2015 Wrangler Sahara 4 door creaking and groaning

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bushpilotmexico

New member
The dealer says i am euchred and that all the wrangler hard tops creak and groan. I had a 2016 Sport 2 door and decide to trade down to get more room, I had the Sport for 2 years and never had the freedom panels out or the hard top off. In all that time i never heard a groan. This 2015 had around 25,000 miles on the odometer and i imagine sometime had top and panels removed. Every time i hit a small bump I get the creaking noise from the hard top. I have had the freedom panels out and lubed all the seals and made sure the 2 attachment screws for the hard top were not loose. The 3 lower screws on each side are snug.

My local dealer says that this is normal due to the removable design of the top and nothing they can suggest or do to stop the noise.

Seriously thinking of wearing ear plugs. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
Take the top off and put a soft top on. The wind noise will replace the squeaks you have, then turn up the radio.
 
I found I was getting a pop/squeak from the freedom tops...mainly the left one. I tracked it down to the white alignment pegs that go into the sport bar. I was able to quiet it down a decent amount using Honda shin etsu silicone grease on the pegs. There’s still occasional noise, but it’s a lot better. Maybe try that.


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I had this really annoying creak right above my head for the longest time... I would loosen, retighten and pound with my fist the freedom tops while I was driving.... I finally narrowed it down to the white centering pin on the top rubbing against the hole on the roll bar... wrapped the pin with a little electrical tape. Gone.
 
TrailHunter said:
I had this really annoying creak right above my head for the longest time... I would loosen, retighten and pound with my fist the freedom tops while I was driving.... I finally narrowed it down to the white centering pin on the top rubbing against the hole on the roll bar... wrapped the pin with a little electrical tape. Gone.
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That's exactly what I have going on with mine. Looks like I'll be doing this as well.
 
TrailHunter said:
I had this really annoying creak right above my head for the longest time... I would loosen, retighten and pound with my fist the freedom tops while I was driving.... I finally narrowed it down to the white centering pin on the top rubbing against the hole on the roll bar... wrapped the pin with a little electrical tape. Gone.
Click to expand...

Same here, just have to replace the tape every so often


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tastethebeast said:
100% true. I took mine out and the groan from the passenger rear is gone. Also, doesn't leak.
Click to expand...


WOW UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! I took out the Freedom Panels large wing nut screws and the creaking disappeared, put them back in and creaking started up again. Thanks to you guys and gals you have solved a major mystery that as a commercial pilot was driving me bonkers. As a pilot we are trained to listen to listen as we fly and if i had an aircraft that was moaning and creaking I would be landing ASAP.

If those freaking screws are important now i can experiment using, perhaps just a plain old metric bolt with a washer or just leave them out completely.
 
bushpilotmexico said:
WOW UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! I took out the Freedom Panels large wing nut screws and the creaking disappeared, put them back in and creaking started up again. Thanks to you guys and gals you have solved a major mystery that as a commercial pilot was driving me bonkers. As a pilot we are trained to listen to listen as we fly and if i had an aircraft that was moaning and creaking I would be landing ASAP.

If those freaking screws are important now i can experiment using, perhaps just a plain old metric bolt with a washer or just leave them out completely.
Click to expand...

Just leave them out. Their only purpose is to secure the freedom panels when the hard top is removed.
 
TrailHunter said:
I had this really annoying creak right above my head for the longest time... I would loosen, retighten and pound with my fist the freedom tops while I was driving.... I finally narrowed it down to the white centering pin on the top rubbing against the hole on the roll bar... wrapped the pin with a little electrical tape. Gone.
Click to expand...

I'm gonna give this a try too, thanks for the tip!
 
bushpilotmexico said:
WOW UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! I took out the Freedom Panels large wing nut screws and the creaking disappeared, put them back in and creaking started up again. Thanks to you guys and gals you have solved a major mystery that as a commercial pilot was driving me bonkers. As a pilot we are trained to listen to listen as we fly and if i had an aircraft that was moaning and creaking I would be landing ASAP.

If those freaking screws are important now i can experiment using, perhaps just a plain old metric bolt with a washer or just leave them out completely.
Click to expand...

I decided to wrap the plastic (wing nut?), anyways what the bolt is attached to and fits in the cup, with black electrical tap in order that all the plastic is covered. I reinserted the 2 screws and went for a test drive THE CREAKING WAS STILL GONE!

So obviously the the problem was plastic on plastic in the cup area. Most members say that the 2 screws aren't critical so I guess the choice is wrap them or leave them out, either option will work.
 
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