How do you fix this and prevent it from happening again?

[Gweiner]

I noticed the bulge on the lower windshield frame on the passengers side. I run a bikini top and have a 4pt rear family cage (no front hoop). From different threads on here i have read that a lot of people brace the windshield to a front roll bar hoop to prevent it from moving or pulling back into the frames. Mine looks like the bolt holding the windshield from inside the dash actually dented the windshield frame. How do you prevent that from happening? Is tvat because the windshield is bouncing around over bumps? Do i need to install a front hoop or are there other fixes anyone can suggest?

 

[Broncobowsher]

Looks like the bolts holding the windshield to the dash are too long.

Fix it, you mean careful bodywork with a hammer to push the metal back down? Someplace that does paintless dent repair might do a pretty good job if the paint isn't broken yet.

 

[brianz426]

I haven't had my top off yet and have wondered the same thing. So long as you have your doors on and looks like you do, wouldn't the bikini top be pulling the windshield against the doors to stabilize it? I would think if you took your doors off then the windshield and frame would need to be stabilized. I don't have a front hoop either and next spring my top is coming off. If my windshield moved around too much I was thinking of making a bracket that would go under the top and somehow tie into the roll bar. It could be one or two long pieces but hopefully it would be mostly hidden under the top.

 

[No Hay]

I used 3/8" rod to turnbuckles. The windshield does not move at all

 

[roundhouse]

I made
One like that from conduit

And it also keeps the water from Ponding up on top of the bikini top when It sits out in the rain

 

[tabascom16]

I would also agree the bolt is too long. Did you just tighten it down recently? I woudn't expect there to be any bracketry internal to the windshield frame on that side to bend metal if it flexed too much. Remove the bolt and get one with 1/2" smaller length.

Brackets at the top to hold the windshield definitely helps keep the windshield from flopping around and I would recommend them after driving with and without them.