After the front panels of the Freedom Top on my 2009 Wrangler X 2-door are removed, the front lip of the rear hardtop is supported by a couple of small rubber bumpers that rest on the roll bar. On my JK these bounce up and down and rattle/clunk against the roll bar whenever a bump is encountered. Maybe it's just because the little beasty sat on the dealer's lot in Las Vegas for so long that the rubber bumpers hardened and shrunk in the heat.

Currently, I'm using the two front panel fasteners (basically bolts with plastic knobs on one end) in combination with a couple of small steel plates and hex nuts to tighten the lip and bumpers down against the roll bar. This eliminates the movement and the noise.

Anyone else encountered this issue? Is there a better way to fix it?

BTW: I bought one of the overpriced Mopar top bags. The fit is a bit too tight. But, it is usable for keeping the removable front sections from getting scratched. So far, I have just laid the bag on the floor behind the tumbled rear seat.

 

There is something serriously wrong with the top. Take it to the dealer for a checkout.

The 2 bolts holding the front of the rear top have to be missing or broken.

 

I dont know if the 2 rubber bumpers you speak of are the 2 legs that flip down to hold the top away form the roll bar and let you screw down to tops in place for no movement.

 

I don't think the 2 dr hard top has those 2 bolts.

 

I think he is talking about the Hardtop itself not the panels, right?

 

On the two door there are no bolts that hold down the front lip of the hardtop. It just rests on a couple of rubber bumpers.

When the removable front tops are in place they are held down at the back by a couple of screws that pass through the roll bar. The rear lips of the removable tops hold the front lip of the rear hardtop down solidly when the screws are tightened.

 

I just had the same problem. When I removed the front panels the top sounded terrible clanking above the speaker bar while I was driving down the road. The two rubber stops were to short to prevent it from happening in the wind. So I shimmed the top and put some black high heat silicone between the bar and the rubber bumpers, let it dry and it is now silent.
A very good and inexpensive fix.