2002 Miata Top Replacement

[@skyhawk7935]

People, from a pro who has swapped Miata tops about 6 times now, make it easy. Remove the rain rail fasteners. Remove the B pillar trim. Remove the 3 bolts on each side for the frame. Lift the whole top off. Remove the old top and install the new one off the car onto the frame. Once that's done, just bolt the frame back in and fight the rain rail back in. Makes it a lot easier.

[@Batman825]

I thought that's what I did?

[@craigleifeld6473]

Thank you for posting this! It really helped me get through replacing my 1999 top. I’ve had a new sunfast top for about 4 years but finally attempted it!

[@kingsleychong913]

Great instructive video. I just had my 96 MX5 top replaced. The Mazda dealer told me that it would be a labor intensive job likely to take up most of the day. The rain rail had to be replaced.. I would never try to do the install myself as I am a total nerd when it comes to fixit projects. So the dealer replaced the old black vinyl top with the plastic window with a OEM top with a fixed glass window. Your video sure was mighty fine! Thanks for your efforts!

[@Batman825]

Thank you for the compliment. I am a video learner and that's why I make the videos to help others who learn the same. Good choice to pay someone it was not an easy thing to do. You will like the glass window over the Plastic one. I remember my first Miata a 94 with that PIA plastic window.

[@billryan4811]

Great video! It convinced me at the age of 72 with joint problems to hire the job out. Lol! Good job on the video though.

[@elementlife2625]

2020 replaced my soft top with my friend thanks to this video. Took about 10 hours but the finish result was great. Thanks.

[@Batman825]

I'm glad it helped.

[@jacksonbaer3939]

this is hands down the best video for this, thank you for showing everhthing

[@Batman825]

Thanks, I'm glad I could help

[@nicpro85]

Congratulation. We did the job with my brother on our 1998 NB, bolting back the rain rail was a nightmare. I think I abandoned twice...

[@Batman825]

Yes, that rain rail is a B.

[@DadsAlwaysHurt]

Great job. Thank you for taking the time to record this job and providing so many details. Helped a lot.

[@Ricky_H]

Great job on showing the details, Bob. Thank you!

[@ZZZRaven65]

Thanks for recording this... very informative/helpful. I just ordered a new Robbins top for my 2000 SE and this will be my first time attempting this job (at age 55). I'm debating whether to do it with the frame in the car or pull it out like you did. I've been reading all the posts & watching videos I can find and I haven't really found a consensus. Some people prefer it one way and some the other. Thanks again.

[@Batman825]

I debated that also but after doing it, it's easier to put the new top on with the frame out. It's really not that hard to take it out and you have better access to putting the new top on out of the car. Better access to the screws that are in harder to access with the frame in the car.

[@Gustaf1965]

My 16 year old son and I just replaced the top on my 2000, which he will be using when he gets his license. It took us about 5 hours. We did not take out the frame and had no real problems. Some of the screws are tough to get to and you need to do some creative problem solving, but it all fits together and looks great. Good luck.

[@gavacho510]

Looking to attempt this soon on my 2000 SE aswell Any recommendations on different soft tops from your personal use?

[@isabelperezgil8896]

Honestly thank you for this video glad to see I wasn’t the only one struggling 😭😂

[@brihal6498]

Great video. Helped a ton! New top looks amazing. Its been on for a few days and has loosened up. Hope it loosens up more ✌

[@Batman825]

Glad it helped.

[@radiorobinkeith208]

Great job. Thanks for making the video. I have this endeavor ahead of me, but I'm probably going to hire someone to do it.

[@billwarganich1875]

Thanks for the video removed top today putting new top on tomorrow. I did my geo metro convertible years ago the Miata is definitely more difficult

[@jukeboxheros7021]

I really need to clean out my garage and yes, always keep your golf clubs inside😀, I'm been riding a 98 softail forever, it shakes my bones🤣

[@RalphColmar]

Thanks for sharing this really helped, just done a straight swap disintergrating vynil for a 2nd hand cloth which came on a frame for my 2002 SVT, strangley I took out the same seat, which here in the UK is the passenger seat, think it might have given me a bit more room, only problem I have is I cant get the front rail to fit flush with the windscreen frame, my catches are already fully adjusted to the tightest fit, any tips welcome. PS Mine is also red but with black interior, going to start looking for some beige interior parts, looks so much cooler ;-)

[@Batman825]

Not sure why it won't fit flush? Usually the top is so tight you can't close it. Sorry, don't have any ideas for you. Glad the video helped. I've got seat covers over my beige seats. The leather ones are pretty worn from use. I like the beige interior also.

[@RolandGraham-h3y]

90 minute alarm soft top clash window. Just got the chiro, can't figure out how to put the top-down. The class window won't let it fall any suggestions.

[@Batman825]

Make sure the wind screen is up and not folded down.

[@privatejr2702]

First off, thank you so much for recording the process. Second is your top from auto tops direct? mine looks almost exactly the same except that it doesnt have the tension cable sleeves. im wondering if its a defect

[@Batman825]

In my comments I put links to where I bought the top and also the tension wires if you need them. I got the top from Amazon. I guess I don't know what you mean by the sleeves? If you don't have a channel in the top to put the tension wires through then you might have a defect as you need those to keep the edge of the top tight.

[@privatejr2702]

@@Batman825 okay thats what i meant the channels for the tension wires are missing. I guess i gotta return it then, thanks for the help!

[@peterconneely9766]

You don't need to remove the frame to replace the top. You can easily get to all the rivets and screws if you position the frame in the right way also you should put trim adhesive on the header bow

[@privatejr2702]

is the header bow the only place that adhesive needs to go?

[@peterconneely9766]

@@privatejr2702 yes . I got a Robbins top It fit really good. It came with instructions . you should replace the cables too . Get one with the rain rail already installed it makes it a lot easier It has to have two holes where the cables run through look closely at it. Its not a separate channel for the cables

[@bobbyrice]

OMG! I don't wanna do this! If my new top wasn't out for delivery today I would think duct tape is sounding a whole lot better.

[@Batman825]

"Man's got to know his limitations." - Dirty Harry

[@bobbyrice]

@@Batman825 Ah, the worst thing that could happen is that I ruin both tops during the process. I'll give it my best.

[@Batman825]

@@bobbyrice Best advice I can give you is pull the top frame out and work on it outside the car. Put everything together before you put the top in the car. That way the only thing you have to connect is the rain rail which is a PIA! I put the top back in the car before I did the side connections and that made it a lot harder to do.

[@bobbyrice]

@@Batman825 Thank you. It's sitting in my garage now and we have 50° temperatures in Florida right now. I don't know how that's gonna work with stretching the vinyl, but I do appreciate any and all help! -actually, it'll be 38° by morning. Maybe I should wait out the weather.

[@Batman825]

@@bobbyrice Assemble it in your house then put the top outside in the sun for a few hours. It will be easier to install if the top is warm. You can do the same when you stretch the top the first time.

[@robertwilkins7498]

Who was the manufacture of the top you put on? Robbins?? The Robbins top I have is a poor fit.

[@Batman825]

AutoBerry The link is in the description.

[@nclivin4220]

Why didn't you show any details about the rain rail? That's the only reason I watched this video and you skipped over that whole part.

[@Batman825]

There wasn't much to show. I purchased the top with the rain rail installed so the only part to show is bolting it back in. Which was a PITA! I wouldn't suggest buying a top without the rain rail installed. If that's what you are talking about.

[@nclivin4220]

@@Batman825 yeah it is a pita. I figured it out though. Thanks for the response

[@narcissistinjurygiver2932]

anyone know where to get new carpet for the nb miata? i am doing the top and seats now. i would like to throw out the old carpet. any info you have i would appreciate

[@Beybladeawsomeness]

I’m pretty sure Moss Miata has full carpet kits, not sure on pricing though

[@ImRazzii]

I just got done installing mine but it looks like yours where it just doesn’t close. Hopefully the sun will do it tomorrow, but it is canvas

[@Batman825]

get as much play in the latch as you can and it will stretch in the sun.

[@TopEverything-fd1zm]

How can I buy some bolts that will fit the carpet? Are universal clips good?

[@Batman825]

I don't know how to answer that as I'm not sure what bolts you are talking about.

[@michaelludwig2519]

How is the soft top holding up? any problems?

[@Batman825]

The top is holding out great. The only issue I have is the inner liner, it's not tight across the bars and it rubs my head when driving. I have to tighten it when I drive but for the price it's a nice top.

[@louisgentile4758]

Where did you get the top from

[@Batman825]

The parts I used is in the description of the video.

[@micheleobrien1351]

Too involved for me I'll hire someone. Where do you live?

[@Batman825]

Arizona

[@fixingproblems3183]

Rivet size did you use ?

[@Batman825]

Sorry I don't remember or knew the size. I had an assortment in my shop and just used the ones that fit.

[@vernstcoeur9736]

stop watching 22:31 once you started hacking up the top. Couldn't bare to watch the rest..

[@blazers12369]

I cut the strap at 16 Mins then saw that part