How does one remove the rear top?
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: At Home!!
How does one remove the rear top?
Anyone? Is this a one, two, three, fourman job? How hard is it to put back in? I've seen very few Bronco's with it removed. It looks like it can be a pain in the ****. I need to remove it to detect a leak.
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,547
Likes: 6
From: MA
You will need some Torx bits (Torx - 50 I think for the cap). The cap is about 130 pounds if I remember correctly, so its a good idea to have a buddy or two help you out. Where is the leak? Has the cap ever been removed before? Have you checked to see if you have rain gutter cracks? If the cap has never been removed (even if it has), you should check the gutters first. That is one of the notorious areas on broncos.
Rich
Rich
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: At Home!!
What exactly is the gutters? Is that the area above the doors?
I have water appearing after it rains on the rear seat on the drivers side ashtray. Yes water is entering there and that is right about where the cap meets the cab of the truck. Yeah I think I'll need two more besides myself to move that cap. I'd like to remove it just once.. but I bet it would be a pain to install.
I have water appearing after it rains on the rear seat on the drivers side ashtray. Yes water is entering there and that is right about where the cap meets the cab of the truck. Yeah I think I'll need two more besides myself to move that cap. I'd like to remove it just once.. but I bet it would be a pain to install.
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,547
Likes: 6
From: MA
They are those metal lips on the roofline, right above the door. They crack, and water seeps in through them. I know one of the major places that the water from the gutter cracks shows in in the rear cupholders/ashtray. You should take a good look at that are before you pull the cap off. You might want to pull the interior trim at the door, and see if you can look up in there.
Rich
Rich
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, Texas
man, its easy to take off....first take off the trim and then used a wrench and take out the bolts...if you want to take it off frequently..leave the trim off and dont put all of the big bolts back in...2 guys can easily get it off, one if you are clever about it, and i think they wiegh more than 130, or maybe it seems more because it is an akward way of lifting the weight...but its easy
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
My rain cutters on my 96 are cracked and leaked when I first bought it. When it would rain, I would see water near the front seats where the seatbelts mount to the floor. I solved that problem by filling the cracks with clear rtv silicon.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Marquette/ Traverse City
depending on the year of your bronco you might have those saftey torx, the ones with the little nipple in the center. its supper easy to take off, and not heavy at all, i had my mom help me with mine last summer. then when i put it back on, i had one buddy help, not bad at all. do yourself a favor, replace the torx with standerd bolts, it makes it a hell of alot nicer, trust me. its super cool without a top. if you can afford to go buy a soft top for the summers, then you don't ahve to deal with trying to get it back on in a hurry befor it rains
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: At Home!!
Thanks guys. I will check on that gutter area tomorrow. Juice I'm dying to remove the top (of course when it is warmer). I think that is a good idea to replace the torx screws with something a little more common. What were they thinking of putting torx screws on there.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: The South
It was a pretentitive move. Your seat belts are attached to the fiberglass top and you also have a third brake light on your top. All of these would have to be disconnected to get the top off and Ford decided instead of letting people think for themselves they would rather just put Torx bolts in so that people couldnt take them off. Oh well... just by a wrench or I think you can break the nubs on the bolts and use hex keys or allen wrenches to get them off... dont take my word for it though.
PLEASE take the top off your bronc. I live in TN and do not get as many chances to go topless as I would like due to sporatic weather. (Indiana was no better) but it is a shame on a nice day to see a bronco with her top on... they deserver better than that!
Later,
Mcnabb
PLEASE take the top off your bronc. I live in TN and do not get as many chances to go topless as I would like due to sporatic weather. (Indiana was no better) but it is a shame on a nice day to see a bronco with her top on... they deserver better than that!
Later,
Mcnabb
