How to remove Grande roof rails?

[Stevo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Stevo]

Need some help, about to fit a new roof rack, but how on earth do you remove the existing roof rails?
thanks Stevo

[fergs Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close fergs]

Hey stevo,

Don't know mate but I will buy them off you if you don't want em...

Cheers Nathan 8)

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

The 4 'end caps' can be VERY gently levered off. There are 2 small lugs on bottom edge of each side of each end cap. If you get a very small screw driver between the rubber base and the plastic cap it will lift out slightly and release the cover..........if that makes sense. (I broke one small lug removing mine, so be very careful) The rest is self explanitory. Once the end caps are off there are 8 bolts to remove.

[Stevo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Stevo]

thanks Rob
Now I am worried! can I assume there no bolts holding the middle bracket? Do you lever from the ends?
thanks Stevo

[Stevo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Stevo]

At this stage I will probably hang on to them, I have heard they are about $1500.00 to replace!

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

My apologies stevo, yes, there is a 'face' plastic cover on the middle bracket as well, and 2 bolts that secure that one as well. (completely forgot about the middle bracket, its been a year since I last did it). The 'lugs' for the middle cover plate are on the two sides, again there are 2 small plastic lugs on each side, that with some VERY gentle prising will release the cover plate. (You can quite clearly see the join under the rail)

With the 4 end 'caps' you need to lever the bottom outside edge outwards. The 2 inside lugs will release once the outside edge lets go.

Hope thats clear......................

[Stevo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Stevo]

Thanks again Rob
I'll give it a go tomorrow
cheers Stevo

[Snowy FNQ Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snowy FNQ]

If you want some roof rails have a look here:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/TOYOTA-PRADO-ROO ... dZViewItem

Disclaimer: No affiliation, I was thinking of getting some too for my GX.

Cheers

[Jim Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jim]

Stevo,
When you do get the rails off, have a good look at all the rubber at the bottom of the rails. Think about waterproofing and whether your roof rack will need to have a bead of silicone around the bolt holes. TJM just wacked my ARB Rack straight on .... result bad leaking down the A Pillars and wet seatbelts :!: :evil: Had to take the rack off and do it properly myself.

Cheers,

Jim

[Stevo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Stevo]

Thanks Jim
I chickened out and asked Toyota guys to remove plastic covers when it was in for service yesterday, I was warned they could not guarantee the the small retaining clips would not break, and sure enough a couple did break but they did not charge me for removing the covers which was fair.
At this stage I have not taken the rails of yet, when I do I will take up your advice and seal if required
cheers Stevo

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

Re: How to remove Grande roof rails?

Apologies for no pics, but here goes.

I caught up with Steve (aka Steve & Sandra) yesterday and bought his roof rails off him. One catch was - removing them!

Basically we followed what had been described on here in other posts. Need to remove the plastic covers on each end of the rails and then the middle support. Best way I found to remove each end was to slide a hard plastic (so as not to scratch) knife into the covers and slide it along so as to 'pop' off the little clips, 2 found on each side, then just slide the bracket out away from the rest of the rail.

As for the middle ones, the best way, and Steve found this, was to wedge something (he used a big arse screwdriver, I used a smaller baby one) in from the top and push the cover down and sort of squeeze it together to try and pop it off.

I was nervous as shit due to so many reports of breaking the clips in previous posts, but with a bit of time, all was done successfully.

Thats the hard part over - easy part is undoing the bolts holding them in and basically job done from there.

PM me if you need any more details.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: How to remove Grande roof rails?

I was nervous as shit due to so many reports of breaking the clips in previous posts, but with a bit of time, all was done successfully.

I removed my cover once and didn't break the clips. Tried again on the weekend and broke both clips on one side ops: $150 to replace only that piece of plastic!
:cry:

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

Re: How to remove Grande roof rails?

That sucks the big ones D4D!

Toyota just rip you to shreds dont they!

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: How to remove Grande roof rails?

Indeed they do, and that's a discounted price as my mate is the Service Manager at the dealership. $50 would be fair but $150 that's robbery.

[05oiler Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 05oiler]

Re: How to remove Grande roof rails?

I've just spent a couple of hours this afternoon fremoving the roof rails from my 2008 GXL and fitting the Rhino Roof Rack feet. Now I didn't taken any pictures whilst I was removing them but I did taken some after photos that show how it is done. Thankfully I didn't break any of the locating tabs.

[img][/img]
I've laid everything out on the floor so it is easy to see.
[img][/img]
This is the front left hand piece. Note the little tabs.
[img][/img]
These tabs require you to slide it out to the front of the car.
[img][/img]
I'm using a baby knife. Using you hand to pull the plastic cover outward, slide in the tool and along till you find the first locating tab. Gently twist the tool until it pops out.[img][/img]
Holding the cover outwards with you fingers, slide the tool along till it finds the next tab. Twist until it pops out. Then gently twist, wriggle the whole cover whilst pulling towards the front of the car till it breaks free.
[img][/img]
These are the little tabs we are trying not to break.
[img][/img]
Now same again for the back. Pull the cover out wards with your fingers. Slide the tool in and up to the first tab, gently twist until it pops out.
[img][/img]
Holding the cover outwards slide the tool along till you feel the next tab, gently twist the tool until it pops out. Gently twist, wriggle the whole cover, pushing it towards the back of the car.
[img][/img]
This is the trickiest one. You have to push the sides inward. Try the angled one first, then gently push the tool in and twist whilst you pull outwards and downwards. It might take a few go's to get it. Once you free that side, you can wriggle the other out. Then it is just a matter of undoing all the bolts. DO NOT push down on the bolts. It is easy to push the bolt threads down into the roof lining. You will have to remove the roof lining to get them back.
[img][/img]
All the legs in position ready to mount the rack.
[img][/img]
It may not look as good as before but it is functional.

Regards

Garry