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

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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.