Jon89 and I replaced the hoses and rams on my 2000 XK8 in the spring of 2015 and after we checked it, down it went and until February 1st, (couple of days ago), the car was only used on nice days and covered and on charge when not in use.
The wife needed the truck and golf was scheduled and 38 degrees. Hit the button, 20 seconds later it was up and locked.
We must have done a good job.
Wind blew 20 MPH and 48 degrees, heater worked fine but the heated seats has convinced me I've been driving the wrong car. LOL

Wayne

 

Very nice, CJD;
I'm doing the hoses this weekend on my '00 XK8 (just got the box today from TopHydraulics) - any tips you can offer?

 

Tom,

After Wayne and I finished doing this job in April 2015, we wrote up our detailed step-by-step repair procedure in a post entitled "2000 XK8 Ragtop Rams / Rear Hoses Replacement". Use that title as your search phrase and it should pop up for you pretty quickly. Good luck and let us know how it turns out....



Wayne,

Great to hear that your top raised and locked perfectly on the first try after nearly three years have passed since we fixed that rear leak at the rams. Kudos to Top Hydraulics for superior-quality products and as you said, us taking the time to do it right certainly seemed to pay off....

 

Thanks Jon, Too bad Tom didn't say where he is, might have made a road trip.
Tom as Jon said, not only step by step on the rears and rams but even the wrench size for every nut and screw. Hope you have lots of room to put things.
Gus has a DIY on the front hoses, pictures and the works.
Good luck. Wayne

 

Yes Wayne, heated seats do work well... at times too hot. although I do turn them on to keep take home food warm in the passenger seat till I get home.

 

I too very pleased with top hydraulics. It has been almost 4 years now since they overhauled both rams, top latch and supplied hoses. Nice thing about hoses Tom is they are not as fat as my original hoses were. Fit through the tiny little spots easier. By the way, I use the top often. Up and down regularly with new found confidence. . Lots of luck. Rich

 

Hey Wayne if you're looking for a road trip - getting ready to tackle rear suspension!!

 

Are you in for a lot of fun.
Jon and I did his wife's rear shocks, they were standard.
OK, we got the job done, BUT!. Do the drop of the rear crossover bars and pull down the suspension. Read up on it first from Motorcarman.
I have not tried it his way, but can see he is the man when it comes to the easy way. Getting spring compressors in there was not something for the average guy.
After discovering we could take the bottom pin out and keep the alignment, it was not such a big deal. Turning it aside made it simple.
While in there, check brakes, rotors and of course hand brake pads. All of that out of the way makes it a little easier on the weight you have to move around.
I'm sure you know all about it and when do you plan to take on this self torture?
Jon is coming down in a week or so and we are doing the oil leak in the power steering hose. No big deal, just fun to get together.
Wayne

 

Wayne - yeah been reading up and was going to try motorcarman's method. when is the big question - finishing up a kitchen reno (trim work and flooring are all that is left) so hopefully between now and mid March