Ok, I just purchased a used hardtop and both the latches are broken with the buttons missing. From what I can search up on the forums, everyone uses soft top latches on the hardtops when they need replacements. Now, I have been looking up parts and found that there are different part numbers for the hardtop and the soft top. I contacted the Hardtop Guy and he sells them both and he is saying that they are different. Are they different? Can anyone shed some light on the differences and their experiences with the change overs..Is it a problem to use mix them? If someone that has both types, a picture tells a thousand words!

 

I think 02+ has the upgraded strikers and latches for the soft top. The latches are a lot larger, look the same as MY00 but maybe 2/3 larger. I always thought that its these latches (02+) and strikers (sorry no pics) that are used on the HT.
Pic of an 02+ latch used for my HT

 

Go to honda automotive parts and look at the part numbers, use the 08+ CR for the hardtop latches (since it should list the part #) and use like an 08 base and see if the softtop has a different part number.

If it does, then it's safe to say they are different.

 

the latches on my hardtop were stamped "hardtop use only" on the underside.

 

Very interesting.....So it seems that they are different but what is the difference? They both seem to work. Does anyone know the differences? I assume that the hardtop latch is more robust but that is just a guess.

 

Thanks for the info!

 

The strikers are different. they are harder than the soft top strikers. not sure about the latches.

 

I have found that out. It seems that after 2002 Honda redesigned the strikers and also called them the hardtop strikers. They are a little beefier and wider than the original ones. I ordered a set of the hardtop ones and should have taken a picture of both of them side by side before I installed them. Sorry!.. The question is still the latches. Anyone out there have both handy that could shoot a picture?

 

yea would like to see some pics