I see. You are taking a short cut. You may have to drill the screws. Optimum would have been you used your old top material and got the front hold downs in the same position by measuring and comparing. If you don't have it then you put it up once to see where they need to be. Keep in mind that you get the rods to swing forward slightly when you get the front right. Then when you snap in the back it swings them back and tightens up the material. You mentioned the center rod having teeth. Even though it does there is enough give in the pocket for the material to shift a little.