NEW Deck Lid & Soft Top Struts Have Arrived !!

[jeffnhiscars]

Here's a shot of where they go. Its where you bolt the top to the body so if you flip up the back window its right there



The trick is dealing with the spring clip on the ball joint since its not very accessible. I use a metal bbq skewer to pop it off. Here's the new one going in. Put a dab of grease in the hole so the clip stays put, use a big screw driver to press the socket on to the ball, then snap the new clip around the neck of the socket.



The plastic sleeve is easy

[Mwishlist]

How have I missed this thread? I will be ordering these as soon as i get my car back!

[Chrisv006]

Thanks for the pictures!

So your combo deal, the one for $269 (i think), it came with the 2 struts for the deck lid, 2 for the top, 4 (2 for each seat) seat reclines?

Thanks,
Chris

[Escaport]

Im intrested in a set of both...My wifes' car's lid keeps falling and I didn't know there were shocks for the top...my wife would love to be able to open and closed the top easier.

Does anyone have a picture of where these things go? I see the ones in the deck lid, 2 sort of in the middle on each side. Where do the folding top struts go?

They go in the top's hinge on either side. They are tricky do to due to space constrictions getting to the lower ball socket. It's deep in there and probably only two inches of width that's maybe 8 inches deep to work. I had a long flat head screwdriver that worked well for popping the retaining pin off the old struts. I used a set of long forceps that a medical buddy had given me to put the new ones on the ball.

One tip I found out for the ball retaining pin was this. It will clip around the body of the ball head in the pulled out position. I snapped the ball head on the ball with the forceps like I said, then I used the flat head to slide the pin down the shaft to the actual landing that is should be clipped to. (I hope that description means something to someone. I think it's very confusing unless you're actually holding the part.)

The upper side on the frame of the top where the sleeves go is easy. Unclip, pull dowel pin, apply new sleeve, pin dowel, reclip, done.

[jeffnhiscars]

Thanks for the pictures!

So your combo deal, the one for $269 (i think), it came with the 2 struts for the deck lid, 2 for the top, 4 (2 for each seat) seat reclines?

Thanks,
Chris

12 all together.

2 for the top
2 for the deck
8 for the seats (4 for each seat) each seat has 2 for the back and 2 for the seat bottom

[jeffnhiscars]

They go in the top's hinge on either side. They are tricky do to due to space constrictions getting to the lower ball socket. It's deep in there and probably only two inches of width that's maybe 8 inches deep to work. I had a long flat head screwdriver that worked well for popping the retaining pin off the old struts. I used a set of long forceps that a medical buddy had given me to put the new ones on the ball.

One tip I found out for the ball retaining pin was this. It will clip around the body of the ball head in the pulled out position. I snapped the ball head on the ball with the forceps like I said, then I used the flat head to slide the pin down the shaft to the actual landing that is should be clipped to. (I hope that description means something to someone. I think it's very confusing unless you're actually holding the part.)

The upper side on the frame of the top where the sleeves go is easy. Unclip, pull dowel pin, apply new sleeve, pin dowel, reclip, done.

Good advice. Thanks for sharing :-)

[jeffnhiscars]

I made some pics to better illustrate Escaports installation suggestion for the top hinge struts. Very easy when you see.

Position the spring clip high up on the neck of the ball socket like so. Since there's a separate clip inside the socket to hold the socket on the ball, its easy to pop it in to place using a long screw driver. Just make sure the tip of the spring clip that goes in to the hole is not sticking out in the socket or it will complicate getting it on to the ball.



Once thats done, its easy to shove the clip down the neck of the socket til it hits the groove to lock it in to place. Keep in mind that the tip of the spring clip has to slide in to another hole at the bottom of the socket so make sure you push the clip straight down.

EZPZ

[Mike36]

Sweet, i need some new soft top shocks. Ill be ordering some soon.

[jeffnhiscars]

Sweet, i need some new soft top shocks. Ill be ordering some soon.

Im holding my breath :-)

[Chrisv006]

We got the whole kit - top struts, deck lid, and both front seats.

Easy install, I used a kabob stick and a piece of tape to get the little clips in.

Its amazing! So much better. Great seller! My wife can actually raise and lower her own roof herself.

Thanks!

[jeffnhiscars]

Well THATS awesome !!

[berndt]

I need this. Are the top shocks still available?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jeffnhiscars]

I need this. Are the top shocks still available?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They sure are

[jeffnhiscars]

Weekend bump

[Zaxer]

Success

Got the top and deck lid struts installed today. Those silly little "c" clips on the top hinge struts were a bugger, but with a little patience and some luck they're installed correctly. I used a telescoping magnetic wand (essentially a reverse antenna), stood the clip on the end and carefully guided it down and into the strut (my childhood days of playing operation have finally paid off). Note the passenger side install puts the c clip hole to the front, meaning the magnet kept attaching to the metal plate on the front side of the cavity as I got close to the strut. So maybe my technique is not the best way to do this. The only good thing is you really can't lose the parts and the magnet makes it easy to retrieve. One thing I would add: make sure the ball is completely seated in the strut before pushing down the clip! My driver side was stubborn and I thought it had "clicked" onto the ball, but it had not gone all the way. If you see any of the ball part, you need to keep pushing the strut further on with your screwdriver. I definitely see a difference in the deck lid - mine would barely stay open. I think my top struts were in better shape than I thought - but the top is certainly easier to open now. My sleeves appear to be in pretty good shape, so into the "save" box they go. Will get seat struts done over winter when I tuck her away for hibernation. Thanks for your support of the convertibles - now if you could only make some replacement sun visors!