Anyone replaced the flip rods in their convertible before. Should this be left to the professionals or can this be done at home?

Thanks
Mark

 

I replaced the ones in my vert a few weeks after I bought the car. Took a week or so to get. (got them from Lon at TDS) so I had already gotten in the habit of pushing up from the second "bow" and never had a problem with them. Installation only took a few minutes. The second time I forgot the lift by the second bow and just lifted from the front frame the top those rods broke again. I'm not replacing them again.

 

You can get the top down with damaged or broken flip rods? Mine are bent and I can't get it past the back seat. Could you explain how to do it?

Thanks
Mark

 

Don't lift from the front of the top. The problem I was having with the broken rods was the second bow was binding between the first and third bows. If you just lift from the second bow and push it back as far as possible it will be out of the way enough for the top to fold down in place. It's just habit for me to lift there now.

 

You have a few choices. Replace the Flip Rod, re-bend yours to the correct shape (tougher to do if you don't have a spare one to copy for the correct pattern) or remove your bent rods and manually lift up the #2 bow to fold the top. Option 3 is simple, just lift up on the #2 bow as you are folding down the top. If you haven't folded it properly (as you know) the top will hit the top of the rear seat as you lower it. I have a suggestion, if you want to take advantage of option one you'd better do it very soon. I have one set in stock. This was such a slow selling item I'm not sure at this time that I'll set up the tooling to make them again.

Lon Salgren
Top-Down Solutions

 

hmm.
i was debating buying a set myself.
i bent the **** out of mine over the weekend.... i mean, the rod was U shape. lol.

 

I removed the rods and it was a piece of cake getting the top down. I don't really see the need to buy replacements.

Thanks guys

Mark

 

I took my rods off FIRST THING when I got my vert home. They just got in the way. I lift my top from the front and, as I pull the top back, I simply push the #2 bar back toward the trunk and the top folds perfectly.

 

I have redesigned the Flip Rods to eliminate the 90 degree bend that is prone to breaking. Instead there is a small lubricated and shielded ball joint that allows for some flex. They are available under the "Body-Exterior" Category of my web site. I'm attaching a link:

http://www.top-downsolutions.com/Bod...product_id=226

Click on the picture of the product on my site and you'll see the OEM version in the foreground and my new version in the background.

Lon Salgren