Roof Rack Repair?

[James Thomas]

Ok I put this off as long as I dare but the time has come. I pulled the rack off today and to my suprise it's not real bad. Any rust is bad but the ony place there is ANY rust is on the four corner mounts (see pic below). Where the stainless strip's are mounted is zero rust :tup:




So I think I'm gonna keep the rack on IF I can do the job right. Question for those of you that have done this is:

1. Are the "riv-nuts" or what ever they are called still available? If so who where?
2. What's the best way to get the old ones out (drill)?
3. How and or what is equired to replace the "riv-nuts"?

Thanks for the help fellas & Happy New Year!

________
James

 

[mattw]

Re: Roof Rack Repair?

I'm not so sure I would replace those.. They don't look bad at all. I'd sandblast them in place(use leather or something to protect surrounding metal), then I'd run a tap in and out of each one a few times, hit it with some compressed air, then wax & grease remover, then self etching primer. You should be able to keep the work area small enough that you won't damage any of the paint that can be seen one the rack is re-installed.


-Matt

 

[James Thomas]

Re: Roof Rack Repair?

Well I thought about that when I got the passanger side off until one of the Torx screws on the driver side broke off down in the nut and another "twisted loose" in the roof sheet metal and spins. I got the head liner down and grabbed the back side with vise-grips, and got the screw out. The corner in the photo could be repaired like you suggest but the other three corners need replacement and a little larger repair area. Thanks for the suggestion though :tup:

__________
James

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: Roof Rack Repair?

I do not know if they are still available, but I know from pulling some out of junkyard trucks that if you don't cut them they distort the metal beyond usability around them... I would suggest cutting the lip off the top with a die grinder and dropping them out the bottom

 

[NecroWolf]

Re: Roof Rack Repair?

shold be avaliable. they look like they are just nut zerts, you can install them with something similar to a rivet gun. not a real big deal to do.

 

[James Thomas]

Re: Roof Rack Repair?

Ok thanks for the tips fellas but has anyone "actually replaced these"? Also going through my parts book I don't find the inserts? Maybe I missed them or it's just too late in the evening :dunno:

_________
James