How Do I Fix my 2002-2005 Thunderbird’s Soft Top Latch?
– If you’ve had problems with your Thunderbird’s convertible soft top, you’re not alone. All 2002-2005 Thunderbirds came equipped with a power convertible soft top. It’s convenient and easy to use, but the latch mechanism can be problematic. The most common issue involves the ‘J’ hook latches on either side of the convertible top header. The ‘J’ hooks themselves are quite sturdy, but the weak point is the small ‘pivot pin’ which holds the ‘J’ hook and the small springs and bushings that hold the pivot pin in place.
Why do the latches come apart?
As mentioned previously, the weak point in the convertible soft top latch mechanism is the small ‘pivot pin’ which holds the ‘J’ hook. This pin is made of a rather weak type of metal, and over time and continual use, it becomes fatigued and may eventually break. When the pivot pin breaks, the small spring and plastic bushings can fall out, making the entire latch unusable. Another common problem arises when the plastic bushings on either side of the hinge pin break or become worn and ‘compress.’ When one or more of the stock plastic bushings break, the ‘pivot pin’ and ‘J’ hook can slide out of position, making it difficult to line up the ‘J’ hooks with the recessed notches in the windshield header.
What can I do when the pivot pin, bushings, spring or ‘J’ hook breaks?
The ‘J’ hook, pivot pin, bushings and springs are all part of the soft top latch or ‘clamp’ assembly, and with the exception of the ‘J’ hook itself, cannot be purchased separately, but must be purchased as a complete assembly which costs nearly $ 300. Replacing the entire clamp assembly, including parts and labor, can cost $ 700 or more if done by a Ford or Lincoln dealer.
Isn’t there a less expensive way to repair the broken latch?
Yes, there is. But your Ford dealer doesn’t know it, and will recommend replacement of the entire clamp assembly. Fortunately we offer an inexpensive repair kit that allows you to fix the problem for a small fraction of the cost of replacing the entire clamp assembly. Our kit includes two ‘hinge pins,’ fabricated from metal, and four bronze bushings, which replace the OEM plastic bushings. The ‘hinge pins fit into the hole in the ‘foot’ of the ‘pivot pin’ and hold it in place with bushings for both ends. If you’re handy, you can easily perform this repair yourself. If you’re not a do-it-yourselfer, any local upholstery shop should be able to complete the simple job in minutes. Either way you’ll save hundreds on the cost of a complete header clamp assembly replacement, and the new pivot pins and brass bushings will last for years.
But what if the ‘Pivot Pin’ that holds the ‘J’ hook is broken?
The photo at the top of this page shows a broken swing arm or ‘Pivot Pin.’ The break in the pivot pin typically occurs at the base, or ‘foot,’ where the hole that holds the short ‘hinge pin’ is located. If one or both of these black ‘Pivot Pins’ on your 2002-2005 Thunderbird are broken, we can help! We’ve recently introduced a replacement for the Swing Arm/Pivot Pin. Ours is custom- fabricated from metal and painted black to match the Ford OEM part. Ours also features the small threaded hole for the small set screw that holds the ‘J’ hook in place.
If the problem with your Thunderbird’s soft top latch is one or more broken bushings or a lost or broken spring, then our kit will allow you to perform a fairly quick and simple repair. Our kit includes a very detailed, fully illustrated, 13-page instruction guide to help you through the repair process.
You won’t find our repair kit at any Ford dealer or any retail store. And it’s not available on Amazon or Ebay either. But we have it in stock for immediate shipment.
Click here to order: https://www.thunderbirdspecialties.com/shop/thunderbird-soft-top-latch-repair-kit-2002-2005/
Please note that our 2002-2005 Thunderbird Soft Top Latch Repair Kit comes in five different variations depending on which parts you need. Be sure to select the kit the includes the parts you need. Our kits do not include the ‘J’ hooks, however, we do sell them separately and you can order either one or two as needed.
If you’ve lost one or more ‘J’ hooks, we have them too. Click here to order:https://www.thunderbirdspecialties.com/shop/thunderbird-convertible-top-j-hook-oem-02-05-thunderbird/
If you’re not sure which parts you need, or if you have further questions about your Thunderbird’s soft top latch mechanism, feel free to e-mail us using the contact link on our home page or call us at: 310-589-1000. We’ll be happy to answer all your questions and make sure you get the parts you need!
