OEM rack gone - Should I remove ribs?

[ashooter]

Okay, I got the factory rack off this weekend. I guess I got lucky - No rust, no problems with "spinners", got the holes plugged with slicone, stainless bolts, rubber o-rings & washers, and chromed rosette washers. Looks kinda goofy to me, but you really don't notice it unless you're looking for it... and it damned sure shouldn't leak. Those plastic feet sure do eat through the paint, though!

My question is, should I be as worried about getting the ribs off the roof as I was about getting those roof rack feet off of there? The look of having the ribs up there doesn't bother me, but I didn't know if they are a rust magnet like the rack itself is/was.

Should I bother with it other than for looks?

 

[TX_TLC]

I personally didn't remove mine....yet. They suffer from the same attachment as the roof rack, except the length of the ribs are stuck down with a double sided adhesive. Unless you are lucky enough for the port installer to have forgotten to remove the plastic backing to reveal the sticky stuff!!

I am planning on taking mine off as I am about to repaint the roof but I did check mine when I took the roof rack off and the screws weren't covered in rust and were easily removable. So I left it be for the last year or so.

In sumation: long term fix yes I would remove it, short term they might be ok, but I would check.

 

[e9999]

doubt there will be rust under the rib itself with the adhesive on there.
Just check the screws, maybe put antiseize and lube, and seal.
They can be some work to remove.

 

[jditom]

When I pulled the ribs off there are 2 nut serts holding them down and they were rusted just like the feet posts!

http://www.boompa.com/jditom/land-cruiser/123/pictures/987/

 

[OGBeno]

When I pulled the ribs off there are 2 nut serts holding them down and they were rusted just like the feet posts!

http://www.boompa.com/jditom/land-cruiser/123/pictures/987/

That job looks real nice. Gotta get around to doing this at some point.

-o-

 

[jditom]

That job looks real nice. Gotta get around to doing this at some point.

-o-

It's not cheep, $800 to weld all holes and perfect paint match But love the results

 

[RedmondCruiser]

I would remove everything.
When I took my roof rack off I also noticed that it wasn’t even close to being square. There was an almost a two inch offset when comparing the difference in measurement from the sunroof opening to the outermost holes.

 

[LandCrusher'70]

...it wasn’t even close to being square. There was an almost a two inch offset when comparing the difference in measurement from the sunroof opening to the outermost holes.

Crap. What's up with that? The roof racks are put on at the factory right?

 

[Brentbba]

I'd take them all off and only hope you still had the protective sheeting on the adhesive as I did. Otherwise, it's a biatch to get the adhesive up.

 

[TX_TLC]

Crap. What's up with that? The roof racks are put on at the factory right?

Nope, they were put on at the port. I have said it before, I can just picture some 16yo kid with a summer job, crawling around the roofs of 10,000 $45K Land Cruisers with a cordless drill, putting these things on. Brilliant!

Although I don't this it Toyota's fault, think it has been said the US wouldn't let them import them with the racks. IIRC

Edit- Yes Brent I was talking about you...lucky...

 

[LandCrusher'70]

Nope, they were put on at the port.

Well, I guess that explains a lot. Anyone have holes in their headliner?

 

[Brentbba]

Edit- Yes Brent I was talking about you...lucky...

LOL! I think I'm the only lucky SOB so far that this has happened to.

 

[jditom]

Well, I guess that explains a lot. Anyone have holes in their headliner?

No!

 

[RavenTai]

as logn as rust has not yet set in you could probably get away with just sealing the nutserts, the ribs do not seam to chaffe and rust as badly as the main rails.