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So I have the dripping hydraulic fluid above me in the forward latch area of the convertible top.
Looks like this is a job that lay ahead of me.
When I looked around at the hydraulic hoses that need to be replaced and their cost, I was surprised at the price.
I am seeing 400+ dollars for a set of hoses which to me seems very high for what they are.
They are straight up, high pressure hydraulic line and there is certainly not 400 dollars worth of "special" to them.
My assumption is that they get this type of money for them only because they use some sort of proprietary or hard to find connections.
Has anyone sourced these lines or connectors or alternatives out over time?
My feeling is that is no one has found a more cost effective solution and the possibility lays there, I am going to source or even change the type of hydraulic connections that are used so that any hydraulic line shop could easily make them. Off the top of my head, I doubt that a set would or should cost more than 75.00 brand new. My race bikes all use braided stainless lines and these aren't any different. You can even get them coated (in any color you like lol)
You are right in the connections are the main source for expense. My local shop had nothing that would work and pretty much didn't make a big effort.
I did use Top Hydraulics for lines and had the rams done at the same time.
Can not stress enough the quality and quick turn around of them. Some where years ago we had the discussion on here and some over seas members have been able to come up with a answer.
Hope you have lots of room to lay things out, as you have to take the interior of the car out, Gus has a real good write up and pictures. I and Jon89 did mine and we also have some screw by screw instructions on the rear ones. Which is most informative for the interior experience.
There is now a less expensive source for the hydraulic hoses than Top Hydraulics (even though they must be shipped from the UK). Go to www.cabriolet-roof-hoses.com to check them out. Last time I looked (June 2019), they are about half the cost that Top Hydraulics charges. All hoses and fittings are an exact match for OEM and come with a lifetime warranty....
I used Cabriolet Hydraulics out of Bradenton Fl - approximately $600 for a complete set but you can order just latch or just ram hoses. I only did the ram hoses - cost me just under $400 and I did have to send them my old so they could reuse 1 specific and unique connector on the passenger side ram. These and the Top Hydraulics hoses are better quality than OEM
Bernie - is that just the latch hoses or ram hoses also? If you also ordered the ram hoses, doublecheck the bottom connection on the passenger side ram - mine was a unique bayonet type connection held in place with a clip. A few others have ordered hoses to find they had the same weird connection and the new hose wouldn't work.
08-25-2019, 04:05 PM
Hydraulic Hose Cost on RagTop
