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Thread: Rennenmetal Hardtop Brackets

  1. #1
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! BMS 4EVER's Avatar
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    Rennenmetal Hardtop Brackets

    So I just bought these brackets and I've only gotten around to installing the fronts so far. However, I can't get the hard top to sit flush to the windshield frame. Is this because I haven't done the side brackets? Or do I need to tighten the bolts down more? I've got them on pretty tight but I'm afraid to do so even more because I don't want my ht to crack going over a bump. (David warns about this in the installation manual) any tips or tricks? I hate the wind noise I'm getting right now.

  2. #2
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! psulja's Avatar
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    You are supposed to do the sides first, but anyways, it won't seal against the windshield frame because you have them too tight. Back them off a bit, have someone push down as you tighten and make sure not to over-torque because the side will push down more making the middle bow upwards (you'll get a really loud whistling while driving if its not sealed properly).
    Paul | IG- @psulja
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  3. #3
    Ninja Messiah kung fu jesus's Avatar
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    Put them all on finger tight. Have someone push the HT from the back and tighten the bolts, sides first, fronts last. If the top is bowed it the center at the windshield, have someone push down on the center near the leading edge while you tighten it down.

  4. #4
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power morr's Avatar
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    psulja, I'm glad you mentioned that because I noticed that exact problem with mine on the highway. Coincidentally, I was also driving while it was pouring so rain leaked in a tiny bit. I also installed them by myself, so I'll get a buddy to help next time.
    RoadsterLife<3

  5. #5
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! psulja's Avatar
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    Yea, I did my install in the middle of the winter so it was kind of rushed so everytime I hit 50kph my car would start howling, probably one of the most embarrassing sounds my car has made to date. After looking at it a bit I saw the gap right in the middle. That weekend I had a friend help me, we unbolted it and started tightening it back up when he noticed it was lifting up more with every turn of the ratchet so I backed it off until it was sitting flush and just left it like that.
    Paul | IG- @psulja
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  6. #6
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! BMS 4EVER's Avatar
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    Damn, I got faulty side latches from rennenmetal that's why I did the fronts first. I'll loosen them up and redo them when I get the new ones then. Thanks for the info

  7. #7
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power morr's Avatar
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    psulja, did the brackets still seem to work just as well even though you loosened em?

    BMS 4EVER, how were the latches you received faulty?
    RoadsterLife<3

  8. #8
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! BMS 4EVER's Avatar
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    I should clarify, they weren't faulty but I was sent 2 of the right side bracket.

  9. #9
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! psulja's Avatar
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    I only have fronts so it was never as snug as it could have been with all 4 but there were not any creaks from the top and it was still quite snug. Still better than with latches so I'd say they did the job even a little bit looser (they aren't really loose, still tight, just not overly tight).
    Paul | IG- @psulja
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  10. #10
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power morr's Avatar
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    Ah that's right. I'll just have to mess with mine and see how it works.
    RoadsterLife<3

  11. #11
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! psulja's Avatar
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    Do you still have the gap there with a bunch of wind noise?
    Paul | IG- @psulja
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  12. #12
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power morr's Avatar
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    Yeah. I installed them alone and haven't had a chance to have someone help me. It's obvious even from outside the car, you can see how it's bowed. The worst part is that the two times I did drive a good distance I got caught in a storm. Water kept sporadically seeping in and landed on my hands.
    RoadsterLife<3

  13. #13
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! psulja's Avatar
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    Yea, I was worried about the hardtop possibly warping or cracking with it bowed like that so I wanted to fix it as soon as possible just to be safe.
    Paul | IG- @psulja
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  14. #14
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power morr's Avatar
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    I messed with my brackets with the help of a buddy, and it seems like it got rid of the whistling for the most part. There is still a bit of wind noise and I can feel a slight draft if I put my hand to the top. I'm thinking it'll be like this unless I could sorta flatten the front latches. Seems like the slight angle is the culprit for the top getting pushed upward, because I adjusted them several times... sides first, then front and vice versa to see what worked best. Hell, for all I know it could just be my aging weather stripping.
    RoadsterLife<3

  15. #15
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! psulja's Avatar
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    Glad to hear you got the whistling sorted out for the most part. Is it bowed even a tiny bit that it's whistling? As you were tightening did you have your friend watching to make sure it didn't start to bend?
    Paul | IG- @psulja
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