2023 JEEP GLADIATOR torque

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE39
2. With the bolts loose, the door can be moved forward by pushing the door handle toward the
front of the vehicle, and/or upward by grabbing
the door handle and lifting towards the roof.
3. Once the gaps between the door and vehicle body are uniform around the entire door,
tighten the door hinge bolts to 20.3 ft· lb /
27.5 N·m (Max Torque: 27.3 ft· lb / 37 N·m).
Upper Door Adjustment
After installation of the half-doors, if water leaks or
wind noise is observed, the seal of the upper
half-door to the door opening may need to be
adjusted.
To determine if the upper half-door needs to be
adjusted, proceed as follows:

1. Determine which door is affected.

2. Open the affected door and hold a dollar-size piece of paper along the top of the door
opening against the vehicle near where the
leak/noise was observed. Make sure half of
the paper is above the area where the door
seal contacts the door opening, while the other
half is below. 3. Close the door on the paper, then pull the
paper upward. If the paper moves with little to
no effort, the upper half-door will need to be
adjusted in that area to increase seal
compression.

Performing A Paper Test

There is another optional test that can be
performed using a flashlight and the help of
another person.
One person should be inside the vehicle, and move
the flashlight around the periphery of the door
seal, shining outward. The other person should
stand outside of the vehicle and check for light
passing by the seal. If light is seen through the seal
area, the door will need to be adjusted. To adjust the seal compression, proceed as
follows:

1. Open the door and lift the upper half-door up
and away from the lower half. Lay the upper
half-door on a clean, dry surface.

2. Using an 8 mm open-end wrench (not provided), loosen the nut located inside the
bottom of the upper half-door post, closest to
where the “paper test” detected a gap.

Nut Location Inside Bottom Of Post

2

23_JT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 39

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE41

Press Shim Firmly Into Bottom Of Pocket

f. Replace upper half-door.
NOTE:If the compression is increased too much on the
front upper corner of the rear doors, deformation
of the seal will occur.
Half-Door Mirror Installation
To install the front door exterior mirrors on the
half-doors, proceed as follows:

1. Locate the wiring harness on the outside of the front half-door.
Wiring Harness Location

2. Insert the wiring harness firmly into the connection on the driver’s side exterior mirror.

Connect Wiring Harness To Exterior Mirror
3. Place the base of the exterior mirror into the
hole on the door, and support it while
attaching the three mirror bolts through the
inside of the door using a #T40 Torx head
driver.

Attach Exterior Mirror

NOTE:Recommended torque for the mirror bolts is
5.9 ft· lb / 8.0 N·m.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 on the opposite side front door.
1 — Remove Paper Backing From Shim
2 — Slide Pencil through Hole In Shim
3 — Press Pencil With Shim Into Pocket
1 — Exterior Mirror
2 — Wiring Harness
1 — Support Mirror From Outside
2 — Attach Three Mirror Bolts From Inside
2

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE93
INSTALLING THE SOFT TOP
NOTE:If installing the soft top immediately after removing
the hard top, ensure the wire harness is stored
properly, and not tucked under the belt rail
Úpage 98.

1. Install the belt rail on the rear of the vehicle. Secure the belt rail using the six fasteners
with the provided #T50 Torx head driver and
ratchet. Refer to the following table for
recommended torque specifications.
Step One

2. Install the door frames. Start with both front doors, followed by both rear doors. Apply the
appropriate torque specifications for the door
frame Torx head fasteners Ú page 104.3. Unsnap and remove the storage bag. This bag
should be discarded. It was intended as a
protective cover for shipping only.
4. Ensure the top is secured with the provided hook-and-loop fasteners, then lift the soft top
onto the rear of the cab. Line up the locater
pins (one on each side of the soft top) with the
rear door frames.

Step Four

Torque
Specification For Torx
Fastener Maximum Minimum
119.5 in-lb (13.5 N·m) 150.5 in-lb
(17.0 N·m) 106.2 in-lb
(12.0 N·m)
CAUTION!
Do not overtighten Torx fasteners. Damage to
the retainers will occur.
1 — Corner Fasteners
2 — Rear Fasteners
CAUTION!
Failure to follow the next steps could result in
damage to the soft top or vehicle.
2

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94GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
5. Using the provided #T50 Torx head driver and ratchet, install and tighten the Torx fasteners
by turning them clockwise. Secure them until
they are snug, being careful not to cross-
thread the fasteners or overtighten. Refer to
the following table for recommended torque
specifications. Repeat on the opposite side.

Step Five Step Five
6. Before driving the vehicle with the top in the
Sunrider® position, ensure the top is secured
with the provided hook-and-loop fasteners
Úpage 89.

Step Six

Torque
Specification For Torx
Fasteners Maximum Minimum
119.5 in-lb (13.5 N·m) 150.5 in-lb
(17.0 N·m) 106.2 in-lb
(12.0 N·m)
CAUTION!
Do not overtighten Torx fasteners. You can strip
the fasteners if they are overtightened.

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100GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
9. Store the wire harness by removing the storage cover on the quarter trim. Use the
mechanical key blade to pry the cover open.

Step Nine

10. Tuck the wire harness inside the storage compartment, and replace the cover.

Step Ten

INSTALLING THE HARD TOP
If the door frames are installed from soft top
usage, they must be removed prior to installation
of the hard top Ú page 104. To install the hard top, place the hard top on the
vehicle while making sure that the top is sitting
flush with the body at the sides and across the
back. Then follow the removal steps in reverse
order.
NOTE:
Inspect the hard top seals for damage and
replace if necessary.
Install the hard top using the same steps for
removal in reverse order.
When reinstalling the interior soft trim panel:
Be sure the panel is centered so that there
is an even gap on both sides.
Apply pressure over the hook-and-loop
fasteners to ensure they are properly
secured.

The Torx head fasteners that attach the hard top to
the body should be torqued to 155 in-lb +/- 22 in-lb
(17.5 N·m +/- 2.5 N·m) using the provided #T50 Torx
head driver and ratchet.

CAUTION!
The front panel(s) must be positioned properly
to ensure sealing. Improper installation can
cause water to leak into the vehicle's interior.
The hard top assembly must be positioned
properly to ensure sealing. Improper installa -
tion can cause water to leak into the vehicle's
interior.
The hard top is not designed to carry any addi -
tional loads, such as after-market roof racks,
spare tires, building materials, hunting or
camping supplies, etc. Ú page 115.
Do not move your vehicle until the top has
been either fully attached to the windshield
frame and body, or fully removed.
The removal of the hard top requires four
adults located on each corner. Failure to
follow this caution could damage the hard top.
CAUTION!
Do not overtighten Torx fasteners. Damage to
the retainers will occur.

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102GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 on the other side of the vehicle.
NOTE:The recommended torque specification for the
front and rear door rail attachment bolts is 8.8 ft-lb
(12 N·m).
6. Attach the rear clamp at the rear center of the Sunrider® top using the two provided rear
clamp attachment bolts. Tighten with #40 Torx
head driver until snug.

Rear Clamp Location

NOTE:The recommended torque specification for the rear
clamp attachment bolts is 3.7 ft-lb (5 N·m). 7. From inside the vehicle, lift and pull the
Sunrider® top forward using the integrated
handle on the front header of the top.
Manually guide the top into the closed
position.

Push Sunrider® Top Forward
8. From inside the vehicle, pull the handle on the
header latch downward to engage the hook
into its receiver. Pull the handle back upward
while squeezing the hook, locking the latch
into place. Repeat on the other side.

Engage Both Header Latches

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE105
DOOR FRAME INSTALLATION

1. Install the front door frame first.

2. Ensure the windshield is in the “up” position.
Carefully place the front door frame in the
rubber seal at the top of the windshield, and
line up the holes for the Torx head fasteners
(two for each door).
3. Swing the frame bracket around the side of the door frame, and insert the fasteners from
underneath. Tighten with the #T40 Torx head
driver until they are snug, being careful not to
cross-thread the fasteners or overtighten.
Refer to the following table for the appropriate
torque specifications for the door frame
fasteners.
Tighten Fasteners

4. Set the rear door frame pin into the hole on top of the body side, just behind the rear door
opening. 5. Carefully position the top of the door frame
onto the rear belt rail and the rear of the front
door frame, making sure the rubber seals lie
flat. Ensure the seals are installed correctly to
avoid water leaks.

Step Five
Step Five

WARNING!
Do not drive your vehicle on public roads with
the door and/or door frame(s) removed as you
will lose the protection that they can provide.
This procedure is furnished for use during
off-road operation only.
Target Torque Specification For Torx
Fasteners Maximum Minimum
44.2 in-lb (5 N·m) 53.1 in-lb
(6 N·m) 35.4 in-lb
(4 N·m)
CAUTION!
Do not overtighten Torx fasteners. You can strip
the fasteners if they are overtightened.
2

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106GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
(Continued)
6. Insert the fasteners from underneath. Tighten
with the #T40 Torx head driver until they are
snug, being careful not to cross-thread the
fasteners or overtighten. Refer to the previous
table for the appropriate torque specifications
for the door frame fasteners.
FOLDING WINDSHIELD
The fold-down windshield on your vehicle is a
structural element that can provide protection in
some accidents. The windshield also provides
protection against weather, road debris and
intrusion of small branches and other objects.
Do not drive your vehicle on-road with the
windshield down, as you lose the protection this
structural element provides.
If required for certain off-road uses, the windshield
can be folded down. However, the protection
afforded by the windshield is then lost. If you fold
down the windshield, drive slowly and cautiously. It
is recommended that the speed of the vehicle be
limited to 10 mph (16 km/h), with low range
operation preferred if you are driving off-road with
the windshield folded down. Raise the windshield as soon as the task that
required its removal is completed and before you
return to on-road driving. Both you and your
passengers should wear seat belts at all times,
on-road and off-road, regardless of whether the
windshield is raised or folded down.
LOWERING THE WINDSHIELD

1. Before completing the following steps:

If your vehicle is equipped with a soft top,
the top
MUST be lowered Ú page 83, and
the door frames must be removed
Ú page 104 prior to lowering the wind -
shield.
If your vehicle is equipped with a hard top,
the Freedom Panels MUST be removed
prior to lowering the windshield Úpage 95.
WARNING!
Carefully follow these warnings to help protect
against personal injury:
Do not drive your vehicle on-road with the
windshield down.
Do not drive your vehicle unless the wind -
shield is securely fastened, either up or down.
Eye protection, such as goggles, should be
worn at all times when the windshield is down.
Be sure that you carefully follow the instruc -
tions for raising the windshield. Make sure
that the folding windshield, windshield wipers,
side bars, and all associated hardware and
fasteners are correctly and tightly assembled
before driving your vehicle. Failure to follow
these instructions may prevent your vehicle
from providing you and your passengers’
protection in some accidents.
If you remove the doors, store them outside
the vehicle. In the event of an accident, a
loose door may cause personal injury.
CAUTION!
Failure to follow this step will cause damage to
the vehicle’s header seal.
WARNING!

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