by Greg3.0specb » Thu Feb 04, 2016 1:44 pm
Hi Shaheenis
You are quite correct!
I managed to remove both of the rails. The rails are actually cracked so I need to replace them both. Expensive ?? (P.S. Did you buy new rails locally in Aus., or from overseas?. Spare parts in Aus. are expensive compared to the USA for example) To do it, I removed the 4 machine screws then used a plastic pry to "lift" the rails. The rail effectively "popped" off, leaving the all the plugs intact in the roof, so I assume that I will not get water leaks even though the rails are removed. A number of the white / yellow clips came off with the rail and a number stayed on the plugs, which I then removed. What I did not realise is that the correct way to remove the rail would be to pry up the rail at each end, then slide the rail a few centimetres so that the clips slide off their holders, inside the rail. In some cases the plastic holders inside the rail which hold the clip to the rail has broken away. Anyway, I can see the extent of the rust now and it's not too bad, except under one of the cross rail brackets, which the body shop will remove. Where the cross rail bracket is fixed, there is a shallow hollow in the roof pressing which can collect water. Also, although there is a rubber seal around the edge of the rails where it meets the roof, all that does is hold water in! Water will get in via the roof cross rail access panels. So, I am thinking that once I get the rust fixed and roof resprayed, I will leave the roof rails off so I can fully wash off any salt residue from my kayak outings and then it can also dry out. I think it is a poor design. Would have been better to have the long alloy rails like the Audi, or the Gen 4 Outback, then then water cannot get trapped underneath.
Thanks for all you help! Greg