So, lets see here. The hard top strikers are used to hold the top down more firmly thus reducing wind noise, incoming air and looks somewhat. For about $50 shipped, you can get a fancy brown box from wherever you chose to buy them, and about 20 minutes later you're set. Or....

If you've got about a 10mm wide by 3/8ths of an inch in diameter by about 4mm in thickness rubber washer ( a cut section of just about any hose that meets the above requirements would work as well ), heres what you'd need:

1) The hose or large washer
2) Scissors
3) some lock tite superglue or similar
4) 10 minutes


Steps:

1) Release the locks from the strikers
2) Cut the round hose in half, so you have two curved peices
3) put superglue on the back off ONE of the curved peices of rubber / hose / washer
4) place where the soft top lock latches to the striker
5) hold in place while locking down the soft top, then let dry
6) repeat for other side
7) let dry COMPLETLEY
8) go buy some dinner and some beer with the $50 you saved!


I got a MUCH firmer and more snug fit of my soft top now, and MUCH of the wind noise I was getting was fixed as well! And all for the cost of $0.00 - 10 minutes of time.

Make sure you don't unlatch the locks too soon after completing this process... let it dry! And the best part is, you can't see the rubber unless you're looking for it / at it.

 

Nice DYI.

Am adding link to our FAQ section

 

Good Job!!! That's the old American ingenuity...Pete

 

I meant to say that the hose should be TWO mm thick period, so that when you wrap the striker with it, its about 4mm of rubber. So far, I've had NO problems with it coming off, and it still holds GREAT!

On another note, Guaranteed Dent Removal took my car away today for the hail repair. I'll have it back tomorrow by NOON

 

Darn! I just installed my new strikers today too. I would have rather had dinner and beer with the cheaper fix!