Roof rack and spoiler removal advice

[Pemrick]

So i would like to remove my stock roof rack and rear spoiler. But as i took the spoiler off i see there are threaded metal grommets and it seems like they kind of push the metal up so the lift gate isn't totally flat. Has anyone else seen this? And how did you go about filling the holes? Someone gave me the idea of threading the bolt in and then grinding everything down to make it flat. I don't think the bondo will fill properly.

Any advice?

I also want to take the top rack off. It would probably along the same lines as the spoiler procedure

 

[Badmeat]

Bolt the spoiler and rack back in place.

Make your 4R whole again

 

[soupkitchen]

rack off isn't bad at all if you can find the oem plastic strips that will bolt in place that way you can throw it back on if you ever need to.

The spoiler def leaves some holes if removed, I took the one off my project truck and to be honest probably looks better with it unless you the holes filled and painted.

 

[euser]

Don't mutilate your poor 4Runner. I've had my '02 limited with all the bells and whistles since '02, and now it just seems so wrong when I see a 4Runner without the rack/spoiler/front bug rock deflector thing. However, if you want to mutilate it, there are covers for the roof rack. You'd probably just have to bondo the holes or deal with them for the rear (or get a new rear). I'm not a fan of doing things I can't undo, like grinding down a bolt.

 

[csp]

Whatever you do, please please please don't fill the holes with Bondo! :redbrick: :doh:

 

[Pemrick]

Well seeing as I'm going to be painting the whole truck I'm going to be removing the rack and the spoiler. I believe that trucks or SUVs shouldn't have spoilers as they don't really serve a purpose (as I have read in other threads the runner spoiler doesn't mean much on or off). I could weld them up but that could creat more issues. Didn't know if anyone had done this before and had a specific technique. Either way, the spoiler is getting deep sixed and I don't do enough to have a basket on the top so I don't need the top rack

 

[Sawgunner]

Pretty sure its there to break the aerodynamic bubble of turbulence behind the vehicle. It will keep rain and dust down to a minimum on the back of the car.

 

[FLrunner05]

Tru dat

 

[Dropzone]

Pretty sure its there to break the aerodynamic bubble of turbulence behind the vehicle. It will keep rain and dust down to a minimum on the back of the car.

you are correct.

you can always fill the holes with a bolt/screw, i have color matched bolts to match the paint before. Stainless is preferred. A good hardware store will have the metric parts