Mystery Dimples have me perplexed....

[jcage89]

Noticed mystery dimples in body sheet metal underneath roof rack rear anchor point on both sides of rig in same spot. Pictures are best capture I could get because these are barely noticeable only at certain angle in certain light. I noticed them when detailing it this weekend but have no idea what they're from or how long they've been there. Weird thing is they aren't a single dent which could be caused by something tapping it but rather three dimples in a line and other side has two. Wonder if somehow this could be caused by torque stress grabbing onto rear of roof rack which I often do when climbing up to access the roof or clean it like this weekend. Anyone else see something like this?

Also is the 4runner's skin especially flimsy? My kid turned a few weeks ago and bonked his elbow on the rear pillar (right above the TRD Pro badge behind rear passenger door) not even hard enough to hurt but that was enough to put a small dent in the darn thing. I was able to tap that out gently from inside but wow, seems should be more sturdy.

Cheers - JC

 

[WAT4R]

Probably from prying up on the roof rail black plastic end caps when removing them.

 

[CavPro]

Just checked mine and I don't have that issue.

 

[Ryan at Eibach]

oh man that's like those girls with the dimples on their lower backs

:madgrin:

 

[jcage89]

Probably from prying up on the roof rail black plastic end caps when removing them.

Mystery solved. It's just been forever since I took those off to ditch the worthless OE crossbars totally forgot I did that. I'm sure you're right. Which brings me back to the flimsy sheet metal question. When I did that I used a plastic pry tool with a cloth underneath. Really, it's that prone to flexing?

Wow.

JC

 

[the_fornicator]

Yeah, some guy on youtube removed his caps on his voodoo blue TRD Pro and bam, instantly dented his brand new 4runner lol should put something hard underneath the trim tool while removing the cap to protect the metal.

At 2 minutes in lol

YouTube

 

[Jeckolame]

Probably from prying up on the roof rail black plastic end caps when removing them.

+1

 

[Tejas]

The sheet metal on these trucks is extremely thin and soft, especially along that roof line ridge. Removing the feet of the factory rack can create dents rather easily, saw it happen with my very eyes when installing my buddies Prinsu.

 

[tjnptel1]

wow. wow. wow. if this is caused by a trim removal tool... imagine hail?

 

[JAXJeremy]

precisely why I used the pick method when I removed mine..

 

[-E5J-]

precisely why I used the pick method when I removed mine..

A paint can lid opener works well, too.

 

[Louisiana Overland]

precisely why I used the pick method when I removed mine..

I put a couple dents above the badges on that sail on mine also. I used a local guy who does paintless dent repairs to massage them back out. I had to climb onto the top of a RTT and took a sstupid shortcut.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

wow. wow. wow. if this is caused by a trim removal tool... imagine hail?

I just found hail dents on my roof the other day.... :moping:

 

[rob_dixon]

+1

I dented mine even after Gobi stresses over and over again to be careful not to dent it.

A better message would be: "You will likely and probably dent your roof unless you take EXTREME caution when prying the factory rack"

 

[mrblah]

for years I have held my head down in shame, because i thought I was the only one to put dents on my roof when removing my roof rack rails, hoping no one would notice.

Now since everyone is coming out of the closet, HIGH FIVE EVERYONE......arty:

 

[jcage89]

It is insane to me how sensitive the skin and the paint is. I have only detailed it myself since buying new and even with the utmost care in using microfiber, separate buckets, foam cannon, keeping monthly waxed with DAP blah blah blah… the darn thing still has swirls and hairline scratches that are apparent in bright daylight. God forbid I ever took it to a car wash wonder what it would look like. Then like I said my kid turned quick lifting gym bag out and bapped the outside of pillar above the "TRD Pro" badging with his elbow = instant dent even though I have knocked things incidentally into my Wife's Jeep much harder with no effect. ANNOYING.

I bought paintless dent kit on Prime Day for almost nothing and used the mallet from inside to remove the elbow dent but haven't used the hot glue popper deal to try to get out the roof dimples. Guess I will experiment and see how it works, but seems like it'll be more difficult on radius edge like that.... or I just ignore it since it took me this long to even notice it.

Thanks

JC

 

[twkane]

4 runner dimples

I have the same dimples appearing on my roof. Will you please contact me at 973-975-3119.

 

[1jzgte]

oh haillll naw!

 

[bgault53]

great information, i am removing my oem rack to get it powder coated. i am putting the delete roof package on in the meantime.