OEM Roof Rack Leak and Fix

Got a new roof rack for christmas and couldn't wait to put it on. I kinda overlooked the directions a little and didn't follow the torque specs on the bolts that were used with the mastic washers (Why couldn't you use normal gaskets toyota?) Needless to say the roof started leaking due to my negligence (sorry I was excited). Also ,Toyota, If you are charging 400 for a plastic rack I would assume you would supply some decent hardware because every torx would strip on me if would sneeze while tightening it. (bought stainless hex bolts from lowes) Pay the extra $0.10 to prevent Tacoma owners from cussing and liquor runs.

I had to pull mine off after my entire A-Pilar was soaked. Pulled it off and put RTV and Joint compound on all the threads and bought new washers from home depot (1/4 inch ID hole) and siliconed the heck out of everything. Shes drier than new now and she looks perty.

Also: watch the yellow tabs if you get the rack. If they break, your kinda ($*%%d because no dealer carries them for some odd reason.

Would I do it again....Yes.
But my next Tacoma will have it installed from the factory.

 

My passenger side is leaking like the Titanic and my carpet is soaked! Can you give a little more detail on the process?

 

So I ended up tearing apart the side that was leaking.Make sure you're extra careful when taking off the front portion of the rack because that yellow tab is a c$&t and if you break it you're screwed. I took off all the screws. Ripped off all of the stupid worthless mastic washers and cleaned the areas. I then bought rubber gaskets from Home Depot(kind of soft).Forgot the name or brand. One set with a 3/8 hole in the center (where the bolt would go through)and one set with a 1/4 inch inside hole. I used the 3/8 size ones first because the OD of the gasket was a little larger. As I tightened it, it blew the gaskets out from under the bracket. So I ended up using the 1/4 inch inner diameter ones and they tightened without blowing out. Just an FYI there is gasket maker you can buy from Home Depot too. It's a square rubber pad (comes in a clear bag) that's about an 1/8 inch thick that you can cut to your needs.

I put plumbers joint compound on all the threads.

While placing the gaskets I also put some of that GE clear silicone on the bottom and top of the gaskets. It said 30 minutes rain ready or something on the tube.

Once I had the front bracket all mounted I put a bead of silicone around all the areas where I believed water could get in.

I followed the same steps on the rear bolts and gaskets.

Did it just start leaking right at as you put it on?

 

I live in Deep South Texas so to be honest I just noticed the leaking early in 2015. I thought that maybe it was not tightened down enough so I tried that with no results. I removed everything and noticed that there were really no waterproofing of any type. The only thing that is currently getting wet is my carpet but during this last rain storm I saw it dripping out of my handgrip.

 

It's gotta be the roof rack so I'd pull it off and definitely use that plumbers joint compound on the threads. Or Id check the lower seals of your windshield with a hose if you see that your floor is wet

 

I stuffed some towels under the plastic trim i front of the door and they were soaked so I think its coming from the roof rack.

 

Try what I did, and let me know how it goes. Good luck my friend.

 

The only way for the roof rack to leak is from the bolts going into the roof of the cab. This generally occurs by installing and removing the roof rack bolts, this will remove the thread sealant that is on the bolts. Simply adding a thread sealant to those bolts will fix any leak issue.

 

I wen to lowes and purchased the 1/4 id soft-er rubber washers and the plumbers joint compound. When I removed the right side rack I saw that the old washers were disintegrated and the screws were coated in rust. I cleaned out the holes to remove all the old washer and sealer. I then cleaned the screws inserted them back into the rack and put the plumbers joint compound on the screws and the placed the washers on the screws. The tackiness of the joint compound helped keep the washer on the screw enough for me to turn the rack over for placement. I put some joint compound in the screw holes and replaced the rack. Screwed it down tight and then surrounded the screw heads with clean window weather silicone calking. The bad thing is that I stripped one of the screws that is under the cross bar. NO too much of a big deal since all that screw does is help hold the rack to the bracket. I filled the hole with silicone as well until I can get a new one.

The verdict...it no longer leaks!!! I ran it through a car wash and the rag I stuffed under the molding was dry. So now I wit for a front to come in to see if it is really fixed.

 

Right on brother! Glad to see that it worked. Mines still holding dry and we just got 3 inches of rain over the last day. Those bolts were a complete bitch. I hate torx and especially shitty quality torx. Stay dry my friend haha

 

I also used replacement washers from Home Depot. The ones I bought were made of neoprene. Been working perfect for about a year now.

 

Sub'd just put mine on and have had 2 other one's on different Tacoma's and never a leak. I will have to look for this happening.

 

installed my OEM roof rack about 2yrs ago and never had any leak issue. but that is also partly because I added an automotive silicone to every bolts/holes.

I didn't trust the mastic washers that came in the box. they broke and fell apart before I can even align them properly

I think this is what I used http://www.autozone.com/sealants-gl...ne-adhesive-sealant/526731_0_0/?checkfit=true

 

It started leaking again...back at it. This time I am going to try the black silicone adhesive.

 

Apply liberally.

 

Hey Guys I installed my roof rack recently and water leaks on both sides of the seat belts when I ran it through the car wash. Do I need to take of the roof rack entirely and start over and apply thread sealant on the bolts or can I just put some silicone sealant on the bolts and pray it doesnt leak. Any help is appreciated.

 

It's not that hard to start over. I would do it properly this time so you don't ever have to deal with more any leak in the future. My opinion

 

Had the bad luck of this happening to me today. Water started pouring in right at the driver side seat belt adjuster while leaving the store (it had been raining hard for about 10 min prior) . Luckily my son grabbed a towel and kept the water from going everywhere till we got home.

Had him use the hose to determine if it was a door seal or the rack, definitely the rack... Ran to HD to get the rubber 1/4" ID rubber washers and automotive silicon, tore the rack off to install the washers and silicon everything in sight.

Hopefully that's fixed it, I can't have a leaky roof on Guam... It rains here a minimum of once a day, usually more.

 

Did you guys have the rack installed by the dealer??

 

No, did it myself. I followed the instructions to a T, the flimsy foam washers are absolute crap. They were all torn when I took the racks off, no wonder it was leaking.