Refinishing factory roof rack - paint, re-anodize, ??

[super90]

My roof rack is looking really shabby and making the truck look really ratty. What's the best way to refinish this? It is anodized aluminum, right?

Can a shop re-anodize these? Are the pieces too big?

Another thought was to paint them, but I am afraid that paint won't stick.

Thoughts?

Now I gotta replace the p/s pump this weekend, so plenty of wrenching before we get to the rack !

TIA,

Robert Callaway
'94 FZJ
San Antonio, TX

 

[super90]

Sorry for the double post.

 

[Trapper]

I say cap the holes in the roof with some sealing washers and stainless screws and put the eye-sore/rust-magnet in the garbage. If you need a roof-rack there are several aftermarket options available that look better and are more functional than the factory supplied POS. They usually utilize the gutters as a mounting point which provides a much more stable platform as well.

 

[Bear80]

I used that bumper paint on mine, looks as good as new.

 

[TX_TLC]

Robert-

A quick search will provide you many answers to what people do with their OEM rook racks. Spending money to refinish it is not one of them. The 8 "attachment" points to the roof are known to breading grounds for rust. I recently took my roof rack off to find mine not too be that bad. If you use your roof rack you might want to consider upgrading to something stronger that will better suit your needs. I wouldn't trust even putting a soft sided suitcase on the OEM roof rack.

The roof racks were not put on in Japan when the truck was built. As I understand it Toyota couldn't import them with the roof racks on them so instead most were port or dealer installed. I still can't imagine drilling 8 holes in the roof of a brand new 50K truck...but they did.

If you do search you will also find many remedies for the holes that are left. I chose to use nylon automotive fasteners and black silicone to fill the holes. I have not had any issues and find this to be a nice low profile fix that I believe will last a long time.

If you still are adamant on refinishing or replacing the one you have mine is still in my garage collecting dust you are welcome to it.

 

[super90]

Agreed. The OE rack is worthless. I have a Yakima rack and a Thule Evolution 21 for hauling kid/dog/hunting gear.

I will consider pulling the rack. Will have to get used to how it looks without it. I might even improve the gas milage. Ha ! ! Right.

If I do keep it, it sounds as though paint will stick to the anodizing. I asked around about that.

Thanks. Now, I just have to get motivated to pull the p/s pump. Felling like cr@p; stilling getting over the flu. That might have to wait till next weekend.

R.

 

[scottm]

Most machine shops send a lot of parts out to be anodized. These aren't big pieces for that. Ask around about anodizers. You might get a shop to send your parts with a batch. They'll have to strip and anodize, but that's very common.