

It is helpful to coil the outer wire
and tape it out of the way until
you are ready for reassembly.

Soft top cover
outer wire
Figure 27



Soft top
cover outer
wire

Figure 28 is provided for
reference showing location of
outer wire.

NOTE: For reassembly:
 Make sure the outer wire is routed
through the hole in the plastic edge of
the soft top cover as shown in Figure
26 above.
 Use a stiff wire to push/pull the outer
wire back through the soft top cover.

13/39

Figure 28

NTB14-076

Bungee
cord

18. Take loose the cloth loop from around
the lower link, shown in Figure 29, as
follows:
a. Unwrap felt cloth tape from around
the cloth loop.
b. Unhook the cloth loop.
Felt cloth
tape

NOTE: For reassembly:
 Make sure the loop is below the
bungee cord as shown.
 Use new felt cloth tape. Use a strip
about 4 inches long.
 Felt cloth tape is listed in the parts
information.

5th bow

Cloth
loop
Figure 29

NOTE: In the next few steps you will remove lower link pins. The location of each pin is
identified by the corresponding photo. It may also be helpful to refer to Figure B2 on
page 34.

Pin

19. Remove the pin shown in Figure 30.

NOTE: This is the pin that was
temporarily installed in the opposite
direction in step 3.
For reassembly, remember to install
temporarily in the direction shown – it will
be installed permanently later.

Figure 30

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NTB14-076

Rear rail
20. Remove the pin shown in Figure 31 as
follows:

Pin

Figure 31

a. Locate the inboard end of the pin.

b. Remove the push-nut.

c. Remove the pin.
Push-nut
Figure 32

NOTE: During removal, you may
find this pin has a push nut as
shown in Figure 32, or an E-clip
with gray colored washer as shown
in Figure 33.

For Reassembly, make sure to install the
new pin with gray colored washer and Eclip as shown in Figure 33.

Gray washer
E-clip
Figure 33

15/39

NTB14-076

3.5 bow
21. Remove the 3.5 bow pin shown in
Figure 34 as follows:

Pin

Figure 34

a. Remove the E-clip.
b. Remove the pin.
IMPORTANT for reassembly: Make sure to
use the new pin and E-clip supplied with the
new link.

E-clip

c. You will find one of the following (see
Figure 36):


No washer



Washer in location A



Washer in location B
Figure 35

d. Make a note of what you find so you can reassemble it the same as you found it.
inside

inside

3.5 bow pin
3.5 bow pin

E-clip

E-clip
Washer location A

Washer location B

Figure 36

16/39

NTB14-076

22. Loosen – do not remove – the bolts
shown in Figure 37.

Bolt

NOTE: Loosening these bolts will allow
movement of the soft top hinge
assembly. This movement will provide
additional space for removing the next
3 pins.

Bolt

Bolt

For reassembly, torque to 40.0 N·m
(4.1 kg-m, 30 ft-lb).
Figure 37

23. Remove main pivot pin as follows:

a. Look in the area below the rear rail.
Look in
here

Figure 38

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NTB14-076

Push-on
nut

Main pivot
pin

b. Locate the main pivot pin.

c. Remove the push-on nut.

d. Remove the pin.

Figure 39

NOTE: During removal, you may
find that this pin has a push-on nut
as shown in Figure 39, or an E-clip
as shown in Figure 40.

For Reassembly:
 Make sure to install the new pin with
white washer and E-clip as shown in
Figure 40.
 Install a gray colored washer (not
shown) on the inboard side of the pin.

18/39

White
washer

E-clip

Main pivot
pin

Figure 40

NTB14-076

E-clip

24. Remove the pin connecting the lower
link to the hydraulic cylinder.

Pin

a. Remove the E-clip.
b. Remove the pin.

NOTE: For reassembly, the pin has a gray
colored washer on the outboard side, not
shown here.

Figure 41

Pin
25. Remove the pin shown in Figure 42.

Figure 42

a. Remove the push-on nut.

b. Remove the pin.
Push-on nut

Figure 43

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NTB14-076

26. Remove the lower link from the vehicle.

Lower link

Figure 44

27. Swap the plastic protector from the old
link to the new link.

Plastic
protector

Figure 45



If only the lower linkage assembly is being replaced, install the new one in
reverse order of removal.



If the folding roof upper linkage assembly (upper link) is being replaced, continue
with this procedure.

20/39

NTB14-076

Replacement of Folding Roof Upper Linkage (Upper Link) Assembly
NOTE:


Use protective covers as needed for interior and exterior surfaces while performing
this Service Procedure.



Exploded views are provided on pages 33 through 37 as reference while performing
this procedure.



The lower link must be removed before removing the upper link.



Replace both links, one side at a time.

Recommendation: The following will be very helpful for reassembly:


Pay close attention to the location and fit of all parts during removal.



Keep all screws, clips, pins, and nuts separated so their reassembly location can be
easily identified.

1. Remove the weather-strip from the
center rail.

Weather-strip

Figure A1

Weather-strip
Retainer
2. Remove the center rail weather-strip
retainer.


Retainer is held on with 3 screws.
Screw
Screw

Screw

Figure A2
21/39

NTB14-076

2nd bow
3. Disconnect the 2nd bow from the upper
link as follows.

Figure A3

2nd bow
a. Locate the inboard side of the
support pin.

b. Remove the push-on nut.
Push-on nut
NOTE: Make sure to use the chrome
caped push-on nut for reassembly.

Figure A4

c. Take the bow loose from the pin.


2nd bow

Use a medium size flat blade
screwdriver as leverage to
remove the bow from the pin.

Pin

Figure A5

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NTB14-076

3rd bow
4. Disconnect the 3rd bow from the upper
link as follows:

Figure A6

a. Locate the inboard side of the
support pin.
b. Remove the push-on nut.
c. Take the bow loose from the pin.


Use a medium size flat blade
screwdriver as leverage to
remove the bow from the pin.

Push-on nut
Figure A7

NOTE: During removal, you may
find that this pin has no washer as
shown in Figure A7, or a white
washer as shown in Figure A8.
For Reassembly, make sure to install the
white washer as shown in in Figure A8.

White
washer

Push-on nut
Figure A8

23/39

NTB14-076

3rd bow

3.5 bow

5. Disconnect the 3.5 bow from the upper
link as follows:

Figure A9

a. Locate the inboard side of the
support pin.
Push-on
nut

b. Remove the push-on nut.

c. Remove the pin.

Figure A10

NOTE: During removal, you may
find that this pin has a push-on nut
as shown in Figure A10, or a clip as
shown in Figure A11.
For Reassembly, make sure to install the
new pin with clip as shown in Figure A11.

.

Clip

Figure A11

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NTB14-076

4th bow
6. Disconnect the 4th bow from the upper
link as follows:

Figure A12

a. Locate the inboard side of the
support pin.

b. Remove the push-on nut.

c. Remove the pin.

Push-on
nut

.

Figure A13

25/39