your spare time taking pics of bad tint jobs?

The 84 (I think) and on up a couple years Corvettes did that twisting stuff. I wanted so bad to tint under those arms and had already been warned not to. Stubborn I am, and determined to do a nice job, I took them apart and did it anyway. Sure enough the first one came back all twisted. I tried again only the second time after it was put back together I carefully cut all the way around it right next to the black washers. Teensy width of the blade light gap. That didn't work either. It would pivot on those holes when you raised the hatch. I was disgusted about it but Oh well. I did it again and cut around it even tho the split from the hole was a couple inches from the black edge. Couldn't be helped. Lernt my lesson.

[*leeberbs *]

Braud, you're exactly right about the pivoting. It doesn't just go straight up when you pop the hatch. Those things twist a bit and cause trouble.

I rarely see wranglers anyway but next time one comes in I'll probably not remove the struts.

But on a vehicle like a 98 BMW M3 you guys will tint underneath the washer for the rear pop out vents right? I always do but now I'm curious to find out who does/doesn't.

[Zrok]

man, i just did one of those, and i did not tint under the popouts....there's no way in hell i'm takin apart those vent windows on a BMW.....NO FREAKIN' WAY... just me though....the guy didn't care, he was cool as hell, in fact, he offered me a job i'm workin on the details now though....

[Exact-Oh]

I tinted under my own M3's latchs. Let the car sit in the garage for two days before re-attaching. I won't do it for customer's cars. Maybe I will remove them, cut a circle, just a bit larger than the latch, and re-install, to avoid having to cut a slit for installation. I won't go that far on mini-van jobs though. It really depends on the customer, and what their main purpose for tinting their windows is: appearance, heat rejection...

[Mdog]

MDog ? Do you ride around in your spare time taking pics of bad tint jobs?

nope we have a very busy truck accessorie shop, when i see a jacked up job i take pictures

[S and S]

MDog ? Do you ride around in your spare time taking pics of bad tint jobs?

So you get that impression too BS??? J/K MDOG!! YOU KNOW WE LOVE YA!!

[Rama]

Speaking of jeeps, I removed the rear wiper off a cherokee one time, when replacing it I must have cranked it down too tight, as I was tightening it, the whole window popped. Shattered glass was everywhere! Lesson learned, finger tight only.