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How does one remove the rear top?

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Old Apr 15, 2004 | 08:16 PM
  #1  
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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.
 
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Old Apr 15, 2004 | 09:05 PM
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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
 
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Old Apr 15, 2004 | 09:39 PM
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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.
 
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Old Apr 15, 2004 | 09:53 PM
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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
 
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Old Apr 15, 2004 | 09:59 PM
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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
 
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Old Apr 15, 2004 | 10:43 PM
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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.
 
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Old Apr 15, 2004 | 11:23 PM
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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
 
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Old Apr 16, 2004 | 12:18 AM
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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.
 
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Old Apr 16, 2004 | 12:29 AM
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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
 
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Old Apr 16, 2004 | 12:36 AM
  #10  
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Did the 90 models have the stupid torx screws? Also how hard is it to put back on with one person?
 
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Old Apr 16, 2004 | 07:47 AM
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The 90 models did NOT. But entomber has a 95 and those DID.

The 90 models are even easier to take topless.

Especially when you only have 3 bolts in it!v

Later

McNabb
 
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Old Apr 16, 2004 | 03:07 PM
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yea...mines a 90 with regular bolts...i just used and allen wrench....comes off easy
 
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Old Apr 16, 2004 | 03:09 PM
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wait, mines an '89 and it has hex bolts. Why does your 90 use allen wrench heads? odd...

McNabb
 
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Old Apr 16, 2004 | 05:36 PM
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Yeah i just looked at mine and it has normal bolts. Now i just gotta find someone to help me take it off, lol. If i can find someone to help then ill be going topless this weekend.
 
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Old Apr 16, 2004 | 05:47 PM
  #15  
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I took the top off of my 87 today. It was just me and my 12 year old girl. Can't be to tough.
 
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