roof rail removal. new buytal??

[loafer]

I ordered the powder for the factory rims , and while i was at it I was going to do the roof rack , I noticed some rust on the factory roof rails and some of the cross bars are in pretty bad shape as far as paint chipping goes. you know the ones that sit right on the paint , and scratch it all up.everything is getting powder coated. Still soaking the skid plate bolts for the gas tank. the front skid plates are already done and the hitch receiver... My question is after i remove the rails is there anything that i should do when i re install them to keep out moister. this is a 2000 highlander looks like about four or five torx screws on each side.

 

[Kanoe]

From factory there is a little round gasket. From memory it is a thin foam washer with adhesive on the sides. As far as I could find, the gaskets are not available from the dealer but you might have better luck with that.

You will for sure need something. Seems folks use silicone, I used a Boat Life product I had left over from a boat project. No leaks but I have no idea what it looks like now 4 years later.

Let us know if you find the OEM solution.

 

[dogtail]

I ordered the powder for the factory rims , and while i was at it I was going to do the roof rack , I noticed some rust on the factory roof rails and some of the cross bars are in pretty bad shape as far as paint chipping goes. you know the ones that sit right on the paint , and scratch it all up.everything is getting powder coated. Still soaking the skid plate bolts for the gas tank. the front skid plates are already done and the hitch receiver... My question is after i remove the rails is there anything that i should do when i re install them to keep out moister. this is a 2000 highlander looks like about four or five torx screws on each side.

Definitely use silicone on the factory roof rack screw threads just as the factory did. They leak if you don't, I verified that myself. One wouldn't figure it could leak thru the threads, but it does.

 

[loafer]

thanks for the input. ill most likley use some silicon then. it should do the job. i dont want to mess up the wifes 4runner