Factory roof rack removal

[Super77]

@SCDoug01LC if you can pop off one from the other side, send me PM of the part number. It'll be something like 19304, 19305, 19306, 19307.. or you might have the other style where it's 458221, 458222.. I will look through my stash and see if we can fine you the one you're missing.


Another chapter in rack removals... and the latest installment of my rant about the channel cover and why I don't like them. This one on a really nice LX with only 90k miles on it.
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But as the story goes this truck's first life was in Brooklyn, NY... no doubt living outside. When we pulled up the channel cover, the front bolts were the worst that I have seen yet on one of these...
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The bolt heads literally crumbled like a burned cookie. The 6-point socket just made it worse, couldn't get a vice grip to bite. So imagine road grime splashed up onto the roof and rack, then oozing down into that channel, so that nasty water just pooling up against the rubber channel in front, even freezing up... did this for years. These bolts are like bottom of the ocean nasty.

Well a 6-point socket just made the bolt head crumble more. A vice grip couldn't bite. next move then take out the angle grinder and make some screwdriver slots.

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And then use the impact smack-it screwdriver to get them to move. This worked.

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After about 180° with the hammer I was able to get them out with a big screwdriver.
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Those threads all got chased with a tap, new bolts are now installed nice and happy. Anyway just another example of why those channel covers get removed and discarded when we install racks, and why I continue to think leaving that channel open is a better move than covering it up on rack/tower installs.

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The surprises seem to get a little better each year... just something to be aware of for all you OEM rack runners out there, if/when you switch to something else the project might take longer than expected.

Preach. Always more effective to let water flow than to stop it, and always worse to try stopping it half-assedly.

A lot of folks assume those trim strips are seals.

 

[MACFJ60]

Apologies for pulling up an old thread, but wanted to confirm a few things after reading through all 13 pages. I am looking to remove the factory crossbars but retain the factory rack on my 1998 LC. To accomplish this the front rack caps will need to be removed by wriggling and pulling up with force. Once the caps are removed I should be able to slide the crossbars out and off the cruiser, correct? Then, assuming I didn’t break any tabs I should be able to reinstall the covers by aligning and giving them a whack with my fist. I’d like to remove as little of the stock rack as possible as I plan to reuse with aftermarket crossbars. Appreciate confirmation or any tips from Mud members.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

You'll need to pop the cap off the end, then unbolt the end from the roof (big Torx head) and then remove the teeny Phillips on the underside of the bar holding the end into the rack. Then you can slide the crossbars out.

 

[MACFJ60]

Appreciate the clarification. Was hoping to not have to unbolt it.