Auto roof rack install - source for blind fasteners ?

[email hidden] wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I nees to install a used fixed roof rack on my vehicle and am look for
soures and recommendations and sources for the proper blind fastener
and an other install tips - thanks

---------------------

I had to replace two of the special metal fasteners that were
dealer-installed... they did a crappy job and two were in crooked and
pulled out. Leaked rain like a son-of-a-&*^%^&%$ in the middle of a
cross-country trip.

I found some small "blind" compression fasteners that worked "ok" at a
local truevalue hardware store. They are basically a rubber boot with
a nut at the bottom, and as you tighten, it squashes the boot so it
cant pull out. You have to size the holes JUST bigger than the nuts so
that they have maximum hold.

While the rubber was good in that it prevented water from entering, I
found that the edges of the roof where (the dealer) drilled were very
sharp and cut thru if I over tightened. After taking everything apart
and rounding corners with a jewelers file, the rubber ones seemed to
work pretty well.

The all-metal dealer jobs were like a rivet, except have a threaded
receiver after installed. I don't know where to get anything like that
except the dealer, and you have to have a special tool to install.

You might want to check installation price from a dealer... if you can
find one you trust to do a good job, and get a warrentee for leaks and
pull-out.