Hardtop Index Pins (1 Viewer)

[Sky King]

I was messing around with my hardtop today that is off the vehicle at the moment. What I was doing was straightening the one pin on the driver side that was bent and made it difficult to remove the top. The pins or pipes (they're hollow) are about 9'' long and looking at them I'm thinking 5 inches of that could be cut off and still have them work. There is probably a reason for the at length but I can't think of it. Have any of you shortened these or is that a big no no? It seems to me the top would easier to put back on if they were shorter.

 

[77mustard40]

Just a guess but there is probably some science behind their length, I've never tried to look into the 'hole' to see if they anchor into another location at the bottom.

 

[Living in the Past]

The pipe goes thru a second hole further down. Once seated a bolt in the back side of the B pillar in the tub tightens against the pipe. A nut on that bolt locks it in place. If you had just two sides alone. One with the full length pipe and other short. Bolt them in place and rock the side from the top top at the B pillar you would see the purpose of the pipe. FJ45 pickups only have a Indexing pipe. It 's only a couple of inches long. That is angled right at the corner which offers more strength.