Member Since: 11 May 2015
Location: Sydney
Posts: 7
Aftermarket Extended Roof Rails Seal Problem??
I just purchased a set from ebay. I'm happy with the quality but I'm struggling a little figuring out how to seal the sides. I'm interested in advice if anyone has come across this before.
The problem is that the aftermarket seals are straight down and not an L shape this means that they don't seal against the sides of the roof channels. I've tried pulling them around but haven't been successful so I'm thinking of using a caulking.... Has anyone seen this problem and solved it before?
Here is a picture of the aftermarket rail seals.
Click image to enlarge
3rd Dec 2015 12:45 pm
Geoffx19
Member Since: 11 May 2015
Location: Sydney
Posts: 7
Anyone?
8th Dec 2015 1:38 pm
Calum555
Member Since: 19 Jun 2009
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 50
I'm not an expert but I don't think the rails have to seal against the channels. As long as they are bolted on and there isn't any metal rubbing against metal then they should be OK. Water getting into the channel is not a problem as it will drain away and won't get into the interior of the car.
CalumCalum
8th Dec 2015 5:23 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10297
those seals are supposed to be set up such that they curl upwards as you push the rail into the channel, therefore providing the seal. There should be a pic of this in the fitting instructions
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9th Dec 2015 9:11 am
l00kin4
Member Since: 27 Feb 2015
Location: Sydney
Posts: 46
What Calum said is right - they don't need to seal.
As Al said too they should curl to form a seal. I bought a similar set of the aftermarket rails which had the same problem. I think the problem lies with both the section of the rail (not wide enough) and the shape of the seal(straight rather than curled or L-shaped as you said) I had no issues with water (or with the rails in general) but I was getting pine needles in the gutter channel through the gap which I figured would eventually clog up the channel.
I ended up taking them off and shopping around dealers for a set of the full length OEM rails.
The gutter channel under the rails will take the water away - if that's the only concern then don't worry about it.
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