Top Struts

[dpawlows]

Can someone tell me where the top struts are located and if you can see them with the top up, down, etc? I'm not convinced I actually have any.

[gull]

D-pillar area, extending slightly down into the trunk. I think you can get a pretty good view of them with the top partway down, or you could unhook the bottom of the headliner and pull it back slightly.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so here are a couple shots from when I was redoing the top on my car. These are taken from the outside, after removing the top shell, but they give you a bit of an "X-ray view" of where the struts are.

[Briano1234]

Where to get replacements:

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2280

I personally would get the 150 pound ones after having installed 2 sets of 120's

[gull]

I should probably replace mine. Also the trunk lid strut, so the stupid thing will stop hitting me in the head...

[dpawlows]

Thanks. I definitely don't have any struts. I assume I can replace those with the top still on?

[gull]

I think you can probably do it. You'll need to remove the interior trunk panels and parcel shelf, and probably pull back the bottom of the headliner. (It's just hooked over some tabs on the underside of the parcel shelf brackets.) Open and close the top and see what position gives you the best access to the mounting points. You can prop it partially open with a broom handle or something if need be; just watch your fingers.

[Briano1234]

Thanks. I definitely don't have any struts. I assume I can replace those with the top still on?

Yes you can replace them with the top up.

Remove the Carboard covers on the top and you will see the pivot on the extreme edge of the parcel shelf permanent pieces.
Pull the cir-clip and washer.



On the top you can get to it from inside.
Roll the window down (rear)
Put your hand in between the headliner and the top frame, if you feel for the strut you can feel the top cir-clip and washer. Remove it and pull the strut off the fixed upper pivot.

You don't need to remove the Parcel shelf.

Bottom pivot.


When replacing the cartridge body connects to the top fixed strut.
The lower you may have to swing the pivot up or down to get it on the bottom of the shaft.

Rubber cap over the eyes
Over the pivot
washer
cir-clip

Washer is next to the cir-clip

[dpawlows]

I got the replacement struts from McMaster yesterday. It took less than 2 days somehow. Anyway, went to install them, and of course, the bottom pivots have been removed. Should have figured to look before ordering. Any suggestions on where to get those other than trying the classifieds at vwvortex?

[Briano1234]

I got the replacement struts from McMaster yesterday. It took less than 2 days somehow. Anyway, went to install them, and of course, the bottom pivots have been removed. Should have figured to look before ordering. Any suggestions on where to get those other than trying the classifieds at vwvortex?

Well with the irregularities of the Vortex as of late (They are rebuilding their site from scratchola), I would doubt that they are there.
Ebay and www.thesamba.com come to mind.

I can run by the "pull-a-part local and if the cabbies are still there pull a set.
I would only charge ya what it cost me plus shipping finger around a Bazillion and a Half Dollars. send me a email if you want.

[kamzcab86]

VMG is not starting over from scratch; they transferred the forum data from ZeroForum over to vB. The forums have been up and running since Tuesday night (they went down briefly yesterday while they continued working on configuration settings). The Cabriolet forum is at http://forums.vwvortex.com/forumdisplay ... -Cabriolet. The Cabriolet Classifieds is at http://forums.vwvortex.com/forumdisplay ... brio-Parts .

Junkyards would probably be the quickest way though.

[Briano1234]

Junkyards would probably be the quickest way though.

Naw Briano is faster.... as the parts are on the way.

[kamzcab86]

That's what I meant!

[Briano1234]

That's what I meant!

"Who you calling a junk yard, Willis?"

Wait I resemble that remark, I just spent the past 2 days cleaning up my basement to get one more daughters stuff in from storage to save me the storage fees. One moves out, another moves in... I didn't raise Children I raised yo-yo's.