Miata rain rail qurstion: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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June 30, 2009 2:31 p.m. petegossett Dork

Along with the rear brakes, I'm also putting a new top on my 96 Miata & have a question about the rain rail.

I bought a new top & rain rail separately, but when I pulled the old top out the old rain rail wasn't attached to it at all & I want to make sure I install it all correctly.

I understand the rain rail needs to be riveted to the top, but what's the correct order? Does the rain rail get folded onto its self, then riveted to the outside of the top?(that's how mine was installed). Or does the top get sandwiched in between the layers of the rain rail?(which would make more sense to me).
June 30, 2009 3:12 p.m. Josh HalfDork

It doesn't actually need to be riveted to the top, it's just done for ease of assembly at the factory. Mine came riveted because I ordered them together, but honestly it would have been easier to install them separately, and it definitely makes the rain rail easier to reuse if you replace the top again. The rivets are completely redundant once you bolt the retainer pieces back in.
June 30, 2009 3:32 p.m. joey48442 SuperDork

petegossett wrote:

Along with the rear brakes, I'm also putting a new top on my 96 Miata & have a question about the rain rail.

I bought a new top & rain rail separately, but when I pulled the old top out the old rain rail wasn't attached to it at all & I want to make sure I install it all correctly.

I understand the rain rail needs to be riveted to the top, but what's the correct order? Does the rain rail get folded onto its self, then riveted to the outside of the top?(that's how mine was installed). Or does the top get sandwiched in between the layers of the rain rail?(which would make more sense to me).

Thats how I installed mine. With no rivets. But the top is sandwiched between the rainrail.

Joey
June 30, 2009 4:53 p.m. Junkyard_Dog Reader

I never riveted the 7 I've replaced-much easier that way!. Do yourself a favor and search for the "Unbreakable rain rail". Its more expensive but will easily outlast the top. Plus if you don't rivet it I bet you could reuse it at the next top swap.
July 1, 2009 2:16 a.m. Wowak Dork

Personally I can't see any value in riveting, it takes an extra half hour to do the riveting, or an extra 90 seconds to make sure the top is tucked correctly between the two halves of the rain rail. That and when I combined a top and rain rail from different manufacturers the holes didn't quite line up perfectly, leading to the top bunching up in places until I took it off and drilled out the rivets! If you buy a top with the rain rail already attached then fine, but there is absolutely NO need to do it yourself. I also recommend the "unbreakable" rain rail.
July 1, 2009 6:06 a.m. petegossett Dork

Thanks, I'm glad I asked! I guess that also makes sense why my trunk was getting wet, since the old rain-rail was still in good shape.