Leak on Leak on Leak!

huntb · **Posted:** Thu Nov 07, 2013 10:17 am

So recently my drivers side A-pillar has become a sponge for all of the rain we have been getting in the midwest. I have no idea what the issue could be. I have a skyslider, not a sunroof, and I don't see how rain could be getting in through that. The only thing I can think of is either through the windshield or through a roof rail mounting stud.

My other leak (yes there are two) is coming from the rear. It is dripping out from the plastic piece behind the headliner. It is not coming through the window glass or hatch. This has got to be coming from either the antennae or perhaps another roof rail mounting stud.

As soon as everything dries out I am going to pull my side bars out and silicone the roof rail studs to see if that helps.

Has anyone has similar leaks? My headliner by the a-pillar is stained to hell and the wet cargo area is annoying. Any help would be appreciated.

livewake · **Joined:** Thu Aug 01, 2013 12:45 pm **Posts:** 13

If you don't think its the skyslider look under the rails. I don't know how much you have been playing with your rails but in the process of making a rack from RRO rails I got some leaking from the roof. The studs were fine but from what it looks like the roof is "glued" on. From the windshield to about 6" past the studs and from the studs to the lift gate the glue or sealant or whatever they used was cracked and letting water in.
My driver seatbelt would get soaked and the driver floor would be damp every time it rained. Looked like it was coming from the cowl and windshield but after the seatbelt was wet I tracked it to the pillar and roof.

Before I put the rack on for the last time I dug all the old stuff out from the roof and body and put marine JB Weld under each section. So far so good. No the rack is not coming off for pictures because I'm lifted, its a pain, and the weird angle we welded the sides takes a bit of persuasion to get off the studs.

The "tray" between the roof and body is about 1/2" and I needed to pull some of the trim out but its just stuck on with 3m trim tape. Warm all that plastic up before you pull (sun / hairdryer)

Tried silicone first and it slowed the leak but with a little twisting there were cracks it didn't cover.

I have a plain old normal roof no sunroof or skyslider.

This is working so far and all of it is covered so I'm not worried about how it looks against the paint.

huntb · **Posted:** Thu Nov 07, 2013 11:31 am

livewake wrote:

If you don't think its the skyslider look under the rails. I don't know how much you have been playing with your rails but in the process of making a rack from RRO rails I got some leaking from the roof. The studs were fine but from what it looks like the roof is "glued" on. From the windshield to about 6" past the studs and from the studs to the lift gate the glue or sealant or whatever they used was cracked and letting water in.
My driver seatbelt would get soaked and the driver floor would be damp every time it rained. Looked like it was coming from the cowl and windshield but after the seatbelt was wet I tracked it to the pillar and roof.

Before I put the rack on for the last time I dug all the old stuff out from the roof and body and put marine JB Weld under each section. So far so good. No the rack is not coming off for pictures because I'm lifted, its a pain, and the weird angle we welded the sides takes a bit of persuasion to get off the studs.

The "tray" between the roof and body is about 1/2" and I needed to pull some of the trim out but its just stuck on with 3m trim tape. Warm all that plastic up before you pull (sun / hairdryer)

Tried silicone first and it slowed the leak but with a little twisting there were cracks it didn't cover.

I have a plain old normal roof no sunroof or skyslider.

This is working so far and all of it is covered so I'm not worried about how it looks against the paint.

That's exactly the info I'm looking for. I recently pulled my RRO rails off because they were rusting and I wanted to wrap them in exhaust wrap instead of sanding and powder-coating again. I'll take them off and see if I can find what you are talking about. I originally had the plastic fake rails before I got RRO rails so the plastic is already off. Thanks man

livewake · **Joined:** Thu Aug 01, 2013 12:45 pm **Posts:** 13

You can see just a little of the JB Weld but that is all the wider that tray is (hope the picture works)

As far as painting the rack goes I sprayed 3 coats of etching primer and 4 coats of flat black spray paint in the garage. Some of it was bare steel some was still powder coated... I wiped everything down with mineral spirits to remove grease from the steel and original coating but I was too lazy to sand it first. Power washed it a few times and I have yakima clamps on it for the fairing. The paint is super solid so far.

huntb · **Posted:** Thu Nov 07, 2013 2:09 pm

livewake wrote:

You can see just a little of the JB Weld but that is all the wider that tray is (hope the picture works)

As far as painting the rack goes I sprayed 3 coats of etching primer and 4 coats of flat black spray paint in the garage. Some of it was bare steel some was still powder coated... I wiped everything down with mineral spirits to remove grease from the steel and original coating but I was too lazy to sand it first. Power washed it a few times and I have yakima clamps on it for the fairing. The paint is super solid so far.

Perfect, thanks livewake. I'll be picking up some JB weld after work today

LKWJeeper · **Posted:** Thu Nov 07, 2013 4:45 pm

I have the same RRO bars and before I have issues I wanted to do this. You just used JB weld around the studs correct?

livewake · **Joined:** Thu Aug 01, 2013 12:45 pm **Posts:** 13

JeeperSC wrote:

I have the same RRO bars and before I have issues I wanted to do this. You just used JB weld around the studs correct?

If you are not having any problems there is no reason to slap stuff on there, but I was having a good bit of water coming in so I dug all the glue out and replaced it with marine JB. There were long running cracks in the factory stuff, parallel to the door openings and that is what I targeted.
The channel is about 1/4" deep and 1/2" wide and runs the length of the roof. I replaced the channel glue from close to the windshield to about 6" rearward of the front studs and from just forward of the rear studs to the lift gate.

I bet huntb will supply us with ample photos of the process. hint hint

LKWJeeper · **Posted:** Fri Nov 08, 2013 9:41 am

Probably a good idea not to mess with it then.

Seems you just joined the forum! Welcome and post pictures of your Liberty. Looks like you have a dipped grille?

huntb · **Posted:** Fri Nov 08, 2013 11:18 am

livewake wrote:

JeeperSC wrote:

I have the same RRO bars and before I have issues I wanted to do this. You just used JB weld around the studs correct?

If you are not having any problems there is no reason to slap stuff on there, but I was having a good bit of water coming in so I dug all the glue out and replaced it with marine JB. There were long running cracks in the factory stuff, parallel to the door openings and that is what I targeted.
The channel is about 1/4" deep and 1/2" wide and runs the length of the roof. I replaced the channel glue from close to the windshield to about 6" rearward of the front studs and from just forward of the rear studs to the lift gate.

I bet huntb will supply us with ample photos of the process. hint hint

Yeah I will. I'll hopefully be doing this on Sunday. I'll be working for the next 1000000 hours.....

livewake · **Joined:** Thu Aug 01, 2013 12:45 pm **Posts:** 13

Thank you... been lurking for the last 3 years haha... Now that I have some experience so guess I should give back to this fine forum!

Long story short the grill is roll on bed liner... Duplicolor I think. I will post some pictures in the photo section.

Leak on Leak on Leak!

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