Anyone else think the adhesive rubber seals look and feel cheap?

[HearHear]

I love my 392 and smile every day when I'm driving it. Wouldn't touch a Bronco or Toyota with a 10 foot pole. But this bothers me a little on my392. First, I know this isn't a $150k G Wagen, but it seems to me that Jeep went cheap on the adhesive rubber strips and seals they placed around the vehicle. I bring this up because they don't appear to be designed for longevity. I'm curious if Mopar sells replacement rubber strips and seals, haven't looked yet but I might buy a set if they do. Or maybe they just used leftover scraps on my 392? Is each one a little different?

This is on the inside top of the passenger side door frame. Looks like they just stuck whatever they had laying on the floor up there:

This is on the upper door frame between the front and rear passenger door. Not bad, but doesn't look too sturdy:

This random crooked adhesive scrap is on the inside of the passenger door:

They put some thought into this one- a molded rubber piece on the inside rear door frame. Still looks flimsy and not long lasting:

Random strip stuck on the back door, I guess to cover a hole. This will soon start peeling up I imagine:

This is stuck on the rear glass window. Lots of scissor work here:

This is a foam-like piece that surrounds some drain holes in the front of the engine compartment. There's two of these, one on each side. This looks extremely easy to tear and after a few dealer maintenance visits I would imagine it could tear off pretty easy:

I did put on some Chemical Guys vinyl/rubber/plastic protectant on the outside exposed black pieces and seals. At least that might help with longevity and UV protection to some extent. I'm not a CG fan boy, or a fan of any particular cleaners/waxes, but they have a lot of products in one place and it's just easy to buy for me.

 

[stumblinhorse]

A lot of the parts on your 392 are the same that come on a $30k JL…. I mean a lot!

 

[scarab]

I’ve noticed that as well. It‘s like they’ve designed and built the Jeep and then they were like, oh, there’s a gap here, ok let’s patch it with a piece of rubber. Oh, there’s another one there, let’s add some foam, and another one there... It looks super cheap and not very well engineered at all. Basically it’s primitive I should say.

 

[stumblinhorse]

Carry over from JK. Pretty similar parts.

 

[scarab]

Yeah, JK debuted in 2006 and I would think they had enough time since 1941 to figure out something more elegant

 

[byhumba]

It's the nature of the beast. Wranglers are designed with offroading in mind. Body on frame allows for a lot of twisting and shifting of compnents. If instead of those rubber/foam parts we had permanent/rigid fixes, we would end up with a G Wagon. I do agree those patches feel cheap, my question is, what can they be replaced with to make them feel better?

 

[scarab]

It's the nature of the beast. Wranglers are designed with offroading in mind. Body on frame allows for a lot of twisting and shifting of compnents. If instead of those rubber/foam parts we had permanent/rigid fixes, we would end up with a G Wagon. I do agree those patches feel cheap, my question is, what can they be replaced with to make them feel better?

Yeah, I get that. Honestly they just made me smile when I first saw them I would expect them to be more like one consistent piece of rubber/gasket around the edge of the hardtop. Now they look like they’ve just added some random pieces of rubber and foam here and there fill in the gaps and get rid of leaks and cut the noise Take a look at this one - it looks like they stacked multiple layers to make it tight eventually. It almost looks like a prototype or something

 

[byhumba]

Yeah, I get that. Honestly they just made me smile when I first saw them I would expect them to be more like one consistent piece of rubber/gasket around the edge of the hardtop. Now they look like they’ve just added some random pieces of rubber and foam here and there fill in the gaps and get rid of leaks and cut the noise Take a look at this one - it looks like they stacked multiple layers to make it tight eventually. It almost looks like a prototype or something


View attachment 4208

So true! A patch on top of another patch! Lol. And to be honest, I never paid attention to them until your post. I come from the squeaky, rattling, clanking, and knocking world of TJ Jeeps...but, my Tj doesn't have any of those patches.

Ford will copy Jeep and do the same to fix their noisy hard tops. Almost sure.

 

[BenLandry]

Most Broncos tops will leak after the first time they take it off. Jeep has had decades to figure it out…. And they still leak. One of the reasons I believe the bronco has been delayed do long is because of the tops. It’s a reversed engineered Jeep. From afar it’s hard to tell the difference. I’ve seen dozens of them here around the The Woodlands. Those little cheap looking pieces is water mitigation,

 

[scarab]

So true! A patch on top of another patch! Lol. And to be honest, I never paid attention to them until your post. I come from the squeaky, rattling, clanking, and knocking world of TJ Jeeps...but, my Tj doesn't have any of those patches.

Ford will copy Jeep and do the same to fix their noisy hard tops. Almost sure.

Yeah, I had a lot of cars, and when it comes to Jeeps I come from an XJ which is not refined by any stretch of imagination but I haven’t seen that kind of stuff there either

 

[SSinOH]

I understand the same supplier that provides the material for Jeep soft tops also supplies Ford the top material for the Bronco so for any delays or shortages we have the Bronco is to blame or Jeep for not having the supplier an exclusive to Jeep only. Go figure.

 

[TeufelHunden]

I love my 392 and smile every day when I'm driving it. Wouldn't touch a Bronco or Toyota with a 10 foot pole. But this bothers me a little on my392. First, I know this isn't a $150k G Wagen, but it seems to me that Jeep went cheap on the adhesive rubber strips and seals they placed around the vehicle. I bring this up because they don't appear to be designed for longevity. I'm curious if Mopar sells replacement rubber strips and seals, haven't looked yet but I might buy a set if they do. Or maybe they just used leftover scraps on my 392? Is each one a little different?

This is on the inside top of the passenger side door frame. Looks like they just stuck whatever they had laying on the floor up there:

View attachment 4192

This is on the upper door frame between the front and rear passenger door. Not bad, but doesn't look too sturdy:

View attachment 4193

This random crooked adhesive scrap is on the inside of the passenger door:

View attachment 4194

They put some thought into this one- a molded rubber piece on the inside rear door frame. Still looks flimsy and not long lasting:

View attachment 4195

Random strip stuck on the back door, I guess to cover a hole. This will soon start peeling up I imagine:

View attachment 4196

This is stuck on the rear glass window. Lots of scissor work here:

View attachment 4197


This is a foam-like piece that surrounds some drain holes in the front of the engine compartment. There's two of these, one on each side. This looks extremely easy to tear and after a few dealer maintenance visits I would imagine it could tear off pretty easy:

View attachment 4198

I did put on some Chemical Guys vinyl/rubber/plastic protectant on the outside exposed black pieces and seals. At least that might help with longevity and UV protection to some extent. I'm not a CG fan boy, or a fan of any particular cleaners/waxes, but they have a lot of products in one place and it's just easy to buy for me.

This will bug me as well! Whenever mine is ready.

 

[jchrisbauer13]

I guess my take on this, and maybe I'm giving Jeep too much credit, is that these vehicles are designed to be taken apart! In other words, when you are able to remove the doors, tops and all other body parts like you can on the jeep, then you really can't have the tight fit and finishes that you can see on vehicles that do not have that ability. That causes way more flex and motion between body parts and as such the systems used to "seal" off those areas must also be pretty flexible and forgiving. I'm pretty sure if Mercedes took the time to engineer the G wagon tops and doors to be taken off and put back on in the matter of a few minutes, there would be leaks, creaks, rattles and all sorts of things I hear people complain about in their Jeeps.

 

[CBH]

I love my 392 and smile every day when I'm driving it. Wouldn't touch a Bronco or Toyota with a 10 foot pole. But this bothers me a little on my392. First, I know this isn't a $150k G Wagen, but it seems to me that Jeep went cheap on the adhesive rubber strips and seals they placed around the vehicle. I bring this up because they don't appear to be designed for longevity. I'm curious if Mopar sells replacement rubber strips and seals, haven't looked yet but I might buy a set if they do. Or maybe they just used leftover scraps on my 392? Is each one a little different?

This is on the inside top of the passenger side door frame. Looks like they just stuck whatever they had laying on the floor up there:

View attachment 4192

This is on the upper door frame between the front and rear passenger door. Not bad, but doesn't look too sturdy:

View attachment 4193

This random crooked adhesive scrap is on the inside of the passenger door:

View attachment 4194

They put some thought into this one- a molded rubber piece on the inside rear door frame. Still looks flimsy and not long lasting:

View attachment 4195

Random strip stuck on the back door, I guess to cover a hole. This will soon start peeling up I imagine:

View attachment 4196

This is stuck on the rear glass window. Lots of scissor work here:

View attachment 4197


This is a foam-like piece that surrounds some drain holes in the front of the engine compartment. There's two of these, one on each side. This looks extremely easy to tear and after a few dealer maintenance visits I would imagine it could tear off pretty easy:

View attachment 4198

I did put on some Chemical Guys vinyl/rubber/plastic protectant on the outside exposed black pieces and seals. At least that might help with longevity and UV protection to some extent. I'm not a CG fan boy, or a fan of any particular cleaners/waxes, but they have a lot of products in one place and it's just easy to buy for me.

I’m OK with these functional, albeit somewhat rudimentary seals...simply because it’s a Jeep. What other vehicle can you remove the top, remove the doors and drop the windshield with just a few tools? What other vehicle looks good with exposed door hinges & bolts and aftermarket driving lights. It’s a Tonka Toy for adults -- a project on wheels -- who needs pretty?

 

[Anayanation Auto: YT]

Ive experienced the same from day 1 at the dealer. The driver third rear window had the trim all jacked up and had to pop the window out. Still doesn’t look right and can tell the seals are cheap and poorly designed.

 

[hardhat]

Ive experienced the same from day 1 at the dealer. The driver third rear window had the trim all jacked up and had to pop the window out. Still doesn’t look right and can tell the seals are cheap and poorly designed.

Is that on the sky top? You should be able to take that to the dealer and get that seal tinkered with to get it right or get a new seal. They should be able to fix that for you. Probably just some tinkering with the bottom seal alignment. The fact that the seal doesn't look right would bother me more than anything else. But the way that is, it probably still does its job. Things like that will sometimes get on my nerves and send me on a mission to get it fixed.

I never thought too much of the seal situation. My 1991 Mustang GT convertible would leak a little in the rain. Figured that was the price of driving a convertible.

Had some wind noise that I know was an air leak in my JK soft top near the front, figured that was the price of driving a convertible.

My 392 is so much quieter. No problematic wind noise (air leak sound) when driving. No leaks when raining. The high pressure water and air jets in the car wash sometimes provoke a few drops of water to make it in if they hit at the right angle as I'm going through, but figure that is the price of driving a convertible. No worries.

Seals can be fixed and replaced. That kind of stuff doesn't bother me really. Rattles and squeaks do bother me, but that is actually more of a problem on quiet vehicles. The 392, between the engine, the wind noise and the road noise, I don't notice any rattles or squeaks that get on my nerves.

 

[Anayanation Auto: YT]

Is that on the sky top? You should be able to take that to the dealer and get that seal tinkered with to get it right or get a new seal. They should be able to fix that for you. Probably just some tinkering with the bottom seal alignment. The fact that the seal doesn't look right would bother me more than anything else. But the way that is, it probably still does its job. Things like that will sometimes get on my nerves and send me on a mission to get it fixed.

I never thought too much of the seal situation. My 1991 Mustang GT convertible would leak a little in the rain. Figured that was the price of driving a convertible.

Had some wind noise that I know was an air leak in my JK soft top near the front, figured that was the price of driving a convertible.

My 392 is so much quieter. No problematic wind noise (air leak sound) when driving. No leaks when raining. The high pressure water and air jets in the car wash sometimes provoke a few drops of water to make it in if they hit at the right angle as I'm going through, but figure that is the price of driving a convertible. No worries.

Seals can be fixed and replaced. That kind of stuff doesn't bother me really. Rattles and squeaks do bother me, but that is actually more of a problem on quiet vehicles. The 392, between the engine, the wind noise and the road noise, I don't notice any rattles or squeaks that get on my nerves.

I tinkered with it after the photo I posted and looks better. It has rained once and it help up, something I will keep an eye out for sure. We do have the one touch system and no issues so far in a week
Our 19 JL, we had the hardtop and was cumbersome to an extent to take the whole top off. My wife wanted the one touch this time around and my first “convertible” so we will see. I did put some 303 fabric guard on it to help.

 

[ValB]

My roof leaks like hell in the rain! I have removed the the panels to see if there is dirt or a bent seal but, nothing . Any suggestions?

 

[Jeepherz]

My roof leaks like hell in the rain! I have removed the the panels to see if there is dirt or a bent seal but, nothing . Any suggestions?

Exactly where from? Front corner? Rear? Did you compare yours to the pics above? Usually it's a simple gasket or seal. If its the front corner it's usually that gasket or the cut-out with scissors shown above.
While I LOVE my 392 there is nothing upgraded from the standard Jeep on the interior or exterior rubber components. This is my 3rd Jeep. My 2012 didn't come with a single option except AC- didn't even have power. And most of what's on the 392 is the same. Crazy. What you are looking at is the same "engineering" Jeep has been using for I don't know, forever? It's not great but it ain't broken and until Jeeps stop flying off the shelves...they're not going to fix it.

 

[toidjeep]

Was this seal not the one that was added later in production, since rain water kept on falling in the door frame area when opened? I wonder if they just gathered people together and said solve for it, and that is what they came up with. after several tries. So the band aid for it, became the permanent solution.....