First post: first T4R. How to remove roof rack?

Qyota

Qyota

New member
Howdy all. Yesterday I took delivery of a 1999 T4R limited. It's quite nice, and I'm looking forward to owning it for many years. It has 131,000 miles on it, and the timing belt (and I assume the water pump) was changed at 113,000. That's about all I know of the maint. history. It looks well taken care of, though.

Anyway, I will probably never user the roof rack, so I want to take it off...at least as much as possible. I haven't been up top to check it out, but I wanted to see if anyone had done this.

If nothing else it might improve my fuel efficiency by a smidge.

Thanks! :bigok:


Q
 
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bootown said:

Oh yeah, pretty sure they are hex bolts so you may need to stop by the hardware store. You can take off those 3 crossbar supports that touch the roof just by unscrewing them. If you don't ever use the rack get rid of those too as they just screw up your paint.
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You're right, after I removed the three rails that go across the roof I noticed a good amount of oxidation underneath them from when dirt, leaves, general crap got stuck underneath of them. A good wash and wax job should do the trick in removing what residue was left under them. I love how my 4Runner looks now that the roof rack's off:
213exc1.jpg
 
Cool, thanks!

I got up there and removed all of the cross rails. That was the easy part.

I'd like to remove the main rails as well, and just fill the holes with a goober of silicone. If need be down the road I can just dig out the silicone and put the rails back on. Or, I can just leave it how it is.

I assume the holes don't just enter the cabin, right? I mean, they must be blocked off somehow before the headliner, right? I realize water standing in there wouldn't be good, hence the silicone.

Party on. I think I'm really gonna dig this thing!

IMG_5053.jpg
 
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Clemsonfan15 said:
Looks pretty good man. What are those spots on the hood?
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They are little bumpers to keep the factory bug deflector from hitting/rubbing against the hood. Qyota, if you figure out how to effectively get rid of those bumper things will you let me know? They are the only thing keeping me from taking off my bug deflector
 
Yup, I took the bug deflector off as well. I just didn't like the look of it...plus it was pretty loose. I'm tryin' to make this thing as aerodynamic as possible, as it will mostly be a street queen.

My plan is to wait until spring (as it is only about 1 degree out right now), and go after those little pads with a plastic scraper and some goo-gone. Maybe add a little heat with a heat gun. They should come off pretty easily, but I bet the paint is a little darker underneath. That won't bother me.
 
Hmm... I have the Toyota bug deflector also, but don't have those bumper things. Maybe it's because mine is older than ya'lls.:confused:
 
Clemsonfan15 said:
Hmm... I have the Toyota bug deflector also, but don't have those bumper things. Maybe it's because mine is older than ya'lls.:confused:
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Maybe the previous owner added it after purchasing the car from the dealer? I feel like those bumpers are something that the factory would put on when a bug deflector was on the options list
 
KellyJ said:
Maybe the previous owner added it after purchasing the car from the dealer? I feel like those bumpers are something that the factory would put on when a bug deflector was on the options list
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That's probably right. I'm kinda glad mine doesn't have that.
 
Qyota said:
I'd like to remove the main rails as well, and just fill the holes with a goober of silicone. If need be down the road I can just dig out the silicone and put the rails back on. Or, I can just leave it how it is.

I assume the holes don't just enter the cabin, right? I mean, they must be blocked off somehow before the headliner, right? I realize water standing in there wouldn't be good, hence the silicone.
IMG_5053.jpg
Click to expand...

did you ever remove those two main rails, and if so, then did you determine whether or not the holes actually enter the main cabin and headliner?
 
Yes, I removed the rails. I then traded a guy for the plastic cover strips (one on each side). They are what you'd get if you didn't have a factory roof rack installed.

The threaded holes are not open to the cabin, as least as far as I could tell. But, you don't want water standing in the holes, so it's best to either put the strips on, or find some very short, pan-head stainless machine screws to put in the holes, with a small dab of sealant on each one.
 
Do you have a part number for the plastic strips that will cover up the holes? Looking to remove my top rack and running boards on my 2000 runner.....
 
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