S2000 Racing and Competition The S2000 on the track and Solo circuit. Some of the fastest S2000 drivers in the world call this forum home.

My super cheap quick release hardtop brackets

Thread Tools
 
Old 11-06-2018, 06:21 PM
  #1  

Thread Starter
 
roel03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,073
Received 250 Likes on 147 Posts
Default My super cheap quick release hardtop brackets

Now that my car is a full track car, I really miss the days of old when I could’ve put the top down at ease. I still like to do some sessions with the hardtop off and to drive around town on a nice morning, but it’s kind of a pain to remove the solid brackets that I have. While it’s only a few bolts it is hard to get it to line back up just right when putting the hardtop back on. I know the OEM latches are an option, plus a few others like Forbidden/etc., but I don’t really like spending a lot of money on things I don’t “need”. I really wanted a budget solution. While messing around in the garage and with some McMaster research this is what I came up with.

I made a quick DIY for anyone interested: https://baero.tech/cheap-quick-release-hardtop-brackets

Took only about an hour of work. I plan on using OEM front latches to complete the set.
The following 3 users liked this post by roel03:
duffsr (11-08-2018), HawkeyeGeoff (04-15-2019), rip_ej1 (11-20-2018)
Old 11-07-2018, 04:05 AM
  #2  
Community Organizer

 
freq's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: in my garage
Posts: 20,991
Received 185 Likes on 163 Posts
Default



I've long forgotten what it's like to rip around a track topless.
Old 11-13-2018, 12:45 PM
  #3  
Registered User

 
S2kalan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 47
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Default

cool!!
Old 11-13-2018, 05:34 PM
  #4  
Moderator

 
RacerXI's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Driving around a helicopter pad
Posts: 7,646
Received 16 Likes on 13 Posts
Default

I follow you on the 'gram and didn't even know it. Cool stuff.
Old 11-20-2018, 01:46 PM
  #5  

 
rip_ej1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 225
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Default

nice work!
Old 06-06-2022, 04:09 AM
  #6  
Registered User
 
User275370's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by roel03
Now that my car is a full track car, I really miss the days of old when I could’ve put the top down at ease. I still like to do some sessions with the hardtop off and to drive around town on a nice morning, but it’s kind of a pain to remove the solid brackets that I have. While it’s only a few bolts it is hard to get it to line back up just right when putting the hardtop back on. I know the OEM latches are an option, plus a few others like Forbidden/etc., but I don’t really like spending a lot of money on things I don’t “need”. I really wanted a budget solution. While messing around in the garage and with some McMaster research this is what I came up with.

I made a quick DIY for anyone interested: https://baero.tech/cheap-quick-release-hardtop-brackets

Took only about an hour of work. I plan on using OEM front latches to complete the set.
Was curious how this method has held up over the past few years. Im heavily considering doing this but wanted to see how they hold up.
Old 06-06-2022, 07:41 AM
  #7  

Thread Starter
 
roel03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,073
Received 250 Likes on 147 Posts
Default

They worked great, honestly. They also helped a ton once I had the car caged. It still allowed me to have enough room to fit my fingers in there to take it on and off.

I guess I hadn't updated my post but I actually added another butterfly latch to the front of the bracket as well, so two per side. That got the hardtop super tight and sealed. I used the stock soft-top latches for the front. Tighten the front soft-top latches first, then the butterfly latches next.
The following users liked this post:
bdo (06-06-2022)
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
uber02
S2000 Modifications and Parts
4
08-18-2014 11:47 AM
CrazyCase
S2000 Modifications and Parts
20
07-20-2011 07:46 PM
BlackBearTX
S2000 Talk
10
12-26-2009 02:45 PM
f20cpower3
S2000 Modifications and Parts
1
02-19-2008 07:05 PM
lucid
S2000 Talk
26
05-31-2003 02:43 PM



Quick Reply: My super cheap quick release hardtop brackets



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:03 PM.