Sometimes the light just comes on.....duhhhhhhhhh....I will be gluing mine on tonight!!!!!

 

once you get the freedom panel off, to answer your original question, the source of your 1/8" gap/panel sitting higher than the other one is likely because one of those turn down feet in the rear of the panel is in fact turned down....these should be rotated up when you are placing the panels on with the back hardtop still in place....they are only needed as someone else said when you have the front panels on and the back piece off...if you check out your manual the diagrams will make all of this make more sense probably...one more thing, i actually don't even use those giant screws anymore when riding 99% of the time.....they take too long to take in and out when trying to quickly remove and install the freedom panels....the latches and turn latches do more than enough to keep everything tied down tight.....i keep them stored in the back storage compartment so they are easily available when i run with just the front panels on and no back because they are very much needed then.....37k miles and those tops haven't flown off yet so to each their own, oh and thus far no leaks either, but i keep all my seals nice and clean and siliconed...

 

Thanks, I appreciate all the insight guys, honestly.