NEW Deck Lid & Soft Top Struts Have Arrived !!

[e30rapidic]

PM replied, funds received and struts shipped.

no more hard hat for you :)

thank you sir!

[jeffnhiscars]

PM'ed

PM replied, funds received and struts shipped.

no more hard hat for you :)

[e30rapidic]

PM'ed

[jeffnhiscars]

Please do so! I'm kind of tired of holding up the lid with my head...

Changing deck lid shocks is easier than changing oil....AND you don't have to lay on the ground OR get oil on your hands

[cspec]

Got mine in the mail. Once I have some spare time I'll get them mounted up and, if I'm feeling bold, I'll make a DIY guide.

Please do so! I'm kind of tired of holding up the lid with my head...

[DRVN2WN]

Got mine in the mail. Once I have some spare time I'll get them mounted up and, if I'm feeling bold, I'll make a DIY guide.

[jeffnhiscars]

The top struts were alternative fun doing. The passenger side had a little circlip instead of the big full size clip in your picture on top. I was glad when I found the big one on teh driver side until it fell and disappeared.

I had to scour my fasteners to find another.

Glad you found one. For future reference Ace Hardware is a good source for hard to find fittings.

Very interested! Just wondering the difficulty in the install?

On a scale of 1-10 I'd say the hinge shocks are a 4 just use it's fiddly and the deck lids can't be more than a 1-2 with 10 being a ball buster and 1 being something you can do with your eyes closed.

As a reminder, always install gas. struts with the piston down. There's oil inside to help keep the seals from drying out. Done ask me about Bilsteins :)

[cspec]

Very interested! Just wondering the difficulty in the install?

[parkerbink]

The top struts were alternative fun doing. The passenger side had a little circlip instead of the big full size clip in your picture on top. I was glad when I found the big one on teh driver side until it fell and disappeared.

I had to scour my fasteners to find another.

[jeffnhiscars]

Got mine today, turns out my car was converted from electric top and did not have them at all.

I no longer have to hold the lid.

Thanks!!!

yet another selling feature on these...no hard hat needed when raising and lowering the top.

You're welcome !!

[parkerbink]

Got mine today, turns out my car was converted from electric top and did not have them at all.

I no longer have to hold the lid.

Thanks!!!

[jeffnhiscars]

So remove the old clip, detach upper end of sleeve and remove old assembly. Install new strut on ball socket, snap pin around neck, slide new sleeve over it and reinstall sleeve pin.

Repeat on other side and your done.

[jeffnhiscars]

The upper end is your fairly straight forward pin & clip mechanism only you are securing the sleeve not the strut. The strut slides freely in the sleeve with the back half of the top flipped up so they zero tension when installing these

Don't forget to pry out the tab with a small screw driver or hook so it clears the pin. Don't just pull on the clip or you might damage it

[jeffnhiscars]

[jeffnhiscars]

Here is where the top strut sits



There's a ball socket at the bottom which has a pin that's a bit awkward to remove as it's deep in the hinge mechanism. I used a metal BBQ skewer to pop it free. From there it's easy to fish out



To reinstall I put some grease in the hole to hold the pin while I lowered the strut in to place. Then carefully pried the socket over the ball with a large screwdriver. If you get that done without dislodging the pin, it's easy enough to pop the pin back in place with the same screw driver

Note the chunk of broken plastic sleeve sitting under the socket. That's what 30yo plastic likes to do