Clamshell Out of Alignment on Right Side

[DIY986]

Hi All,

 

I'm new to the forum here. I have a 1998 Boxster which had been lovely to me until recently when I began experiencing issues with the top. Same story, different time... one of the cables broke, didn't realize it, something got bent. Don't know what. So.. I've disconnected the front arms from the convertible top, and also taken the push rods off of the clamshell so that I can operate it manually. Even with the clamshell operating manually, the clamshell sits ~1-2" too high on the right hand side, and must be forced down! Please don't say the transmissions are not in sync, as this is without even hooking up the transmissions! 

 

I have already replaced the guide arms on both sides as well as the clamshell slides. Is it really possible that the clamshell itself bent? I have already tried loosening all of the bolts that hold the clamshell to the guidearms, and even with shifting that the situation does not improve. The eccentrics on the sliding rails only slightly help it. Can anyone please help? The vehicle has been down for two months as I try and get to the bottom of this.