Nissan 370Z Forum - View Single Post - Questions on your Roadster's top hydraulic system?

gbhrps · 03-27-2019, 08:50 PM

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since my above post of 3 days ago, Klaus of Top Hydraulics and I have had some back and forth email conversations. I thought I should share some of what he shared with me.

If you haven't watched the videos (there are three or four of them in a row, one after another, you need to wait for the next one to fire up) listed in kasagis' first post above ... you should. Each one shows the steps involved to get to the hoses and rams, how to disconnect and then reinstall them. The last video even shows how to remove the old 5th bow bungee cords and then reinstall new ones.

When you see the entire wiring and hydraulic system as one piece removed from the top assembly, you begin to realize just how simple (some of you would say intricate) it is. Personally I don't see it as daunting, and should my top ever give me an issue, I for one will be diving into it.

One starts to understand why Nissan has basically a one fix for all solution ... replace everything. They sure don't want their techs tearing into things and then from inexperience, spending days to correct a set of hydraulic piping and replacing a ram or two, and then still have an issue and a customer screaming about a $4000 fix that still leaks oil or similar.

The videos show the more common top issues suffered on the 370Z (from a hydraulic aspect) and how to get at the parts and replace them.

I asked Klaus if one should just replace all of the rams and hoses and rebuild the pump all in one go if you have an issue with some part of it.

His response was "not necessarily", because people living in colder regions had issues with hoses leaking due to lack of hose flexibility, while those in hotter regions suffered more from ram seal deterioration due to heat.

The cautionary tale here is, I guess, to say that those who live in colder climates, make sure it is warm before cycling the top up or down, and when not in use ... leave it up to place less stress on the hoses at their flex points at the top frame hinge areas.

Likewise, those of us in warmer sections of North America, try to park the car out of the sun, and crack the windows open or down wherever possible, to prevent and slow down ram seal deterioration.

I'll keep everyone posted if Klaus gives up something more to share. (and no I don't have any top issues at present. Klaus saw my post above and wanted to thank me and clarify a few things, stressing that Top Hydraulics don't see themselves as the "saviours of 370Z
Roadster convertible tops", but rather a company committed to help solve some of the top issues we have.

Gene

03-27-2019, 08:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
gbhrps Base Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 213 Drives: 2016 RDSTR TS 6spd Rep Power: 7996	Ladies and Gentlemen, Since my above post of 3 days ago, Klaus of Top Hydraulics and I have had some back and forth email conversations. I thought I should share some of what he shared with me. If you haven't watched the videos (there are three or four of them in a row, one after another, you need to wait for the next one to fire up) listed in kasagis' first post above ... you should. Each one shows the steps involved to get to the hoses and rams, how to disconnect and then reinstall them. The last video even shows how to remove the old 5th bow bungee cords and then reinstall new ones. When you see the entire wiring and hydraulic system as one piece removed from the top assembly, you begin to realize just how simple (some of you would say intricate) it is. Personally I don't see it as daunting, and should my top ever give me an issue, I for one will be diving into it. One starts to understand why Nissan has basically a one fix for all solution ... replace everything. They sure don't want their techs tearing into things and then from inexperience, spending days to correct a set of hydraulic piping and replacing a ram or two, and then still have an issue and a customer screaming about a $4000 fix that still leaks oil or similar. The videos show the more common top issues suffered on the 370Z (from a hydraulic aspect) and how to get at the parts and replace them. I asked Klaus if one should just replace all of the rams and hoses and rebuild the pump all in one go if you have an issue with some part of it. His response was "not necessarily", because people living in colder regions had issues with hoses leaking due to lack of hose flexibility, while those in hotter regions suffered more from ram seal deterioration due to heat. The cautionary tale here is, I guess, to say that those who live in colder climates, make sure it is warm before cycling the top up or down, and when not in use ... leave it up to place less stress on the hoses at their flex points at the top frame hinge areas. Likewise, those of us in warmer sections of North America, try to park the car out of the sun, and crack the windows open or down wherever possible, to prevent and slow down ram seal deterioration. I'll keep everyone posted if Klaus gives up something more to share. (and no I don't have any top issues at present. Klaus saw my post above and wanted to thank me and clarify a few things, stressing that Top Hydraulics don't see themselves as the "saviours of 370Z Roadster convertible tops", but rather a company committed to help solve some of the top issues we have. Gene Last edited by gbhrps; 03-27-2019 at 08:57 PM.