Rear window support brackets on convertible

[drstara]

Man I wish I knew why yours are ok and others are not. Frustrating

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[JeffARB]

Well, checked my local dealer stock... Both convertibles on their lot had both rear window supports... Yep, not on mine! WTH Flatrock?! Time for another warranty visit. Grrrrrr.

 

[peetucket]

Checked mine this weekend, and could feel a horizontal bracket from half-way down each side of the rear window (where it connects to the defroster) going over to the edge. Was invisible from both the interior and exterior.

 

[altjx]

Going to check mine in the morning. Haven't noticed anything just yet though, but now I'm really curious.

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[Dawg]

Going to check mine in the morning. Haven't noticed anything just yet though, but now I'm really curious.

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Mine are in place as they should be. I'm curious though, are they actually support for the window, or for the wiring to the rear defogger?

 

[drstara]

They are only support for the window, do not contain any wiring

 

[drstara]

For those of you that have the problem, what is your dealer doing about it? I finally contacted Ford, and getting more attentions. I think the dealer needed this happen, but now dealing with corporate Ford it feels like I'm calling computer support all over again ("is the computer on"). Very frustrating after 5 months.

 

[HBTD]

Mine is missing on the passenger side. Does it do anything important? I would not have noticed had I not read this thread. The top seems to work fine and there is no unusual noises or movement when driving at speed. What would I gain by fixing it?

 

[drstara]

HBTD,

It holds the back window steady when driving down the road. I believe it will help the top keep it's shape as it begins to age, but that is yet to be seen.

 

[mpwillis]

Vert Top rear Bracket (Rod) Part # and Picture

Thanks to the OP - this is why I LOVE this group. :clap2:
Saw the flex but wasn't smart enough to examine closely. One rod is unhooked. My build was in Jan 15. But BTW - had to have top liner replaced about a week into ownership as it got crimped and torn.
Have both rods, but drivers side not functioning. It's connected at vert top pivot point (elbow), but not connected to the side of the glass, just laying in the well. PAX side is there and connected at both, and seems firm. No rear glass flex on PAX side and TONS of flex on drivers side. The drivers side "rod" as the parts book calls it, is just laying down in the drivers side vert top well area, pivots easy at the connected "elbow", but not connected next to glass - doesn't seem to be hurting anything, but neither is it doing what it was engineered to do. I'm guessing the culprit here is the "clip" that hooks the rod to the side of the rear glass. CLIP Part number is 422B34 (RH/LH), and the ROD Part number is 4400A30 (RH/LH). Orange rod, right side of diagram below. Wish they had a blow up of the clip - cant tell whether mine broke or just popped off - will dig some more this weekend and see if I can find clip and how it works.

 

[davekro]

drsrtara,
Thanks for bringing to my attention. Both mine were out of the window bracket sockets (they pop in/out). I had no idea of this issue, though I was very surprised how much the back window shook when top is up and windows down. NOW I know why! (thank you drstara!).

These rods can easily be accessed and popped back in with the top ≈ 1/2 way open (when front of top is vertical and above the back of door jamb). I examined both rod ends by pulling them inside the headliner. The plastic end clips just slide over the ends of the rods and act as keepers to hold rods into the window brackets. My passenger side popped in and stayed in (I could not pull it back out... GOOD.). Unfortunately the driver's side pops back out fairly easily.... bad). I re-examined the end clip and one of the two tangs is slightly worn off (one shown in pics). But, I also found a small piece of retainer 'tang' on that side laying on the bottom of the top storage area. SInce it did NOT come off the rod end retainer, I am worried it broke off from the inside of the window bracket's female hole. That may be hard to replace???

Bottom line, with top half up, if one or both rods are disconnected:
(** Please note whether 3/4"nylon straps are supposed to be 'outside' of the bar or 'inside', and report back. Thanks)
1) Feel around for the female part at the window's center bracket,
2) Move the hanging rod under then inside of the head liner
3) closely examine both tangs of the rod's end retainer for ANY wear/wornness
4) If it looks good it should click back in and not easily pull back out.
5) I 'think' the 3/4" web straps are supposed to be outside of the bar, but not sure (that is where I left mine for now).
6) If it does pull back out, look or feel very closely at the bottom of the stowage area on that side for a broken tang like shown below. *This might mean the female end of the bracket needs replacement, unless it has a removeable insert as well??

I will keep an eye on mine to see if/when one or both pop back out.
You guys please report back if yours stay in, or for how long.

And thanks MPWillis for the diagram!

 

[drstara]

Parts numbers

Hey mpwillis

Do you by some chance also have the part number for the rear window/assembly that the rod fits into?

BTW, I did replace my clips one time. They are a very small, simple piece of plastic. That did not solve my problem as they failed the second time I put the top down.

Thanks

 

[drstara]

davekro

Please do let me know if it comes loose again. after replacing my clips mine would stay attached for a few time when lowering the top, but eventually did come detached again.

 

[davekro]

davekro

Please do let me know if it comes loose again. after replacing my clips mine would stay attached for a few time when lowering the top, but eventually did come detached again.

Did you look closely around under where your rods install to see if you had any little plastic tangs laying down there like in first picture of my pictures post? From you research, do you have any sense for how much trouble it is to replace the actual bracket on the window? I fear they are part of the window assembly integrated with the rear window defogger. That would be a bummer to need to replace the entire window just to get that female bracket with it's flimsily designed internal retainer. :eyebulge:

 

[MagneticMan]

Not sure why some stay in place and others do not, but many that I have seen have this problem and most don't even know it.

I checked mine with the top up, haven't a chance to lower it half way but if I can feel the rod on each side of the window I should be OK right?

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