Calling Convertible Top Experts

[95blkstang]

Been posting in the 94 section but figured this is generic to all mustangs. I have a 94 convertible and never owned a convertible. The top was working fine while I gutted to the full interior. One day I put the top down and saw fluid from out of the top of the passenger-side hydraulic piston where the rod goes up and down.
So I ordered a left and right and installed. After about 12 times of the top opening and closing the same thing happened to the same side. Other piston is fine. What are the chances of the piston being defected or is there something else going on. I used atf, bled and all was good. What should be my next. I'm hoping it is a defective hydraulic .

 

[95blkstang]

So I pulled the hydraulic off today to find on the top where the rod pushes in and out of, the clap was pushed through( maybe a c-clamp). It appeared that there was too much pressure that blew it up or it was overextended if that's possible. Any suggestions

 

[General karthief]

Clap?
Pics?

 

[95blkstang]

Sorry, C-clamp. I'll take a photo now

 

[95blkstang]

 

[95blkstang]

 

[General karthief]

They are called jesus clips, because when they pop out like a spring loaded projectile headed straight for your face and after you duck your head then realize you don't know where it went and you don't have another one you scream 'jesus chri##' among other explicit words.
Look for binding at a pivot point or misalignment some place in the frame.

 

[95blkstang]

Any chance the rod could over extend ? Also is the motor supposed to shut down once it reaches its closing/opening max. Mine just makes a winding noise when it reaches its limit . No clue about convertibles

 

[General karthief]

The pump will try to keep pumping untill you release the switch or the breaker/fuse pops, or it finds a place to releave itself, like yours, seal poped.

 

[95blkstang]

Can someone let me know how many adjustment points their are. Specifically to fix this problem. Thx

 

[billison]

If nothing has changed to cause this, it was simply a bad piston. Replace and go.

 

[95blkstang]

I just had the car jacked up while doing suspension work. I noticed that the top wouldn't close properly when jacked up. So for now whenever the car has to be jacked , I lower the top. Wish this car wasn't a convertible.......

 

[General karthief]

Verts are nice, I loved mine, its just that platform, and the models before it, where not designed with the convertible option in mine so you have to do what the coach builders that cut up coupes didn't do and thats put real braces on them.
If your car bending when you jack it up, ie: doors pinched at the top, top latch binding or not lining up, your unitbody structure is comprised, add the subframe and shock tower pieces and all will be well in your top down cruising future.

 

[95blkstang]

Just to update, I did replace the cylinder and all is well now. Guess it was a defective part from AA. Now on to the next project.

 

[88ponyGTconv]

Karthief is right. If you are having this much trouble, I would seriously think about investing in subframes. The first time i was putting mine up on stands, I watched as the body looked "twisted" between getting the rear up in the air and the front.


When I have mine up on jack stands, I don't mess with the top and I don't open/ close doors.
I'm rebuilding the front suspension and steering right now, but subframe connectors are next.
-Kevin