My brother and I just finished replacing the soft top on my NB2. It was a Robbins glass window top with no rain rail included. Don't bother with the cheap ebay tops, if it fits at all, it won't last long and will probably leak. This is most definitely a 2 person job. It took us about 4 hours. My advice is to take extreme care by taking photos and making absolutely sure you know where everything goes, such as routing the tensioning wires and how the top rivets to the frame. Everything else is relatively easy if you have experience wrenching. We ended up using pop rivets *with washers on the back* (very important so you dont damage the rain rail), since we didnt have the proper tools for the included button rivets. If anyone reads this and has questions feel free to ask.
This job is a 9/10 in difficulty. I am a VERY skilled person and you should expect to have your patience tested. Everything up to putting the 13 nuts and 3pieces of rail is pretty straightforward. Take out the seats before you begin.14,Mm box wrench with a hammer to tap them loose followed with a ratchet 4 bolts each seat. Driver seat has a wire connector. I used a milk crate to sit on and a pillow to lean against. You are going to be there for quite a while. I placed a bath towel to keep the top open slightly to leave a little slack. Look at the 3 pieces of rail as each piece has 1 hole with no adjustment. MAKE SURE you put a piece of rag or paper to block your drain holes because you will drop the 10 mm nuts and they will go down the drain. Be prepared for a fight. Good luck.
Tried to use this today to help me and worked great other than the part about the welded bolt that I had to “get off” was pointless. Broke the bolt and had to find a new one for it, and I didn’t even need that part to be disconnected anyway. Kinda messed up the whole process
It goes between the soft top and the top of the frame where you fold it over. Basically all along that lip right above the handle. Does that make sense?
Wow! I just can't get the soft top to catch properly above the windshild--the mechanism isn't damaged, it just won't catch. Any suggestions? I avoid putting the top up because it's so difficult. 1996 Miata MX Please help!!
It’s a Robbins top from Moss Miata. It’s still great, no leaks or issues of any kind. Note that we also have a hard top and don’t drive the car in the winter here in NY.
I just had a new canvas top put on my NC and it looks great. The installer told me to leave the top up for at least a week to let it stretch out. Is that true?
I'm no expert but yes, we did the same. We left it up and let it sit in the sun, after a few days we readjusted the hold downs as it did stretch and loosen up a bit. Good luck with yours!
Put the cross bars in place lined with up with the channels on the inside of the top. On this top those have Velcro on one edge so you simply wrap and close them all the way down the length of the bar.
Nice short video and to the point. 2 questions... where did you buy the top and what brand is it and how much did you pay for the top? Thanks bud. Getting ready to replace mine.
@@Chris_Does_Everything ahhh ok. That makes a lot more sense. This almost made me turn away from an nb I’m gonna see tomorrow, but thanks for the clarification!
WOW! So disappointing! 90% of this video is great but the last 2 minutes leaves you with a top that's only partially connected to the frame and hr just blanks out like none of that other stuff exists! 👎
My brother and I just finished replacing the soft top on my NB2. It was a Robbins glass window top with no rain rail included. Don't bother with the cheap ebay tops, if it fits at all, it won't last long and will probably leak. This is most definitely a 2 person job. It took us about 4 hours. My advice is to take extreme care by taking photos and making absolutely sure you know where everything goes, such as routing the tensioning wires and how the top rivets to the frame. Everything else is relatively easy if you have experience wrenching. We ended up using pop rivets *with washers on the back* (very important so you dont damage the rain rail), since we didnt have the proper tools for the included button rivets. If anyone reads this and has questions feel free to ask.
This job is a 9/10 in difficulty. I am a VERY skilled person and you should expect to have your patience tested. Everything up to putting the 13 nuts and 3pieces of rail is pretty straightforward. Take out the seats before you begin.14,Mm box wrench with a hammer to tap them loose followed with a ratchet 4 bolts each seat. Driver seat has a wire connector. I used a milk crate to sit on and a pillow to lean against. You are going to be there for quite a while. I placed a bath towel to keep the top open slightly to leave a little slack. Look at the 3 pieces of rail as each piece has 1 hole with no adjustment. MAKE SURE you put a piece of rag or paper to block your drain holes because you will drop the 10 mm nuts and they will go down the drain. Be prepared for a fight. Good luck.
Ordered a new soft top, having no idea how to install it. This is so much harder than I thought it was going to be lmao
Tried to use this today to help me and worked great other than the part about the welded bolt that I had to “get off” was pointless. Broke the bolt and had to find a new one for it, and I didn’t even need that part to be disconnected anyway. Kinda messed up the whole process
woo boy, my miata needs new top and this seems tough!
Thank you for showing everything clearly, no wasting time in this video!
What'd you do with that extra tail/piece of canvas sticking up at10:24? I have that too and it seems weird to leave hanging?
Same for me :/
Hi Chris what is the easy way to insert the flap into the groove on the second rib
How hard was it for you to stretch the B pillar sides (Min 9:53) over the sides? I can put one on, but not the other. Driving me crazy.
Ours wasn't too bad, we didn't have any problems with that. Hopefully you worked it out!
Where in the front do you put the weather adhesive? Is it where it connects to the weather strip near the windshield?
It goes between the soft top and the top of the frame where you fold it over. Basically all along that lip right above the handle. Does that make sense?
We are doing this new top. Today great video
Wow! I just can't get the soft top to catch properly above the windshild--the mechanism isn't damaged, it just won't catch. Any suggestions? I avoid putting the top up because it's so difficult. 1996 Miata MX Please help!!
Ever sort this out?
How is the top holding up? Any leaking? Have you replaced it again since? That plastic rear-window worries me. Also, where did you buy it?
It’s a Robbins top from Moss Miata. It’s still great, no leaks or issues of any kind. Note that we also have a hard top and don’t drive the car in the winter here in NY.
Thank-you! This helps us alot!
Great video. I hope I can mimic your work
Is this process the same for a NB?
Yes, depending on which brand it's about the same. The NB frame is slightly different. The glass window tops require support straps.
I just had a new canvas top put on my NC and it looks great. The installer told me to leave the top up for at least a week to let it stretch out. Is that true?
I'm no expert but yes, we did the same. We left it up and let it sit in the sun, after a few days we readjusted the hold downs as it did stretch and loosen up a bit. Good luck with yours!
He hitting the fast forward to many times lol 😂
Thank you so much, you explain everything so well and make this easy.
when you say “secure” the cross bars, what do you mean and how did you do that? I can’t figure it out
Put the cross bars in place lined with up with the channels on the inside of the top. On this top those have Velcro on one edge so you simply wrap and close them all the way down the length of the bar.
How do you know where to attach the rain guard to the bottom of the top?
Pain and suffering
Are you in florida i will pay you to install mines let me know please
Sorry we’re not close to Florida. If you have the tools give it a try, it’s easier than you think!
SD
Nice short video and to the point. 2 questions... where did you buy the top and what brand is it and how much did you pay for the top? Thanks bud. Getting ready to replace mine.
We got it from Moss Miata. It was $380 including a new rain rail.
@@Chris_Does_EverythingThat’s cheap…wonder what it is now?
Excellent video! Very informative! Really good work!
Good video! Thx man.
Is this the tan or the light tan color?
Tan
Around How long did the whole process take ?
It took about 8 hours with two of us working on it for most of that time.
Why did he get up at 5:46 and turn the drill on for no reason 😂
What color top is that? Tan or light tan?
Tan.
Wait you need a welder for this?
Eben A. No....we did because we messed up. If you don’t try to remove the nuts that are welded at the factory you’ll be fine.
🙏👍👊🏻
Smh I need to weld just for a soft top 🤦♂️
You don’t have to weld, just don’t try to take that part of the frame apart - you don’t need to. We made that mistake and then had to weld to fix it.
@@Chris_Does_Everything ahhh ok. That makes a lot more sense. This almost made me turn away from an nb I’m gonna see tomorrow, but thanks for the clarification!
What a shvitz! I don't have time to do all that to replace mine
WOW! So disappointing! 90% of this video is great but the last 2 minutes leaves you with a top that's only partially connected to the frame and hr just blanks out like none of that other stuff exists! 👎
you didnt show actually putting the top on this video is useless no offense