I don’t know if this helps, I’m not near the Bronco right now for measurements, but this is the install video I created when I replaced mine. Maybe you can get an idea of placement from it. Good luck!
They aren’t difficult to replace, just a little time and care needed to reveal the bolts to remove them. I’ve installed a couple of styles of tail lights in the past. Hopefully the videos make it easy for you. Product links in the video descriptions.
Yeah, you’re right, it’s a soft top down scenario. Have you checked or adjusted the bump stop on the side nearest the handle? You can twist it (screw it in or out) to adjust the play between the latch and the door.
Alternatively, have you checked to see if your latch is all tightened down?
Is there any play in the soft top at all? We had a persistent rattle back there. There are adjusters on the soft top when it is back/folded all the way that limit the movement of the soft top mechanism up and down. It would click and rattle. Once they were adjusted and tightened up, they pressed...
And if anyone is remotely interested, I recently picked up a brand new Corvette C8, and have started recording install videos for that as well, hence what looks like a delay between Bronco video releases recently! So now working on Bronco and Corvette videos simultaneously!
Here is my latest install video, the Broaddict tailgate table:
And here’s a previous one, not posted here! Broaddict Rear Window Molle Panels:
And another one… the Mabett Dual Layer Tailgate Table:
Looking back at my YouTube channel, my first mod was the Dongar Technologies Dash Cam adaptor. Great little addition. You can check out over 100 mods I’ve done here:
Https://www.youtube.com/@CUPRADESIGN/videos