Hardtop Bracket Alignment

[derichio02]

Hey Gang,

I removed my hardtop alignment brackets to install my JTop and when reinstalling I found that there is about 1/4” of play in all directions (inboard, outboard, front, rear). Is there a specified alignment in the manual? I imagine if not aligned correctly this can make it a pain to reinstall the top.

Maybe it’s in the service manual? @flip @Ducati1098?

Thanks for any help!

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[Ducati1098]

Hey Gang,

I removed my hardtop alignment brackets to install my JTop and when reinstalling I found that there is about 1/4” of play in all directions (inboard, outboard, front, rear). Is there a specified alignment in the manual? I imagine if not aligned correctly this can make it a pain to reinstall the top.

Maybe it’s in the service manual? @flip @Ducati1098?

Thanks for any help!

Looks like you basically fit everything with the brackets slightly loose. Once all the gaps are correct, carefully remove the panels and tighten the brackets. I attached a PDF for the procedure in the WSM

 

[ToddGreen]

Looks like you basically fit everything with the brackets slightly loose. Once all the gaps are correct, carefully remove the panels and tighten the brackets. I attached a PDF for the procedure in the WSM

Question about the Hardtop Alignment WSM:

The version posted by Ducati immediately above (rev 3/23/23) has a new step that wasn't previously included in the WSM - Step 13. That says the panel flushness between the center panel and the rear cap should be 0 mm +/- 2.5 mm. In other words, even in terms of flushness.

It says to "adjust [center panel] until nominal flushness to the rear cap assembly is achieved."

Does anyone know what "adjustment" would raise/lower the flushness of the center panel?

Mine does not sit low enough and has never fully sealed along the top frame of the vehicle, but I've never been able to figure out how to get it to sit lower and neither has my dealership.

Step 13 at least implies there's a way to do this. Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[Ducati1098]

Question about the Hardtop Alignment WSM:

The version posted by Ducati immediately above (rev 3/23/23) has a new step that wasn't previously included in the WSM - Step 13. That says the panel flushness between the center panel and the rear cap should be 0 mm +/- 2.5 mm. In other words, even in terms of flushness.

It says to "adjust [center panel] until nominal flushness to the rear cap assembly is achieved."

Does anyone know what "adjustment" would raise/lower the flushness of the center panel?

Mine does not sit low enough and has never fully sealed along the top frame of the vehicle, but I've never been able to figure out how to get it to sit lower and neither has my dealership.

Step 13 at least implies there's a way to do this. Any ideas?

Thanks.

I have never made a hardtop adjustment, but from what I can see, it looks like the brackets control how everything sits. If the brackets can't go any lower, then I'm guessing the top panel wont either.

 

[a.smith]

Question about the Hardtop Alignment WSM:

The version posted by Ducati immediately above (rev 3/23/23) has a new step that wasn't previously included in the WSM - Step 13. That says the panel flushness between the center panel and the rear cap should be 0 mm +/- 2.5 mm. In other words, even in terms of flushness.

It says to "adjust [center panel] until nominal flushness to the rear cap assembly is achieved."

Does anyone know what "adjustment" would raise/lower the flushness of the center panel?

Mine does not sit low enough and has never fully sealed along the top frame of the vehicle, but I've never been able to figure out how to get it to sit lower and neither has my dealership.

Step 13 at least implies there's a way to do this. Any ideas?

Thanks.

As far as I can tell there is no easy adjustment of the height of the mid panel at its rear. The front can be adjusted a little with the pivoting latch tension. You can loosen the set screw and tighten the latch hook by threading it in. That will pull the top down against the body more firmly. There are also rubber bumpers threaded into the panel that can probably be adjusted a bit as well.

 

[gizmotx]

Looks like you basically fit everything with the brackets slightly loose. Once all the gaps are correct, carefully remove the panels and tighten the brackets. I attached a PDF for the procedure in the WSM

Does the rear panel of hardtop have an adjustment procedure? or just the 2 front & center panels? Do you have a link to the entire WSM?

 

[Ducati1098]

Does the rear portion of an adjustment procedure? Do you have a link to the entire WSM?

All the possible adjustments are in the link I posted. There is no adjustment for the clamshell if that’s what you’re asking.

 

[smonroe11]

All the possible adjustments are in the link I posted. There is no adjustment for the clamshell if that’s what you’re asking.

Can you post the Hardtop alignment procedure for the 2 door. Wondering if it has any different steps. Thanks for your help!

steve

 

[Ducati1098]

Can you post the Hardtop alignment procedure for the 2 door. Wondering if it has any different steps. Thanks for your help!

steve

Pretty much the same idea, but here ya go

 

[gizmotx]

All the possible adjustments are in the link I posted. There is no adjustment for the clamshell if that’s what you’re asking.

Thanks for sharing the procedure. I was able to adjust the brackets & align the center hardtop panel. Now, it mates up better with the rear hardtop panel.

 

[RixTrax]

Thanks for sharing the procedure. I was able to adjust the brackets & align the center hardtop panel. Now, it mates up better with the rear hardtop panel.

I have the same issue with the center panel’s edge against the rear top. It’s higher than the WSM spec shows it should be and likely explains why the roof is leaking at that seal. How did you ultimately snug the center panel’s edge down at the seam to be flush? Those steps are hinted at in the WSM but not explained or illustrated.

 

[CalvinT]

I've looked at the procedure that Ducati1098 posted. But I don't see how the adjustment is accomplished. I need to tighten up the receiver fasteners at the B pillar. I can slide a business card between the panel and the rails. It's a very loose fit. This would explain the wind noise I'm getting. The front of panels one and two and the rear of the center panel are fine. The latch plates that attach to the rails (body) at the B pillar don't seem to have any adjustment.

The pdf file tells what to aim for but doesn't tell how to accomplish it. I probably need to lower the seam between the front panels and the center panel by 1 mm or so. The side flip latches seem snug, so where's the adjustment?

 

[CalvinT]

tighten the brackets

How do you loosen the brackets? The ones at the B pillar don't seem to have any adjustment unless there's play in the holes in the brackets. That allows them to be moved right and left, but not up and down.

What am I missing?

 

[Ducati1098]

How do you loosen the brackets? The ones at the B pillar don't seem to have any adjustment unless there's play in the holes in the brackets. That allows them to be moved right and left, but not up and down.

What am I missing?

I’ve never done this procedure or needed to adjust a top.
I don’t believe there is supposed to be up and down adjustment.

 

[CalvinT]

I’ve never done this procedure or needed to adjust a top.
I don’t believe there is supposed to be up and down adjustment.

I'm wondering because the procedure you posted talks about adjusting flushness.
Step 14 says to adjust the center receivers up/down to resolve issues where the front panels aren't sealing tight. I assume the receivers are the flat plates with locating holes.

For some reason I seem to get more wind noise than I did when my Bronco was new. A purely subjective evaluation since I've never measured it. I'd love to get my center panel to be a little lower, maybe 1 mm. The noise seems to be coming from the seal between the roll cage and the panel. The windows roll all the way up, but the noise is coming from the top of the doors. I don't want to mess around with pool noodles.

I'll post my solution, if I find one. lol

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