Roof rack bolts

[jimmypeod]

I have identified the source of my roof rack leak as the two front left bolts, however I cannot get them out of their holes. One is loose, yet does not screw in or out, it just spins. Are they retained in any way?

 

[Couvi]

I took my rack off last month and didn’t have any issues — the bolts did have some green locktite type material (from the factory I suppose) but otherwise came out pretty easily.

 

[Super77]

That's an aftermarket bracket, not from the factory. The roof has threaded M8 through-holes, presumably a welded or captured nut or sleeve on the inside of the roof panel.

It's possible that the bolt threads are stripped up near the head. Try gently prying up under the head with a screwdriver while you unscrew the bolt - you may be able to get some good threads to engage. If you can get that other bolt loose and partially unscrewed to loosen the bracket, you might also be able to hook up a ratchet strap to the bracket and something solid overhead, giving you much more up-pull while you unscrew.

Otherwise, you may need to grind off the head and push the shank through, into the headliner, but that's a last resort.

 

[jimmypeod]

That's an aftermarket bracket, not from the factory. The roof has threaded M8 through-holes, presumably a welded or captured nut or sleeve on the inside of the roof panel.

It's possible that the bolt threads are stripped up near the head. Try gently prying up under the head with a screwdriver while you unscrew the bolt - you may be able to get some good threads to engage. If you can get that other bolt loose and partially unscrewed to loosen the bracket, you might also be able to hook up a ratchet strap to the bracket and something solid overhead, giving you much more up-pull while you unscrew.

Otherwise, you may need to grind off the head and push the shank through, into the headliner, but that's a last resort.

Screwdriver trick did not work. I used a bore scope to try and see what was going on and discovered that the nut in the roof that captures the rack bolts broke loose. So the bolt is free spinning

 

[Super77]

Screwdriver trick did not work. I used a bore scope to try and see what was going on and discovered that the nut in the roof that captures the rack bolts broke loose. So the bolt is free spinning

Ugh. Good call on the borescope. If it were me, I’d try pulling up on the bracket harder, in the hope that friction against the bottom of the roof panel might hold it just enough to unscrew.

Barring that, you can carefully grind off the head (keep it cool), let the shank drop down onto the headliner, and install a rivnut to replace it. If the bolt head can pull up even a millimeter or so above the bracket, you might be able to get a Dremel disc underneath it.

 

[jimmypeod]

Ugh. Good call on the borescope. If it were me, I’d try pulling up on the bracket harder, in the hope that friction against the bottom of the roof panel might hold it just enough to unscrew.

Barring that, you can carefully grind off the head (keep it cool), let the shank drop down onto the headliner, and install a rivnut to replace it. If the bolt head can pull up even a millimeter or so above the bracket, you might be able to get a Dremel disc underneath it.

I was actually able to a wrench on both bolt and nut, but they are held together with an amalgamation of factory thread locker, rust, and gunk from all the dirt and water getting in and didn’t budge. Good idea on the rivnut, didn’t know those were a thing. I will do that.