Exproblems
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- April 17, 2011
- Messages
- 1,684
- Reaction score
- 19
- City, State
- Orchard Park, N.Y.
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '05 Explorer XLT 4.0L
HI all,
does anyone know how to remove the roof rack or luggage rack on a 2005 Ford Explorer? Specifically, the middle side rail bracket so I can get at the screws that mount it to the roof top? I can't figure out how to remove the rail from the bracket that mounts it to the roof. I see a small hole on the inside edge of the rail bracket that may house some kind of lock down screw, but I can't see it and it is on an angle. Do I need to remove what ever this is or does the whole rail and bracket just pop off the base plate? I have tried prying it up with no luck at all. I have a roof leak and need to get at the mounting screws to this middle rail bracket to clean and seal them up with silicone. I know how to remove the front and rear cover trim pieces to get at that those screws, but the middle ones are a PITA to figure out. Thanks for any help you can offer!
Update: I used a camera to take a picture into the small hole on the inner side of side rail to see what kind of fastener is in there. It is a " Torx Screw" size T-25 just like the other screws that hold down the roof rack. The screw inside the hole is inserted on an angle and is a PITA to get out. You can't use any long handled screw driver (angle to the rooftop is too tight) and you must use a specialty type of driver to remove this screw. I happened to have a small, flat ratcheting driver that you can slip a Torx driver bit into, but even with this, it was a pain to remove. Once the middle side rail screw is out and you have removed the front and rear screws to the side rails (Total 6 screws per side) , you can lift up on the whole side rail. The middle base to the side rails are adjustable and you can slide them forward and back with the screws in place. The screws to the middle base do not lock the base down to the roof and they only tighten so far down. The screws to the front and rear bases do tighten the bases down to the roof top. My leak appears to have been through the front screws since they were heavily rusted where the middle and rear base screws were not rusted much at all. I cleaned up all the screws and put silicone into every screw hole and re-installed everything, except that hard to get at middle base inner side rail screw that fits into the small hole in the side of the rail. I didn't have the patience to re-install it for now. Also, there is another screw that attaches to the middle base and rail. It screws from underneath the base upwards into the rail. Also, the front and rear side rail trim pieces just pop off, with one yellow colored plastic push plug holding them in place. Just be careful not to break or crack the push plugs.
does anyone know how to remove the roof rack or luggage rack on a 2005 Ford Explorer? Specifically, the middle side rail bracket so I can get at the screws that mount it to the roof top? I can't figure out how to remove the rail from the bracket that mounts it to the roof. I see a small hole on the inside edge of the rail bracket that may house some kind of lock down screw, but I can't see it and it is on an angle. Do I need to remove what ever this is or does the whole rail and bracket just pop off the base plate? I have tried prying it up with no luck at all. I have a roof leak and need to get at the mounting screws to this middle rail bracket to clean and seal them up with silicone. I know how to remove the front and rear cover trim pieces to get at that those screws, but the middle ones are a PITA to figure out. Thanks for any help you can offer!
Update: I used a camera to take a picture into the small hole on the inner side of side rail to see what kind of fastener is in there. It is a " Torx Screw" size T-25 just like the other screws that hold down the roof rack. The screw inside the hole is inserted on an angle and is a PITA to get out. You can't use any long handled screw driver (angle to the rooftop is too tight) and you must use a specialty type of driver to remove this screw. I happened to have a small, flat ratcheting driver that you can slip a Torx driver bit into, but even with this, it was a pain to remove. Once the middle side rail screw is out and you have removed the front and rear screws to the side rails (Total 6 screws per side) , you can lift up on the whole side rail. The middle base to the side rails are adjustable and you can slide them forward and back with the screws in place. The screws to the middle base do not lock the base down to the roof and they only tighten so far down. The screws to the front and rear bases do tighten the bases down to the roof top. My leak appears to have been through the front screws since they were heavily rusted where the middle and rear base screws were not rusted much at all. I cleaned up all the screws and put silicone into every screw hole and re-installed everything, except that hard to get at middle base inner side rail screw that fits into the small hole in the side of the rail. I didn't have the patience to re-install it for now. Also, there is another screw that attaches to the middle base and rail. It screws from underneath the base upwards into the rail. Also, the front and rear side rail trim pieces just pop off, with one yellow colored plastic push plug holding them in place. Just be careful not to break or crack the push plugs.
