Taking top off.

[creedua]

I know you more experienced guys are tired of hearing this question. But here goes. I bought a '96 bronco a couple of months ago, I know you can remove the top, but everyone tells me it will leak if I do. What gives? If there is no danger of leaking how do you do it?

 

[firelt90bronco]

If the gaskets are shot, it will leak. Pull it off and enjoy

 

[Justbust1n]

dont forget that special socket you have to do it , that can sometime be a pain to find !

 

[creedua]

dont forget that special socket you have to do it , that can sometime be a pain to find !

Where would one find this socket?

 

[Roadkill]

Where would one find this socket?

It is a "tamper resistant" torx bit. In other words it is a torx with a little hole in the center to acomodate a little pin in the center of the ***** head. You can use this special torx on a regular torx ***** but you can't use a regular torx bit on the "tamper resistant" *****. I can't remember the size off the top of my head, but I got mine as part of a set at Sears. The set had 7 or 8 bits in it and included all the sizes I have needed so far on my 96 model. (arm rest bolt, seatbelt bolt, tail light *****)

I have removed and reinstalled my top many times and it has never leaked. When you get it off you will see why leaks (or water leaks anyway) are unlikely. Dust or air may get through but it has a sort of gutter system to direct water outwards instead of inward. Maybe the older models are designed a lttle different I don't really know about that.

 

[broncobob58]

Iv'e heard the same thing that they leak if you take the top off.The original owner told me that the top has never been off.His kids always wanted him to take it off but he was afraid it would start leaking.This last fall I joined a ford truck club and one of the members has a 96 bronco and he said he had the top off a few times and it never leaked.He said the same thing about a channel that directs water away from the inside so maybe this summer I might decide to bite the bullet and take it off.

 

[Roadkill]

You will not regret it! Just remember that in the 92 and later, you will lose use of the outboard seatbelts with the top off. (the shoulder strap connects to the top). Simple fix is to get a set of lapbelts that has the same connector as your existing seatbelts. Securely fasten them to the floor and you are good to go. Got to keep those little one safe!

 

[Yardape]

I would recommend getting the rear seat out of a '91 or older Bronco, they have the lapbelts built in.

 

[Roadkill]

I would recommend getting the rear seat out of a '91 or older Bronco, they have the lapbelts built in.

Damn, I wish I had thought of that about two years ago! :wacko:

 

[KJEfting]

If the top has never been off before and it doesn't leak now, you should be good to go. The "tamper proof" torx bits are available at AutoZone as well. Those bolts might be tough to get out initially if the top has never been removed before. I recommend replacing the "tamper proof" bolts with hex head stainless bolts. They'll be ten times easier to get off the second time.

 

[ilystbronco]

i take my top off of my 95 bronco every summer and i have never had a problem the only thing is that i have one small leek because i am missing a gasket but its no problem so u should not realy worry about leeks. if u do then just get new gaskets.

 

[Big Ragu]

Well living in central Florida for only 5 years and coming from northern new york 45 to 65 degrees is like summer to me so I have my top off all the time . I would say 20 days out off every month ( wife wont ride in truck when top is off .......says it does bad things to her hair, Oh well I say ......Take your car than...me and the boy like it just fine.....HAHAHA) I have it down to 10 mins to take the top off with my cordless drill. I bought a new seal before I took it off the first time just in case it ripped still have seal in the bag. And yes like the almighty "YardApe" said I went to a local junk yard were I new the was a wreaked bronco I think it was a 90 not sure though. The seat was kinda rough but a good cleaning and a seat cover you would never know it was not the seat the truck came with. What I'm getting at is TAKE IT OFF!! and enjoy the truck the way it was meant to be. The rear seat belts need to be right though. you dont wont anybody getting hurt.........Ragu