Just out of curiosity, after watching some DIY videos and reading other posts, I'm wondering if it's possible to just measure and cut the plastic trim/moulding piece directly without pulling off the entire strip off the roof? I'm very concerned about damaging the paint while pulling it off and warped moudling/trim pieces after reclipping it back in.
Roof Rail Self Install
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I did this install myself. Absolutely do not try to cut it while it’s on the car. You’re afraid of scratching the paint or warping the strip while removing it but the strip is much thicker and harder to cut than I really thought. You’d definitely damage the car way worse trying to cut it more than the strip getting damaged or removal. I guarantee that. The strip may get slightly warped if you don’t have a very good saw. Also read below for tips to avoid warping.
A couple of tips that I learned after one side that made the passenger side easier.
When pulling off the strip it’s not that bad. Pull side to side (door to door) rather than front to back. This will prevent the strip from getting a bend when you pull it out. It will pop out. Clips don’t need to be kept so don’t worry about breaking them.
when cutting I don’t have a real work bench so I had used a 2x4 on the ground to lay the trim on and step on the trim and used a reciprocating saw to cut and it was still tough to cut. The metal was thicker than expected. Maybe it was my saw. my big tip here is to only clamp/step on the parts of the stripthat will be discarded. I drew XXX on those parts of the strip. If you flip the strip around to make your cuts you’ll always forcefully step or hold down discarded areas. These parts get damaged but won’t be needed. My very first cut I made the mistake of holding down a side that was to be kept and it dented it slightly. I didn’t make this mistake again.
The cuts don’t need to be smooth. They’re going to get hidden. Seriously don’t worry about the ends too much. You can bend them out if they get squeezed when sawing.
overall I’m happy I did it myself. Saved a chunk of money and it was pretty easy. The sawing took the longest time. Put tape on the car as directed. Don’t forget to remove tape from the before putting on the bar to bolt down.
good luck.
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A couple of tips that I learned after one side that made the passenger side easier.
When pulling off the strip it’s not that bad. Pull side to side (door to door) rather than front to back. This will prevent the strip from getting a bend when you pull it out. It will pop out. Clips don’t need to be kept so don’t worry about breaking them.
when cutting I don’t have a real work bench so I had used a 2x4 on the ground to lay the trim on and step on the trim and used a reciprocating saw to cut and it was still tough to cut. The metal was thicker than expected. Maybe it was my saw. my big tip here is to only clamp/step on the parts of the stripthat will be discarded. I drew XXX on those parts of the strip. If you flip the strip around to make your cuts you’ll always forcefully step or hold down discarded areas. These parts get damaged but won’t be needed. My very first cut I made the mistake of holding down a side that was to be kept and it dented it slightly. I didn’t make this mistake again.
The cuts don’t need to be smooth. They’re going to get hidden. Seriously don’t worry about the ends too much. You can bend them out if they get squeezed when sawing.
overall I’m happy I did it myself. Saved a chunk of money and it was pretty easy. The sawing took the longest time. Put tape on the car as directed. Don’t forget to remove tape from the before putting on the bar to bolt down.
good luck.
Remove, measure, cut with an appropriate tool (Dremel). If you attempt this while on the vehicle you'll have even more concern for your paint.
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352 Posts
I too don’t see how one could safely cut it while it’s on the vehicle, as it’s not a soft plastic. I used a jigsaw to cut mine, but it really wasn’t bad following the instructions.
Mark roof with tape
Remove
Measure twice, cut once in each spot
Replace with new clips
Install back to vehicle
Throw away the extra pieces
Mark roof with tape
Remove
Measure twice, cut once in each spot
Replace with new clips
Install back to vehicle
Throw away the extra pieces
Joined
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71 Posts
If it helps ease your concern, most of the area where you cut is covered up by the roof rack base. You shouldn't see too much of the edge, if any at all. As far as other scratches, if you have plastic tipped clamps you should be ok!
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