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Hey, first post on the legacy boards. I'm new owner of a 98 legacy wagon . I am planning on installing a factory roof rack which I anticipate involves removing the headliner, which upon further inspection would involve removing practically every interior trim panel. This would be done outside in the 30-40 degree weather, so i doubt everything would go back together and remain rattle free.

As an alternative, i could drill the holes for the rack, into the roof and through the headliner. The holes in the headliner would essentially be access holes to the rack bolts and covered by plastic clips similar to those that assist in holding the headliner up. These clips would have the removed headliner fabric glued to them to disguise them. The access holes would allow for inspection of the rack to check for leaks/rust and ease of removal if necessary.

My question to those more experienced with subarus is:

Does this sound reasonable or am I forgetting something?

Does the factory roof rack simply bolt through the roof, or is there an plate that needs to be inserted on the inside of the roof metal and the bolts?

Thanks for the help

I'd imagine that they would leak alot.

Here's a thread that I started on it a couple years ago

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic. ... =roof+rack

Why not get a Thule rack or something & not drill holes in the car? Be careful taking off all the plastic trim in cold weather, it will be brittle. If you do it touch up the fresh edges 1st and use some caulk along edge of holes & under where roofrack mounts. You don't want rust or leaks.This won't be fun.

I'm pretty set on the aftermarket roof rack. I like the look, and its adaptivity for various tasks, as well as the fact that it is permanent. I would coat all of the drilled holes with POR15 inside and out and I would seal the bolts and mounting points with the appropriate sealer.

But is there anything larger than a bolt that has to go on the inside of the car, which would prevent me from drilling through the headliner to install the rack, so I don't have to risk breaking brittle plastic parts during a headliner removal?

Mine doesn't have a rack so I don't know what else you'll hit. There are some cross braces in the roof. Don't know if you have a moonroof, but the rear part of the pan for that extends quite a bit back from the opening. It could be in the way of the drill & bolts. My headliner is currently out, if I had a digital camera I could take pics for you. Sorry I don't have one.

Unfortunately, I don't have a moon roof to worry about, although I would like one. So i guess the install will be pretty straight forward.

Instead of using screws or bolts try using rivets. They do make them that big as that is what holds them on to the legacys from the factory.
I should know as I have removed enough of them.

Make sure you get the rubber gaskets that come with the rack. Also just apply some silicone around the hole for the rivet. This way it will be sandwiched in there and won't leak or rust.

If you go with a rivet you won't have to remove your headliner...just lower it a tad and use a guide on your drill so you don't go thru the liner.

Hope this help.

Rivets sound much better than bolts, if I can get a hold of the appropriate size, and the tool to install them. Better than removing or altering the headliner though.

Thanks

Well, I bought a roof rack kit from subaruparts.com Comes with bolts, rivits, crossbars, gaskets, and everything else. $60.00 seems like a deal to me incase anyone else is considering this addition.

You can buy a rivet gun at home depot for about 20 bucks. I have one. Mine has the swivel head and cost about $30.00 but you can get this one if you want to save some dough...
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN ... 0&MID=9876

Well, got the kit, did the install, and it looks just like it came from the factory. The only dissappointing thing was that the kit used a fastener called a riv-nut, rather than a rivit to fasten the rack to the roof. A riv-nut is basically a rivit with threads down the center. Although a cool idea, using hand tools made them difficult to install into the roof, and even when properly installed, they would not hold the specified torque for the bolts. Everything turned out fine. The rack is very secure, I just had to use a little extra sealent.

I'm glad things worked out for you. Post up a picture if you can.

Heres that pic you were asking for. Looks just like factory.


I couldn't get the image to work, so heres the url

http://members.aol.com/dougmmandell/roofrack

That link's 100% pic free for me.

AWD_addict wrote:That link's 100% pic free for me.

i second that.