KLA Industries Convertible Top Fix review

[Obin Robinson]

i posted this on a general automotive site but thought that the people here would benefit from it as well:

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a while ago i was at the Porsche dealership and i saw a Boxster in the service bad which had the convertible top ripped badly. this happened when the plastic rod end failed. this ghastly sight caused me to immediately go out and purchase these:

Boxster Top Fix

In the convertible top mechanism, Porsche uses a plastic rod end that pulls/pushes the top when operating. There have been instances of this piece breaking possibly causing some major damage to the tonneau cover. I've heard reports of up to $2000 damage. The dealers will only sell you the whole rod. The ends are not sold separately. I have come up with a metal replacement for the ends that will not break and probably outlast the car. In the picture, the factory piece is on top. The replacement is on the bottom. One price will get you a new pair of ends(one for each side), complete replacement instructions.

today i had a day off and decided to install these in my car. they are cheap insurance against what could be a $1,000+ repair. to sum it up the instructions that come with the parts are somewhat helpful but not really as helpful as they need to be. the tools you'll need (which they don't totally specify) include:

- fender protectors so you don't scratch your car
- a 19mm socket to take the big bolt off
- thread locker for when you are re-installing the big bolt
- a 10mm socket to take the tonneau cover off and adjust the rod end arm
- a really long (like maybe 12" or so) but thin-bladed flat head screwdriver
- a PAINT CAN OPENER which you will use to take the old rod ends off. if you don't have one then you'll need something which resembles a spoon or a tiny crowbar. trust me you'll need it or you'll be pissed you didn't have it
- touch-up paint in your car's color to use if you scratch soemething while repairing the car (might happen on or near the inner rod end
- lots of rubber detailing materials which you'll use to clean the soft top drainage tray
- moly grease which you'll use to make sure everything slides along smoothly when you're done

the bad part about this upgrade/fix:

installation was a pain in the freaking ass. i am a fairly skilled individual. i've built racing engines; i've rebuilt complex optical gear; i've worked on fighter jets; i've built computer networks; i've built firearms; and i currently am an Aviation Structural Mechanic on the most complex and heavy maintenance flying machine the U.S. Navy has in it's inventory: the MH-53E Sea Dragon. this job is straightforward but it's one of those "adult human hands are way too big for this" jobs. if you had infant-sized hands with brute strength it would be easy: but we don't so it isn't easy. i found myself yelling several choice obscenities while installing these parts. it even crossed my mind halfway through the job to call up KLA Industries and cuss them out... but i didn't. this is one of those jobs where you almost would rather have paid someone else to do this for you. needless to say once you get the rod ends ON then everything after it is easy.

the good part:

i now don't have to worry about the soft top getting ripped up if the plastic rod end fails. i feel confident operating the convertible knowing that these solid metal rod ends are built well and are certainly not the weak link in the convertible top.

while the tonneau cover was off i decided to change the air filter in my car as well. that was actually a very easy job. it's the FIRST time i've seen the top of the engine in my car since i purchased it in November of last year. i was pleased that it was in perfect shape. i thank whoever was the previous owner of my car because they seriously took excellent care of it and it shows.

all in all i give KLA Industries' Convertible Top Fix a 9 for materials, but a 5 for the instructions. if anyone decides to do this upgrade in the future DO NOT hesitate to IM me a few days before you do it. i might be able to give you some tips that will make the chore easier than it was for me.

pic for views:


obin

[Wayne 962]

Thanks for the post, I have an article on this replacement right here:

Pelican Technical Article: Convertible Top Repair - 986 Boxster (1997-04) - 987 Boxster (2005-08)

I'm not so sure I can recommend metal ends though, as when these break, it's not because they are worn out, it's because something got caught on the roof. I would actually design these to be weaker, not stronger, so that they break off instead of destroying your transmission mechanism (as happened with my car). Based upon my own experience, I'm not sure I would recommend the metal ones.

-Wayne