Sealing up a Defender roof?

[jik22]

I've just taken the roof off my 110 today, mainly so I could replace a rusted body capping at the rear, but also to try and sort once and for all an annoying leak right in the drivers side front corner near the widscreen.

On taking it off, I found some obvious DIY sealant squirted into the area where the leak was, but also some thicker white stuff on top of the windscreen surround (Which made getting the roof off somewhat trickier than it should have been!) so I wondered if this was normal from the factory or not?

My main question though is with regards to putting it back on. I've ordered a new front roof/top of windscreen seal (Two piece, by the looks of it) but should I use sealant as well?

Also, on the roof itself, the gutter channels seem to have a sealant of some sort in which is cracked - is this worth digging out and redoing, or can it safely be "sealed over", and if so, what with? Once back together, it's going off to be painted, so I'm not bothered what needs to be done cosmetically.

[steveG]

I asked similar questions about the roof on my county a while back, and was told to use:
- Butyl mastic for the windscreen-roof joint
- Sikaflex for the gutters

Still have to get around to doing the gutters :angel:

Steve

[jik22]

Still have to get around to doing the gutters :angel:


You mean doing the gutters with the roof back on - i.e. just sealing up the channels on the outside?

[grounded]

sikaflex is the go for the gutters. there are different types though. not sure if all are paintable. i would definitely remove the old material first then use wax n grease remover before applying the sikaflex

[steveG]

You mean doing the gutters with the roof back on - i.e. just sealing up the channels on the outside?

Yes, mine's all assembled, so I'm just going to reseal in the bottom of the gutter on the outside (removing all the old cracked sealant first if I can).

Steve

[aew849]

Out of a Series 3 soft top, 2 new 110 wagons and my current 04 130, the canvas roof on the 88' was the best...no leaks, no condensations and much reduced noise.

Anyway, I whipped the roof off the 130 about 6 weeks ago, quite fortuitous given the downpours Perth has copped since.

The windscreen top seal was really dried out so I removed the excess and used gratuitous sikaflex on the rebuild. Same thing for the rear window panel and all the joints for the roof. Juggling it all single handed was the biggest drama. However, once in place, I taped around all the joints and in-filled with sikaflex. Given the size of a usual landy panel gap, no one notices jet black sikaflex anyway!!

I used this method as both new 110 wagons leaked like a sieve, and a window fitter nipped them up in no time at all. And they were dry there after.

I also trialled goop on the front right gutter, my original sealant is dried and cracked as well. Again black on white is a regular theme on the 130 now.

So far so good at the front, the rear window bottom seal needs a touch up...when it stops raining.


Best of luck,

aew849