coomassie

There are several roof rack threads, but I haven't seen any DIY for the roof rails. I removed and replaced the passenger side roof rail on my 2002 RX300. The black paint coating on the roof rail had chipped away to the chrome layer and even down to the bottom metal layer. I have noticed this has been a problem on many RX300's. My options to fix this problem were paint the rail while attached to the roof, remove the rail and paint it, or obtain another rail. Luckily I have a car junk yard nearby and found one in good condition.

Needed:
10 mm wrench
10 mm socket and ratchet
Ratchet extension
Swivel sockets drive (not necessary but makes it easier)
Standard and phillips screwdrivers

Start by removing the handles with a screwdriver.





Handle removal




Trunk cover removal

Peal back the panel to gain access above the roof lining. This is the tricky part because the interior roof lining is fragile and bends/tears pretty easily. Pull back the rubber door lining to help ease the process. There are also velcro sheets attached, so pull it off until you hear the velcro pop. This should give you enough access to remove the 5 flange-nuts in the car located underneath the roof rail. I didn't have enough access at first and cut up my knuckles trying to reach in to remove the flange-nuts.


Interior panel removal




10 mm flange-nut

I had to use a swivel socket with and ratchet extension to gain access to the one closest to the front of the car.



Swivel socket

This is what it looks like when the roof rail is removed. Just pull up on it to dislodge it from the car. The back portion came off with it, but it just snaps on to the large portion of the roof rail.



Roof rail removed

You can see the old one on the left has chipped away to display the ugly chrome. The one on the right is the one I found at the junk yard. It was in pretty good shape and was not chipped at all.



Old and new roof rail

Just pop the rail back into place, and fasten all the flange-nuts and panels back where they belong.



Final product

maxSteel

nice DIY.

I think it has to have wings to be a wing nut. Not sure what that is called though.
Maybe a flange nut?

lexina

Thank you for sharing. Nice DIY.

coomassie

Corrected.

salimshah

These are standard nuts in the auto industry. Remember the washers of past, well now they are part of the nut. The flat surface spreads the binding force and prevents unravelling due to surface friction.

Salim

salimshah

Please add a link to this thread in the DIY sticky.

Salim