Rusting roof rack for Subaru Legacy

[W. Thornton Martin]

I have 1998 Subaru Legacy wagon with a rusting problem in the roof rack
where it connects to the the roof. There is rusting around the screw
holes where the roof rack rails connect to the roof, and one end of the
roof rack is loose. Since there is no longer a seal, additional
moisture is certainly seeping in.

There is rust on all four rack support areas, so I do not intend to
secure anything to the roof any longer. Since the roof rack is not
serving any purpose, should I take it off and seal the holes with some
rubber sealant? Or, Should I leave the rack on the car, seal with
silicon, and try to find some internally expanding screws to try to
refasten the rack to the roof?

Any suggestions appreciated.

WTM

 

[Steve Daniels]

Since the roof rack is not
serving any purpose, should I take it off and seal the holes with some
rubber sealant?

Yes. Unless you want to take it to a body shop and have it fixed
properly. Not sure if that is warranted on a twelve year old
car.

 

[1 Lucky Texan]

Yes.  Unless you want to take it to a body shop and have it fixed
properly.  Not sure if that is warranted on a twelve year old
car.

yeah, a body shop or maybe a 'sunroof installation' place could give
you some good ideas on how to proceed.

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

I have 1998 Subaru Legacy wagon with a rusting problem in the roof rack
where it connects to the the roof. There is rusting around the screw
holes where the roof rack rails connect to the roof, and one end of the
roof rack is loose. Since there is no longer a seal, additional moisture
is certainly seeping in.

There is rust on all four rack support areas, so I do not intend to secure
anything to the roof any longer. Since the roof rack is not serving any
purpose, should I take it off and seal the holes with some rubber sealant?
Or, Should I leave the rack on the car, seal with silicon, and try to
find some internally expanding screws to try to refasten the rack to the
roof?

Any suggestions appreciated.

WTM

I'd have to look at mine, but on other cars with roof racks the screws go
from outside the car to inside to a fixture that holds it in place under
the headliner.

You can remove the roof rack and then tape over it, or Bondo over it and
spray to match with Dupli-Color.

Or get some not-too-spongy rubber and make a new gasket, and seal it with
RTV on the bottom side to keep water out. Hopefully the rust is not too
far progressed.