Is it possible to cause damage to the panels by screwing it down too tight with the two knobs behind the front seats?

Just curious because i tightened mine down real good, they were real loose from the dealer.

Thanks
-Evan

 

Yes there is a chance you can damage the freedom panels by overtightening. I know there is a thread kicking around that a person tightened way too much and caused the panel to crack or pop the screw outside the panel.

 

if you tighten them too much they could crack the panels ....the bolts are actually too long.

My solution was to put a couple of washers over the bolt to ensure they do not break through!

 

Thanks guys for the quick response!

 

Thanks to this forum, I learned about this early in my JK ownership. (Before I did any damage)

 

When you take off the rear of the top and put the front panels back on for shade you have to make sure that the rear supports are flipped down. If you don't then the bolts are way too long (so I have heard, I have always flipped the supports down).

 

The first time I did mine back up I kept going too far until I heard a faint crackling sound. Luckily I didn't do any obvious damage (might have weakened the plastic microscopically though) but yeah it's better to under-tighten them & just check them once a week or so & re-tighten if necessary.

And yeah as the other guy said before, if you put them an but run with the hard-top off you have to flip those black plastic spacers down or you will damage the panels.

 

Hmmm. I have not had my panels screwed in for about 6 months. No issues. Driving 75 on highway, and such. It is my DD. I took em out one time and never put them back in. I still lock em down all the other ways and never had a problem top doesn't even leak like some that do keep em in.

 

The salesman who sold my my jku said that I wouldn't need the screws wig the freedom panels... I can't bring myself to leave them out.

 

Never listen to a salesman... There's a reason they don't have tool boxes..