anybody here install there factory roof rack? or take yours off and on?

just want to know what is used to put the screws into? is there pre threaded spots for these screws after i drill through? or is there some sort of a nut insert or regular nut that i need to use?

thanks for any help you can give me.


flyboy, do you remember from when you removed it?

I cut mine off and stuck a Yakima rack on the stock rails <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I think that Turtle and Everet placed racks on from scratch.

Show pics of your progress <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I took one off a 2000 and their were threaded nuts that were attached to the underside of the roof (didn't figure out their way of attachment).
When I put on an aftermarket rack, I used sheetmetal screws. The problem with that is if you torque the screw too much, it pops the metal (because it is quite thin) and then you have to try and reform it. I used black silicone sealer on the underside of the rack to seal the holes and act as an adhesive to give it better holding power.
If I were to do it again, I would remove the headliner and JB weld nuts with a flange on them to the inside, and use bolts that go flush to the end of the nut.
Turtle installed a rack but I don't know how he attached it. Hopefully he will be able to answer this also.
Good luck and take pictures with however you decide to install it.
Everet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

yea i remeber sort of. for the truck that came with the racks it looks like they had the screw in area molded into the roof. what i would think is since your going to put holes in the roof anyway, why not look for those (try to visualize it lol) they are nuts but have a small section that comes up and looks like a washer on the end. (did a search but coldnt find what i wanted. look at the pic below drawing in paint is tough enough doint it with 1 arm that isnt your dominant really sucks)
just drill the roof, put some sealant on the washer part then thread the roof rack bolt into the nut and it should make a seal that will be strong but also waterproof.

T nuts! i know exactly what you mean, i used them all the time working as a car audio installer.


I actually found basically the same idea, they are called crush sleeves or something like that. you drill the hole then slide in the sleeve, then you use this gun that mushrooms it out sort of like a rivet. then you have threads were you need them. use a little silicone when you slide them in and some red loc tite on the nuts.


thanks for all the help.

hopefully i will have this and my roof basket done in the next few weeks.

p.s. flyboy, I found a wrecker that had 2/3rds of the rack from a sporty that had a bad run in with a tree that fell on the back end!

One thing on the stock Sportage roof rack. The nuts were not proud, they were flush with the roof. Hope that helps.
Everet

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

By the way, I think the roof rack (without the removal of the headliner was a 2 cocktail job. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

they were flush on the ones that came with the rack from the factory, if it was a add on they had to use these crush sleeves.