Frequently Asked Questions

You can find PDF instructions available for cutting your hoses on our Front Latch Quick Fix page for the following cars:

2003-2012 Mercedes-Benz SL class (R230 chassis)
1998-2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK class (R170 chassis)
2004-2010 Mercedes-Benz SLK class (R171 chassis)
2000-2009 Ferrari 360 & 430

When you ship your cylinders to us to be rebuilt, they should be prepped and packed carefully to prevent damage and avoid fluid leakage.

Before packing, make sure to remove all fluid. To do this, point the cylinder hose ports or hose ends, where applicable, into a bucket and remove fluid by extending and retracting the cylinder rod end-to-end several times. Be sure to point the cylinder ports into the bucket and away from yourself.

Once drained, push the cylinder rod completely into the cylinder. Wrap the exposed cylinder rod with bubble wrap, foam, or any other material that will protect it from getting damaged. Place cylinders in a plastic bag to contain any residual hydraulic fluid. Wrap each cylinder individually before placing it in a box for shipping. Use plenty of space filler in the shipping box to keep the cylinders from shifting around.

Make sure to include your contact information including name, phone number, and return shipping address. We have a customer information sheet available for you to fill out, print, and include in the box with your cylinders.

Ship your cylinders to:
Cabriolet Hydraulics
2111 72nd Terrace E
Sarasota, FL 34243

When your rebuilt cylinders are ready to be shipped, we will contact you for payment and we’ll confirm the shipping method. We accept payment via Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.

For international transactions, please contact us for payment methods prior to shipping your parts.

Ship your cylinders to the address below with your contact information in the box. We have a customer information sheet available for you to fill out, print, and include in the box with your cylinders.

Important Note: Drain the fluid from the cylinders and make sure that the cylinder rods are pushed back into the cylinders. DO NOT send cylinders with the rods extended. Remove all hose clips, switches, and/or sensors to insure they do not get lost or damaged in the shipping and rebuild process.

Ship your cylinders to:
Cabriolet Hydraulics
2111 72nd Terrace E
Sarasota, FL 34243

Our standard shipping method is via UPS Ground or FedEx Express. We will calculate shipping costs and add them to your order when we call for payment. Overnight shipping is available at extra cost. On international orders, we ship out via FedEx International Priority.

Please note, on international orders, you will be responsible for all taxes and/or duties imposed by your country.

Our cylinders carry a 3-year warranty. If a cylinder fails within the 3-year warranty period, we will repair the cylinder at no charge. Damages not covered by the warranty: Hydraulic cylinder and/or line (where applicable) damage caused by mishandling, improper installation, malfunctioning convertible top system components and corrosion.

Important Note: Warranties do not include labor or shipping costs.

When properly installed, our hoses carry a 5-year warranty. If a hose fails within the 5-year warranty period, we will replace the hose at no charge. Not covered under the warranty: hose damage caused by mishandling, improper installation and malfunctioning convertible top components.

Important Note: Warranties do not include labor or shipping costs.

Our Hose Couplers* are designed for automotive convertible top hydraulic hose repairs having specific requirements, see Coupler Installation Requirements. When properly installed, our couplers are warrantied for 5 years. Hose Couplers* are one time use only, they are not reusable. Please read the Hose Coupler Installation Instructions very carefully. To receive a warranty replacement, the coupler in question must be sent back to us along with the attached hoses on both ends. The returned coupler will be inspected to make sure that it was properly installed. Any damage due to tampering, mishandling or improper installation of the coupler will void the warranty.

Important Note: Warranties do not include labor or shipping costs.

*Hose Coupler US Patent 9,482,375

A good core is a used cylinder that has not been physically damaged or tampered with in any way and is free from rust and pitting. Damage and tampering encompasses missing parts, and/or physical damage to the cylinder, the cylinder rod, or the hoses.

Often times older model cars may have been resold several times and previous attempts to repair the cylinders may have been made. Before sending us your cylinders, carefully look for missing parts and damaged or tampered-with cylinder components. Cylinders that were previously tampered with may not be eligible for a core exchange or core refund.

If we find any damage during our inspection process, we will call you to discuss the damage before we start any work on your cylinders. Often times we can still repair your damaged cylinders.  Additional costs will apply based on the extent of the damage.

Please inspect your cylinder rods very carefully before shipping to us to know the condition of your parts.  Cylinders with rusty rods cannot be rebuilt properly without replacing the rods. For an extra cost, we replace the rusty cylinder rods in the most common rust-prone cylinders. If the rods need to be replaced, we will reach out to you to discuss cost and to obtain approval before beginning the rebuild.

When we receive your cylinders, we perform a detailed inspection. We look for missing part, physical damage such as bent rods, drilled holes, scrapes, dents, rust and pitting, or any other alterations to the original factory cylinders. If your cylinders are free of damage and all the parts are intact, we begin the repair the same day that we receive your cylinders.