Britax Folding Sunroof

[dailysprinter]

Any one got any roof strengtheners for Britain folding sunroof? Mine flexes at speed

[Carledo]

I used to fit the Britax Weathershield folding sunroof for a living in the late 70s. Even when new, they blow up like a balloon at 80mph from internal air pressure in the car. The Webasto roof, twice the price, was exactly the same. It's not a thing!

Steve

[dollyman]

Steves right, in the case of the Webasto i had one fitted in the 70's to a 3ltr capri and i seem to remember in the instructions you were advised not to try opening it at speed For this reason.

Tony.

[dailysprinter]

I get flex when open. I fitted it without the strenghener to the existing roof as it didn't have them.
I believe they were metal braces fitted under the headlining, that's what I'm after

[Carledo]

Basically, this and the extra wind noise they generate is the main reason for them no longer being in favor. Nowadays glass and metal sunroofs dominate the market since they are quieter, seal better and don't blow up!

Once upon a time, a Webasto/Weathershields roof was a desireable aftermarket accessory and quite sought after. These days it's very much a "Marmite" thing, some still love them as a symbol of a bygone age, others, I suspect the ones who like to drive fast, will go a long way to avoid them!

Steve

[Carledo]

I get flex when open. I fitted it without the strenghener to the existing roof as it didn't have them.
I believe they were metal braces fitted under the headlining, that's what I'm after

Ah, I see what you mean!

This, to be blunt, is the idiots first mistake in fitting a Britax roof to a car which didn't have one! And the main reasons why Britax/Weathershield would never sell kits to the public! I've seen it more times than I care to remember.

As an ex professional fitter of these, I can tell you the 2 brace bars were made bespoke for each car from 1"x 1.5mm mild steel bar, bent to fit the roof profile in a vise to a profile made of ally strip and fixed to the roof cantrails with massive pop rivets. After the hole was cut, these were the first bits in, so a lot of stripping will be needed to put it right.

But because they were bespoke in the first place, it's easy enough to make them. If you don't fancy it yourself, bring the car to mine (once i've located some steel bar) and i'll give it a go, i've not done one since 1977 but i've not forgotten how!

Steve

[RSi]

I had a Webasto blow of my MK2 RS in the mid 80's, vinyl hanging off the car - got it repaired in Perth and as far as I remember it was spot on after that, no issues with it flexing either, or blowing off again

[Galileo]

I quite like my vinyl sunroof, I mean yeah, Steve is dead right and it's noisy as hell and gets worse with speed but then it's a toss up between it and the poor door seals and the shrunken quarter light seals as to which is the loudest so I'm always going to end up having shouty conversations at high speed! I find the best thing to do is just have the thing open and revelling in the melanoma inducing sunburn my face and head is getting, I've made very 'good progress' and still had it open without issue.

[Carledo]

It's OK to HAVE the roof open at speed! What is not so OK is the act of opening it at speed! Because of the way the runners fit in the side channels, just a sloppy fit bar with an oval-ish plastic bush on each end, if it doesn't go back dead square, the pressure inside can blow part or all of it out of the runners and back over the boot, maybe even ripping the whole top away from the 4 small screw that hold the rear edge to the roof!

This is another problem with not having the stiffeners in place. When the roof is closed, it's under tension and a thin, unsupported roof panel can't take the strain and will rip like paper around those 4 screw holes as well as around the pop rivets that hold the front locking bar to the roof. It's not a pretty sight!

Steve

[Galileo]

God yeah, I wouldn't want to open it at speed either, it's a two handed operation!

[dollyman]

It looks like the instructions were right, although i never tested them

Tony.

[TrustNo1]

I've two that have the headlining removed so if I remember I'll take a pic of the brace for you later this week

[TrustNo1]

Steve, what sealant was used on the edges when fitted to the roof was it just normal silicon sealant?