Soft Top Help.........Please!!!!!

[Flyer]

I have a '96 SL500 that I've owned for a couple of years. This past week it developed a bad habit and I need some help. When I put the soft top down it appears to drop into the vault a lot quicker than it used to.....but putting it up is the real problem. As it nears the top of the windshield it drops with authority into the correct position, but drops really hard.

It has never done this before the past week. The car is always garaged and I don't even take it out if there is a threat of rain. Pardon my ignorance but could it be something as simple as being low on hydraulic fluid.....and if so, where are the cylinders and what do I use to top them off?