I got a new top put on about 6 months ago due to slashing and I got the small wear hole by the driver side door. I'm not going to try to warranty it though, first of all its not the original top (although I did replcae it with another OEM top) and I'm sure its the frame that caused it, but its just not major to me. Its very small and does not let water in or anything. If it was on the top of the car I would care more.

To keep that from happening I went to a convertible top shop that has been around my neighborhood for like 30 years. They said that its very uncommon to see issues like this with convertible frames and it must be an issue with its design. So there is what you wanted to hear Richard (dolebludger), however they said not to get worked up about it as its easy to prevent and they just glued four extra pieces of vinyl on the four places the members in this thread seem to think get the most holes (about the latches and above the elbow on both sides). I'll get pics if anyone is intersted, but its pretty basic and not all that noticeable unless you are used to starting at the normal OEM top and know there is no extra reinforcement there.

 

thanks for the right up!! i need to put something there as well

 

Where above the latches?

 

Clag, to re-bump your thread, do you think this wear is happening when the top is going down and the elbow is digging into the top? I'm curious when exactly it is happening? I ask because my strip is smaller than yours on the elbows and it doesn't stick out the back of the rear bar, it ends underneath it. Which means when the top up the rear bar is probably making a little contact with the actual top. However, when the top goes does the elbow definitely digs at the patch, not the top. Is that what is important? (or are we still guessing?)

 

dang...i gotta check mine now!

 

I think it's definately the elbow that's the problem. Adding something to the elbow that would create less friction, would only increase the pressure it applies (added thickness).

OP idea would distribute the "push" on the top over a much wider area, which looks to be a decent solution.

Adding Vinyl patches sounds like a good idea as well. Which one is best? i'm still waiting.

 

This is what I did. Glued 4 round (2") patches on spots that gets the most stress when the top is down two of which are just above the latch.

 

[QUOTE=Jsmply,Mar 30 2007, 08:04 PM]Clag, to re-bump your thread, do you think this wear is happening when the top is going down and the elbow is digging into the top?

 

All you guys having issues with the top, how often do you drop it? I dont have any indications of wear, but then again,.... I only drop my top about 1 time a month.

 

Clag,

What I meant was, do the two bars cause rubbing issues as well? I ask because the way my patches are glued, they are exactly between the two bars, they end undearnth the bar . . . meaning you can't see them sticking out the other side of the bar the way yours does. This still seems to provide plenty of room for the "elbow" to rub into the patch and not the top . . . what I meant was do I need to worry about the bars themselves (the two things that the elbow is in between) rubbing the top as well? I think since my patches end underneath the bars, they are technically touching the top.