Filler piece for roof rack channel, is it important?

[swapmeet]

I went through the automatic car wash and when I came out, the rubber piece that fits in the channel where the roof rack goes was laying across the roof. The other side was completely missing.

Is that important? I'm sure I can find the second one at a salvage yard but I don't know if I need it.

Thanks

 

[nevada]

I went through the automatic car wash and when I came out, the rubber piece that fits in the channel where the roof rack goes was laying across the roof. The other side was completely missing.

Is that important? I'm sure I can find the second one at a salvage yard but I don't know if I need it.

Thanks

im curious about this as well.

I was driving down the highway, about 60mph, and a big gust of wind came up and ripped one of those rubber strips out. it got caught on the rail. I put it back in place, but nothing really holds it in, and I couldn't figure out what its even for.

 

[HokieRunner]

I'm fairly certain they're just there as filler trim. They don't weatherproof anything (the roof rack mounting points have separate seals) so you don't really need them IMO.

 

[Stuck CAPS]

I went through the automatic car wash and when I came out, the rubber piece that fits in the channel where the roof rack goes was laying across the roof. The other side was completely missing.

Is that important? I'm sure I can find the second one at a salvage yard but I don't know if I need it.

Thanks

:worthless

It could be a seal, I just don't know exactly what you mean!

 

[swapmeet]

It could be a seal, I just don't know exactly what you mean!

I will take pictures to make my thread less worthless

 

[Stuck CAPS]

I will take pictures to make my thread less worthless

Lol, okay, I'll check back.

 

[kevinpt]

like this?

i replaced one when i got my truck and one came off a few months back. just noticed both are gone now. im not paying the $80+ to replace each side

 

[swapmeet]

Yesir that's the spot where it goes.

 

[ebg18t]

If your roof rack mounting holes are sealed it isn't nessisary, but that rubber piece does deflect a lot of the water from getting into the rail slot. When I installed my BajaRack I installed a new set if seals/trim since mine weren't fitting overly well anymore.

 

[A10GAC]

Mine would pop out every time I went through the air dryer at the car wash...the worst part was walking back into the bay to grab them while the next guy was pulling in. I finally broke down and glued them in with 3m weatherstrip adhesive. No more issues.

 

[SI2IS2T4R]

Me too!

like this?

i replaced one when i got my truck and one came off a few months back. just noticed both are gone now. im not paying the $80+ to replace each side

Consider me another person on the list! Literally just got back from washing the car in a car wash bay on my lunch break.... and this picture looks oh too familiar. Good to know it's not the hugest deal. But, when I saw it, I was disappointed for sure!

 

[sonerick]

Mine would pop out every time I went through the air dryer at the car wash...the worst part was walking back into the bay to grab them while the next guy was pulling in. I finally broke down and glued them in with 3m weatherstrip adhesive. No more issues.

Same here, been about 2 years since I did this and no more issues.

 

[kevinpt]

I just went into the carwash at my work and found both of mine and the one I bought to replace one that was missing. Might sell it cheap if anyone is interested

 

[Michael M]

Yuuup. Got a wash this morning and one of the strips was waiving at me via the side view mirror during the dry cycle.

After discovering that its not really secured and questionable if needed at all, I figured I'd grab some adhesive to keep it from coming loose again. Part of me thinks that without it, water could pool up in the channel and sit for extended periods of time while parked. I don't like that idea. Especially come freezing temps and expanding ice and all. So I grabbed some contact cement.

https://www.google.com/#q=permatex+contact+cement&tbm=shop&spd=12682701040413571990

 

[peebee]

Add me to the list. I had this happen on my 2007 sport after going through a car wash. I just put it back in place and it hasn't happened since. If it does, I'll just slap some adhesive down like others have mentioned.

 

[kevinpt]

i still have mine sitting in the truck until i find a way to stick them down. anyone have ideas?

 

[ebg18t]

i still have mine sitting in the truck until i find a way to stick them down. anyone have ideas?

Just put a bead of silicone and stick it in the groove.

 

[Michael M]

I went with laying down a constant ribbon of contact cement in the bottom of the channel. I was rushed to get on the road and I'm pretty certain that the gap, between the roof (base of channel) and the rubber strip, is too large to have done any good with the contact cement. I think going with a bead of silicone on the lateral groove of the channel would be a better approach. Just be ready with something for rapid clean up as you work. I'm sure you'll see some over flow pushed above the rubber strip.

 

[ebg18t]

When I installed my Bajarack I put painters rape around the mount area. When I applied the silicone and put the mount in place the excess silicone squished out. I just pulled up the painters tape and I had a nice edge if silicone sealing it all up.

 

[swapmeet]

I'm buying Kevin's spare, and cleaning mine up. I'll probably use some heavy duty 3M double sided adhesive to hold them in.